Inductor drive means

Abstract

A circuit providing a means of transferring and storing the energy from the collapsing field of a deenergized inductive load to a capacitor, and subsequently delivering this energy back to the inductive load to aid in its re-energization. A first circuit path is provided for transferring the energy from the inductive load to the capacitor, and a second circuit path is provided for transferring the energy from the capacitor to the inductive load, said second circuit path including a signal translating device, the conductivity of which is controlled by the charge on the capacitor at the time re-energization of the inductive load is initiated.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In combination with an inductive load having a two-terminal winding, a driving circuit for energizing said winding comprising, in combination, a direct current voltage supply having two terminals;   means connecting a first one of the terminals of the winding to a first one of the terminals of the direct current voltage supply;   energy storage means having two terminals;   means including a unidirectional conducting device connecting a first one of the terminals of the energy storage means to said first terminal of said winding;   means including a unidirectional conducting device connecting the second of the terminals of the winding to the second terminal of the energy storage means;   switching means for controlling the state of energization of the winding, said switching means having a first terminal connected to said second terminal of said energy storage means and a second terminal connected to the second terminal of said direct current voltage supply;   signal translating means having a first terminal connected to said second terminal of said winding, a second terminal connected to said first terminal of said energy storage means, and a control gate;   means for connecting said control gate to said second terminal of said voltage supply; and   means for connecting said control gate to said first terminal of said energy storage means; whereby deenergization of said winding under control of said switching means causes energy to be stored in said energy storage means, and whereby during subsequent re-energization of said winding under control of said switching means the energy stored in said energy storage means is applied to said winding through said signal translating means, which is rendered conducting at such time in response to the potential level at the first terminal of the energy storage means.   
     
     
       2. The combination of claim 1, also including means for applying a source of potential to said second terminal of the energy storage means. 
     
     
       3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the energy storage means comprises a capacitor. 
     
     
       4. The combination of claim 1 wherein the signal translating means comprises a silicon controlled rectifier. 
     
     
       5. The combination of claim 1 wherein the means for connecting the control gate to the second terminal of the voltage supply includes a series combination of a resistance, a unidirectional conducting device, and a parallel resistance-capacitance combination. 
     
     
       6. The combination of claim 1 wherein the means for connecting the control gate to the first terminal of the energy storage means includes a resistance. 
     
     
       7. Drive circuitry for controlling the energization of an inductive load comprising, in combination, switching means for controlling the energization and deenergization of the inductive load;   energy storage means capable of storing the energy produced by deenergization of the inductive load;   first circuit means to apply the energy produced by deenergization of the inductive load to the energy storage means;   signal translating means having a first terminal connected to one side of the load, a second terminal connected to one side of the energy storage means, and a control gate connected to a reference potential;   second circuit means including the second terminal and control gate of the signal translating means, whereby the conductivity of the signal translating means is controlled by the energy storage condition of the energy storage means; and   third circuit means associated with the switching means, the energy storage means, the signal translating means, and the inductive load for applying the energy stored in the energy storage means to the inductive load to aid in the re-energization thereof when the switching means is operated to energize the inductive load.   
     
     
       8. The drive circuitry of claim 7 in which the energy storage means comprises a capacitor. 
     
     
       9. The drive circuitry of claim 7 in which charging means are provided for maintaining the energy storage means in a fully charged condition during the period when the inductive load is deenergized. 
     
     
       10. The drive circuitry of claim 7 in which the signal translating means is a silicon controlled rectifier.