In Generator And/or Driving Means Patents (Class 322/34)
  • Patent number: 9966783
    Abstract: In a portable electronic device components (2) consuming electrical power during operation may generate heat. A temperature sensor (1) for sensing an ambient temperature (TS) of the portable electronic device may as a consequence not supply the correct temperature value. It is suggested to provide a compensator (4) for determining a compensated ambient temperature (TA) dependent on at least the sensed ambient temperature (TS) and information (Pi) related to the electrical power consumed by at least one of the components (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Sensirion AG
    Inventors: Andrea Sacchetti, Andreas Tiefenauer, Dominik Niederberger
  • Patent number: 9186975
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle has, on a driveline, an engine, a motor/generator, a clutch and driving wheels, and transmits a driving force from the engine to the driving wheels through the motor/generator and the engaged clutch and brings a drive load that is applied to the engine from the driving wheels to a no-load state by disengagement of the clutch. A control apparatus of the hybrid vehicle has a racing control section which, when an accelerator depression operation is done in a state in which the engine is in the no-load state, in a case where a torque absorption restriction condition that restricts torque absorption by the motor/generator with an engine torque being a power-generation torque is satisfied, restricts an rotation speed of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroki Matsui
  • Patent number: 8760127
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, a system for controlling a temperature of a generator is provided, wherein the system includes a fluid supply in fluid communication with the generator and a heat exchange apparatus in fluid communication with the fluid supply, the generator and a cooling fluid source. The system also includes a first sensor configured to determine a first temperature of a fluid flowing from the heat exchange apparatus to the generator, a second sensor configured to determine a second temperature of the fluid flowing from the generator to the fluid supply and a controller configured to determine an operating limit temperature for the fluid based on the determined first and second temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Balamurugan Sridharan, James Daniel Antalek, Steven Craig Kluge, Rebinth Jose Robin, John Russell Yagielski
  • Patent number: 8736234
    Abstract: A power converter control apparatus includes a power converter part having a bridge circuit formed of a switching element and a field circuit controlling conduction of a field winding in an AC generator, and a control apparatus part having a field current detector, a temperature detector detecting a temperature of a generator part, the power converter part, or the control apparatus part, a field current instruction computation portion computing a field current instruction value of the generator, a temperature rise suppression portion computing a generated current suppression value on the basis of an output of the temperature detector and computing a field current suppression value on the basis of the computed generated current suppression value, a field current instruction selection portion selecting the field current instruction value or the field current suppression value whichever is the smaller, and a field current control portion controlling a field current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Nakajima, Masato Mori, Kenichi Akita, Mitsunori Tabata
  • Patent number: 8710807
    Abstract: A generator has a field coil of a rotor, an armature coil of a stator, a control device supplying an exciting current to the field coil when detecting rotation of the rotor, and a control circuit alternately setting an upper arm transistor and a lower arm transistor in on state in a rectifier module to generate a phase voltage. The control device detects the rotation from a periodic change in a sign of the difference between the phase voltage and a reference voltage. When the rectifier module is overheated, the control circuit sets the upper arm transistor in the off state and sets the lower arm transistor in the on state to almost fix the phase voltage, the control device detects no rotation and stops supplying the exciting current, and the rectifier module generates no phase voltage to decrease temperature of the rectifier module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Harumi Horihata, Hideaki Nakayama
  • Patent number: 8575900
    Abstract: A generator apparatus comprises a deicing circuit. The deicing circuit is operable during a time when a main generator rotor is not being rotated by a generator shaft. The deicing circuit includes a first power source for energizing a plurality of exciter field windings with alternating input current to induce an exciter output current in a plurality of exciter armature windings. The exciter output current is provided to main generator rotor windings for producing resistance heating around an air gap separating the main generator rotor from a main generator stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Todd A. Spierling
  • Publication number: 20130049708
