Patents by Inventor Gary L. Skibinski
Gary L. Skibinski has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 7724549Abstract: A device for conditioning power delivered to operate a motor is disclosed. The device includes a sealed housing having at least one input terminal extending through the housing and configured to receive an input power and at least one output terminal extending through the housing and configured to deliver an output power conditioned to power a motor coupled to the output terminal. The device also includes a filter inductor arranged in the housing and that has an input configured to receive the input power from the input terminal. The filter inductor output terminal has a tap that is extended through the housing to allow coupling of various external filter components, such as resistors capacitors and inductors. Accordingly, the filter inductor is configured to suppress voltage changes in the input power and deliver a filtered power to an output of the filter inductor.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2006Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Gary L. Skibinski, John Wilkins, Rick Hoadley, Nick Guskov, Dennis Braun
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Publication number: 20090303652Abstract: A filter device reduces reflections on power lines from the motor drive to AC motors by providing a differential mode choke in series with a common mode choke both shunted by resistances tailored to the characteristic impedance of the power cable for differential mode and common mode reflections respectively. By treating both common mode based and differential mode based reflections, superior transient control and motor drive performance may be obtained.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2008Publication date: December 10, 2009Inventors: Rangarajan M. Tallam, Gary L. Skibinski
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Publication number: 20090267431Abstract: A terminator reduces reflections on power lines connecting an inverter to an AC motor by providing a differential-mode reflection damping element and at least one common-mode reflection damping element, the latter including a series capacitance to substantially reduce power dissipation in the resistance of the damping elements.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2008Publication date: October 29, 2009Inventors: Rangarajan M. Tallam, Gary L. Skibinski
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Patent number: 7602622Abstract: The present invention is directed to a compensator-filter circuit for reducing low order current harmonics in a three-phase drive system driving a single-phase load, the three-phase drive system including a three-phase source voltage connected to a rectifier system connected to a DC link capacitor connected to a three-phase voltage source inverter.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2006Date of Patent: October 13, 2009Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Lixiang Wei, Gary L. Skibinski, Richard A. Lukaszewski
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Patent number: 7518891Abstract: An auxiliary circuit for reducing low order current harmonics in a three-phase drive system driving a single-phase load, the three-phase drive system including a three-phase source voltage connected to a rectifier system connected to a DC link choke inductor connected to a three-phase current source inverter system.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2006Date of Patent: April 14, 2009Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Lixiang Wei, Gary L. Skibinski, Richard A. Lukaszewski
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Patent number: 7502238Abstract: A rectifier includes a transformer, a rectifying bridge, a link capacitor, and at least a first resonance loop. The transformer is operable to receive three phase input signals having a source frequency and generate a plurality of transformer phase signals. The rectifying bridge has a number of stages corresponding to the number of transformer phase signals and is operable to generate a rectified output signal based on the transformer phase signals. The link capacitor is coupled across the rectifying bridge. The first resonance loop is coupled between the rectifying bridge and the link capacitor. The first resonance loop has a first resonance frequency corresponding to a harmonic frequency of the source frequency.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2005Date of Patent: March 10, 2009Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Lixiang Wei, Gary L. Skibinski, Richard A. Lukaszewski
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Patent number: 7477531Abstract: A compensator circuit for reducing low order current harmonics in a three-phase drive system driving a single-phase load, the three-phase drive system including a three-phase source voltage connected to a rectifier system connected to a DC link capacitor connected to a three-phase voltage source inverter that supplies three-phase power.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2006Date of Patent: January 13, 2009Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Lixiang Wei, Gary L. Skibinski, Richard A. Lukaszewski
