Braking Patents (Class 318/362)
  • Patent number: 11965607
    Abstract: A butterfly valve to be placed on a pipe between a vacuum chamber provided with a pressure sensor and a vacuum pump is configured to control the pressure in the vacuum chamber. The butterfly valve includes a servo motor, a butterfly valve element to be rotated about a rod connected to the servo motor in an opening or closing direction, and a control unit to adjust an opening degree of the butterfly valve element based on a pressure value of the vacuum chamber detected by the pressure sensor. The control unit is provided with an abnormal vibration detection program configured to whether or not abnormal vibration is occurring in the servo motor based on a variation amount of the opening degree of the butterfly valve element within a monitoring time while at least the pressure value of the vacuum chamber is stable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: CKD CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuko Suzuki, Keiichi Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 11926377
    Abstract: A multiphase electric motor is disconnectable from a DC voltage source by way of a control unit. Phase windings with connection lines can each be alternately connected via a high-side and a low-side switching element to a respective pole of the DC voltage source, and the connection lines each have a device for disconnecting the phase windings from the DC voltage source upon a fault. The control unit may monitor the switching elements for short-circuit faults, switch off the switching elements when a fault occurs, determine whether the switching element causing the fault is a high-side or a low-side switching element, switch on at least a second of the high-side or correspondingly at least a second of the low-side switching elements in addition to the switching element causing the fault to brake the electric motor, switch off the switching elements after a braking period, and open the phase disconnection devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignees: thyssenkrupp Presta AG, thyssenkrupp AG
    Inventor: Gábor Kalapos
  • Patent number: 11897110
    Abstract: A rotary power tool includes a housing having a motor housing portion and a handle portion extending therefrom. An electric motor is positioned within the motor housing portion. The rotary power tool further includes a trigger switch configured to activate and deactivate the motor. The rotary power tool further includes a non-contact speed selector switch positioned in the housing. The non-contact speed selector switch is configured to adjust a rotational speed of the motor. The non-contact speed selector switch is separate from the trigger switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Maxwell L. Merget, Jingyuan Liang, Michael R. Sande, Michael Halverson, Ian Duncan, Nicholas C. Mantych, Alex Huber
  • Patent number: 11872970
    Abstract: Aircraft braking system architecture comprising: a brake comprising electromechanical actuators (1, 2); a principal control channel (6) and an alternative control channel (7) comprising electrical components that are at least partly different and adapted to provide respectively a principal braking control function and an alternative braking control function that are at least partly different; power modules (15, 16) comprising electrical components that are at least partly different and adapted to generate electrical power supply currents (I1, I2) on the basis of principal control signals or alternative control signals; a surveillance unit (8) adapted to ensure that in normal operation the principal control signals are used and that in the event of a fault the alternative control signals are used to generate the electrical power supply currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: SAFRAN LANDING SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Dominique Onfroy, Olivier Frey, Brian Goyez
  • Patent number: 11828099
    Abstract: A door component for pivoting a movable door of a motor vehicle has a drive with an electric drive motor in order to influence a pivoting of the door between a closed setting and an open setting. A position measure for an angular setting of the door leaf and a speed parameter for an angular speed of the door leaf are detected by a position sensor. During a pivoting of the door leaf with the speed parameter, an electrical setpoint current intensity for the electric drive motor is ascertained, and an associated setpoint voltage is set. Then the current intensity flowing through the drive motor is ascertained. The setpoint voltage is increased if the current intensity is lower than the electrical setpoint current intensity, and the setpoint voltage is decreased if the current intensity is higher than the electrical setpoint current intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: INVENTUS Engineering GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Battlogg, Mathias Brandl
  • Patent number: 11539320
    Abstract: A control device for an inverter has a DC voltage input and a power unit with three half-bridges each formed by two power switching elements, the control device being arranged to driving the power switching elements in a normal operating mode for converting a DC voltage applied to the DC voltage input into a polyphase AC current provided at an AC current output. The control device is adapted to evaluate a signal state of a signal indicating a disconnection of a DC voltage source from the DC voltage input and to control the power switching elements in dependence on a result of the evaluation for alternately adopting a first switching pattern causing DC braking and a second switching pattern causing freewheeling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: VALEO SIEMENS EAUTOMOTIVE GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Karsten Wiedmann, Markus Reymann
  • Patent number: 11512626
    Abstract: An electric power dissipater assembly for an electrically-actuated turbocharger that includes: a power switch configured to be electrically connected to an electric power output of an electrically-actuated turbocharger; at least one resistor that is electrically connected to the power switch such that, when the power switch is in a closed position and connected to the electric power output, the at least one resistor is electrically coupled to the electric power output so that electric power provided by the electrical power output is received at and dissipated by the at least one resistor; a controller that controls whether the power switch is in the closed position or an open position; and a substrate that is physically coupled to the at least one resistor and that includes a coolant path that is used to cool the at least one resistor when coolant is received within the coolant path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: BORGWARNER, INC.
