In Or About The Motor Being Controlled Patents (Class 318/473)
  • Patent number: 11942851
    Abstract: A system for cooling a hermetic motor includes a motor cooling refrigerant flow path configured to direct refrigerant from a condenser disposed along a refrigerant loop to a hermetic motor, and from the hermetic motor back to the refrigerant loop, and a housing of the hermetic motor disposed along the motor cooling refrigerant flow path and configured to receive the refrigerant from the condenser, wherein the housing of the hermetic motor comprises an annulus surrounding at least a portion of a stator of the hermetic motor, and wherein the annulus comprises a plurality of openings configured to direct refrigerant toward the stator and into a cavity of the housing of the hermetic motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Tyco Fire & Security GMBH
    Inventors: Katelynn Louise Crissman, Ian Michael Casper, David Andrew Bradshaw, Matthew Lee Heisey, Tyler Alexander Wolgemuth, Paul William Snell
  • Patent number: 11878539
    Abstract: A control system is configured such that a carriage that a processing head is mounted is driven by a motor and reciprocates. The motor is controlled by a controller. The controller reciprocates the carriage by selecting a control mode as a target mode based on temperature information related to temperature of the motor and controlling the motor in the target mode. The controller selects the target mode to be applied to the control of the motor for each of particular work units. The target mode is selected from a group of particular control modes. Each control mode in the group of particular control modes is a control mode in which a maximum temperature, which is estimated based on the temperature information, when the control of the motor using the selected control mode would be executed until the processing is completed, is less than a reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Hoga, Shohei Ichikawa, Satoru Arakane, Eisuke Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11859694
    Abstract: A linear actuator assembling method includes a semi-finished product assembling step and a threaded shaft assembling step. The semi-finished product assembling step is to form a semi-finished product, and the semi-finished product includes a case, a main gear, and a main gear bearing. The main gear and the main gear bearing are surrounded and restricted by the case, and the main gear bearing is sleeved on the main gear. In the threaded shaft assembling step, a threaded shaft is reversely assembled, and one end of the threaded shaft is inserted into the main gear to allow the end of the threaded shaft to be restricted by the main gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: J-STAR MOTOR INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Wei-Fan Wu
  • Patent number: 11843341
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, an intermediate transfer member, a moving member, a driving motor, a stepper motor, a detector, a phase determiner, and a controller. The stepper motor drives the moving member to move between a first position at which the photosensitive member contacts the intermediate transfer member and a second position at which the photosensitive member contacts the intermediate transfer member are separated. The controller includes a first control mode to control a motor based on a predetermined current magnitude and a second control mode to control a motor by vector control. The controller starts driving the driving motor in the first control mode, and then switches from the first control mode to the second control mode. The controller controls the stepper motor in the first control mode during a period from when the stepper motor is activated to when the stepper motor is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yohei Ohashi
  • Patent number: 11824476
    Abstract: Disclosed is a circuit for converting a temperature change amount into a voltage change amount in a motor drive system, including a positive temperature change rate voltage generation module, a circuit bias module, and a temperature detection module that are integrated on a same substrate. An external power supply voltage is processed by the positive temperature change rate voltage generation module and the circuit bias module, and then inputted to the temperature detection module. The temperature detection module detects in real time the temperature change amount in the motor drive system, convert the temperature change amount into the voltage change amount, and transfer the voltage change amount to the circuit bias module, to allow the circuit bias module to output the voltage change amount. In this way, the conversion from the temperature change amount into the voltage change amount is realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Hefei Aichuangwei Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Pan, Lixiang Xu, Lixiang Wen, Lei Qiu, Dianwu Li, Wei Wang, Lei Han, Ke Wang
  • Patent number: 11811345
    Abstract: A converter of a variable frequency drive (VFD) is operated in a ramp-up mode to produce an AC output voltage for accelerating a motor. A loading of the converter is determined concurrent with the ramp-up mode. Transfer of the motor to a bypassed mode is conditioned on whether the determined loading in the ramp-up mode meets a criterion. In some embodiments, conditioning transfer to the bypassed mode comprises foregoing transition to the bypassed mode based on a comparison of the determined loading to an underloading threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Stan Rex Simms, Thomas A. Farr, Donovan Gray
  • Patent number: 11801639
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a carriage to move along an axis relative to a platform. In addition, the electronic device includes a print head disposed within the carriage to move with the carriage and to deliver a print agent to the platform. Further, the electronic device includes a cooling system. The cooling system includes an air source to deliver air to the print head within the carriage to cool the print head. The cooling system also includes a pressure sensor to measure a pressure of a first zone within the carriage. Moreover, the cooling system includes a controller to control a flow rate of the air into the first zone or from the first zone in response to the measured pressure to maintain the first zone at a positive pressure with respect to a second zone outside the carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Samuel Jeong, Michael Ewe