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Publication number: 20080074074Abstract: A device for conditioning power delivered to operate a motor is disclosed. The device includes a sealed housing having at least one input terminal extending through the housing and configured to receive an input power and at least one output terminal extending through the housing and configured to deliver an output power conditioned to power a motor coupled to the output terminal. The device also includes a filter inductor arranged in the housing and that has an input configured to receive the input power from the input terminal. The filter inductor output terminal has a tap that is extended through the housing to allow coupling of various external filter components, such as resistors capacitors and inductors. Accordingly, the filter inductor is configured to suppress voltage changes in the input power and deliver a filtered power to an output of the filter inductor.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2006Publication date: March 27, 2008Inventors: Gary L. Skibinski, John A. Wilkins, Rick Hoadley, Nick Guskov, Dennis Braun
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Patent number: 6549434Abstract: A harmonic mitigating apparatus connected between a three phase power source and a load provides a multiple-winding reactor for reducing harmonics directed from the load to the source, the apparatus including, for each system phase, first and second line windings in series between the source and load and oriented so as to have the same polarity such that the winding fluxes add thereby increasing total reactance to harmonics directed from the load to the supply, the apparatus also including at least one trap circuit including a series inductance and capacitor for each phase and linked between the first and second line windings and a neutral point (or another phase), the trap circuit characterized by a reactance that is lower than the reactance of the first line winding such that harmonics flow into the trap circuit, for each phase, at least two of the first and second line windings and the trap winding arranged on the same core.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2001Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Dongsheng Zhou, Gary L. Skibinski, Walt A. Maslowski, Brian R. Buchholz, Nick N. Guskov
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Publication number: 20030053320Abstract: A harmonic mitigating apparatus connected between a three phase power source and a load provides a multiple-winding reactor for reducing harmonics directed from the load to the source, the apparatus including, for each system phase, first and second line windings in series between the source and load and oriented so as to have the same polarity such that the winding fluxes add thereby increasing total reactance to harmonics directed from the load to the supply, the apparatus also including at least one trap circuit including a series inductance and capacitor for each phase and linked between the first and second line windings and a neutral point (or another phase), the trap circuit characterized by a reactance that is lower than the reactance of the first line winding such that harmonics flow into the trap circuit, for each phase, at least two of the first and second line windings and the trap winding arranged on the same core.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2001Publication date: March 20, 2003Inventors: Dongsheng Zhou, Gary L. Skibinski, Walt A. Maslowski, Brian R. Buchholz, Nick N. Guskov
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Patent number: 6385064Abstract: A nine-phase AC to DC power converter system may exhibit current unbalance problem among bridges due to two reasons: slight voltage magnitude difference among different sets of three-phase supplies and pre-existing voltage harmonics in the power supply lines. Since the unpredictability of the pre-existing harmonics and manufacturing uncertainty of the nine-phase power supply (it is usually a three to nine phase transformer), all devices in the rectifier bridges are required to carry much higher than necessary current magnitude and have to be designed oversize, as much as 100% up. Here we describe various topologies of harmonic blocking reactors to combat this problem. The described topologies can significantly improve this situation and thus avoid the over-sizing exercise (cost) when such converter system is built. The principle can be easily extended to any multi-phase AC to DC or DC to AC power conversion system of more than nine phases.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2001Date of Patent: May 7, 2002Assignee: Rockwell Technologies, LLCInventors: Dongsheng Zhou, Gary L. Skibinski, Walt A. Maslowski, Brian R. Buchholz, Bruce A. Hachey, Nickolay N. Guskov
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Patent number: 6208537Abstract: An apparatus to be used with a PWM VSI which is linked by voltage supply cables to either a passive or a dynamic load, the VSI providing voltages on the cables which have at least one primary harmonic component, the apparatus linked to the output terminals of the VSI and including a line inductor between each output terminal and the load and, for each cable, at least one resonant filter branch including an inductor and a capacitor linked to each of the supply lines and to a common node wherein the line inductors are chosen so as to limit filter current and the branch elements are chosen such that a resonant frequency thereof is essentially equal to the frequency of the primary harmonic component.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 1999Date of Patent: March 27, 2001Assignee: Rockwell Technologies, LLCInventors: Gary L. Skibinski, Brian R. Buchholz
