Alternating-current-motor System Patents (Class 318/148)
  • Patent number: 6969923
    Abstract: An engine start system includes a starter starting an engine, a starter drive relay controlling the starter and an engine ECU connected to a starter switch for controlling on/off of the starter drive relay based on a predetermined start condition. The engine start system further includes a normally closed relay connected to the starter switch, the engine ECU and the starter for establishing a de-energized state between the starter switch and the starter upon energization from the engine ECU to an exciting coil and establishing an energized state between the starter switch and the starter upon de-energization of the exciting coil. The engine ECU includes a circuit energizing the exciting coil of the normally closed relay upon turn-on of the engine ECU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takumi Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 6949897
    Abstract: A control device for a hybrid vehicle which enables an appropriate electrical control based on the usable electrical energy stored in the battery device. In this control device, in step S357, in which it is determined whether the value of an energy storage zone B flag F_ ESZONEB is “1”. When the result of the determination is “Yes”, the operation proceeds to step S358. In step in step S358, the WOT assist amount lowest coefficient KQBWOASTL, which increases as the use-permission zone PECAPFIB of the state of charge SOC increases, is retrieved from a table. In step in step S359, the WOT assist amount coefficient,KQBWOAST, which increases from the lowest table value KQBWOASTL to a predetermined highest value as the state of charge SOC increases, is retrieved from a table, and a value obtained by multiplying the WOT assist command WOTAST and the WOT assist amount coefficient KQBWOAST retrieved from the table is newly set as the WOT assist command WOTAST.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Teruo Wakashiro, Atsushi Matsubara, Yasuo Nakamoto, Atsushi Shibutani, Morio Kayano, Kazuya Ozono
  • Patent number: 6864648
    Abstract: A motor that includes a stator that contains a first winding and a second winding driven by alternating currents. The rotor is arranged to rotate relative to the stator and contains a third winding and a fourth winding for generating a magnetic field with an amplitude and a phase angle relative to the alternating currents in the first and second windings of the stator. The motor includes a circuit in communication with the third and fourth windings for controlling the phase angle of the magnetic field and generating a rotating magnetic field that is in phase-lock with the alternating currents in the first and second windings of the stator. The motor also includes a control circuit and a comparator. The control circuit has an angular position feedback device for measuring the phase of the stator and the angular position and velocity of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Powersci, Inc
    Inventor: Ian D. Stedman
  • Patent number: 6472845
    Abstract: An inverter (23) generates a composite current comprising an electrical current for a first rotor (4) and an electrical current for a second rotor (3). A microprocessor (22) controls the inverter (23) so that the average value of the composite current is smaller than the sum of the average values of the respective currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuusuke Minagawa, Hisayuki Furuse, Minoru Arimitsu, Shoichi Maeda, Masaki Nakano
  • Patent number: 6465979
    Abstract: A method and device for providing series compensation for rotating electric alternating current machines connected either directly, or via a static current converter, to a three-phase distribution or transmission network. The stator of the electric machine is Y-connected. A capacitive circuit for the fundamental frequency of the voltage is connected to each phase between the low voltage side of the winding and a ground of the transmission network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventors: Mats Leijon, Lars Gertmar, Jan-Anders Nygren, Peter Templin
  • Patent number: 6351090
    Abstract: A device for starting a gas turbine in an aircraft includes an electrical power supply delivering a direct current and a drive electric motor connected to the power supply, independent of the turbine to be started and having an output shaft mechanically coupled to an input shaft of the turbine to rotate with it. The drive electric motor is a three-phase alternating current synchronous motor and is controlled by an inverter connected to the power supply. Applications include situations in which the turbine to be driven is a high-power turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Aerospatiale Societe Nationale Industrielle and Kollmorgen Artus
    Inventors: Serge Boyer, Régine Sutra-Orus, Stéphane Tregine-Regent, Alain Tardy, Claude Barbier, Philippe Buron, Patrick Ribardiere, Marcel Louarn
  • Patent number: 6320350
    Abstract: A modulation control type of AC motor includes a modulator and a modulation motor. The modulation motor has the structure in which a DC field power source of a two-phase synchronous motor is replaced by a load and a DC main magnetic flux is replaced by an alternate main magnetic flux. There is no interference between the frequency of an AC power source and the frequency of a modulation signal. Therefore, the synchronous torque and the rotation speed can be controlled separately and independently. The controllable range is wide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Inventor: Takashi Take
  • Patent number: 6201331