    Inventors: Lathom Alexander Louco, Jeffrey Carter
  • Patent number: 11482951
    Abstract: The brake driving control circuit, which controls an electromagnetic brake that releases the brake by applying a current, is provided with: a first rectifying element provided between a first power supply of a first circuit voltage and one terminal of the electromagnetic brake; a cut-off switch inserted into a line through which the first power supply supplies power; a first switching element provided between the other terminal of the electromagnetic brake and a ground point; and a second switching element and a second rectifying element provided in series between a second power supply of a second circuit voltage, which is different from the first circuit voltage, and the one terminal of the electromagnetic brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideyuki Odagiri
  • Patent number: 11325808
    Abstract: A transport conveyor drive having a rectifier and an inverter which are connected via a DC link, whereby the inverter comprises power switches for suppling electric power to an transport conveyor motor is disclosed. The transport convey drive comprises a motor controller for controlling the power switches of the inverter which is configured to produce control pulses in the control poles of the power switches, at least one safety signal interface, which is adapted to receive safety signals from a safety controller of the transport conveyor, and a brake control circuit having an output for supplying power to a brake coil of an electromagnetic brake, wherein at least one STO circuit is connected between the motor controller and each of the power switches of at least one half bridge of the inverter, the STO circuit being configured to transfer/cut the control pulses to the power switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: KONE Corporation
    Inventors: Arto Nakari, Olli Pokkinen, Juhamatti Nikander
  • Patent number: 11212937
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes detecting reverse rotation of a fan inserted into a modular electronic system comprising at least one other fan, wherein the reverse rotation of the fan is caused by a back pressure generated by the other fan rotating in a forward direction, applying current pulses to stop reverse rotation of the inserted fan and start rotation of the fan in a forward direction, and operating all of the fans with rotation in the forward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Paolo Sironi, Emanuele Umberto Giacometti, Rohit Dev Gupta, Joel Richard Goergen
  • Patent number: 10976182
    Abstract: A method of position estimation including: a signal detection step in which N (where N is an integer of 3 or more) sensors each detect a magnetic field which is in accordance with a position of a mover and output a detection signal as an electrical signal, the detection signals being displaced in phase by an angle obtained by dividing 360 degrees by N; a crossing detection step in which a crossing detection section sequentially detects a crossing at which each detection signal having been output through the signal detection step crosses another; a subdivision detection step in which a subdivision detection section detects a portion of the detection signal that connects from a crossing to another crossing which is adjacent to that crossing, as one or more subdivision signals; and a line segment joining step in which a line segment joining section sequentially joins the subdivision signals and estimates the position of the mover based on the plural subdivision signals having been joined, to generate an estimate
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohiro Fukumura, Atsushi Fujita, Shota Ishigami
  • Patent number: 10622870
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for controlling an electric motor. An exemplary system may include a torque detector configured to detect an output torque of the electric motor. The system may also include a controller configured to control a voltage source to apply a predetermined voltage to drive the electric motor and determine an operating table containing a plurality of operating points. The controller may select an operating current value and generate a plurality of current commands. The controller may also apply each of the plurality of current commands to drive the electric motor and determine an output torque generated by the electric motor. The controller may further determine a target current command that generates a maximum output torque. In addition, the controller may determine an operating point of the operating table based on the target current command. Moreover, the controller may control the electric motor using the operating table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: FARADAY & FUTURE INC.