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Patent number: 6198647Abstract: The invention includes an autotransformer for converting three-phase AC power to twelve-phase AC power using only three coils (e.g., no primary or dead windings are required). The autotransformer includes three coils, each coil including a plurality of serial windings that together form a polygon. Twelve output nodes are provided between adjacent winding pairs, the windings sized and arranged such that adjacent output voltages are separated by 30 degree phase shift and such that output voltage magnitudes are essentially identical. In some embodiments step-up, step-down and unity gain input node sets are provided while in other embodiments unity gain and either step-up or step-down input node sets are provided. The invention also includes an isolation transformer configuration that uses a secondary configuration that is identical to inventive autotransformer configurations.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2000Date of Patent: March 6, 2001Assignee: Rockwell Technologies, LLCInventors: Dongsheng Zhou, Nickolay N. Guskov, Gary L. Skibinski
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Patent number: 6014497Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the critical dwell time required between firing pulses generated by a PWM inverter to eliminate greater than twice overvoltage on motor supply lines. Critical dwell time is correlated with line parameters including inductance and resistance per unit length and is then provided to a controller to alter voltages provided to a motor to eliminate overvoltage.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 1997Date of Patent: January 11, 2000Assignee: Allen-Bradley Company, LLCInventors: Russel J. Kerkman, David Leggate, Gary L. Skibinski
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Patent number: 5990654Abstract: An apparatus for essentially eliminating transmission line reflected waves and standing waves and for reducing common mode transient currents for use with a three phase motor controller, the apparatus including a common mode choke in series with a filter network between an inverter and a motor, the filter including three inductors and three resistors, the inductors and resistors together forming three inductor-resistor pairs, each pair including an inductor in parallel with a resistor, each pair linked to a separate one of three transmission supply lines which link the inverter to the motor, values of the resistors and inductors selected according to transmission line theory.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 1998Date of Patent: November 23, 1999Assignee: Allen-Bradley Company, LLCInventors: Gary L. Skibinski, Henrik B. Nielsen
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Patent number: 5990658Abstract: An apparatus for receiving and modifying a PWM trigger signal such that consecutive ON and OFF periods have durations at least as long as a critical dwell time where the critical dwell time is the minimum time required to avoid greater than twice overvoltage. The trigger signals are modified by, each time a trigger signal changes from low to high, providing a minimum pulse signal which remains high for the greater of a critical dwell time or the time over which the trigger signal remains high, when the minimum pulse signal changes from high to low, providing a maximum pulse signal which remains low for a critical dwell time, adding the maximum and minimum pulse times using a logical AND gate and providing the output of the AND gate as a modified trigger signal.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 1998Date of Patent: November 23, 1999Assignee: Allen-Bradley Company, LLCInventors: Russel J. Kerkman, David Leggate, Gary L. Skibinski
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Patent number: 5912813Abstract: A method and apparatus for eliminating greater than twice motor over voltage by altering modulating signals provided to a PWM controller which in turn provides firing pulses to a PWM inverter. The modulating waves are altered by either tying them to positive or negative DC buses or limiting their maximum magnitudes when their instantaneous characteristics are known to cause greater than twice overvoltage. The modulating waveforms are altered in a symmetrical fashion so that the resulting fundamental terminal voltages remain essentially unchanged.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 1997Date of Patent: June 15, 1999Assignee: Allen-Bradley Company, LLCInventors: Russel J. Kerkman, David Leggate, Gary L. Skibinski, Ahmet M. Hava
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Patent number: 5671130Abstract: A method and apparatus for eliminating greater than twice over voltage by altering firing signals provided to a PWM inverter. The signals are altered by either limiting their maximum and minimum on-times or eliminating signal changes in a symmetrical fashion so that the overall fundamental component and magnitude of a resulting low frequency alternating voltage is substantially unaltered.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 1996Date of Patent: September 23, 1997Assignee: Allen-Bradley Company, Inc.Inventors: Russel J. Kerkman, David Leggate, Gary L. Skibinski
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Patent number: 5661353Abstract: An apparatus reducing capacitive coupling between the stator and the rotor of an electromagnetic machine. The apparatus includes an electrically connective shield positionable between the stator and the rotor, the shield electrically separated from both the stator windings and the rotor when so positioned. A grounder electrically connects the shielder to ground thus substantially reducing capacitive coupling between the stator and the rotor.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 1995Date of Patent: August 26, 1997Assignee: Allen-Bradley Company, Inc.Inventors: Jay M. Erdman, Russel J. Kerkman, David W. Schlegel, Gary L. Skibinski