    Abstract: Two rotors (3,4) and one stator (2) are arranged coaxially. The stator (2) comprises a coil unit (6) which produces, by the supply of a first alternating current, the same number of rotating magnetic fields as the number of magnetic poles of said first rotor (3), and, by the supply of a second alternating current, the same number of rotating magnetic fields as the number of magnetic poles of said second rotor (4). A composite current of said first and second alternating currents is supplied to said coil unit (6), and a circuit (15) is provided for compensating torque fluctuation due to non-uniformity of the magnetic field accompanying the relative rotation of the two said rotors (3, 4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaki Nakano
  • Patent number: 6198238
    Abstract: An electrical generator, consisting of a high phase order generator and a high phase order cycloconverter. Output from said cycloconverter may be high phase order, three phase, single phase, or direct current. Output from said cycloconverter may be of arbitrary frequency, voltage, and phase. Power electronic components are smaller and more efficiently used. Slower and therefor less expensive devices may be beneficially used. Variable speed resources may be used without the use of a DC to DC converter, enhancing power production efficiency. In a beneficial embodiment of the present invention, said cycloconverter is used to provide power directly to a high phase order motor, whereby diesel electric drive means may be constructed to higher specific power and higher efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Borealis Technical Limited
    Inventor: Jonathan S. Edelson
  • Patent number: 6031352
    Abstract: A control apparatus controlling the operation of pulse width modulator for an electric clutch or electric motor in portable spray painting equipment having a pressure transducer for sensing the pressure, a manually adjustable pressure reference, a comparator type error detector, and a pressure deadband control for inserting a deadband in a pressure control loop with the deadband varying as the pressure reference varies. A fixed deadband is provided below a predetermined low pressure setting to avoid excessive cycling of the control apparatus during low pressure operation. The pulse width modulator control circuit includes compensation for improving input power factor. The clutch control includes an active alternative load circuit switched in when the alternator output voltage is above a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Wagner Spray Tech Corporation
    Inventor: Dennis A. Carlson
  • Patent number: 6020712
    Abstract: An AC machine comprises: a motor energized by an AC source subject to irregularities of frequency and voltage; a generator driven by the motor for supplying an AC output signal of substantially constant frequency and voltage, the generator having a rotor with a layer of a re-magnetizable, relatively high coercive magnetic material on the rotor and a stator of a soft magnetic material having a pole piece and an excitation coil on the pole piece, the stator and the rotor rotating relative to one another with a clearance enabling rotor poles to be formed on the re-magnetizable layer by current energizing the excitation coil; and, a control signal generator responsive to at least one of the AC output signal and a signal representative of the current energizing the excitation coil for generating pulses of programmed wave shapes which differ in at least one of width, phase and magnitude as necessary to modify the rotor poles during the irregularities of the AC source to maintain the substantially constant frequency
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Precise Power Corporation
    Inventors: John F. Roesel, Jr., Ronnie J. Barber
  • Patent number: 5796224
    Abstract: An electronic control unit for controlling an inverter mounted between a main battery and a motor in an electric vehicle includes a feed-back control device which ensures that an actual electric power calculated from an electric current and a voltage inputted to the inverter is equalized to a target electric power calculated from the motor revolution-number, an accelerator opening degree and a shift position. If a circuit between the main battery and the motor is opened during regenerative operation, so that the charging of the main battery with a regenerative electric power cannot be performed and as a result, the voltage is increased to exceed a predetermined value, a regeneration prohibiting device prohibits the regenerative operation of the motor to prevent damage to the inverter due to a counter-electromotive voltage of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyotaka Hayashi, Hisahiro Ito, Tomoyuki Itoh, Naofumi Hoshi
  • Patent number: 5789882
    Abstract: A drive control apparatus for an automotive vehicle having an electric motor and an engine operated by combustion of a fuel, the drive control apparatus including a drive source selecting device for selecting an engine drive mode or a motor drive mode on the basis of a first value in the engine drive mode of a physical quantity relating to a condition of the engine and a second value of the same physical quantity reflecting energy conversion efficiencies of the electric motor, an electric generator and an electric energy storage device during an electricity generating mode. The physical quantity is preferably a fuel consumption amount by the engine. The drive control apparatus may also include an engine output determining device that optimizes the efficiency of the system by determining the output of the engine so as to power the vehicle and also provide surplus power to operate the electric generator and charge the electric energy storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryuji Ibaraki, Yutaka Taga, Hiroshi Hata, Atsushi Tabata, Seitoku Kubo
  • Patent number: 5714851