    Inventors: Mengwei Campbell, Stefan Grubic
  • Patent number: 10518415
    Abstract: A packaging technique for applying an insulating pack to the housing of a battery cell. The insulating pack is formed from a self-adhesive cutout of insulating material by folding the cutout onto the sides of the housing that are to be covered. The packaging technique involves a packaging method for automatically applying an insulating pack, a battery cell including an insulating pack, a packaging station for carrying out the method, and a preparation device for preparing one or more cutouts of insulating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Henrik Keller, Markus Finke, Anja Werling, Maximilian Heinig, Horacio Martinez, Christian Meissner, Mario Miller, Holger Moennich, Thomas Neff, Tobias Reichl, Nina Sauthoff, Osama Shahin, Oliver Thilmann, Olaf Wegener
  • Patent number: 10516351
    Abstract: Provided is an electrical drive for an industrial robot, wherein each driver circuit for the associated power switches of the first half-bridge is designed, in the case of a voltage-free or current-free state of the associated control input, to put the power switch associated with the control input into a non-conductive state, each driver circuit for the associated power switches of the second half-bridge is designed, in the case of a voltage-free or current-free state of the associated control input, to put the power switch associated with the control input into a conductive state, and a switching device is provided, which is designed, with the safety signal for the forced switch-off of the rotating-field voltage, to simultaneously switch the control inputs of the driver circuits for all power switches of the inverter into a voltage-free and/or current-free state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: KEBA AG
    Inventor: Franz Mayr
  • Patent number: 10377363
    Abstract: A parking brake for a vehicle includes an electric brake motor, a transmission, and a brake piston. The transmission transfers a drive movement of the motor to the brake piston. The transmission has a transmission efficiency that steadily increases as a temperature in the transmission rises.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Wolff, Simon Hauber
  • Patent number: 10345347
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for detecting fault currents in a regulated DC intermediate circuit having an active power factor correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: ebm-papst Mulfingen GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Guenther Haas, Helmut Lipp
  • Patent number: 10256740
    Abstract: A power conversion apparatus includes a power converter, a voltage detector, a determiner, and a drive controller. The power converter is configured to convert DC power input from an electric generation apparatus into AC power. The voltage detector is configured to detect a DC voltage input into the power converter. The determiner is configured to determine an output power command or an output current command based on whether the output power command or the output current command has a first level that is correlated in advance with a second level of the DC voltage detected by the voltage detector. The drive controller is configured to control the power converter based on the output power command or the output current command determined by the determiner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Hirotaka Toujinbara, Yukari Takagi, Masaya Yoshitomi
  • Patent number: 10081340
    Abstract: A steering brake locking system for a vehicle, such as an agricultural tractor, has at least first and second adjacent steering brake pedals, and a locking pin arranged to selectively lock the pedals together. The locking pin and at least a portion of the first and second pedals are formed from a conductive material, such that an electrically conductive path is formed between the first and second pedals through the locking pin when the pin is used to lock the pedals together. The locking status of the pedals can be determined by measuring the electrical conductivity between the first and second pedals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: AGCO International GmbH
    Inventor: Dominique Szymczak
  • Patent number: 10070734
    Abstract: The invention provides an anti-pinch device for an electric product. The electric product comprises a fixing seat, a moving part which is movable to or away from the fixing seat, and a driving mechanism for driving the movement of the moving part relative to the fixing seat. The anti-pinch device comprises a safety strip and a controller electrically connected to the safety strip for controlling the operating state of the driving mechanism. An anomaly monitoring circuit is disposed in the safety strip, and the anomaly monitoring circuit comprises a power supply, a resistance and a normally open switch connected in series, the normally open switch is closable when the safety strip is pressed. The controller is connected to the anomaly monitoring circuit by electrical signals. the safety strip is fixedly disposed on the moving part or fixing seat and located between them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Taicang Shiyuan Globle Source Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Chun-Sheng Lin
  • Patent number: 10027259
    Abstract: A braking apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention is a braking apparatus for use in an electrical motor, and comprises a braking unit which locks the electrical motor in position, a voltage detection unit which detects a voltage applied to the braking unit, and an observing unit which recognizes a voltage variation pattern and, based on the voltage variation pattern, observes the released and actuated states of the braking unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsuya Ono, Takeshi Tamaki
