Solid state turbine engine ignition exciter having elevated temperature operational capability
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B60R-022/00
F02P-009/00
H02G-003/00
출원번호
US-0868621
(2004-06-15)
등록번호
US-7355300
(2008-04-08)
발명자
/ 주소
Wilmot,Theodore S.
Brzostek,Richard S.
Driscoll,John C.
출원인 / 주소
Woodward Governor Company
대리인 / 주소
Greer, Burns & Crain, Ltd.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
5인용 특허 :
34
초록▼
A turbine engine ignition exciter circuit applies energy stored in the exciter tank capacitor to the load (igniter plug) through a thyristor type semiconductor switching device that minimizes leakage current at elevated operating temperatures. The semiconductor switching device is periodically activ
A turbine engine ignition exciter circuit applies energy stored in the exciter tank capacitor to the load (igniter plug) through a thyristor type semiconductor switching device that minimizes leakage current at elevated operating temperatures. The semiconductor switching device is periodically activated by a trigger circuit to initiate discharge of energy stored in exciter tank capacitor to mating ignition lead and igniter plug. The circuit operates at a modest, for example, approximately 1.8 kV, tank circuit voltage to further reduce switching device leakage current related stresses at elevated temperatures allowing relatively long capacitor charge cycles, increased upper operating temperature capability and improved reliability. The circuit uses a low side switch circuit topology for releasing energy from said capacitor to ground whereby negative polarity energy is applied to the exciter.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed is: 1. An exciter circuit for use with an igniter for creating a spark for igniting fuel in an engine; comprising: a charge pump circuit for selectively applying power to an input of a voltage conversion device having a first output, said device being configured to step-up a first v
What is claimed is: 1. An exciter circuit for use with an igniter for creating a spark for igniting fuel in an engine; comprising: a charge pump circuit for selectively applying power to an input of a voltage conversion device having a first output, said device being configured to step-up a first voltage level applied to said input to a higher second voltage level at said voltage conversion device first output; a main energy store having positive and negative terminals, said positive terminal being connected in circuit to said first output for receiving energy from said charge pump circuit, said negative terminal being connected to the igniter via a ground loop circuit having a step-up pulse transformer therein; a semiconductor switch having an anode, a cathode and a gate for controlling the release of energy from said main energy store, said cathode being directly connected to ground and said anode being connected to said positive main energy store terminal; and, a trigger circuit connected to said charge pump circuit and to said gate and selectively applying a trigger signal to said gate for placing said switch into conduction thereby discharging said energy store directly to ground, said ground loop circuit producing negative current through said step-up pulse transformer to said negative terminal and thereby creating a high voltage negative pulse that is applied to the igniter for creating a spark. 2. An exciter circuit as defined in claim 1 wherein said voltage conversion device has a second output with a higher third voltage level and said trigger circuit further comprises a tertiary energy store that supplies said trigger signal to said gate via a trigger switch having a control input, said trigger switch being placed into conduction when an actuating signal is received from said charge pump circuit. 3. An exciter circuit as defined in claim 2 wherein said trigger circuit further comprises: a first diode having its anode connected to said tertiary energy store and its cathode connected in series to an inductor that is connected in series with said gate; and a second diode that has its cathode connected to said inductor and to said first diode cathode, said second diode having its anode connected to ground; said first and second diodes and said inductor being tuned to insure positive current flow to said gate during the turn-on time period of said semiconductor switch. 4. An exciter circuit as defined in claim 3 wherein said trigger switch is a thyristor having an anode, a cathode and a gate, said gate being said control input and said cathode being connected to said first diode. 5. An exciter circuit as defined in claim 4 wherein said trigger circuit further comprises a switching transistor connected to ground and to a primary winding of a transformer that is connected to an energy storing capacitor, said switching transistor being switched into conduction by said actuating signal and causing said energy to flow through said transformer and transistor to ground, said transformer having a secondary winding that is connected to said thyristor gate via a rectifier diode, whereby current flows to said thyristor gate when said switching transistor is switched into conduction. 6. An exciter circuit as defined in claim 2 wherein said tertiary energy store comprises at least one capacitor having a capacitance of at least approximately 0.05 micro-Farad. 7. An exciter circuit as defined in claim 1 wherein said ground loop circuit comprises an in series connection from said negative terminal of said main energy store through a primary coil of said step-up pulse transformer, a pulse capacitor to ground. 