    Abstract: A rising temperature of components of an electric generator is restrained without deteriorating the quality of electricity output and the user-friendliness of the electric generator. AVR (7) and a temperature detecting means (75) is provided in a generator housing. While the detected temperature is greater than the limitation starting temperature, the output voltage is decreased by decreasing the control target value (for the AVR (7)) in accordance with the temperature. A range between the power generation stopping temperature as an upper-limit temperature of a generator component and the limitation starting temperature set to be a lower than the power generation stopping temperature is defined as a voltage droop range. In the voltage droop range, the control target value is decreased in accordance with a target voltage base value preset in a relationship with the temperature so that the decrease degree becomes greater in proportion to a rising temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinsaku Nakayama, Yasuhiro Nakada, Minoru Maedako
  • Patent number: 8358094
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and arrangement having an electric machine, comprising a stator (4) and a rotor (1) and an infrared temperature sensor, wherein the detection field of the infrared temperature sensor is directed at an outer surface of the rotor (1). The infrared temperature sensor is a thermopile (6) for radiometrically contactlessly detecting a temperature of the rotor (1), the thermopile being arranged in a slot of the stator (4) and being compatible with standard slot-sealing-wedge components of the electric machine with regard to assembly, and thus enables the operational monitoring of the thermal state of an electric machine in a novel manner, such that adapted power states can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Jürgen Zettner
  • Publication number: 20120326678
    Abstract: A method for protecting an automotive generator from overheating, in which a predefined limiting characteristic curve, related to a base temperature and describing a maximally allowed excitation current value, is shifted as a function of a calculated temperature, a static offset is ascertained in a first step and a dynamic offset is ascertained in a second step during ascertainment of the calculated temperature, the static offset is ascertained as a function of the excitation current and the dynamic offset is ascertained as a derivation of the excitation current over time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventors: Arnold Engber, Helmut Suelzle, Miriam Riederer
  • Patent number: 8305048
    Abstract: A vehicle power generating device includes an alternator which has a voltage regulator that keeps the voltage of generated power constant, and an electronic control unit that controls the voltage regulator. In this vehicle power generating device, the alternator has an abnormally high temperature determining portion that determines whether the temperature of the alternator is abnormally high, and an abnormal signal outputting portion which, when it has been determined by the abnormally high temperature determining portion that the temperature of the alternator is abnormally high, outputs a signal indicative of the determination that the temperature is abnormally high to the electronic control unit. Also, when the electronic control unit receives the signal indicative of the determination that the temperature is abnormally high, the electronic control unit controls the voltage regulator such that the voltage generated by the alternator is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hidehiko Matsui
  • Publication number: 20120262130
    Abstract: A power converter control apparatus includes a power converter part having a bridge circuit formed of a switching element and a field circuit controlling conduction of a field winding in an AC generator, and a control apparatus part having a field current detector, a temperature detector detecting a temperature of a generator part, the power converter part, or the control apparatus part, a field current instruction computation portion computing a field current instruction value of the generator, a temperature rise suppression portion computing a generated current suppression value on the basis of an output of the temperature detector and computing a field current suppression value on the basis of the computed generated current suppression value, a field current instruction selection portion selecting the field current instruction value or the field current suppression value whichever is the smaller, and a field current control portion controlling a field current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji NAKAJIMA, Masato MORI, Kenichi AKITA, Mitsunori TABATA
  • Publication number: 20120249090
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, a system for controlling a temperature of a generator is provided, wherein the system includes a fluid supply in fluid communication with the generator and a heat exchange apparatus in fluid communication with the fluid supply, the generator and a cooling fluid source. The system also includes a first sensor configured to determine a first temperature of a fluid flowing from the heat exchange apparatus to the generator, a second sensor configured to determine a second temperature of the fluid flowing from the generator to the fluid supply and a controller configured to determine an operating limit temperature for the fluid based on the determined first and second temperatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Balamurugan Sridharan, James Daniel Antalek, Steven Craig Kluge, Rebinth Jose Robin, John Russell Yagielski
  • Patent number: 8193782