  • Patent number: 11777430
    Abstract: A motor drive control device includes: a feedback control unit calculating an operation amount (Sad) of a motor such that a rotation speed S3 of the motor matches a target rotation speed S1; a drive control signal generation unit generating a drive control signal Sd based on the operation amount Sad; a current fluctuation detection unit detecting a fluctuation of a current flowing through the motor; a correction instruction unit instructing correction of the operation amount Sad when the fluctuation of the current flowing through the motor is detected by the current fluctuation detection unit; and a correction unit correcting the operation amount Sad and providing the corrected operation amount S2 to the drive control signal generation unit when the correction of the operation amount Sad is instructed from the correction instruction unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: MINEBEA MITSUMI Inc.
    Inventors: Takahiro Suzuki, Masato Aoki, Hiroyuki Kaidu
  • Patent number: 11770094
    Abstract: A motor controller includes individual drive circuits, a plurality of energization systems, and a processing circuit that outputs a plurality of individual control signals. The processing circuit executes a first calculation process, a second calculation process, a third calculation process, and a fourth calculation process for each of the energization systems. The first calculation process is a process of calculating individual current command values. The second calculation process is a process of calculating the estimated temperatures of protection targets. The third calculation process is a process of calculating individual limit values. The fourth calculation process is a process of calculating the individual control signals based on the individual current command values that are limited by the individual limit values. The processing circuit calculates the estimated temperatures of the protection targets where current of a target system flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohiro Niwa, Junya Honda, Hiroki Maeda
  • Patent number: 11750140
    Abstract: An example system includes an electric machine, an alternating current (AC)/direct current (DC) converter, a Y-capacitor, and a controller. The AC/DC converter being connected to the electric machine and having a DC side and an AC side. The Y-capacitor is located on the DC side of the AC/DC converter. The controller is configured to determine, based on a measurement of the DC side of the AC/DC converter, an occurrence of a ground fault on the AC side of the AC/DC converter, and control, based on the occurrence of the ground fault, operation of the AC/DC converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Singapore Pte. Ltd., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Chandana Jayampathi Gajanayake, Shuai Wang, David Russell Trawick
  • Patent number: 11740607
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to monitoring a condition of an electric drive in an industrial network. A method comprises obtaining values of input parameters, state parameters, and one or more temperatures associated with one or more components, at a first time instant. The method further comprises estimating values of the state parameters at a second time instant with a first layer of a state space model of the electric drive and the values of input parameters at the first time instant. In addition, the method comprises estimating values of the one or more temperatures at a third time instant with a second layer of the model, the values estimated for the state variables and the values of the temperatures at the first time instant. A condition of the electric drive is determined from the values of the temperatures estimated for the third time instant and one or more predetermined thresholds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Jampana Veera Venkata Naga Bapiraju, Nikhil Podila Venkata Saisantosh, Arpit Sisodia, Ramesh Siddalingaiah
  • Patent number: 11736052
    Abstract: A fan control circuit with temperature compensation includes an on-off unit and a speed adjustment unit. When determining that a loading is greater than or equal to an adjustable start threshold according to a load signal, the on-off unit controls the fan entering a working mode. In the working mode and determining that the loading is less than a speed-adjusting threshold, the on-off unit maintains a speed value of the fan at a first fixed speed. When determining the loading is greater than or equal to the speed-adjusting threshold, the speed adjustment unit adjusts the speed value according to the loading. The speed adjustment unit generates a speed displacement according to a temperature signal to compensate the speed value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: ENERMAX TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chin-Yun Chang, Chien-Kuei Hsu
  • Patent number: 11722090
    Abstract: A compressor assembly includes a compressor motor having a main winding coupled with a line terminal to receive power from a line voltage source, and an auxiliary winding. The assembly includes first and second capacitors each coupled between the line terminal and the auxiliary winding, a first relay to selectively couple the first capacitor and the second capacitor in parallel, a second relay coupled to selectively inhibit the supply of power from the line voltage source to the auxiliary winding via the first capacitor, and a control circuit configured to close the first relay in response detection of excess load condition criteria, and to subsequently open the first relay in response to detection of normal load condition criteria. The excess load condition criteria and the normal load condition criteria each include at least one of a voltage of the main winding and a voltage of the auxiliary winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: EMERSON ELECTRIC CO.