8. An exciter circuit as defined in claim 1 wherein said second voltage level is within the range of about 1500 to about 1950 volts DC. 9. An exciter circuit as defined in claim 1 wherein said main energy store comprises at least one capacitor having a capacitance of at least approximately 1 micro-Farad. 10. An exciter circuit as defined in claim 1 wherein said high voltage pulse has a magnitude within the range of about-15,000 to about-18,000 volts. 11. An exciter circuit for use with an igniter for creating a spark for igniting fuel in an engine; comprising: a charge pump circuit for selectively applying power to an input of a voltage conversion device having a first output, said device being configured to step-up a first voltage level applied to said input to a higher second voltage level at said voltage conversion device first output; a power supply circuit that is connectable to an external source of input power and provides a DC output having said first voltage level, a second lower internal voltage bus and a third temperature compensated precision reference voltage; a main energy store having positive and negative terminals, said positive terminal being connected in circuit to said first output for receiving energy from said charge pump circuit, said negative terminal being connected to the igniter via a ground loop circuit having a step-up pulse transformer therein; a semiconductor switch having an anode, a cathode and a gate for controlling the release of energy from said main energy store, said cathode being directly connected to ground and said anode being connected to said positive main energy store terminal; and, a trigger circuit connected to said charge pump circuit and to said gate and selectively applying a trigger signal to said gate for placing said switch into conduction thereby discharging said energy store directly to ground, said ground loop circuit producing negative current through said step-up pulse transformer to said negative terminal and thereby creating a high voltage negative pulse that is applied to the igniter for creating a spark. 12. An exciter circuit as defined in claim 11 wherein said voltage conversion device is a transformer having a primary winding as said input, said charge pump circuit further comprising: a switching transistor connected in series between a power source of said first voltage, said primary winding, a voltage sensing resistor and ground; logic circuitry for switching said switching transistor in and out of conduction: comparator circuitry connected to said switching transistor for comparing the voltage level of said voltage sensing resistor to a reference voltage and switching said transistor out of conduction when said voltage level exceeds said reference level. 13. An exciter circuit as defined in claim 12 further comprising scheduling circuitry for adjusting the voltage level of said voltage sensing resistor in proportion to a drop in said internal voltage bus so that operation of said charge pump circuit continues notwithstanding said internal voltage bus voltage drop. 14. An exciter circuit as defined in claim 12 wherein said charge pump circuit further comprises second comparator circuitry operatively connected to said trigger circuit for monitoring the voltage level of said tertiary energy store and for controlling said logic circuitry to switch said transistor out of conduction when said voltage of said tertiary energy store reaches a predetermined level. 15. An exciter circuit as defined in claim 14 wherein said charge pump circuit is powered by said power supply and said logic circuit includes a one shot multi-vibrator that when fired permits said switching transistor to be placed into conduction until said comparator circuitry switches said switching transistor out of conduction, said external source of input power comprising an electronic engine controller (EEC). 16. An exciter circuit as defined in claim 15 wherein said EEC is configured to selectively apply and terminate power to said exciter circuit as necessary to control the exciter circuitry in a manner that is necessary to control operation of the engine, said EEC terminating power to said exciter circuit resulting in disabling the operation of said charge pump circuit, including said logic circuitry until power is reapplied thereto, said EEC thereby selectively controlling the spark rate of said igniter. 17. An exciter circuit as defined in claim 16 wherein said power supply includes a diode at its output that provides said first voltage to said charge pump circuit to block reverse charge flow when power is terminated to said power supply, thereby facilitating rapid disablement of said charge pump circuit including said logic circuitry thereof. 18. An exciter circuit as defined in claim 14 wherein said charge pump circuit is powered by said power supply and said logic circuit includes a flip-flop that when fired permits said switching transistor to be placed into conduction until said comparator circuitry switches said switching transistor out of conduction, said power supply comprises at least one temperature compensated precision voltage regulator that provides a stable reference supply, said regulator providing an auxiliary output voltage that is proportional to the temperature of the regulator, said exciter circuit further comprising a voltage controlled oscillator having said auxiliary output voltage as an input thereto and generates a high frequency DC-DC chopper output frequency that is operatively connected to said flip-flop. 19. An exciter circuit as defined in claim 14 wherein said predetermined level of said tertiary energy store is proportional to said second voltage level. 