    Abstract: The invention provides a hybrid drive arrangement, particularly for a motor vehicle, having an internal combustion engine, a generator, a rectifier, an inverter, an energy accumulator connected to the direct current line between the rectifier and the inverter as well as a driving motor coupled to the inverter. A bypass line bridges the rectifier--direct-current line--inverter path, and a switching element is provided to couple the driving motor with the generator selectively by way of the rectifier--direct-current line--inverse rectifier path on the one hand, or the bypass line on the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG
    Inventors: Peter Antony, Michael Buck
  • Patent number: 5642021
    Abstract: A method and system for maximizing the output of an alternator in an automotive vehicle. An alternator is provided having a first rectifier connectable to a first output of the alternator to form a first winding configuration and a second rectifier connectable to a second output of the alternator to form a second winding configuration. Based on the speed of the alternator, a controller operatively couples one of the first and second rectifiers to the first and second outputs, respectively, so as to maximize output current of the alternator. If the speed of the alternator is below a predetermined speed range, the controller couples the first output of the alternator to the first rectifier. Alternatively, if the speed of the alternator is above the predetermined speed range, the controller couples the second output of the alternator to the second rectifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Feng Liang, John Michael Miller, Xingyi Xu
  • Patent number: 5589743
    Abstract: An electric continuously variable drive system includes an ac motor, an alternator for supplying electrical power to the ac motor via a rectifier and an inverter, a heat engine for driving the alternator, an energy storage device for providing electrical energy to the electric continuously variable drive system, and a combination cranking inverter and boost converter. The combination cranking inverter and boost converter is coupled in series between the alternator and the energy storage device and coupled substantially in parallel with the rectifier in a series hybrid drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Robert D. King
  • Patent number: 5550444
    Abstract: In the device, an electric motor is designed as a brushless, electronically commutated pancake motor (201) with permanent magnets arranged on the rotor and coreless windings arranged on the stator. Each winding is provided with a pair of terminals which can be connected in each case via a controllable switch at least to each phase conductor of the alternating power supply and to each other via a further controllable switch.In a device with pick-ups, the instantaneous voltage between one phase conductor each and a neutral conductor or another phase conductor of the alternating power supply, the instantaneous voltage between the two terminals of at least one pair of terminals, and also the instantaneous current in one winding each are repeatedly sampled. The sampled instantaneous voltages or currents are compared with one another and with corresponding threshold values in order to control the switches in dependence on the instantaneous result of the comparisons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Twix Equipment AG
    Inventor: Mathias Zeller
  • Patent number: 5428274
    Abstract: A drive control apparatus for a series hybrid vehicle. The series hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a generator, a battery and a motor. The generator is activated by electricity from the engine so as to drive the motor. The battery is charged by the electricity from the generator, being discharged so as to provide a voltage to the motor. In other words, the motor is also activated by discharging electricity from the battery. There are three modes for activating the motor, i.e. a mode for activating the motor only by the battery, a mode for activating it only by the generator, and a mode for activating it both by the battery and the generator. The motor activating modes will be selected depending upon a required motor output. An output voltage of the generator is determined so as to derive the required output according to the selected mode. The generator is of a type which can output a voltage according to a field current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayuki Furutani, Yoshihide Nii, Kohsuke Suzui, Yoshiyuki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5351775
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for powering and controlling the operation of large diesel-electric off-road haulers of the type in which hauler drive wheels are propelled and retarded by DC electric wheel motors powered from on-board generators, optionally supplemented by DC power, from external trolley lines. In the disclosed system, thyristor-type converters connected into the system AC power grid are used to receive supplemental external power from DC trolley lines and supply it into the AC power distribution grid in the propel mode. The use of such thyristor-type converters makes possible the use of supplemental trolley line power without provision of separate switching or control gear to operate the DC wheel motors when trolley line power is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Marathon LeTourneau Company
    Inventors: Ronald A. Johnston, Dwight Baker, Gary L. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5103923
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for powering and controlling the operation of large diesel-electric off-road haulers of the type in which hauler drive wheels are propelled and retarded by DC electric wheel motors powered from on-board generators, optionally supplemented by DC power, from external trolley lines. In the disclosed system, thyristor-type converters connected into the system AC power grid are used to receive supplemental external power from DC trolley lines and supply it into the AC power distribution grid in the propel mode. The use of such thyristor-type converters makes possible the use of supplement trolley line power without provision of separate switching or control gear to operate the DC wheel motors when trolley line power is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1992