    Abstract: The abnormality detection apparatus includes a first function of measuring a first temperature of a first portion of the abnormality detection apparatus, the first temperature having a correlation with a second temperature of a second portion of a vehicle alternator, a second function of integrating a stress depending on a temperature variation of the first portion on the basis of the first temperature measured by the first function, a third function of predicting occurrence of abnormality in the second portion depending on the stress integrated by the second function, and a fourth function of issuing an alarm when the third function predicts occurrence of abnormality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Mori, Toshinori Maruyama
  • Publication number: 20120112709
    Abstract: A field winding type rotary electric machine includes a motor generator; a field current detection unit; a field current control unit which controls a field current; a field current limiting determination section which calculates a field current integration value and determines whether or not the field current integration value reaches a predetermined field current integration threshold value; and a field current limiting command section which, when it is determined that the field current integration value reaches the predetermined field current integration threshold value, outputs a command which sets the field current to be lower than or equal to a predetermined field current limiting value to the field current control unit during a predetermined limiting time, and outputs a command which changes the predetermined limiting time depending on the field current. Accordingly, a temperature rise of the machine is suppressed and limiting of the field current can be released as needed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi AKITA, Masato MORI, Kenji NAKAJIMA, Mitsunori TABATA
  • Publication number: 20120056601
    Abstract: A generator apparatus comprises a deicing circuit. The deicing circuit is operable during a time when a main generator rotor is not being rotated by a generator shaft. The deicing circuit includes a first power source for energizing a plurality of exciter field windings with alternating input current to induce an exciter output current in a plurality of exciter armature windings. The exciter output current is provided to main generator rotor windings for producing resistance heating around an air gap separating the main generator rotor from a main generator stator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: Todd A. Spierling
  • Patent number: 8111502
    Abstract: An arrangement related to subsea electric power distributing AC-system and adapted for a subsea application. The arrangement is enclosed in a watertight casing. The casing exposes a main power input connection, adapted for watertight co-ordination with a first subsea cable and a main power output connection, adapted for a watertight co-ordination with a second subsea cable. The second subsea cable is adapted for a power supply to an AC-current and AC-voltage adapted device. The arrangement includes interconnected: a voltage regulator connected to the first cable, and a NO-load switching unit connected to the second cable, and a control unit. The control unit is adapted, in a first operative mode, to regulate the output AC-voltage from the voltage regulator towards and to zero, or at least almost to zero, and in a second subsequent operative mode, to bring the NO-load switching unit from an ON-position to an OFF-position or vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Scandinavia AS
    Inventor: Svend Rocke
  • Patent number: 8040112
    Abstract: The vehicle-use power generation control device includes a first function of detecting a temperature around a generator mounted on a vehicle, a second function of setting a target control voltage in accordance with the temperature detected by the first function, and a third function of controlling an output voltage of the generator at the target control voltage set by the second function. The second function is configured to determine the target control voltage on the basis of a target power generation voltage defining the target control voltage to be set at a predetermined temperature, and a predetermined gradient of the target control voltage with respect to the temperature detected by the first function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Tsukasa Kikuchi, Tomomi Tsuzuki
  • Patent number: 7973517
    Abstract: The control device detects the B-terminal voltage by a B-terminal voltage detection section. When an abnormal voltage detection section detects that a voltage value of the detected B-terminal voltage is equal to or higher than a predetermined voltage value, all switching elements of the negative pole-side arm in a power conversion section are brought into conduction by a negative pole-side arm short-circuiting section, whereas all switching elements of a positive pole-side arm are interrupted. In addition, a field current is limited to zero or to a limit value by a field current control section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Nakajima, Masato Mori
  • Publication number: 20100327584
    Abstract: A method for controlling a converter of a wind energy installation. The converter is connected to a rotor of a doubly-fed asynchronous generator for feeding electrical power into an electrical grid and comprises a generator-side inverter, a grid-side inverter, and at least one converter regulator for regulating and/or controlling currents emitted from at least one of the inverters to at least one of the generator and the electrical grid. The method includes detecting a change in electrical voltage present in at least one of emitted real currents and emitted reactive currents at one of the inverters, determining whether the detected change corresponds to a predetermined change, and changing nominal values of at least one of real currents to be emitted and reactive currents to be emitted from the other inverter if the detected change corresponds to the predetermined change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: REPOWER SYSTEMS AG