20. An exciter circuit as defined in claim 12 wherein said logic circuitry further comprises an oscillator integrated circuit that generates a high frequency DC-DC chopper output frequency and includes multiple inputs for controlling hardware programmable divide-by-n circuitry that divides the high chopper output frequency down to a rate that is within the range of approximately 1 Hz to approximately 8 Hz, thereby establishing the exciter discharge repetition rate. 21. An exciter circuit as defined in claim 20 wherein said power supply comprises at least one temperature compensated precision voltage regulator that provides a stable reference supply, said regulator providing an auxiliary output voltage that is proportional to the temperature of the regulator, said exciter circuit further comprising rate adjusting circuitry having said auxiliary output voltage as an input thereto and an output that is operatively connected to at least one of said multiple inputs that control said divide-by-n circuitry, to thereby vary said discharge repetition rate in proportion to said regulator temperature. 22. An exciter circuit for use with an igniter for creating a spark for igniting fuel in a turbine engine; comprising: a charging circuit for storing energy in an energy store having positive and negative terminals, said negative terminal being connected to the igniter via a ground loop circuit having a step-up pulse transformer therein; a semiconductor switch having an anode, a cathode and a gate for controlling the release of energy from said energy store, said cathode being directly connected to ground and said anode being connected to said positive energy store terminal; and, a trigger circuit connected to said charging circuit and to said gate and selectively applying a trigger signal to said gate for placing said semiconductor switch into conduction, thereby discharging said energy store to ground, said ground loop circuit producing negative current through said step-up pulse transformer to said negative terminal and thereby creating a negative high voltage pulse that is applied to the igniter for creating the spark. 23. An exciter circuit as defined in claim 22 wherein said trigger circuit provides a continuous positive current into said gate during the period of time said semiconductor switch is turning on. 24. An exciter circuit as defined in claim 23 wherein said trigger circuit further comprises: a tertiary energy store operatively connected to said charging circuit for charging the same; a first diode having its anode connected to said tertiary energy store and its cathode connected in series to an inductor that is connected in series with said gate; and a second diode that has its cathode connected to said inductor and to said first diode cathode, said second diode having its anode connected to ground; said first and second diodes and said inductor being tuned to insure positive current flow to said gate during the turn-on time period of said semiconductor switch. 25. An exciter circuit for use with an igniter for creating a spark for igniting fuel in a turbine engine; comprising: at least one energy storing device for storing energy that is released to the igniter for creating the spark for igniting fuel in the turbine engine; a charging circuit for storing energy in the energy store; a discharge circuit including a semiconductor switch having an anode, a cathode and a gate, said switch controlling the release of energy from said energy store, said cathode being directly connected to ground and said anode being connected to said positive energy store terminal, a step-up pulse transformer with a primary winding connected to said negative terminal and to ground through a capacitor and a secondary winding connected to the igniter; a trigger circuit for placing said semiconductor switch into conduction, thereby discharging said energy store to ground and producing a negative current through said step-up pulse transformer to said negative terminal and thereby creating a negative high voltage pulse that is applied to the igniter for creating the spark. 26. An exciter circuit as defined in claim 25 wherein said primary winding and capacitor comprise a first leg, said discharge circuit further comprising a resister leg and a diode leg connected in parallel said first leg, said diode having its cathode connected to ground. 27. An exciter circuit as defined in claim 25 wherein said semiconductor switch has a low leakage current at elevated temperatures and high junction temperature capability. 28. An exciter circuit as defined in claim 27 wherein said leakage current is approximately 200 microamperes at approximately 135 degrees Celsius. 29. An exciter circuit as defined in claim 25 wherein said energy store is charged within a time period that is approximately the reciprocal of the spark rate of the exciter. 30. A solid state turbine engine ignition exciter comprising; at least one capacitor for storing energy that is released to the igniter for creating the spark for igniting fuel in the turbine engine; a circuit for charging said capacitor; a discharge circuit including a semiconductor switch for releasing energy from said capacitor directly to ground and then through a ground loop circuit whereby negative polarity energy is applied to the igniter; and a trigger circuit for placing said semiconductor switch into conduction. 