    Inventors: Joshua Edward Tischler, Charles Green
  • Patent number: 11571822
    Abstract: A control device configured to control a robot including an articulated arm having a plurality of joints each provided with a motor and turned by driving of the motor and a base supporting the articulated arm includes: a temperature information obtaining unit configured to obtain temperature information about the plurality of joints; a joint specifying unit configured to specify one of the joints that requires cooling, based on the obtained temperature information about the plurality of joints; and a motor control unit configured to control the motor of each of the plurality of joints, wherein, when the joint specifying unit specifies one of the joints, the motor control unit controls the motor of at least one of the joints that is located on a side closer to the base from the specified joint so as to turn the joint on the base side for a given time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuuki Fukumoto, Shuntaro Toda
  • Patent number: 11575298
    Abstract: A hard start capacitor replacement unit includes a capacitor container having a cover, a plurality of capacitors received within the container, each of said capacitors having a capacitance value, a common terminal mounted on the cover and electrically connected to a common terminal of each of said plurality of capacitors, a plurality of cover terminals mounted on the cover spaced apart from the common terminal and from each other, each cover terminal respectively electrically connected to one of the plurality of capacitors, a relay having contacts and being capable of opening and closing said contacts in response to a monitored condition of the motor, the relay having relay terminals, a fuse electrically connected to one of the relay terminals by a first wire wherein the fuse electrically disconnects the hard start capacitor replacement unit and the motor upon a failure, and a second wire electrically connecting one of the relay terminals and the motor, a third wire electrically connecting the common terminal
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: AmRad Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Jerry Lee Waldrop, Jonathan Coburn Charles
  • Patent number: 11543302
    Abstract: A magnet temperature estimating device for a motor provided with a rotor having magnets and configured to output a rotational motive force, and a stator having a plurality of coils opposing the rotor with an aperture therebetween, is provided. The device includes a sensor configured to detect an induced voltage induced by rotation of the rotor, and a controller configured to control the motor by supplying power to the plurality of coils in response to an input of a detection signal from the sensor. The controller estimates a temperature of one of the magnets based on an amplitude of a frequency spectrum corresponding to a given frequency, among frequency components constituting the induced voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuhide Seo, Genri Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11510338
    Abstract: A thermal management system is provided. The system includes a temperature sensor, a fan, an electronic circuit breaker (ECB) coupled to the fan to provide electric power to the fan. The system includes a controller coupled to the temperature sensor and the ECB, to direct the ECB to turn off the electric power to the fan responsive to detecting a temperature, from the temperature sensor less than a temperature threshold based on a temperature rating of the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: ARISTA NETWORKS, INC.