    Assignee: Marathon LeTourneau Company
    Inventors: Ronald A. Johnston, Dwight Baker, Gary L. Nelson
  • Patent number: 4338525
    Abstract: A marine propulson system is described that includes a gas turbine, an alternating current generator, a fixed pitch propeller, a synchronous motor and a frequency converter. The frequency converted is connected electrically between the generator and motor during starting and reversal procedures when the motor would normally have to operate as an induction motor. Means are provided to brake the system dynamically to speeds within the capacity of the frequency converter. At speeds within the frequency converter's design capacity, the motor can be operated synchronously while it is running at a speed below the minimum operating speed of the turbine and generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1982
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: Lee A. Kilgore
  • Patent number: 4323830
    Abstract: A d.c. generator is connected in series opposed to the polarity of a d.c. power source supplying a d.c. drive motor. The generator is part of a motor-generator set, the motor of which is supplied from the power source connected to the motor. A generator field control means varies the field produced by at least one of the generator windings in order to change the effective voltage output. When the generator voltage is exactly equal to the d.c. voltage supply, no voltage is applied across the drive motor. As the field of the generator is reduced, the drive motor is supplied greater voltage until the full voltage of the d.c. power source is supplied when the generator has zero field applied. Additional voltage may be applied across the drive motor by reversing and increasing the reversed field on the generator. The drive motor may be reversed in direction from standstill by increasing the generator field so that a reverse voltage is applied across the d.c. motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1982
    Assignee: The Franklin Institute
    Inventors: Charles A. Belsterling, John Stone
  • Patent number: 4263988
    Abstract: A speed control system for an elevator motor, comprising a D. C. motor for driving an elevator, a device which generates a speed command signal for the elevator, a speed dynamo which generates a speed signal corresponding to a speed of the elevator, a speed control device which adjusts an applied voltage to the motor according to the speed deviation between the speed command signal and the speed signal, an emergency stop device which subjects the elevator to braking when the speed deviation has exceeded a predetermined value, and a blind sector device which provides an output when the speed signal has exceeded a predetermined value and which negatively feeds it back to the speed control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1981
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromi Inaba, Seiya Shima, Takeki Ando, Toshiaki Kurosawa, Hiroaki Kuroha
  • Patent number: 4114555
    Abstract: A plurality of diesel motor AC generator units, or power producing units, connected in parallel to provide a AC power pool that is rectified and voltage controlled by a plurality of silicon control rectifiers, or power control units, for activating any of a plurality of DC shunt wound motors, or power using units, singly and in combination to drive any plurality of propellers and auxilliary equipment in minimum numbers at maximum loads and effect a fuel economy of at least 18% over reduction-gear driven vessels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1978
    Inventor: Harry W. O'Brien, Jr.
  • Patent number: 3997824
    Abstract: An electrical propulsion system and control arrangements therefor, particularly advantageous for ship use, are disclosed. Power is supplied by an alternating current generator through rectifiers to two direct current motors each of which drives a propeller. The armatures of the motors and the rectifiers are connected in a series loop. The speed and direction of rotation of the motors are controlled by varying the motor fields. When the fields of the motors are reversed, for example for deceleration, regenerative energy fed through the propellers could cause excessive current to flow in the closed loop with resultant damage to the electrical apparatus. To prevent current above a predetermined maximum in this loop, a sensor responsive to current in the loop is provided and a signal from the sensor automatically controls the field of at least one of the motors to cause that motor to develop a back EMF preventing excessive flow of current in the loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1973
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1976
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John A. Beverley, Richard L. Koch
  • Patent number: 3993912
    Abstract: A marine propulsion system includes a gas turbine, a generator, a motor and a fixed pitch propeller. Means are provided to operate the motor synchronously in the normal ahead and astern directions and to operate the motor asynchronously in the slow ahead and astern directions with the gas turbine operating at its idle setting. Means are also provided to brake the propeller before astern torque is applied when the power propulsion lever is rapidly moved from the normal ahead setting to the normal astern setting by operating the motor as a generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1974
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1976
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas E. Ekstrom, Richard L. Koch