Patents Assigned to The Switch Drive Systems Oy
  • Patent number: 11502589
    Abstract: A rotor of an induction machine includes a rotor core structure and a cage winding. The cage winding includes rotor bars in slots of the rotor core structure and end-rings connected to ends of the rotor bars. The ends of the rotor bars are attached to openings of the end-rings by expansion of the ends of the rotor bars in transverse directions of the rotor bars caused by axial press having been directed to the ends of the rotor bars. The material of the rotor bars is softer than the material of the end-rings. Thus, unwanted shape deformation of the end-rings can be avoided when the ends of the rotor bars are axially pressed. The material of the end-rings can be for example copper alloy with additions of chrome and zirconium, whereas the material of the rotor bars can be for example copper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: THE SWITCH DRIVE SYSTEMS OY
    Inventors: Panu Hava, Panu Kurronen, Kimmo Heinonen, Heikki Sallinen
  • Patent number: 11251667
    Abstract: Each permanent magnet module for a permanent magnet rotor includes a base-plate and a permanent magnet element attached to the base-plate. The base-plate includes a bottom section and an upper section between the bottom section and the permanent magnet element. The permanent magnet modules constitute subsets so that permanent magnet modules of different subsets differ from each other by positions of the upper sections of the base-plates with respect to the bottom sections of the base-plates so that the permanent magnet elements of the permanent magnet modules of the different subsets are axially successive and circumferentially shifted when the bottom sections of these permanent magnet modules are axially successive and circumferentially aligned. Thus, the permanent magnet elements of the permanent magnet modules can be arranged into, for example, skewed rows on a surface of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: THE SWITCH DRIVE SYSTEMS OY
    Inventors: Panu Kurronen, Tuomas Akseli Pihlaja
  • Publication number: 20200336057
    Abstract: A rotor of an induction machine includes a rotor core structure and a cage winding. The cage winding includes rotor bars in slots of the rotor core structure and end-rings connected to ends of the rotor bars. The ends of the rotor bars are attached to openings of the end-rings by expansion of the ends of the rotor bars in transverse directions of the rotor bars caused by axial press having been directed to the ends of the rotor bars. The material of the rotor bars is softer than the material of the end-rings. Thus, unwanted shape deformation of the end-rings can be avoided when the ends of the rotor bars are axially pressed. The material of the end-rings can be for example copper alloy with additions of chrome and zirconium, whereas the material of the rotor bars can be for example copper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Applicant: The Switch Drive Systems Oy
    Inventors: Panu HAVA, Panu KURRONEN, Kimmo HEINONEN, Heikki SALLINEN
  • Publication number: 20200083765
    Abstract: Permanent magnet modules for a permanent magnet rotor are presented. Each permanent magnet module comprises a base-plate and a permanent magnet element attached to the base-plate. The base-plate comprises a bottom section and an upper section between the bottom section and the permanent magnet element. The permanent magnet modules constitute subsets so that permanent magnet modules of different subsets differ from each other by positions of the upper sections of the base-plates with respect to the bottom sections of the base-plates so that the permanent magnet elements of the permanent magnet modules of the different subsets are axially successive and circumferentially shifted when the bottom sections of these permanent magnet modules are axially successive and circumferentially aligned. Thus, the permanent magnet elements of the permanent magnet modules can be arranged into, for example, skewed rows on a surface of the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Applicant: The Switch Drive Systems Oy
    Inventors: Panu Kurronen, Tuomas Akseli Pihlaja
  • Patent number: 10374500
    Abstract: A rotor for a permanent magnet machine includes first and second axially successive rotor sections each including permanent magnets generating magnetic field having a pole pitch. The rotor includes a first coupling system for connecting the first rotor section to a shaft and a second coupling system for connecting the second rotor section to the shaft or to the first rotor section. The second rotor section is rotatable with respect to the first rotor section by an angle corresponding to the pole pitch in response to releasing the second coupling system so as to set the stator flux-linkages generated by the first and second rotor sections to be substantially zeroes. Thereafter, the permanent magnets do not substantially induce voltages on the stator windings even if the rotor is rotating during for example an internal fault of stator windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: THE SWITCH DRIVE SYSTEMS OY