    Inventors: David Anthony Cananzi, George Hong
  • Patent number: 11506214
    Abstract: A cooling fan monitoring circuit for monitoring and immediately alerting the user of the activation of a cooling fan motor and blade assembly providing notice of the shutting down of equipment requiring cooling to prevent overheating and damage to the equipment. The circuit is capable of monitoring multiple cooling fans and shuts down equipment if any one of the cooling fans ceases function, fails a preset condition, or the equipment reaches a preset temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Winston Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Lloyd Dennis Hall, Jr., Robert Scott Gasser, Wesley Alden Kleier, Bobby Douglas Hayes
  • Patent number: 11433764
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) for opening and closing a lid (lid body) of a vehicle includes a linearly-movable shaft (10) supported by a housing (90) such that the shaft is linearly movable along, and nonrotatable around, an axial center (X10); and a rotary shaft (30) supported by the shaft such that it is linearly movable along and rotatable around the axial center. A stopper mechanism (50, 60) selectively blocks or permits the shaft to move from moving from a second position to a first position. The shaft has a main body (11) disposed within the rotary shaft (30) and an elastic body (80) provided on a terminal end portion of the main body (11). The elastic body includes a cushioning part (81) on a tip, a sealing part (83) around the main body, and a connecting part (85) connecting the cushioning part to the sealing part within the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: ANSEI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaaki Noda
  • Patent number: 11414926
    Abstract: A motorized window shade system may comprise a shade tube in a pocket; a window shade attached to the shade tube; a motor configured to rotate the shade tube; an internal temperature sensor configured to measure a first temperature of the motor; an external temperature sensor configured to measure a second temperature of the pocket; and a controller configured to adjust a mode of the system from an override mode to an automated mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: MECHOSHADE SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen P. Hebeisen, Xi Ming Liarno, Eugene Miroshnichenko
  • Patent number: 11398789
    Abstract: A motor control system includes a motor and a motor control circuitry. The motor includes a rotation axis and a bearing rotatably supporting the rotation axis. The motor control circuitry is configured to control the motor. The motor control circuitry includes a driving time adding circuit configured to add up a driving time of the motor to obtain an accumulated driving time of the motor, a remaining lifetime calculation circuit configured to calculate a remaining lifetime of the bearing based on a lifetime of the bearing and the accumulated driving time, and a warning outputting circuit configured to output warning information when the remaining lifetime is equal to or less than a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Misaki Shiiya, Masahiro Touchi, Motomichi Ohto, Sadayuki Sato, Hideaki Ike, Jiro Muraoka
  • Patent number: 11221605
    Abstract: An intelligent fan control system with interface compatibility is provided. The intelligent fan control system can identify and control fans one-to-one connected to fan slots, and each fan slot includes four pins. The intelligent fan control system includes a bus; an I2C signal switching unit including SDA outputs one-to-one connected to third pin of the fan slots via the bus; an I2C signal switching unit including SCL outputs one-to-one connected to fourth pins of the fan slots via the bus; voltage control units one-to-one corresponding to the fan slots, and having output terminals one-to-one connected to second pins of the fan slots; connection line sets, and each connection line set including four connection lines and connected to the corresponding fan slot; a control board comprising port sets, and can control and switch the I2C signal switching unit to the fan slots in sequence, to transmit the corresponding I2C signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: PROLIFIC TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventors: Chia Chang Hsu, Chih Feng Huang, Ching-Te Chen, Ren-Yuan Yu
  • Patent number: 11196322
    Abstract: In a method for manufacturing an electric motor comprising a rotor and a stator a placeholder for a temperature sensor is inserted in the axial direction between a first coil layer and an adjacent second coil layer of a winding head such that the placeholder is situated in a gap-shaped recess extending between the first and the second coil layers, the first coil layer is then pressed onto a circumferential surface of the placeholder and onto the second coil layer and is plastically deformed such that a space between the lateral surfaces of the two coil layers and the circumferential surface of the placeholder is reduced, and a contact surface between the lateral surface of the first coil layer and the circumferential surface of the placeholder is enlarged. By removing the placeholder, a receiving chamber is subsequently formed in the winding head, into which a temperature sensor is then inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Martin Fuchs, Johannes Daniel Knöppel, Nils Wilhelm, Alex Wist, David Müller
  • Patent number: 10919391
