Patent ID: 8102132

Claim:
A starting apparatus for at least two synchronous machines, comprising: an exciter unit associated with each respective synchronous machine, with each exciter unit being connected to a field winding of the associated synchronous machine; a superordinate control unit connected to each exciter unit; at least one stator feed unit and a switching device associated with the stator feed unit, in which case the switching device can connect to the associated stator feed unit, can connect to at least one synchronous machine, and can connect to other switching devices when there are a plurality of switching devices associated with respective ones of the stator feed units; a ring communication link for connecting the exciter units to one another, each stator feed unit being connected to the ring communication link, and being connected to communicate with the switching device, wherein the exciter units associated with the stator feed units are connected via a communication link to the switching device.