Abstract: A sensorless control for DC permanent magnet brushless motor includes a feedback loop connected between the motor stator windings and the inverter which controls the timer at which current is provided to the various windings in sequence. The control of the invention includes a voltage sensing network for sensing the back EMF on each motor winding when it is unenergized and comparing this voltage with a null point. For maximum torque this voltage has an optimum value and variation from this value produces an error signal which is integrated to produce a VCO drive signal. This signal controls the frequency of a VCO which in turn controls the switching times of the inverter.

Abstract: A field orientation control system for an interior permanent magnet synchronous motor includes function generating means responsive to a torque command signal for producing direct and quadrature axis direct current signals which are converted to synchronously-varying two-phase signals for coupling to power control means, for effecting sinusoidal energization of the permanent magnet motor. The function generators modify the torque command signal as a predetermined function of the motor parameters. Rotor position information is derived from measured stator voltages and currents without the use of a separate rotor position sensor. The control system includes means for establishing a preselected amplitude of a stator .alpha.-axis current in the motor at start-up prior to establishing orthogonal .beta.-axis current such that the motor rotor is caused to become initially aligned with the selected .alpha.-axis.

Abstract: In a converter for a switched reluctance motor, a dump capacitor receives freewheeling current from each phase and resupplies the charge to the dc supply. In this manner, residual magnetic energy is recovered and phase current quickly reduced while the converter requires only one main switching device and one freewheeling device per phase and the converter allows a unipolar source to be used.

Abstract: An electric machine has a stator body formed of a coil of concentric layers of amorphous metal tape and slots are formed in one end of the coil for receiving a stator winding. A rotor structure having permanent magnet poles embedded therein is placed adjacent the end surface of the stator and is coupled thereto through the axial gap between the stator and rotor. The magnets are held in place in a nonmagnetic matrix which consists of an epoxy fiber laminate material. By enlarging the outer diameter of the rotor with the epoxy fiber laminate material, the rotor serves as an integral flywheel structure.

Abstract: A variable speed a-c drive motor is controlled by a current feedback pulse width modulation scheme which effectively isolates the controlled motor current from variations in the input d-c voltage. An additional control loop is provided to superimpose a control signal on the amplitude command input circuit of the pulse width modulation control scheme. The additional loop responds to line current and particularly line current resonance between the input d-c filter and the line inductance. Instantaneous line current is then maintained at the minimum required to support instantaneous power flow to the a-c motor so that resonance current is suppressed.

Abstract: Improved operation of a pulse width modulated inverter machine drive system is obtained by a control apparatus which regulates inverter switching device conduction by modifying switching signal waveforms transmitted to the inverter to eliminate switching pulses narrower than the minimum inverter switching device pulse width. By dropping the narrow inverter switching pulses in sequence during the exact interval which the pulses would otherwise occur and boosting the amplitude of remaining pulses, the control apparatus permits the inverter to smoothly transition from pulse width modulation operation to square wave operation without objectionable jumps in inverter output voltage.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling a permanent magnet AC synchronous motor supplied by a forced commutated inverter that does not use a mechanical shaft position sensor. A control loop regulates an inverter frequency and maintains inverter synchronism with the motor using electrical angle feedback signals developed from measured flux signals that have been phase shifted.

Abstract: Alternating current is supplied to an auxiliary load on a transit car from a power supply comprised of a DC-energized inverter and a synchronous machine coupled to the inverter. The inverter supplies the alternating current requirements of the load up to the normal steady state load current magnitude. The synchronous machine stores kinetic energy when the load current load does not exceed its normal steady state magnitude, and converts kinetic energy into electrical energy to supply the load current requirements in excess of its normal steady-state load magnitude and to supply load current whenever the DC source-inverter connection is interrupted. Frequency and amplitude of load voltage are regulated by operator commands through control apparatus coupled to the inverter and the synchronous machine.