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus includes: a cooling circuit that includes three flow passages intersecting at an intersection point and allows a cooling liquid to circulate therethrough; a three-way valve that is disposed at the intersection point and is switchable such that any two of the three flow passages communicate with each other; and a controller that controls switching of the three-way valve. The controller includes an intermediate fixation determination unit. The intermediate fixation determination unit determines that the three-way valve is in an intermediate fixation state in which the three flow passages simultaneously communicate with one another, when a cooling liquid temperature difference between one of the two flow passages that are controlled to communicate with each other, and a remaining flow passage of the three flow passages that is not controlled to communicate, is smaller than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toru Ogaki, Takashi Ogane, Naoto Doi, Keisuke Fujimaki
  • Patent number: 10802457
    Abstract: The overload relay units within a motor control group have the timing function for their motor thermal memories under the control of a central controller in communication with the overload relays. Thus expensive timing components and control of timestamps can be removed from individual overload relays. Further reduction of individual overload relay components can be accomplished by removing the nonvolatile memory function from the individual overload relays and allowing the central controller to perform the nonvolatile memory functions for the overload relays. The motor thermal model function for the overload relays can remain in the overload relays or might be moved to the central controller if communication bandwidth permits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin M Jefferies, Benjamin W Edwards
  • Patent number: 10639984
    Abstract: A vehicle control system, in which that maintains a reaction force against the backward movement of a vehicle while preventing an overheating of a motor due to phase lock of the motor. When a thermal load on a specific phase of the motor exceeds a threshold value, a controller execute a phase shift control to reduce a thermal load on a specific phase of the motor by changing a rotational angle of the motor, while interrupting torque transmission between the motor and wheels and generating the torque to stop the vehicle by the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kuze, Naoya Takagi, Teruhiko Miyake, Naoto Kato, Takayoshi Kawai, Teppei Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 10412856
    Abstract: A fan detection method, a fan detection chip and a fan detection system using the same are disclosed. The fan detection method is applied to a fan detection chip including a first pin, a second pin, a third pin, a fourth pin, and the fan is electrically coupled to the first pin, the second pin and the third pin at least. The fan detection method includes following steps: controlling a switch to selectively conduct the first pin and the second pin; controlling a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal processing module to output a voltage pulse to the fourth pin; detecting, by the voltage detection module, a voltage level on the fourth pin; and determining the fan to be a PWM fan when the voltage level is changed, and determining the fan to be a DC fan when the voltage level is not changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: NUVOTON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shih-Hsuan Hsu
  • Patent number: 10323872
    Abstract: A refrigeration appliance includes a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment. An ice maker with an ice mold is disposed within the fresh food compartment for freezing water into ice pieces. A refrigeration system includes a system evaporator and an ice maker evaporator dedicated to cooling the ice mold. A frame rotatably supports the ice mold within the fresh food compartment between an ice-forming position and an ice-harvesting position. The frame supports the ice maker evaporator at a stationary position that serves as a pivot axis for the ice mold so the ice mold can rotate around the ice maker evaporator between the ice-forming position and the ice-harvesting position, while the ice maker evaporator remains stationary. In one example, a heater is rotatable with the ice mold, and a drip tray is located underneath ice mold and rotatable with the ice mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Nilton Carlos Bertolini, Zhuochen Shi, Thomas McCollough, Jorge Montalvo
  • Patent number: 10260622
    Abstract: A transmission arrangement for a motor vehicle comprises a control device, a machine power electronics system, and an electric machine. The electric machine includes a plurality of windings which are connected to the machine power electronics system via particular phase conductors. The machine power electronics system is connected to the control device. The control device includes a temperature detection portion which is connected to at least one phase conductor and is designed for feeding an excitation signal into the phase conductor. The temperature detection portion is designed for capturing a response signal in the phase conductor, and from the response signal, deriving a winding temperature of the winding assigned to the phase conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: GETRAG B.V. & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ralph Richter, Jan Gurrath, Michael Ludwig, Marc Weinert, Hans-Peter Moosmann
  • Patent number: 10132697
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of using a current transformer for a temperature sensing device. The method determines the temperature of the current transformer's secondary winding by injecting a DC current into the secondary winding, measuring a voltage across the secondary winding, calculating the resistance of the secondary winding from the voltage induced into the secondary winding by the injected DC current and determining the secondary winding temperature by calculations or a comparison with verified resistance/temperature combinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin M. Jefferies, Benjamin W. Edwards, Matthew L. White, Konstantin Alexander Filippenko, Richard Karl Weiler
