Importance

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Abstract

A voltage regulator is presented which is useful in controlling the recharging of the battery of a walk-behind lawn mower. The battery is used as an energizing source for cranking the piston engine of the mower. Once the engine is running it drives a small alternator whose rectified output is a low power capacity pulsating DC voltage capable of recharging the battery. To prevent overcharging of the battery, a voltage regulator module is introduced between the alternator output and the input to the battery. The voltage regulator includes a ripple smoothing capacitor shunted across the output of the alternator, a 3-terminal positive voltage regulator packaged in integrated circuit form having a voltage input terminal, a voltage output terminal and an output voltage adjustment terminal. A solid state diode placed in series between the voltage output terminal of the regulator and the positive input terminal of the battery prevents battery discharge through the regulator module when the engine is stopped. The output voltage adjustment terminal is referenced to that voltage with respect to ground which limits the emf across the battery to a value no greater than the fully charged condition.

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First Claim