  • Patent number: 9938759
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a control device of a vehicle opening-closing member that includes a vehicle state determination unit that determines a traveling state of the vehicle based on a signal indicating a traveling state of a vehicle; an open/close state determination unit that determines an opening/opened state of the opening-closing member based on a signal indicating an opening/opened state of an opening-closing member provided to the vehicle; and a control unit that outputs a control signal for stopping an opening motion of the opening-closing member when it is determined by the vehicle state determination unit that the vehicle is in a state of traveling and when it is determined by the open/close state determination unit that the vehicle opening-closing member is in an opening/opened state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignees: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Urase, Takeshi Nishikibe, Toshiro Maeda, Eiji Itami, Takeshi Katsuda, Masahiko Itoh, Yoshinori Hitomi
  • Patent number: 9908433
    Abstract: A method for controlling a braking torque of a drive system and for braking a vehicle includes in a first state connecting phase connections of a synchronous machine to one another by a changeover apparatus and short circuiting the phase connections such that a first braking torque develops at the synchronous machine. In a second state the phase connections are connected to one another by the changeover apparatus and to a resistance, such that a second braking torque develops at the synchronous machine. The changeover apparatus periodically switches between the first and second states at a switching frequency of 10 Hz or higher to produce a pre-settable braking torque at the synchronous machine, with the changeover between the first state and the second state being controlled by a timing element in an unregulated manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Gerald Amler, Hans Bergner
  • Patent number: 9878696
    Abstract: In a method for actuating a parking brake in a vehicle, a clamping force is generated by an electromechanical braking device comprising a brake motor. The motor voltage of the brake motor is determined on the basis of the control-unit input voltage of a closed-loop or open-loop control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Baehrle-Miller, Lars Roters, Tobias Putzer, Matthieu Weinum
  • Patent number: 9749486
    Abstract: A sheet feeder is provided. The sheet feeder includes a roller to feed a sheet, a motor to rotate the roller, and a motor controller to control rotation of the motor by a feedback control. The motor controller detects a condition of the sheet based on a value acquired in the feedback control at the time a load is applied from the sheet to the roller, while performing a stop control to stop the roller at a designated stop position. The stop control is performed after the motor is rotated in a direction opposite to a direction of feed of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Eiki Yoshimizu
  • Patent number: 9654050
    Abstract: A power tool includes a housing, an electric motor mounted in the housing, and a switching device for reversing rotation direction of the motor. The switching device includes an actuator slidably secured to the housing and movable between first and second positions. The actuator includes a magnet. A first ferromagnetic member is attached to a first housing section so as to be within range of attraction force of the magnet when the actuator is in the first position and a second ferromagnetic member is attached to a second housing section so as to be within range of attraction force of the magnet when the actuator is in the second position. A hall sensor is attached to the housing so as to be proximate the magnet as the actuator is moved between first and second positions. Proximity of the magnet and hall sensor reverses the direction of rotation of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventors: Christopher Anthony Kokinelis, Randolph Robert Ruetsch, Daniel Jay Becker
  • Patent number: 9444373
    Abstract: A motor control device includes a rectifier, a smoothing capacitor provided to a DC link, an inverter that power-converts DC power of the DC link and AC power of a motor side, an initial charging unit that charges the smoothing capacitor before motor driving start, a current detection unit that detects an AC current detection value of an input side of the rectifier, a current conversion unit that converts the detection value into a value corresponding to a DC link current, a current integration unit that outputs an integration value obtained by integrating the conversion value, an alarm output unit that outputs an alarm when the integration value is equal to or more than a first threshold value, a disconnecting unit that disconnects the AC power to the rectifier in response, and a protective unit that commands the disconnecting unit to disconnect the AC power when the alarm is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventor: Kenta Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9409302
    Abstract: Razor handles are provided for razors having a battery-powered functionality. Methods of manufacturing such handles are also provided. In one implementation, the handle includes a unitary grip portion constructed to receive a razor head at one end thereof, and a battery cover, mounted on the grip portion. The razor handle allowing for varying vibration settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: Fred Schnak, Luis Burrel, Stefan Rehbein, Gerrit Roenneberg, Uwe Schaaf
  • Patent number: 9139292