  • Patent number: 10128788
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for extending component life in a motor drive having a stator heating mode is disclosed. The current supplied to stator windings is cycled through a set of primary stator power transistors to increase the overall lifespan of the drive, thus preventing premature failure of the stator power transistors by splitting the workload between them, rather than having a single transistor supply the bulk of the stator heating current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventor: William David Daugherty, III
  • Patent number: 10097119
    Abstract: A fan for use in agriculture which has a BLDC motor which allows for varying the speed of the fan to vary the airflow rate of the fan and vary the efficiency of the fan. A ventilation system for use in a livestock confinement building to maximize a rate of growth of the livestock. A process for maximizing the growth of livestock in a livestock confinement building by controlling the airflow in the livestock confinement building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: MUNTERS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher A. Hause, Ross L. Demerly, Daniel G. Hansen, Christopher B. Witt, John Van Camp
  • Patent number: 10086958
    Abstract: A control moment gyroscope (CMG) module for use in a satellite comprising a CMG, the CMG comprising a flywheel assembly mounted on a gimbal assembly, the flywheel assembly comprising a flywheel rim, a flywheel spokes member and a flywheel shaft, the flywheel rim circumscribing the flywheel shaft, and the flywheel spokes member extending between the flywheel shaft and the flywheel rim. The gimbal assembly comprises at least one gimbal and a spin motor, the spin motor for rotating the flywheel assembly about a first axis. The CMG further comprises a torque shaft and a torque motor for rotating the at least one gimbal about a second axis. The CMG module further comprises a hermetic first shell housing; and a hermetic second shell housing; wherein the second shell housing is joined to the first shell housing by a hermetic seal to form an airtight interior of the CMG module, the interior of the CMG module containing the CMG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: ST Electronics (Satcom & Sensor Systems) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Moses James Goh, Robert Devasahayam
  • Patent number: 10075112
    Abstract: A field winding type synchronous machine connects to a DC line and includes a rotor; a stator; an exciter that passes a current through a field winding of the rotor; and a rectification circuit that rectifies an output from the exciter and provides the output to the DC line. The synchronous machine includes the field winding being connected in parallel to a first circuit in which a parallel circuit including a rectifier element and a first switchgear is connected in series to a discharge resistor, a second switchgear being connected in series to the DC line that connects the first circuit to the rectification circuit, and a capacitor being provided between the discharge resistor and the input side of an electric power source element for gating the first switchgear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Kori, Motonobu Iizuka, Takayuki Koyama
  • Patent number: 9976788
    Abstract: A refrigeration appliance includes a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment. An ice maker with an ice mold is disposed within the fresh food compartment for freezing water into ice pieces. A refrigeration system includes a system evaporator and an ice maker evaporator dedicated to cooling the ice mold. A frame rotatably supports the ice mold within the fresh food compartment between an ice-forming position and an ice-harvesting position. The frame supports the ice maker evaporator at a stationary position that serves as a pivot axis for the ice mold so the ice mold can rotate around the ice maker evaporator between the ice-forming position and the ice-harvesting position, while the ice maker evaporator remains stationary. In one example, a heater is rotatable with the ice mold, and a drip tray is located underneath ice mold and rotatable with the ice mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Nilton Carlos Bertolini, Zhuochen Shi, Thomas McCollough, Jorge Montalvo
  • Patent number: 9879894
    Abstract: A compressor crankcase heating control method for a heat pump system includes selectively actuating a first switching device to connect and disconnect first and second power lines to and from second and third switching devices, respectively, the first and second power lines receive a first voltage. The compressor crankcase heating control method further includes, when the first and second power lines are disconnected from the second and third switching devices via the first switching device, actuating the second and third switching devices thereby connecting third and fourth power lines to ends, respectively, of at least one winding of a stator of an electric motor of a compressor. The at least one winding of the stator of the electric motor heats the crankcase of the compressor. The third and fourth power lines receive a second voltage that is less than the first voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: George J. Ramayya
  • Patent number: 9810218
    Abstract: A system includes a compressor having a shell housing a compression mechanism driven by an electric motor in an on state and not driven by the electric motor in an off state. The system also includes a variable frequency drive that drives the electric motor in the on state by varying a frequency of a voltage delivered to the electric motor and that supplies electric current to a stator of the electric motor in the off state to heat the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies
