Transformers and certain a-c motors and generators with dynamic control

Abstract

The power-handling capability and reliability of a transformer or a double-wound alternating current motor or generator is improved by a connected switching network which changes the effective numbers of turns and effective wire size of the windings (primary & secondary for a transformer or stator and rotor for a motor or generator) synchronously during each quarter-cycle of the applied or generated voltage.

1 . A transformer system, said system comprising a transformer defining a magnetic circuit, said system comprising multiturn primary and secondary windings coupled to said magnetic circuit, said primary and secondary being configured in subwindings and segments, said system comprising a switching network connected to said subwindings and segments, said system comprising a controller connected to said network and operative under software control to connect the subwindings of the primary and secondary windings simultaneously to have a larger or smaller number of effective turns in both primary and secondary windings alternately several times during each cycle of an alternating voltage applied to said primary winding. 
     
     
         2 . A system as in  claim 1  operative responsive to said applied input voltage [and to the resulting output current to and/or voltage across any load attached to said secondary windings] in a manner to maximize the effective numbers of turns in the windings when the magnetizing current is maximal and the load current is minimal, and to minimize the effective numbers of turns when the load current is maximal and the magnetizing current is minimal. 
     
     
         3 . A transformer system comprising a magnetic core with at least one opening, one or more multi-turn windings linked to said core through said opening, a switching network connected to said windings being operable under software control to alter the effective number of turns in each of said windings simultaneously one or more times per quarter cycle of the input voltage. 
     
     
         4 . A transformer system as in  claim 3  whose switching network being operable under software control to alter the effective number of turns in each winding in a manner that utilizes every turn through the opening in the core for each number of effective turns, thus minimizing the electrical resistance of each of the windings for each effective number of turns in those windings. 
     
     
         5 . A transformer system as in  claim 3  whose switching network is operative to select the effective number of turns in each winding independently, responsive to changes in input voltage and/or secondary load(s). 
     
     
         6 . A transformer system as in  claim 3  whose switching network, under software control, selects the effective number of turns in each winding from a finite set of possibilities, with the chosen selection at each of said plurality of times within each quarter cycle of the input voltage for each winding being that which, together with the similar selections at all of the other plurality of times within that cycle, produces the most nearly ideal sinusoidal voltage output under the then-current input voltage and the then-current output load(s). 
     
     
         7 . A transformer system as in  claim 3  whose switching network, under software control, selects the effective number of turns in each winding from a finite set of possibilities, with the chosen selection at each of said plurality of times within each quarter cycle of the input voltage for each winding being that which, together with the similar selections at all of the other plurality of times within that cycle, produces the highest power efficiency under the then-current input voltage and the then-current output load(s). 
     
     
         8 . An alternating current motor or alternating current generator (an alternator) with both stator and rotor windings with each winding comprising a series-connected plurality of segments, with at least one segment having only one sub-winding and with a switching network connected to the sub-windings of the segments whose switching network is operative to select the effective number of turns in each winding independently, responsive to changes in input voltage (to the motor) and/or to the mechanical load (on the motor) or the electrical load (on the alternator).