We claim:
1. A bidirectional ACDC converter comprising a bidirectional power stage and a control circuit having a sourcing control section and a recuperation control section.
2. The bi-directional ACDC converter of claim 1 is isolated.
3. The bi-directional ACDC converter of claim 1 wherein the power stage processes raw power from electrical mains to the power required by a load.
4. The bi-directional ACDC converter of claim 1 wherein the power stage processes energy generated by an active load and delivers the energy to the mains during a recuperation phase.
5. The bi-directional ACDC converter of claim 1 wherein the power stage has an input filter inductor, at least four bidirectional switches that form a bridge configuration on the primary side of an isolation transformer, the isolation transformer, at least four quasi-bidirectional switches that form a bridge on the secondary side of the isolation transformer and an output filter capacitor.
6. The bidirectional ACDC converter of claim 5 wherein the control circuit regulates the current on the primary side and voltage on the secondary side.
7. The bi-directional ACDC converter of claim 1 wherein the control circuit satisfies load requirements and provide a Power Factor Correction.
8. The bi-directional ACDC converter of claim 1 wherein the sourcing control section controls the converter when power is being delivered to a load.
9. The bi-directional ACDC converter of claim 1 wherein the recuperation control section controls the converter when an active load is present and power gets recycled into electrical mains.
10. The bi-directional ACDC converter of claim 1 wherein the recuperation control section and the sourcing control section each operates only when needed.
11. The bi-directional ACDC converter of claim 10 wherein the recuperation control section and the sourcing control section each has circuitry that automatically disables each section when electrical circuit conditions are met.
12. The bi-directional ACDC converter of claim 1 wherein the converter provides galvanic isolation between an input side and an output side of the converter unit.
13. The bi-directional ACDC converter of claim 12 wherein the converter is able to work with an active load by sourcing energy into the load or sinking energy generated by the load.
14. The bi-directional ACDC converter of claim 12 wherein the converter recycles energy when working with an active load by returning the energy into an electrical main.
15. The bi-directional ACDC converter of claim 12 wherein the converter provides Power Factor Correction for a line current, regardless if the energy is taken from the mains or recycled into the mains.
16. The bi-directional ACDC converter of claim 10 wherein the converter output voltage has two levels, the first output voltage level during sourcing, and the second output voltage level slightly higher than the first output voltage level during recuperation.
17. A method of automatic transition, in a bidirectional ACDC converter having a bidirectional power stage and a control circuit having a sourcing control section and a recuperation control section, between the sourcing control section and the recuperation control section comprising the steps of:
allowing an output voltage to become controlled by an active load only, and
altering the output voltage to a higher or lower value to enable the control circuit to start regulating the output voltage.
18. The method of claim 17 is isolated.
19. The method of claim 17 wherein the power stage processes raw power from electrical mains to the power required by a load.
20. The method of claim 17 wherein the power stage processes energy generated by an active load and delivers the energy to the mains during a recuperation phase.
21. The method of claim 17 wherein the power stage has an input filter inductor, at least four bidirectional switches that form a bridge configuration on the primary side of an isolation transformer, the isolation transformer, at least four quasi-bidirectional switches that form a bridge on the secondary side of the isolation transformer and an output filter capacitor.
22. The method of claim 21 wherein the control circuit regulates the current on the primary side and voltage on the secondary side.
23. The method of claim 17 wherein the control circuit satisfies load requirements and provide a Power Factor Correction.
24. The method of claim 17 wherein the sourcing control section controls the converter when power is being delivered to a load.
25. The method of claim 17 wherein the recuperation control section controls the converter when an active load is present and power gets recycled into electrical mains.
26. The method of claim 17 wherein the recuperation control section and the sourcing control section each operates only when needed.
27. The method of claim 26 wherein the recuperation control section and the sourcing control section each has circuitry that automatically disables each section when electrical circuit conditions are met.
28. The method of claim 17 wherein the converter provides galvanic isolation between an input side and an output side of the converter unit.
29. The method of claim 17 wherein the converter is able to work with an active load by sourcing energy into the load or sinking energy generated by the load.
30. The method of claim 17 wherein the converter recycles energy when working with an active load by returning the energy into an electrical main.