    Inventors: Daniel L. McSweeney, Charles E. Green, Stephen M. Seibel
  • Patent number: 9810468
    Abstract: A compressor crankcase heating control method for a heat pump system includes selectively actuating a first switching device to connect and disconnect first and second power lines to and from second and third switching devices, respectively, the first and second power lines receive a first voltage. The compressor crankcase heating control method further includes, when the first and second power lines are disconnected from the second and third switching devices via the first switching device, actuating the second and third switching devices thereby connecting third and fourth power lines to ends, respectively, of at least one winding of a stator of an electric motor of a compressor. The at least one winding of the stator of the electric motor heats the crankcase of the compressor. The third and fourth power lines receive a second voltage that is less than the first voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: George J. Ramayya
  • Patent number: 9639171
    Abstract: In a motor drive device (1) the motor driving setting of which is performed by a setting display unit (20), the setting display unit (20) displays a setting content of a setting item when the setting content of the setting item is changed, and further displays related information (an input value, an output detection value, a computed value calculated by the controller) of at least one or more related items, which are related to the setting item. By using the setting display unit which simultaneously displays the setting content and the related information necessary for setting, it is possible to set the motor drive device (1) easily and quickly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takahiro Yayama
  • Patent number: 9294031
    Abstract: A pinch detection apparatus for an opening-and-closing member actuated by a motor, the pinch detection apparatus includes a reference data storage portion calculating load data on the basis of a rotation speed of the motor and an environmental temperature, the reference data storage portion storing the load data and the environmental temperature as reference load data and reference temperature data, respectively, a drive load calculation portion calculating drive load data, and a pinch determination portion configured to determine an occurrence of pinch on the basis of a comparison result obtained by comparing a difference between the reference load data and the drive load data with a threshold, the pinch determination portion configured to correct a relative relation between the difference between the reference load data and the drive load data, and the threshold on the basis of a relative relation between a reference temperature and a drive temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuyasu Bessho, Toshiro Maeda, Daisuke Yuasa
  • Patent number: 9106172
    Abstract: A test automation system may specify a temperature setpoint for an electric machine system and generate a command for the electric machine system to output a torque in such a manner that a temperature of the electric machine system varies within a predefined range of the temperature setpoint for at least a predefined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: HORIBA Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Dmitry Frankstein
  • Patent number: 9054616
    Abstract: An assembly comprising a movable element being movable in relation to a base, a first electric motor for moving the element in relation to the base, the motor having one or more first windings each having at least two inputs, a first braking element being adapted to determine whether power and/or signals are provided to the first motor and being adapted to alter between at least two modes wherein, in a first of the modes, no power/signals is/are provided to the first motor and a first galvanic connection is provided between the inputs of at least one of the first windings and a first element having a predetermined resistance and wherein in a second of the modes, power/signals is/are provided to the first motor and the first galvanic connection is disconnected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Thrane & Thrane A/S
    Inventor: Lars Theil Hansen
  • Patent number: 9035582
    Abstract: A motor driving apparatus includes an automatic gain control circuit on a signal path for transmitting a rotor-position detecting signal (hall voltage signal), and the automatic gain control circuit includes: an amplifier, configured to perform differential amplification on an input signal (step-angle hall current signal) to generate an output signal (amplified hall current signal); and a feedback control portion, configured to monitor the output signal (monitored current signal) to decide a gain of the amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuo Yamato, Takashi Fujimura
  • Publication number: 20150102756
    Abstract: A controller and a method for a machine tool, capable of discriminating the factors in overheating, and taking appropriate measures depending on each factor. A first amplifier of the controller has an acceleration/deceleration judging part which judges as to whether the spindle motor is accelerated or decelerated; a first temperature estimating part which estimates a first amount of change in temperature of the spindle motor when the spindle motor is in the acceleration/deceleration state; a second temperature estimating part which estimates a second amount of change in temperature of the spindle motor when the spindle motor is in the steady state; a comparing part which compares the first and second estimated values. A numerical controlling part of the controller transmits an operation command for changing the operation of at least one of the spindle motor and a feed shaft motor, when the spindle motor is overheated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tadashi Okita