31. An exciter circuit for use with an igniter for creating a spark for igniting fuel in an engine; comprising: a charge pump circuit for selectively applying power to an input of a voltage conversion device having a first output, said device being configured to step-up a first voltage level applied to said input to a higher second voltage level at said voltage conversion device first output; a main energy store having positive and negative terminals, said positive terminal being connected in circuit to said first output for receiving energy from said charge pump circuit, said negative terminal being connected directly to ground; a semiconductor switch having an anode, a cathode and a gate for controlling the release of energy from said main energy store, said cathode being directly connected to ground and to the igniter through a pulse forming network and said anode being connected to said positive main energy store terminal; and, a trigger circuit connected to said charge pump circuit and to said gate and selectively applying a trigger signal to said gate for placing said switch into conduction thereby discharging said energy store through said pulse forming network and applying negative polarity energy to the igniter for creating a spark. 32. An exciter circuit as defined in claim 31 wherein said voltage conversion device has a tertiary winding providing a second output with a higher third voltage level and said trigger circuit further comprises a tertiary energy store that supplies said trigger signal to said gate via a trigger switch having a control input, said trigger switch being placed into conduction when an actuating signal is received from said charge pump circuit. 33. An exciter circuit as defined in claim 32 wherein said trigger circuit further comprises: a first diode having its anode connected to said tertiary energy store and its cathode connected in series to an inductor that is connected in series with said gate; and a second diode that has its cathode connected to said inductor and to said first diode cathode, said second diode having its anode connected to said cathode of said semiconductor switch and to said tertiary winding; said first and second diodes and said inductor being tuned to insure positive current flow to said gate during the turn-on time period of said semiconductor switch. 34. An exciter circuit as defined in claim 33 wherein said trigger switch is a thyristor having an anode, a cathode and a gate, said gate being said control input and said cathode being connected to said first diode. 35. An exciter circuit as defined in claim 34 wherein said trigger circuit further comprises a switching transistor connected to ground and to a primary winding of a transformer that is connected to an energy storing capacitor, said switching transistor being switched into conduction by said actuating signal and causing said energy to flow through said transformer and transistor to ground, said transformer having a secondary winding that is connected to said thyristor gate via a rectifier diode, whereby current flows to said thyristor gate when said switching transistor is switched into conduction. 36. An exciter circuit as defined in claim 31 further comprising a power supply circuit that is connectable to an external source of input power and provides a DC output having said first voltage level, a second lower internal voltage bus and a third temperature compensated precision reference voltage. 37. An exciter circuit as defined in claim 36 wherein said voltage conversion device is a transformer having a primary winding as said input, said charge pump circuit further comprising: a switching transistor connected in series between a power source of said first voltage, said primary winding, a voltage sensing resistor and ground; logic circuitry for switching said switching transistor in and out of conduction: comparator circuitry connected to said switching transistor for comparing the voltage level of said voltage sensing resistor to a reference voltage and switching said transistor out of conduction when said voltage level exceeds said reference level. 38. An exciter circuit as defined in claim 37 further comprising scheduling circuitry for adjusting the voltage level of said voltage sensing resistor in proportion to a drop in said internal voltage bus so that operation of said charge pump circuit continues notwithstanding said internal voltage bus voltage drop. 39. An exciter circuit as defined in claim 37 wherein said charge pump circuit further comprises second comparator circuitry operatively connected to said trigger circuit for monitoring the voltage level of said tertiary energy store and for controlling said logic circuitry to switch said transistor out of conduction when said voltage of said tertiary energy store reaches a predetermined level. 40. An exciter circuit as defined in claim 39 wherein said charge pump circuit is powered by said power supply and said logic circuit includes a one shot multi-vibrator that when fired permits said switching transistor to be placed into conduction until said comparator circuitry switches said switching transistor out of conduction, said external source of input power comprising an electronic engine controller (EEC). 