    Inventor: Jens Fortmann
  • Publication number: 20100301816
    Abstract: Provided is a field winding type generator-motor capable of minimizing cost increase and structure modification while preventing a failure due to a temperature rise, without mounting a temperature sensor. The field winding type generator-motor according to the present invention includes: a dynamo-electric machine that has a field winding; a field current detecting section for detecting field current; a field current restriction deciding section for deciding whether or not the decision value has reached a predetermined decision threshold value by calculating a decision value based on the field current detected by the field current detecting section; and a field current controller for controlling the field current flowing in the field winding so that the field current is restricted to a predetermined permissible value in a case where the field current restriction deciding section decides that the decision value has reached the predetermined decision threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi AKITA, Kenji Nakajima, Masato Mori
  • Publication number: 20100097038
    Abstract: Electronic control for a hydraulic system to drive an auxiliary power source is provided, with an application as a system for controlling the operation of a hydraulically driven AC generator. The system includes a hydraulic pump, a hydraulic motor drivably connected to the generator, and a fluid circuit for circulating fluid from the pump to the motor and back. The feedback circuit contains a feedback conduit to feedback the motor. The system also includes a proportional servo control valve assembly for controlling the fluid conduits and a control circuit for controlling the control valve assembly to thereby control the flow of fluid to the motor. Sensors for measuring the operating parameters of the system and an operator interface module are both able to influence the operation of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: NARTRON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mario P. Boisvert, Thomas Kienitz, John M. Washeleski
  • Publication number: 20100079118
    Abstract: A vehicle power generating device includes an alternator which has a voltage regulator that keeps the voltage of generated power constant, and an electronic control unit that controls the voltage regulator. In this vehicle power generating device, the alternator has an abnormally high temperature determining portion that determines whether the temperature of the alternator is abnormally high, and an abnormal signal outputting portion which, when it has been determined by the abnormally high temperature determining portion that the temperature of the alternator is abnormally high, outputs a signal indicative of the determination that the temperature is abnormally high to the electronic control unit. Also, when the electronic control unit receives the signal indicative of the determination that the temperature is abnormally high, the electronic control unit controls the voltage regulator such that the voltage generated by the alternator is suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hidehiko Matsui
  • Patent number: 7679305
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for temperature limitation according to the current and/or voltage, for an actuating device (10) associated with an electric motor (M), especially a fan regulator (12) of a motor vehicle, the temperature limitation being carried out according to at least one operating parameter of the motor (M). The invention also relates to a corresponding device (1) and a fan regulator (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Harald Eisenhardt
  • Patent number: 7675720
    Abstract: An accurate slip calculation for providing monitoring and protection to an electric motor. The slip calculation is made using a minimum value of stator resistance as the initial stator resistance, where the minimum value of stator resistance is the minimum value of stator resistance calculated during an initiation period of the motor. The initiation period may be a predetermined time period or a predetermined number of cycles during the motor startup. The initiation period may start after a predetermined settling time or after a predetermined condition is met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley E. Zocholl, Subhash C. Patel
  • Publication number: 20090121689
    Abstract: The vehicle-use power generation control device includes a first function of detecting a temperature around a generator mounted on a vehicle, a second function of setting a target control voltage in accordance with the temperature detected by the first function, and a third function of controlling an output voltage of the generator at the target control voltage set by the second function. The second function is configured to determine the target control voltage on the basis of a target power generation voltage defining the target control voltage to be set at a predetermined temperature, and a predetermined gradient of the target control voltage with respect to the temperature detected by the first function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsukasa Kikuchi, Tomomi Tsuzuki