    Abstract: Systems and methods for dynamically stable braking are disclosed. A first electromechanical brake actuator controller may be placed in communication with a second electromechanical brake actuator controller, wherein each of the first electromechanical brake actuator controller and second electromechanical brake actuator controller are in communication with electromechanical brake actuators that are associated with the same wheel. The first electromechanical brake actuator controller and second electromechanical brake actuator controllers may then communicate electromechanical brake actuator status information and take corrective measures in accordance with the status information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventor: Eric D. Cahill
  • Patent number: 9035591
    Abstract: Disclosed is a control method of an electronic parking brake system, which variably controls the duty of voltage applied to a motor upon release of the electronic parking brake system. The control method includes controlling voltage applied to a motor to a first duty ratio upon release of the electronic parking brake system, controlling the voltage applied to the motor to a second duty ratio greater than the first duty ratio if locking of the motor occurs and the motor is not operated, and controlling the voltage applied to the motor to the first duty ratio if locking of the motor is released and the motor begins to operate, after the control of voltage to the second duty ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Mando Corporation
    Inventor: Gyung Hun Sim
  • Patent number: 9024550
    Abstract: For an electric motor used as a generator in an electric vehicle for dynamic braking, employing a dynamic reconfiguration-switching of motor windings upon the generator exceeding one of a maximum usable constraint of a first rechargeable battery in order to reduce a voltage constant of the electric motor thereby limiting one of a produced voltage and a produced power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Tara Astigarraga, Allen K. Bates, Nhan X. Bui, Louie A. Dickens, Reed A. Hancock, Stephen L. Schwartz, Michael E. Starling, Daniel J. Winarski
  • Patent number: 9018792
    Abstract: An arrangement for operating a rail vehicle includes a DC voltage intermediate circuit which is connected to an energy supply network, at least one traction inverter which is connected at its DC voltage side to the DC voltage intermediate circuit and at its AC voltage side which is connected one or more traction motors of the rail vehicle. An auxiliary system inverter is connected at its DC voltage side to the DC voltage intermediate circuit and is connected at its AC voltage side to a primary side of an auxiliary system transformer. Auxiliary systems are connected to a secondary side of the auxiliary system transformer via an auxiliary line. Electrical energy generated by an electrical energy supply unit is transferred via the auxiliary line, the auxiliary system transformer and the auxiliary system inverter into the DC voltage intermediate circuit for operation of the at least one traction motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Bombardier Transportation GmbH
    Inventor: Ludwig Still
  • Patent number: 9010454
    Abstract: The invention relates to a portable, handheld work apparatus such as a trimmer, a cut-off machine, a chain saw or the like, having a motor (5, 33) to drive a rotating, exchangeable work tool (13). A control unit (15) serves to control the operation of the motor (5, 33). The control unit (15) determines the rotational speed (n) and/or the power (P) of the motor (5, 33). According to the invention, the motor (5, 33) can be operated in a first operating mode (I) with reduced rotational speed (n0) and/or power (P0) and in at least a second operating mode (II) with an increased rotational speed (n1) and/or power (P1). In dependence on a release signal, the control uses exclusively the first operating mode (I) for a limited operation and the second operating mode (II) for an expanded operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Neubauer, Tim Gegg
  • Publication number: 20150077024
    Abstract: A drive system includes a line assembly configured to connect a power converter to an electric motor which has a brake and an encoder. The line assembly has at least two power lines and only two brake lines exclusively to provide a data transfer between the power converter and the electric motor and to transfer energy to the encoder. The power converter applies a first supply voltage of a first polarity and a second supply voltage of a second polarity opposite to the first polarity to the brake lines for supplying the brake and the encoder. The electric motor supplies the encoder with the respective supply voltage independently of its polarity and the brake with the respective supply voltage depending on its polarity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventor: Andreas Kuhn
  • Patent number: 8981685
    Abstract: The disclosure describes, in one aspect, a system for a machine having an electric drive configuration. The system includes an electric motor associated with at least one wheel and adapted to provide retarding torque to the wheel, and a controller configured to determine a power measurement of a retarding grid and control the retarding torque to the at least one wheel during retarding as a function of the power measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Brett M. Nee, Joshua M. Williams, Benjamin P. Gottemoller, Srikar Thaduvayi
  • Publication number: 20150054430