41. An exciter circuit as defined in claim 40 wherein said EEC is configured to selectively apply and terminate power to said exciter circuit as necessary to control the exciter circuitry in a manner that is necessary to control operation of the engine, said EEC terminating power to said exciter circuit resulting in disabling the operation of said charge pump circuit, including said logic circuitry until power is reapplied thereto, said EEC thereby selectively controlling the spark rate of said igniter. 42. An exciter circuit as defined in claim 41 wherein said power supply includes a diode at its output that provides said first voltage to said charge pump circuit to block reverse charge flow when power is terminated to said power supply, thereby facilitating rapid disablement of said charge pump circuit including said logic circuitry thereof. 43. An exciter circuit as defined in claim 39 wherein said charge pump circuit is powered by said power supply and said logic circuit includes a flip-flop that when fired permits said switching transistor to be placed into conduction until said comparator circuitry switches said switching transistor out of conduction, said power supply comprises at least one temperature compensated precision voltage regulator that provides a stable reference supply, said regulator providing an auxiliary output voltage that is proportional to the temperature of the regulator, said exciter circuit further comprising a voltage controlled oscillator having said auxiliary output voltage as an input thereto and generates a high frequency DC-DC chopper output frequency that is operatively connected to said flip-flop. 44. An exciter circuit as defined in claim 37 wherein said logic circuitry further comprises an oscillator integrated circuit that generates a high frequency DC-DC chopper output frequency and includes multiple inputs for controlling hardware programmable divide-by-n circuitry that divides the high chopper output frequency down to a rate that is within the range of approximately 1 Hz to approximately 8 Hz, thereby establishing the exciter discharge repetition rate. 45. An exciter circuit as defined in claim 44 wherein said power supply comprises at least one temperature compensated precision voltage regulator that provides a stable reference supply, said regulator providing an auxiliary output voltage that is proportional to the temperature of the regulator, said exciter circuit further comprising rate adjusting circuitry having said auxiliary output voltage as an input thereto and an output that is operatively connected to at least one of said multiple inputs that control said divide-by-n circuitry, to thereby vary said discharge repetition rate in proportion to said regulator temperature. 46. An exciter circuit for use with an igniter for creating a spark for igniting fuel in a turbine engine; comprising: a power supply configured to be connected to an electronic engine controller (EEC) which selectively provides power for powering said exciter circuit; a charge pump circuit for storing energy in an energy store through a step-up transformer; a semiconductor switch having an anode, a cathode and a gate for controlling the release of energy from said energy store, said cathode being tied to ground potential; and a trigger circuit connected to said charge pump circuit and to said gate and selectively applying a trigger signal to said gate for placing said semiconductor switch into conduction, thereby discharging said energy store to produce negative polarity energy to create a spark for igniting fuel in the turbine engine; the EEC selectively terminating and supplying power to said exciter circuit to thereby control the occurrence and therefore the spark rate of said igniter. 47. An exciter circuit as defined in claim 46 wherein said exciter circuit alternatively charges and discharges said energy store at a first nominal rate when generally continuously powered by the EEC, said exciter circuit generating an auxiliary output voltage that is proportional to the temperature of at least one selected exciter circuit component, said exciter circuit adjusting said first nominal rate as a function of said component temperature. 48. An exciter circuit as defined in claim 47 wherein said first nominal rate decreases as said component temperature increases.
연구과제 타임라인
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
이 특허에 인용된 특허 (34)
Smith Kenneth W. (Jacksonville FL) Dolmovich Bruce E. (Jacksonville FL) Frus John R. (Jacksonville FL), Apparatus and method for an ignition system.
Frus John R. (7960 Hunters Grove Rd. Jacksonville FL 32256) Sontag Frederick B. (8121 E. Mar Del Plata Jacksonville FL 32256), Apparatus and method for providing ignition to a turbine engine.
Lozito Roy (Orange Park FL) Kempinski Steve (Jacksonville FL) Crough Michael A. (Ponte Vedra Beach FL) Dolmovich Bruce E. (Jacksonville FL), Capacitive discharge ignition exciter using SCR discharge switches.
Wilmot Theodore S. (Greenville SC) Driscoll John C. (Raleigh NC) Kempinski Steve J. (Easley SC), Ignition exciter circuit with thyristors having high di/dt and high voltage blockage.
Ward Michael A. V. (Lexington MA) Lefevre Robert P. (North Andover MA), Rapid pulsed multiple pulse ignition and high efficiency power inverter with controlled output characteristics.
Wilmot Theodore Steven (Greenville SC) Driscoll John Cuervo (Raleigh NC) Kempinski Steve John (Seneca SC) Berliner James R. (Easley SC), Turbine engine ignition exciter circuit including low voltage lockout control.
Wilmot Theodore Steven ; Driscoll John Cuervo ; Kempinski Steven John ; Berliner James R., Turbine engine ignition exciter circuit including low voltage lockout control.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.