  • Patent number: 7498775
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus are described for monitoring a rotating synchronous electric machine (9), which comprises a rotor having a rotor winding and a stator having a stator winding. The method comprises the steps of determining the stator winding current, determining the stator winding voltage, determining the rotor winding current, and estimating the temperature in at least two positions in the electric machine (9) using a model of the electric machine and the determined current and voltage values. An apparatus according to the invention is provided for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: E.On Sverige AB
    Inventors: H{dot over (a)}kan Swahn, Bertil Svensson
  • Patent number: 7397224
    Abstract: This invention discloses a vehicle electrical system voltage regulator with improved electrical protection and warning means that discerns and responds to regulator, generator, or vehicle electrical system operation and malfunctions. The regulator includes monitoring, control, and protection circuits with a phase signal monitor, a field switching circuit that operates the field coil in response to electrical power demands, and a field enable switch in series with the field regulating switch. The phase monitor and protection circuit ascertains and transmits generator rotational motion for use by the monitoring and control circuit in discerning the various operating conditions. The monitoring and control circuit operates on the field switching circuit to meet the electrical power demands and provide multi level fault protection to include field switching circuit reconfiguration to continue operating under various fault conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: C. E. Niehoff & Co.
    Inventor: Issam Jabaji
  • Publication number: 20080133064
    Abstract: A control device measures a voltage drop across a conductor in a generator to determine and control the total generator output current. A temperature of the conductor is also measured to improve the accuracy. The control device may further improve on the accuracy by compensating for the electrical current through a field coil that may power the generator. The control device may be used in combination with a generator in a vehicle electrical system. Other system parameters may be monitored to improve on the system monitoring, diagnostics, and control. The generator may include a conductor comprising a process-controlled geometric shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventors: Nisvet Basic, Ciaran Patterson, Mahmood Pourkermani
  • Publication number: 20080122398
    Abstract: A generating method or apparatus can generate an electric power by using a temperature difference. The generating apparatus includes a higher temperature portion, at least one coil, a lower temperature portion, and at least one magnet. Thus, the magnet is heated or cooled by a temperature difference between the higher temperature portion and the lower temperature portion, and the magnetic force of the magnet changes at a predetermined Curie temperature, so that the magnet is movable reciprocally between the iron core of the higher temperature portion and the lower temperature portion by a temperature difference between the higher temperature portion and the lower temperature portion to change a magnetic flux in the iron core and to produce a pulse voltage or current in the coil successively so as to generate an electric power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventor: Wen-Hsin Ho
  • Patent number: 6828701
    Abstract: A synchronous machine for power and/or voltage control comprises a stator with a stator winding and a rotor with a field winding. The stator winding comprises a high-voltage cable with solid insulation. A rotor has a thermally based rotor current limit intersecting with a thermally based stator current limit in a capability graph at a power factor considerably below the rated power factor or has the thermally based rotor current limit above the thermally based stator current limit. In the capability graph. Means are provided for limiting the currents in order to avoid thermal damage. In a method for power and/or voltage control of such a synchronous machine, the machine operates with the stator current exceeding the thermally based stator current limit for a certain time period less than the maxim an permissible time limit, whereafter the overload is reduced by reduction of either the active power or the field current or a combination of both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri AB
    Inventors: Bertil Berggren, Lars Gertmar, Jan-Anders Nygren, Tore Petersson, Mats Leijon
  • Publication number: 20040239295
    Abstract: An IC regulator for controlling an alternator by changing contents of control in dependence on ambient temperature includes a control voltage limiter (2), a field current controller (3), a temperature sensor (4), a first comparator (5) for comparing the ambient temperature (T) with an activation temperature (TP1) and a reset temperature (TS1), and a second comparator (6) for comparing the ambient temperature (T) with a second activation temperature (TP2). The first comparator (5) outputs a limiter control signal (C2) when the ambient temperature (T) exceeds the first activation temperature (TP1) while resetting the limiter control when the temperature (T) becomes lower than the first reset temperature (TS1). The second comparator (6) outputs a field current interrupt signal (C3) when the ambient temperature (T) exceeds a second activation temperature (TP2) while resetting the signal (C3) when the temperature (T) becomes lower than the second activation temperature (TP2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Sumimoto, Junya Sasaki, Kyoko Higashino