    Inventors: Panu Kurronen, Markus Silventoinen, Jussi Puranen
  • Publication number: 20170331337
    Abstract: A rotor for a permanent magnet machine includes first and second axially successive rotor sections each including permanent magnets generating magnetic field having a pole pitch. The rotor includes a first coupling system for connecting the first rotor section to a shaft and a second coupling system for connecting the second rotor section to the shaft or to the first rotor section. The second rotor section is rotatable with respect to the first rotor section by an angle corresponding to the pole pitch in response to releasing the second coupling system so as to set the stator flux-linkages generated by the first and second rotor sections to be substantially zeroes. Thereafter, the permanent magnets do not substantially induce voltages on the stator windings even if the rotor is rotating during for example an internal fault of stator windings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Applicant: THE SWITCH DRIVE SYSTEMS OY
    Inventors: Panu KURRONEN, Markus SILVENTOINEN, Jussi PURANEN
  • Patent number: 9525320
    Abstract: An electromechanical device having a mechanical interface structure for connecting to an external rotating element, an electrical machine, and one or more gear stages on a mechanical power transmission path between the mechanical interface structure and a rotor of the electrical machine. The electromechanical device also has bearings for connecting the rotor of the electrical machine rotatably to the structure of the electromechanical device. The bearings carry the axial and radial forces of the rotor, and at least partly the axial and radial forces of the driving shaft of the gear stage, directly connected to the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignees: MOVENTAS GEARS OY, THE SWITCH DRIVE SYSTEMS OY
    Inventors: Tuomas Vuolle-Apiala, Jorma Tirkkonen, Ville Pakarinen, Jari Toikkanen, Olli Liukkonen, Jorma Mustalahti, Ilkka Martikainen
  • Patent number: 9464691
    Abstract: An electromechanical device comprises a mechanical interface structure (101) for connecting to an external rotating element, for example a wind turbine. The device comprises an electrical machine (102-104), and one or more gear stages (105-112) on a power transmission path between the mechanical interface structure and a rotor of the electrical machine. The device further comprises mechanical structures (113-115) constituting a common lubricant oil room for both the gear stages and the electrical machine. The electromechanical device comprises oil channels (116a) for directing lubricant oil circulated in the device to flow via the gear stages and via bearings (118, 119) of the electrical machine. Therefore, a common lubricating system can be used for both the gear stages and the electrical machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignees: The Switch Drive Systems Oy, Moventas Gears OY
    Inventors: Tuomas Vuolle-Apiala, Jorma Tirkkonen, Ville Pakarinen, Jari Toikkanen, Olli Liukkonen, Jorma Mustalahti, Ilkka Martikainen
  • Patent number: 9444386
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a processing system (201) configured to produce voltage control signals for controlling an electrical machine (202) comprising two or more multiphase stator windings. The processing system is configured to produce the voltage control signals on the basis of rotation-converted stator currents expressed in a coordinate system bound to a rotor of the electrical machine and on the basis of a model of the electrical machine modeling at least inductances of the multiphase stator windings and mutual inductances between the multiphase stator windings. The processing system is configured to convert phase currents of the multiphase stator windings into the rotation-converted stator currents with a conversion rule corresponding to a form of the model of the electrical machine where each of the stator flux-linkages of the model is dependent on only one of the rotation-converted stator currents in spite of the mutual inductances between the multiphase stator windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: THE SWITCH DRIVE SYSTEMS OY
    Inventors: Tomi Knuutila, Riku Pöllänen, Samuli Kallio, Pasi Peltoniemi, Jussi Karttunen
  • Publication number: 20150229261
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a processing system (201) configured to produce voltage control signals for controlling an electrical machine (202) comprising two or more multiphase stator windings. The processing system is configured to produce the voltage control signals on the basis of rotation-converted stator currents expressed in a coordinate system bound to a rotor of the electrical machine and on the basis of a model of the electrical machine modeling at least inductances of the multiphase stator windings and mutual inductances between the multiphase stator windings. The processing system is configured to convert phase currents of the multiphase stator windings into the rotation-converted stator currents with a conversion rule corresponding to a form of the model of the electrical machine where each of the stator flux-linkages of the model is dependent on only one of the rotation-converted stator currents in spite of the mutual inductances between the multiphase stator windings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Applicant: THE SWITCH DRIVE SYSTEMS OY