31. The method of claim 17 wherein the converter provides Power Factor Correction for a line current, regardless if the energy is taken from the mains or recycled into the mains.
32. The method of claim 26 wherein the converter output voltage has two levels, the first output voltage level during sourcing, and the second output voltage level slightly higher than the first output voltage level during recuperation.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
I claim:
1. A structural foundation for use in expansive or other soil, comprising:
a plurality of structural support members extending from the soil a void distance;
a slab form for receiving hardenable material positioned to extend horizontally and supported by the support members;
a structural slab of the hardenable material cast into the slab form; and
a wall formed of hardenable material extending substantially vertically from an upper surface of the slab, whereby the wall is supported by the slab.
2. The foundation of claim 1, further including a connector extending into the slab and into the wall to mechanically join the slab and wall.
3. The foundation of claim 1, further including an end beam formed monolithically with the slab, the end beam being positioned on a surface of the slab opposite the wall and abutting at least some of the structural support members.
4. The foundation of claim 3, wherein the end beam has a width of about a width of the wall.
5. The foundation of claim 1, further including an elongate support beam positioned between and in abutting contact with a bottom surface of the slab form and at least a portion of the structural support members.
6. The foundation of claim 1, further including a dam assembly comprising a plurality of barrier elements positioned adjacent the periphery of the slab in contact with the soil and the slab.
7. The foundation of claim 6, further including a window well abutting the slab and the wall, wherein one of the barrier elements is positioned in the window well and is anchored to the soil with removable anchors.
8. The foundation of claim 1, further including a sump pit connected to a discharge of a drainage element and located in the soil outside of an envelope defined by the slab.
9. A foundation for use in soil, comprising:
a slab and wall assembly including a horizontally extending slab of concrete and a concrete wall extending vertically from the slab and attached to the slab;
a plurality of support members embedded in the soil and contacting the slab and wall assembly to vertically support the slab and wall assembly, wherein a void space is defined between the slab and wall assembly and the soil; and
a dam including a plurality of planar members positioned in abutting contact with adjacent ones of the planar members, with the soil, and with a lower portion of the slab and wall assembly, wherein the planar members extend about the periphery of the slab and wall assembly.
10. The foundation of claim 9, wherein the wall is positioned upon an upper surface of the slab to be supported by the slab.
11. The foundation of claim 10, wherein the slab includes an end beam extending from a lower surface of the slab opposite the position of the wall and extending about the periphery of the slab in contact with a subset of the support members.
12. The foundation of claim 9, further including a sump pit positioned adjacent to an exterior surface of the dam.
13. The foundation of claim 9, further including a window well extending into the soil adjacent the slab and wall assembly, wherein the window well has a depth and width to expose at least one of the planar members and wherein the at least one is anchored to the soil with removable anchors.
14. A foundation for use in soil, comprising:
a slab and wall assembly including a horizontally extending slab of concrete and a concrete wall extending vertically from the slab and attached to the slab;
a plurality of support members embedded in the soil and contacting the slab and wall assembly to vertically support the slab and wall assembly, wherein a void space is defined between the slab and wall assembly and the soil; and
a sump pit positioned adjacent the slab and wall assembly exterior to the periphery of the wall, the sump pit being connected to drainage pipes to collect water discharged from the pipes.
15. The foundation of claim 14, further including a window well with a wall defining a hole in the soil adjacent slab and wall assembly over the sump pit.
16. The foundation of claim 14, further including a dam extending about a periphery of the slab and wall assembly and positioned in abutting contact with the soil and the slab and wall assembly.
17. The foundation of claim 14, wherein the wall is positioned on top of the slab such that the slab is between the wall and the support members.
18. The foundation of claim 17, further including an elongate, concrete support beam positioned on a number of the support members to abut a lower surface of the slab.
19. The foundation of claim 18, the slab and wall assembly further including a slab form supporting the lower surface, the lower surface comprising a series of ridges and the slab form abutting the support beam.
20. The foundation of claim 19, wherein the slab and wall assembly further includes a concrete end support beam positioned between the slab and a number of the support members to abut a portion of the lower surface of the slab opposite the wall.