Abstract: An alternating current machine drive system, comprised of an alternating current machine and an inverter configured of a plurality of pairs of transistors with the transistors of each pair coupled in series-aiding fashion and each of the pairs of serially coupled transistors connected across a direct current source, is controlled in accordance with inverter current. The transistors of each inverter transistor pair are alternately rendered conductive to supply alternating current at the inverter output in accordance with a current error signal, proportional to the difference in magnitude between actual inverter phase current and a sinusoidal reference signal, with the conduction state of the transistors of each pair reversing each time the current error signal exceeds an upper and lower hysteresis limit, which limits vary in accordance with actual inverter phase current.

Abstract: To achieve synchronization of an inverter-synchronous machine drive system, feedback of a phase angle signal, derived in part from stator current drawn by, and voltage supplied to, the synchronous machine, is provided to control the frequency of inverter thyristor conduction. At light or zero synchronous machine load conditions, machine stator current may be of insufficient magnitude to permit derivation of the phase angle feedback signal; therefore, substitute simulated stator current signals, proportional to a preselected combination of inverter thyristor gating pulses, are utilized to derive the phase angle feedback signal, thereby allowing inverter-synchronous machine drive synchronism to be maintained.

Abstract: In an inverter-synchronous machine drive system subject to operator control, feedback control is employed to synchronize machine-inverter operation. A phase angle command signal, responsive to a fixed value phase angle signal during initial machine excitation and alternately responsive to machine load variation as controlled by an operator command, is generated and compared against the actual machine phase angle difference between machine phase current and air gap flux. A frequency command signal, responsive to the angle difference therebetween, is impressed on the inverter to vary machine excitation responsive to the magnitude of the phase angle difference.

Abstract: A substantially smooth, continuous and sinusoidal air gap flux signal for an AC machine is provided from machine terminal voltages and line currents. A voltage representative of the machine stator voltage is combined with a voltage representative of the resistive voltage drop component across the stator to yield an intermediate voltage. This intermediate voltage is integrated and combined with a voltage representative of the stator flux leakage reactance to yield an air gap flux signal proportional to the difference between the integral of the intermediate voltage and the stator flux leakage reactance voltage.

Abstract: An a-c electric induction motor control system having apparatus for balancing motor air-gap flux against motor stator current in a manner to derive a motor excitation command signal which tends to cause the control system to force the motor to operate on a predetermined torque versus slip frequency characteristic. The motor excitation command signal is utilized to regulate the magnitude of excitation supplied to the motor such that the air-gap flux level assumes a predetermined magnitude as a function of the motor slip frequency. Above motor corner point velocity, the balancing is modified in favor of flux such that the motor is operated in a constant horsepower mode.

Abstract: For use with an adjustable speed a-c electric motor comprising a stator having effective direct and quadrature axes and a rotor spaced from the stator by a gap, said stator including windings adapted to be connected to a source of excitation of variable frequency and amplitude, a scheme is provided that comprises means for deriving a "torque angle" feedback signal representative of the phase angle between current and flux that interact in the motor to develop electromagnetic torque tending to move the rotor relative to the stator, in combination with means responsive to the torque angle feedback signal for controlling the source of excitation so as to control the frequency of stator excitation as a function of the torque angle feedback signal. In one aspect of the invention, means is provided for controlling the source of excitation so as to control the amplitude of stator excitation as a function of a variable command signal that is prevented from deviating below a predetermined limit.

Abstract: For use with an adjustable speed a-c electric motor having a stator adapted to be coupled to a source of variable frequency excitation and a rotor in which torque is developed when the motor is excited, the strength of said torque being dependent on interacting current and flux in the motor, a scheme is provided that comprises means for deriving an angle feedback signal representative of the actual phase angle between the aforesaid current and flux and means responsive to said angle feedback signal for controlling the source of variable frequency excitation so as to control the frequency of stator excitation as a function of the angle feedback signal.