    Inventors: Tomi Knuutila, Riku Pöllänen, Samuli Kallio, Pasi Peltoniemi, Jussi Karttunen
  • Patent number: 8841815
    Abstract: A method for installing a rotor of an electrical machine is disclosed. The method comprises using axially directed guide bars (107-109) for keeping the rotor (102) centered with respect to a bore of a stator (101) during the installation of the rotor. The rotor has sliding surfaces so that it can be slid in the axial direction to its final position along the guide bars. The mechanical support structure (104) that supports bearings (105, 106) of the rotor are provided with supporting surfaces for being able to give mechanical support to the guide bars. The mechanical support structure (104) may comprise for example threaded holes to which threaded ends of the guide bars can be tightened. After the rotor has been moved to its final position and it is supported by the bearings, the guide bars are removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignees: The Switch Drive Systems Oy, Moventas Gears Oy
    Inventors: Tuomas Vuolle-Apiala, Jorma Tirkkonen, Ville Pakarinen, Jari Toikkanen, Olli Liukkonen, Jorma Mustalahti, Ilkka Martikainen
  • Patent number: 8829919
    Abstract: Method and system for monitoring the condition of the capacitor arrangement (14-16) of the DC-voltage intermediate circuit of a power electronics appliance, such as of a frequency converter, at the place of usage, in which method the discharge voltage over the capacitor arrangement as a function of time is measured, and in which method the intermediate circuit is pre-charged with a pre-determined DC voltage, the pre-charging is removed from the intermediate circuit, the voltage of the intermediate circuit is measured by sampling at regular intervals, the voltage drop as a function of time is determined on the basis of the measured voltage of the intermediate circuit, the capacitance or the relative change in it is determined on the basis of the voltage drop, the value of the determined capacitance or of the relative change in it is compared to a pre-determined limit value on the basis of the voltage drop, and the necessary condition monitoring procedure is performed when the value determined with the measurem
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: The Switch Drive Systems Oy
    Inventor: Timo Alho
  • Patent number: 8598760
    Abstract: A permanent magnet module for a rotor of a permanent magnet electrical machine is presented. The permanent magnet module comprises: a stack of ferromagnetic steel sheets (104) having a groove in the direction perpendicular to the ferromagnetic steel sheets, and a permanent magnet (105) located in the groove and arranged to produce magnetic flux that penetrates a surface (106) of the stack of ferromagnetic steel sheets. The surface has a shape suitable for forming a desired magnetic flux density distribution into an air-gap of the permanent magnet electrical machine. The permanent magnet module further comprises a base-plate (102) made of solid ferromagnetic steel. The base plate is located at an opening (116) of the groove and constitutes together with the groove an aperture in which the permanent magnet is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: The Switch Drive Systems Oy
    Inventor: Panu Kurronen
  • Patent number: 8193889
    Abstract: A filter appliance comprises first electrical terminals (201-203) for connecting to a multiphase electrical converter device, second electrical terminals (204-206) for connecting to a load, main current coils formed of foil conductors and connected between the first and the second electrical terminals, and shielding coils whose first ends are electrically connected to a third electrical terminal (219) of the filter appliance. Each of the shielding coils is formed of foil conductor that is alongside and a distance apart from the foil conductor of the corresponding main current coil so as to form a capacitive shield between successive turns of the main current coil. When the third electrical terminal is connected to constant electrical potential, the shielding coils reduce the common mode voltage applied to the load and, for example, a risk of bearing damages in an electrical motor driven by a multiphase electrical converter device is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: The Switch Drive Systems Oy
    Inventors: Juha Jaakko Pyrhönen, Pertti Tapani Silventoinen, Mikko Pekka Juhani Kuisma, Valentin Dzhankhotov
  • Publication number: 20110273063