  • Publication number: 20040061481
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring thermal overload of an electric load element in a motor vehicle containing other electric consumers, which can be switched into a stand-by phase. The load element is monitored by a control device using a calculated load temperature parameter. During a first operational phase, a power loss of the load element or a quantity that is essentially proportional thereto is evaluated for calculating the load temperature parameter. During one or more stand-by phases, the control device is switched with essentially no current between the first operational phase and a second operational phase. After the control device is switched on in the second operational phase, at least one quantity, which is characteristic for the moment of switching on, is evaluated for calculating the existing load temperature parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Peter Heinrich, Karl-Heinz Preis, Steffen Nicolai, Michael Huhn, Jochen Ehrenpford
  • Patent number: 6633802
    Abstract: A vehicle power system includes a multiple of electrical generators which provide power for vehicle electrical systems or loads through an electrical load management center which communicates with a general purpose processor set such that the power supplied to each electrical load may be individually controlled. A display communicates with the GPPS to present an electrical system status screen to the vehicle crew such that the crew is constantly made aware of the prevailing electrical power conditions in a rapid and efficient manner. During a drastically reduced generator situation, the GPPS automatically disconnects loads via a predefined load shed priority list. Once electrical loads are disconnected via the predefined load shed priority list the crew can reactivate and deactivate selected systems for the current mission circumstances through a load recovery screen accessible through the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony F. Sodoski, Bruce S. Hamilton, Michael P. Bradford
  • Publication number: 20030173934
    Abstract: A control system for controlling a hybrid transmission including a two-degree-of-freedom differential mechanism is arranged to change a target prime-mover revolution speed of a prime mover so as to decrease an electric power output of first and second motor/generators when a temperature of one of the first and second motor/generators and a power device for the first and second motor/generators is higher than a predetermined temperature, wherein a target driving force of the hybrid vehicle is achieved by a demand prime-mover output generated when an output revolution speed of the hybrid transmission is kept constant and when the target prime-mover revolution speed is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Minoru Arimitsu
  • Patent number: 6222349
    Abstract: A charging system including an alternator, and a controller for controlling the output of the alternator to provide a required output to be in tolerance with a measured load, the controller having at least one temperature sensor, and a temperature control device, wherein the temperature control device calculates the slope of temperature variance over time and, in a state of overtemperature, decreases the value provided to the controller representing the required output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: SatCon Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin E. LeRow, Kevin J. Donegan, Mary Tolikas, David Eisenhaure
  • Patent number: 6014015
    Abstract: A system for generating electrical power signals from a fluid fuel source. The system comprises an engine and a generator. The engine burns the fuel and is connected to the generator such that the generator generates a raw power signal. An output stage generates an output power signal from the raw power signal. A control circuit controls the operation of the engine based on the output power signal. The control circuit further controls the operation of the engine based on an output current of the generator when this output current exceeds a current threshold level. The control circuit additionally controls the operation of the engine based on a temperature of the engine when the engine temperature exceeds a rated temperature level. The system thus generates sufficient power to supply a variable load but stays within an operating range defined by a rated power level and the rated temperature level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Alpha Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony R. Thorne, Fredrick Kaiser, Russell A. Skinner, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5925939
    Abstract: The startability of an internal combustion engine at low temperatures is improved and the revolution stability of the internal combustion engine right after start-up is increased by setting the predetermined maximum value of field current to a low level at low temperatures and to a high level at high temperatures by field current limit setting means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shiro Iwatani, Tsunezi Gouda
  • Patent number: 5754030