    Abstract: A method for limiting peak currents, particularly depending on a charge quantity provided by a voltage source, and the maximum pitch of the current flanks of an electric motor for an electrohydraulic motor vehicle brake system, particularly a pump motor, controlled by pulse width modulation, wherein a change to an actual duty cycle of the PWM is made by a first duty cycle of the PWM on a second duty cycle at runtime, wherein the change takes place according to a positive or negative pitch value calculated and/or changeable at runtime. The invention further describes an electronic circuit arrangement for the implementation of a method for limiting peak currents and the maximum pitch of current flanks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Micha Heinz, Frank Michel
  • Patent number: 8946652
    Abstract: Provided is a sample positioning technology wherein micro-vibrations of a top table on which a sample is placed are suppressed such that the quality of an image to be observed or the precision of a measured dimension value can be improved. A sample positioning apparatus according to the present invention is provided with an active brake for stopping the top table, an inner frame which surrounds the active brake, an outer frame which surrounds the inner frame, and actuators for driving the active brake. The actuators, after driving the active brake to stop the top table with respect to a stage, press the outer frame to adjust the position of the top table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Motohiro Takahashi, Hironori Ogawa, Nobuo Shibata, Masaki Mizuochi, Shuichi Nakagawa, Hiroshi Tsuji
  • Patent number: 8941338
    Abstract: An electric braking device for printing material processing machines includes at least one electric drive to be braked that is supplied by a power converter in motor operation and is braked by the power converter in generator operation. A control unit switches on a redundant electric braking device in the case of a failure of the power converter by using a switch. The braking device has at least two braking stages, an additional switch for actuation in at least two stages, and at least one brake resistor. In the circuit of the redundant electric braking device, a braking current is measured and the measured value is fed to a comparator for comparing the actual braking current to a desired braking current. A printing press having the braking device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Heidlelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Reiner Villhauer, Klaus-Dieter Kleibaumhueter, Josef Reiter, Andreas Schulz
  • Patent number: 8917038
    Abstract: A motor control device has a drive circuit that drives an electric motor with a battery as a power supply, a switch element that is provided between the battery and the drive circuit, the switch element supplying a current from the battery to the drive circuit when being turned on, the switch element cutting off the current from the battery to the drive circuit when being turned off, a rotation speed detector that detects a rotation speed of the electric motor, and a controller that operates the drive circuit to control the electric motor. The controller turns on the switch element when the rotation speed of the electric motor, which is detected by the rotation speed detector, is greater than or equal to a first predetermined value during stopping of the control of the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Omron Automotive Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Fukuoka, Yoshiki Yamagishi, Satoshi Kido, Yasutaka Shirota
  • Patent number: 8907599
    Abstract: An electric brake device is provided for electronically controlled synchronous motors which are supplied with voltage by way of a converter. The synchronous motor contains a winding center point and that the winding center point is connected by way of an electric resistor and a switch to a ground point of the converter and that the phases of the converter that are connected to the ground point contain in each case a free-wheeling diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Kubilay Koral, Michael Krueger
  • Patent number: 8890466
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement, especially for supplying an electromagnetic holding brake with a clocked supply voltage, includes a module for controlled provision of a clocked supply voltage for free-wheeling operation of the holding brake. The module has a switching unit for switching off the supply voltage for braking operation. A free-wheeling diode and a suppressor diode are connected in parallel to an inductance of the holding brake, with the free-wheeling diode being effective in free-wheeling operation only and the suppressor diode being effective in braking operation only.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Bernhard Hild, Christian Maul, Günter Schwesig, Hanno Walders
  • Patent number: 8884557
    Abstract: A method for operating a mains-operated electric motor for a power tool includes connecting a first side of an electric motor to a first mains and connecting a second side of the electric motor to a second mains using first and second switches, respectively, in particular semiconductor switches, and monitoring the operational reliability of the switches using an electronic controller for operating safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Hans Hermann Rottmerhusen
  • Patent number: 8886433
    Abstract: An electric braking control apparatus for controlling an electric braking apparatus which includes a brake pad, a motor which generates a rotational torque, and a rotation/linear motion conversion mechanism which causes the brake pad to generate a pressing force based on the torque. The braking control apparatus includes an inverter which converts and outputs an electric current supplied from a power supply to the motor, and a microcomputer that receives power from the power supply, detects the value of a voltage applied from the power supply to the inverter, and controls the electric current output from the inverter depending on a result of the detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasufumi Konishi, Toshiyuki Innami, Satoru Kuragaki, Takafumi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8872458