    Abstract: An electromechanical device comprising a mechanical interface structure (101) for connecting to an external rotating element, an electrical machine (102-104, 117), and one or more gear stages (105-112) on a mechanical power transmission path between the mechanical interface structure and a rotor of the electrical machine, wherein the electromechanical device further comprises a bearing means (118, 119) for connecting the rotor (103) of the electrical machine rotatably to the structure of the electromechanical device, which bearing means carry the axial and radial forces of the rotor and at least partly the axial and radial forces of the driving shaft (112) of the gear stage directly connected to the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicants: THE SWITCH DRIVE SYSTEMS OY, MOVENTAS WIND OY
    Inventors: Tuomas Vuolle-Apiala, Jorma Tirkkonen, Ville Pakarinen, Jari Toikkanen, Olli Liukkonen, Jorma Mustalahti, Ilkka Martikainen
  • Publication number: 20110272214
    Abstract: An electromechanical device comprises a mechanical interface structure (101) for connecting to an external rotating element, for example a wind turbine. The device comprises an electrical machine (102-104), and one or more gear stages (105-112) on a power transmission path between the mechanical interface structure and a rotor of the electrical machine. The device further comprises mechanical structures (113-115) constituting a common lubricant oil room for both the gear stages and the electrical machine. The electromechanical device comprises oil channels (116a) for directing lubricant oil circulated in the device to flow via the gear stages and via bearings (118, 119) of the electrical machine. Therefore, a common lubricating system can be used for both the gear stages and the electrical machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicants: MOVENTAS WIND OY, THE SWITCH DRIVE SYSTEMS OY
    Inventors: Tuomas Vuolle-Apiala, Jorma Tirkkonen, Ville Pakarinen, Jari Toikkanen, Olli Liukkonen, Jorma Mustalahti, IIkka Martikainen
  • Publication number: 20110273045
    Abstract: A method for installing a rotor of an electrical machine is disclosed. The method comprises using axially directed guide bars (107-109) for keeping the rotor (102) centered with respect to a bore of a stator (101) during the installation of the rotor. The rotor has sliding surfaces so that it can be slid in the axial direction to its final position along the guide bars. The mechanical support structure (104) that supports bearings (105, 106) of the rotor are provided with supporting surfaces for being able to give mechanical support to the guide bars. The mechanical support structure (104) may comprise for example threaded holes to which threaded ends of the guide bars can be tightened. After the rotor has been moved to its final position and it is supported by the bearings, the guide bars are removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicants: MOVENTAS WIND OY, THE SWITCH DRIVE SYSTEM OY
    Inventors: Tuomas Vuolle-Apiala, Jorma Tirkkonen, Ville Pakarinen, Jari Toikkanen, Olli Liukkonen, Jorma Mustalahti, Ilkka Martikainen
  • Publication number: 20110273064
    Abstract: An electromechanical device comprising a mechanical interface structure (101) for connecting to an external rotating element, an electrical machine (102-104), and one or more gear stages (105-112) on a mechanical power transmission path between the mechanical interface structure and a rotor (103) of the electrical machine, wherein the rotor (103) of the electrical machine is supported by the frame of the gear stage directly connected to the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicants: THE SWITCH DRIVE SYSTEMS OY, MOVENTAS WIND OY
    Inventors: Tuomas VUOLLE-APIALA, Jorma Tirkkonen, Ville Pakarinen, Jari Toikkanen, Olli Liukkonen, Jorma Mustalahti, Ilkka Martikainen
  • Publication number: 20110007433
    Abstract: A filter appliance comprises first electrical terminals (201-203) for connecting to a multiphase electrical converter device, second electrical terminals (204-206) for connecting to a load, main current coils formed of foil conductors and connected between the first and the second electrical terminals, and shielding coils whose first ends are electrically connected to a third electrical terminal (219) of the filter appliance. Each of the shielding coils is formed of foil conductor that is alongside and a distance apart from the foil conductor of the corresponding main current coil so as to form a capacitive shield between successive turns of the main current coil. When the third electrical terminal is connected to constant electrical potential, the shielding coils reduce the common mode voltage applied to the load and, for example, a risk of bearing damages in an electrical motor driven by a multiphase electrical converter device is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: THE SWITCH DRIVE SYSTEMS OY
    Inventors: Juha Jaakko Pyrhönen, Pertti Tapani Sil Ventoinen, Mikko Pekka Juhani Kuisma, Valentin Dzhankhotov