Abstract: An on-line RFP procurement auction system with bidder sub-auctions for both repair and salvage of damaged property, using a telecommunications network accessible by network members including requesters, repair bidders, and salvage bidders, for processing an RFP for goods and services through at least one server and operating software. The system includes a database for each category of goods and services offered or desired by network members; software for requesters to generate RFPs for goods or services that include photographic and alpha-numeric RFP data; software for transmitting the RFPs to the server; capacity for e-mail and wireless distribution of RFP notices to bidders who have requested notices within selectable categories of RFP's; capacity to enable a repair bidder to submit an encrypted bid to the server; and capacity within the server for generating a list of all responsive bids and e-mailing the same to the requester after conclusion of an auction.

Abstract: An on-line RFP procurement auction system with bidder sub-auctions, using an Internet based communications network of network members inclusive of network buyers/requesters and network sellers/bidders, for processing an RFP for goods and services through at least one server and operating software.

Abstract: A single phase permanent magnet motor includes a rotor, a stator, and a quadrature axis winding positioned out-of-phase from a main winding of the stator for generating an output signal representative of rotor angular position. An integrator can be coupled to the quadrature axis winding for phase retarding the output signal, and a comparator can be coupled to the integrator for detecting zero crossings of the phase retarded output signal to provide a commutation signal. The quadrature axis winding can be positioned about ninety electrical degrees out-of-phase from the main winding of the stator, and the integrator can be adapted to phase retard the output signal by a number of degrees which decreases as a speed of the motor increases. At low speeds the phase retard is preferably at about ninety degrees so that the phase retarded signal becomes in-phase with the main stator winding back EMF voltage.

Abstract: A motor system having a stationary assembly including a winding and a rotatable assembly in magnetic coupling relation to the stationary assembly. A power supply link having upper and lower rails supplied by a power supply provides power to the motor winding. The power supply link has power switches responsive to a motor control signal for selectively connecting the rails to the winding to energize the winding with a motor current whereby an electromagnetic field is produced for rotating the rotatable assembly. The power switches include a set of upper power switches and a set of lower power switches. Each of the power switches has a conducting state and a nonconducting state. The system includes a disable circuit for selectively generating a disable signal and a control circuit for generating the motor control signal to control the power switches.

Abstract: A single phase permanent magnet motor includes a rotor, a stator, and a quadrature axis winding positioned out-of-phase from a main winding of the stator for generating an output signal representative of rotor angular position. An integrator can be coupled to the quadrature axis winding for phase retarding the output signal, and a comparator can be coupled to the integrator for detecting zero crossings of the phase retarded output signal to provide a commutation signal. The quadrature axis winding can be positioned about ninety electrical degrees out-of-phase from the main winding of the stator, and the integrator can be adapted to phase retard the output signal by a number of degrees which decreases as a speed of the motor increases. At low speeds the phase retard is preferably at about ninety degrees so that the phase retarded signal becomes in-phase with the main stator winding back EMF voltage.

Abstract: A motor with positive torque parking positions. The motor includes a rotor which is rotatable about an axis of rotation and a stator in magnetic coupling relation with the rotor. The stator includes a plurality of teeth each having a radially extending shaft and an axially extending face. The faces of the stator teeth define an aperture for receiving the rotor and the faces of the stator teeth and the rotor define an air gap therebetween. Each stator tooth has a notch in its face that is approximately at least as wide as the shaft of the stator tooth so that the stator has a magnetic configuration relative to the rotor for parking the rotor in a rest position corresponding to a positive torque starting position. The motor also includes a winding on the shafts of the stator teeth and a control circuit for controlling current in the winding whereby an electromagnetic field is produced for rotating the rotor at a desired speed or torque during operation of the motor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for controlling the switching devices in a switched reluctance machine bridge inverter, which inverter has at least two switching devices per phase leg, during generating operation. At the start of the conduction interval for a particular machine phase, both switching devices of that phase are turned on, causing the phase current to build up. When the phase current reaches an upper hysteresis band level, both switching devices are turned off, resulting in the application of a reverse voltage across the phase winding and directing the phase current into the power source via flyback diodes. At relatively low and medium speeds, the phase current decreases until it reaches a lower hysteresis band level, at which point only one switching device is turned back on to form a freewheeling loop through that device and the corresponding flyback diode.

Abstract: Plural-stage form-wound stator pole coil windings for a switched reluctance motor utilize a greater portion of the interpole space than conventional windings, thereby increasing production of magnetic flux. In a two-stage form-wound coil winding, the first stage comprises an inner coil winding which fits directly around a stator pole. The second stage comprises an outer coil winding which fits directly around the first coil winding. All outer coil windings are applied to the stator before inserting the inner coil windings into the outer coil windings and electrically connecting the inner coil windings thereto. Torque production and output voltage are increased, resulting in a highly efficient motor.

Abstract: A microcomputer-based drive system for a switched reluctance motor requires no rotor position sensor and no discrete current sensors. Phase excitation is synchronized with rotor position by indirectly estimating rotor position according to instantaneous phase inductance. Current regulation is achieved by incorporating pilot devices for current sensing into the switching devices of the power converter and by employing a fixed off-time current chopping strategy. One application is for use in a laundering machine.

Abstract: A fault management system for a switched reluctance motor detects faults through phase current differential sensing and phase flux differential sensing and isolates any fault by deactivating any faulted phase. Motor operation continues through the remaining phases. A speed control circuit maintains the normal operating speed of the motor, despite the deactivation of one or more phases. Starting the motor when stopped in a "dead zone" created by a faulted phase is accomplished by using the intact phases to generate negative torque to move the rotor out of the dead zone.

Abstract: A three-phase generator includes an internal neutral junction to which one end of each of the windings of the generator is connected thereby forming a wye-connected generator. An air-core current transformer is disposed over each of the three conductors leading to the internal neutral junction for monitoring neutral current therein. A corresponding air-core current transformer is disposed over high-voltage terminals connected to the other ends of the generator windings. A shielded differential amplifier on the output of each air-core current transformer produces a signal corresponding to the difference between two bifilar half windings in its associated air-core current transformer. The difference currents from the neutral and high-voltage ends of each generator winding are compared, and, if their difference exceeds a predetermined threshold, a threshold circuit produces a trigger signal which is latched by a latching relay to produce a trip signal for use by the generator control system.

Abstract: A motor with positive torque parking positions. The motor includes a rotor which is rotatable about an axis of rotation and a stator in magnetic coupling relation with the rotor. The stator includes a plurality of teeth each having a radially extending shaft and an axially extending face. The faces of the stator teeth define an aperture for receiving the rotor and the faces of the stator teeth and the rotor define a air gap therebetween. Each stator tooth has a notch in its face that is approximately at least as wide as the shaft of the stator tooth so that the stator has a magnetic configuration relative to the rotor for parking the rotor in a rest position corresponding to a positive torque starting position. The motor also includes a winding on the shafts of the stator teeth and a control circuit for controlling current in the winding whereby an electromagnetic field is produced for rotating the rotor at a desired speed or torque during the operation of the motor.