    Abstract: A motor control device has a drive circuit that drives an electric motor with a battery as a power supply, a switch element that is provided between the battery and the drive circuit, the switch element supplying a current from the battery to the drive circuit when being put into an on state, the switch element cutting off the current from the battery to the drive circuit when being put into an off state, a voltage detector that detects a voltage at the drive circuit, and a controller that operates the drive circuit to control the electric motor. The controller turns on the switch element when the voltage at the drive circuit, which is detected by the voltage detector, is greater than or equal to a first predetermined value during stopping of the control of the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Omron Automotive Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Fukuoka, Yoshiki Yamagishi, Satoshi Kido, Yasutaka Shirota
  • Publication number: 20140300987
    Abstract: A motor drive device has a spindle motor driver adapted to drive a spindle motor. the spindle motor driver includes lower side NMOSFETs, one for each phase, which connect and disconnect terminals, one for each phase, of the spindle motor to and from a ground terminal; a controller adapted to generate a switch control signal and a brake control signal; lower side pre-drivers, one for each phase, connected between an application terminal of an internal power supply voltage and the ground terminal and adapted to generate lower side gate signals, one for each phase, in accordance with the switch control signal to output the lower side gate signals to the lower side NMOSFETs, one for each phase; and a brake unit adapted to pull up to the internal power supply voltage all the lower side gate signals, one for each phase, in accordance with the brake control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: ROHM CO., LTD.
  • Patent number: 8847523
    Abstract: An electronic drive includes an electro-mechanical brake associated with a direct-current motor. A first valve or diode connects one of the terminals of the direct-current motor with the first electrical terminal of the brake in a forward direction. A second valve or diode connects the other terminal of the direct-current motor with the first electrical terminal of the brake. A second electrical terminal of the brake is at least indirectly connected with a reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SLF
    Inventors: Remy Bringold, Klaus Pfeffer
  • Patent number: 8847524
    Abstract: Braking current generated by an electrical motor on mining equipment during a retard interval is switched through one or more grid resistors that are liquid cooled. Under low ambient temperatures, a heating current can be switched through the grid resistors when the electrical motor is not operating in a retard interval. An integrated cooling system can be used to cool grid resistors and power modules. Heat dissipated by the grid resistors and the power modules can be circulated through auxiliary heating loops to heat portions of the mining equipment under low ambient temperatures. Multiple liquid-cooled power modules, liquid-cooled grid resistors, auxiliary heating loops, control modules, radiators, and pumps can be coupled by a liquid distribution system with various combinations of parallel and serial branches. Temperature, pressure, and flow rate in each branch can be independently controlled. Operation of the integrated cooling system can be controlled by a computational system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventor: Joy Mazumdar
  • Patent number: 8823298
    Abstract: A method of operating a laundry treating appliance to control a rotational speed of a drum to move the laundry within the drum according to a predetermined category of movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Biao He, Qiang Mei, Fabio E. Rosa
  • Patent number: 8818669
    Abstract: A regenerative braking method for a motor vehicle, in which the regenerative braking action is applied progressively, a rate of application of the braking action being dependent on a speed of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Renault S.A.S.
    Inventor: Gilles Enjolras
  • Publication number: 20140152201
    Abstract: An electric motor system having a power supply, an electric motor connected to the power supply, an object driven by the motor having a range of motion and a substantially neutral position within the range of motion, a power sensor configured to sense power from the power supply, a position sensor configured to sense position of the object in at least a portion of the range of motion, an energy storage, a controller connected to the power supply and the energy storage, wherein the controller is configured to brake the motor as a function of the position sensor, the neutral position and the power sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: Moog Inc.
    Inventors: Michael H. Shriver, John W. Stevens
  • Patent number: 8742703
    Abstract: The invention relates to a blower apparatus (1) having a blower wheel (4) for generating a blower air flow (50). The blower wheel (4) is arranged in a housing (2), wherein the blower wheel is driven by an electric drive motor (8). A blower tube (6) via which the generated blower air flow (50) is guided connects at an outlet (5). A control unit (17) is provided for controlling the rotational speed of the electric drive motor. For a quick reduction of the blower air flow (50), it is provided that the control unit (17) supports the deceleration of the drive motor (8) through a braking current (I).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Binder, Arne Untermann, René Wichert