  • Patent number: 8975851
    Abstract: A temperature estimating unit includes an energy calculating unit that calculates a heat generation energy rate of a motor on the basis of a difference between power input to the motor and power output from the motor, a heat radiation energy calculating unit that calculates a heat radiation energy rate from a target member on the basis of a difference between a previous temperature estimation value Tm of the target member and an ambient temperature, and a thermal coefficient of the target member, and an amount calculating unit that calculates a temperature increase rate of the target member on the basis of a difference between the heat generation energy rate and the heat radiation energy rate, and an estimation value calculating unit that calculates a current temperature estimation value of the target member on the basis of the temperature increase rate and the previous temperature estimation value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignees: Advics Co., Ltd., Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Tadayoshi Usami, Nobuhiko Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 8972115
    Abstract: A motor driven power steering (MDPS) may include: a vehicle speed sensor configured to sense vehicle speed; a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of a power pack; a current sensor configured to sense an amount of current applied to the MDPS; a storage unit configured to store a thermal resistance value based on the vehicle speed with respect to the temperature of the power pack; and a control unit configured to calculate an estimated temperature by reflecting the thermal resistance value based on the vehicle speed with respect to the temperature of the power pack and the current amount applied to the MDPS into a temperature estimation function, and drive a motor according to the calculated estimated temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Se Wook Oh
  • Publication number: 20150042248
    Abstract: A system includes a grid coupled to an electrical bus; an electrical power modulation device coupled to the electrical bus that can output modified electrical power received from the electrical bus: a blower motor coupled to the electrical power modulation device that can receive the modified electrical power output and can provide a stream of air to affect a temperature of the grid, and a controller. A speed of the blower motor may be based at least in part on an amount of the modified electrical power. The controller can receive an operating parameter, and is responsive to that parameter by causing the electrical power modulation device to vary the amount of the modified electrical power. A blower motor speed may be controlled based at least in part on the operating parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Emil Nikolov, Ajith Kuttainnair Kumar, Theodore Clark Brown, Bret Dwayne Worden, Sudhir Kumar Gupta
  • Publication number: 20150022133
    Abstract: A circuit for thermal protection and power regulation as a function of the current winding temperature of phase windings of an electric motor. The circuit including at least one temperature monitor switch (TW1, TW2) that measures the winding temperature of the phase windings, and that upon attainment of a specific winding temperature shuts off the winding current flowing through the windings, the circuit further including a PTC thermistor that is associated with the phase windings and that, upon attainment of a specific winding temperature, reduces power by means of a resistance increase, or shuts the motor off. One of the phase windings has the PTC thermistor. The other phase windings or winding has a temperature monitor switch. The PTC thermistor and the temperature monitor switch or switches (TW1, TW2) are connected in series to a voltage source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: ebm-papst Mulfingen GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Thomas Sauer
  • Patent number: 8933658
    Abstract: An electric drive system may include a plurality of heat sensitive components, at least one temperature sensor positioned in or on each of the components and a system controller. The temperature sensors may be interconnected with the system controller to transmit temperature data from their respective heat sensitive components to the system controller. The system controller may be configured to transmit a reduced performance command in the event that a reached-temperature-threshold-limit signal is received from any one or more of the temperature sensors. System shutdown due to over temperature faults may be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Evgeni Ganev, Chiyuan Chiang
  • Patent number: 8907608
    Abstract: Disclosed are alternate embodiments of various components of a barrier operator system. and methods of operation, including of the mechanical drive subsystem with segmented and self-locking rail unit, rail mounting supports, belt and chain drive tensioning, and drive assembly carriage and interface; the electronics and software routines for controlled operation of the various barrier operator functions; wall console communications with the barrier operator; encryption and decryption of access codes; establishment and monitoring of travel limits and barrier speed and force profiles; thermal protection of barrier operator drive motors; and establishment and control of communications from the barrier operator to accessories by way of a wireless adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Overhead Door Corporation
    Inventors: Leroy G. Krupke, Mark Kenneth Siegesmund, Mark Raymond Wilzbach