    Abstract: Duty ratio of a power switching transistor connected to the field coil is controlled according to whether or not a high-power load is connected. When the high power load is not connected, the duty ratio is made 60%, for example, so that excessive power not generated. On the other hand, when the high power load is connected, the duty ratio is increased to 100% so that full power is generated by the generator. The power switching transistor is also controlled according to the battery voltage in a well known manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fuyuki Maehara, Tadatoshi Asada, Yasuhiro Takase, Wakako Kanazawa
  • Patent number: 5726559
    Abstract: In order to restrain increase in rotor temperature and reduction in field magnetic flux in an AC power generator, advanced-phase currents are supplied to stator windings of a stator via semiconductor switching devices by controlling the semiconductor switching devices during the power generating operation of the power generator. By this control, the advanced-phase currents will increase the field magnetic flux and, accordingly, increases in generated voltage. By reducing a field current to a field winding of a rotor by an amount corresponding to the increase in the power generation output, the temperature increase in the field winding can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Taniguchi, Atsushi Umeda, Hirohide Sato
  • Patent number: 5548202
    Abstract: In a device and a method for regulating an alternator increased alternator output is achieved either in that the exciter current can have a value above the nominal exciter current or in that the alternator control parameters are fixed in such a way that overheating could occur under unfavorable circumstances. In order to prevent this overheating even under unfavorable circumstances, the temperature is measured preferably in the regulator and the temperature at critical locations is determined from this temperature while taking into account typical parameters. This can be effected in that the temperature or temperatures which would occur in stationary operation are first determined. When an impermissible temperature is detected, the exciter current is reduced by suitable steps until the allowable maximum temperature is not exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Gunter Schramm, Walter Kohl, Friedhelm Meyer, Rainer Mittag, Helmut Suelzle
  • Patent number: 5321308
    Abstract: A control method and apparatus for a gas turbine generator is disclosed having multiple modes of operation dependent on generator output components including real power generated, reactive power generated, and power factor. The apparatus provides for selecting a high priority output component, a low priority output component, and a variable output component. Depending on the priority selected, stator temperature is controlled with either a var limiter controller or a MW limiter controller. Rotor temperature is controlled by limiting excitation current substantially independently of priority selection. Setpoint selection may be variable and includes desired MW, MVAR's, and Power factor. This invention allows control of the generator to produce the maximum MVAR's the generator is capable of producing while at the same time utilizing the remainder of the gas turbine output capability for MW generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1994
    Assignee: Tri-Sen Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Allan W. Johncock
  • Patent number: 5298842
    Abstract: In a thermal overload protection system three system variables are sensed and provide the inputs required for a calculation conducted in real time at one second intervals. The system variables include ambient inlet air temperature to the alternator, alternator stator winding embedded sensor temperature, and traction motor armature current. A traction motor current limit is calculated using the inlet air temperature and the sensor temperature. The thermal overload is then controlled in response to the traction motor current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Laurence D. Vanek, Robert G. McGrath
  • Patent number: 5298852
    Abstract: The method of regulating a motor vehicle three-phase generator for operation in an overexcited range includes determining a temperature of the generator by a temperature-determining device provided in a voltage regulator circuit for the generator, supporting the housing of the voltage regulator on one of the generator component parts, reducing an excitation current of an excitation coil of the generator to keep the temperature of the generator below a predetermined maximum temperature when a generator speed is between a first generator speed threshold and a second generator speed threshold and increasing the excitation current of the excitation coil of the generator above the nominal value of the excitation current without consideration of the determined temperature, when the generator speed exceeds the second predetermined generator speed threshold and is below the first predetermined generator speed threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Friedhelm Meyer
  • Patent number: 5075616
    Abstract: When a motor/generator is changed over from a motor mode to a generator mode, field current is minimized. In the generator mode, idling is performed until the engine temperature attains a set temperature, after which the field current is supplied. As a result, load upon an engine is lightened immediately after the engine is started and the risk of the engine stalling is eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1991
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tsutomu Mitsui
  • Patent number: 4890050
    Abstract: An automotive alternator includes a thermal switch located in a rear chamber of the alternator enclosed by the housing rear wall and circumferential intermediate wall and the stator and rotor. The thermal switch is mounted on the heat-sinking collector tab of a power transistor in the regulator. In high power, low idling conditions with poor interior ventilation, the thermal switch senses heat produced from the rectifier diodes, rotor, stator and regulator to cut-off generation in over temperature conditions. Rings are furnished on the rectifier diode posts to conduct more heat from the diode body and the stator is potted with a special double dip and bake procedure with a thin viscosity two-part epoxy material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1989
    Assignee: Vanguard Products Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel A. Mackevich
  • Patent number: 4727307
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicular generator for use in an automobile, etc., in which the temperature of the generator is detected so as to control switching of the field current of the generator when the temperature of the generator is below a predetermined value, so that the cold output current and cold drive torque of the generator are substantially the same as the hot output current and hot drive torque of the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1988
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Kaneyuki, Shiro Iwatani, Keiichi Komurasaki, Yoshiyuki Iwaki
  • Patent number: 4694239
    Abstract: The voltage regulating device, compensating the error due to the heat dissipated by the power element that drives the load, specifically an excitation winding of a motor car battery charging alternator, comprises a control stage including a temperature sensing element and a power stage driven by the control stage for generating an output voltage dependent on the ambient temperature. The power stage includes a sensor for detecting the power dissipated therein and generating a dissipated power signal fed to a compensation section in the control stage which also receives the temperature signal detected by the temperature sensing element for generating an actual ambient temperature signal unaffected by the error due to internal heat dissipation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1987
    Assignee: SGS Microelettronica S.p.A.
    Inventors: Fabio Marchio', Pietro Menniti
  • Patent number: 4629967
    Abstract: A voltage regulating system for a diode-rectified alternating current generator that supplies the electrical loads on a motor vehicle including charging the storage battery. The voltage regulator has a reference voltage developing circuit that can operate either in a temperature compensated mode or a flat mode. In the temperature compensated mode the reference voltage developed by the circuit varies with temperature and while the circuit is in the flat mode the reference voltage remains substantially constant with changes in temperature. The voltage regulator has a switching transistor connected in series with the field winding of the generator which can operate in a current limiting mode in the event that sensed field current becomes excessive. The voltage regulator includes circuitry for ensuring that the output voltage of the generator properly builds-up when the field winding is initially excited by the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1986
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Richard J. Voss
  • Patent number: 4496898
    Abstract: An alternating current (AC) generator of the type used in vehicular applications and driven by the vehicle engine has a stator winding and a field winding wherein the electrical resistance of the field winding varies as a function of temperature. An exciting current intermittently is allowed to flow through the field winding which induces a current in the stator winding. The output of the stator is rectified and used to charge the vehicle battery. The invention comprises inclusion of field winding current compensation apparatus which varies as a function of temperature to reduce undesired field winding current variations due to temperature which results in improvements of power output and stabilized generator driving torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1985
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Iwaki, Mitsuyoshi Yokota, Akio Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 4398140
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a charging generator for charging a battery comprises a first temperature detecting element having a positive temperature coefficient which detects the variation of ambient temperature of a voltage regulator to impart a negative temperature gradient to the voltage adjusting characteristic of the voltage regulator and a second temperature detecting element having a negative temperature coefficient which detects the self-heating of the generator or the voltage regulator during operation to impart a positive temperature gradient to the voltage adjusting characteristic so as to control the output voltage of the generator. This control apparatus has a dynamic characteristic permitting the adjusted voltage to increase so as to compensate the voltage drop in the external load characteristic; thus an excellent charging characteristic of the battery can be attained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1983
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mitsuharu Morishita