Abstract: A diagnostic technique for monitoring shaft cracking or incipient pinion slip involves monitoring a shift in a characteristic natural frequency of an operating system such as a geared system of a locomotive. The technique involves monitoring a shift in the characteristic natural frequency or resonance of a shaft for detecting shaft cracking. The technique also involves monitoring a shift in the characteristic natural frequency of one or more assemblies of the operating system which include a pinion and detecting a shift in the one or more characteristic natural frequencies of the assemblies. A vibration sensor or measurement of current changes of a motor of the operating system can be used to detect vibrations to monitor the characteristic natural frequencies. Torsional oscillations or measurement of current and voltage changes of a motor of the operating system, can also be used to monitor the characteristic natural frequencies.

Abstract: A stator for a high voltage generator has cable windings that are radially inserted into the stator slots. The stator is assembled as the cable windings are laid into the stator slots. The stator slots are left wide open to allow the cable windings and separator bars to be inserted in the slot as the stator is assembled. The open slots have sidewalls that are defined by stator teeth, which extend radially out from a rotor jig in the stator. As each coil section is laid in a slot, a separator bar is inserted over the coil so that another coil section can be laid into the stator. The coils are stacked in a slot and sandwiched between separator bars also in the slot. The separator bar is keyed to the sidewalls of the teeth to provide structural support for the cable windings.

Abstract: A stator for a high voltage generator has cable windings that are radially inserted into the stator slots. The stator is assembled as the cable windings are laid into the stator slots. The stator slots are left wide open to allow the cable windings and separator bars to be inserted in the slot as the stator is assembled. The open slots have sidewalls that are defined by stator teeth, which extend radially out from a rotor jig in the stator. As each coil section is laid in a slot, a separator bar is inserted over the coil so that another coil section can be laid into the stator. The coils are stacked in a slot and sandwiched between separator bars also in the slot. The separator bar is keyed to the sidewalls of the teeth to provide structural support for the cable windings.

Abstract: A stator for a high voltage generator has cable windings that are radially inserted into the stator slots. The stator is assembled as the cable windings are laid into the stator slots. The stator slots are left wide open to allow the cable windings and separator bars to be inserted in the slot as the stator is assembled. The open slots have sidewalls that are defined by stator teeth, which extend radially out from a rotor jig in the stator. As each coil section is laid in a slot, a separator bar is inserted over the coil so that another coil section can be laid into the stator. The coils are stacked in a slot and sandwiched between separator bars also in the slot. The separator bar is keyed to the sidewalls of the teeth to provide structural support for the cable windings.

Abstract: An integrated motor monitoring system collects, analyzes, and stores to database(s) on-line and off-line coordinated real-time motor data for industrial AC and DC motors. On-line coordinated real-time motor data from both on-motor sensors and remote sensors at a motor control center are collected simultaneously and processed. Off-line measurements are performed with integrated stimulus and measurement apparatus. Monitoring units at the motor and motor control center each collect specific data on the motor. The database provides current and historical data on the motor for analyses conducted at the motor or at the motor control center. Additionally the motor monitoring system has the capability of relating motor system or process events with motor performance.

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 multipole brushless DC motor stator is formed with a pair of complementary opposable claw pole stator structures in which each of the stator structures comprises a stator base formed of a plurality of stacked sheet metal laminations. A plurality of stator pole members extend from the stator base and are formed by compression molding of a ferromagnetic material. In one form, the ferromagnetic material is molded in situ on the stator base by positioning the stator base in a compression mold having the slots in which a powdered or flaked ferromagnetic material can be positioned and compressed by a die. In another form, the ferromagnetic pole members may be independently compression molded of powdered or flaked ferromagnetic material and then adhesively bonded to the stacked laminations forming the stator base. In either method, the stacked laminations are formed with a plurality of receptacles for receiving one end of each of the stator poles and holding the stator poles to the stator base.

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 signal processing system includes a phase locked loop for locking a largest sine wave phase and frequency element of an incoming analog signal; an amplitude estimator for estimating a maximum amplitude of the incoming signal; a multiplier for multiplying the estimated largest sine wave phase and frequency element by the estimated maximum amplitude to provide an estimated largest sine wave component; and a subtractor for subtracting the estimated largest sine wave component from the incoming signal to provide a diagnostic signal.

Abstract: A rotor for use in a line start permanent magnet motor comprises a rotor core having a shaft and including teeth defining slots; a rotor cage, at least a portion of which extends through the slots; and a layer of composite permanent magnet material at least partially coating the rotor core.

Abstract: A superconductive magnet with magnetic shielding has an annularly-cylindrical-shaped housing whose first end wall and outer cylindrical wall are magnetizable (e.g., iron) walls and whose inner cylindrical wall is a non-magnetizable wall. At least one main superconductive coil is positioned within the housing and carries an electric current in a first (e.g., clockwise) direction. An annular first permanent magnet is positioned outside the housing longitudinally proximate the first end wall. The first permanent magnet has a number of equivalent ampere turns and has a magnetic field direction oriented parallel to the axis pointing towards the second end wall so that its magnetic field longitudinally pulls the stray magnetic field of the superconductive coil(s), which leaves the magnet's bore, inward to be captured by the iron first end wall.

Abstract: Motor current and voltage waveforms are measured and converted to digitized current and voltage waveforms. A weighted discrete fourier transform is applied to the digitized current and voltage waveforms to obtain negative sequence current and voltage phasors; and the negative sequence current and voltage phasors are used to determine the existence of a turn fault. The use of the negative sequence current and voltage phasors can be performed by employing one of several techniques. In a first embodiment, an apparent negative sequence impedance is estimated by dividing the negative sequence voltage phasor by the negative sequence current phasor for comparison with a threshold negative sequence impedance. In a second, related embodiment, a current differential is estimated by dividing the negative sequence voltage phasor by a characteristic negative sequence impedance and subtracting the result from the negative sequence current phasor for comparison with a threshold current differential.

Abstract: A method for detecting turn faults in an induction motor comprises measuring at least two motor phase currents, at least two motor phase voltages, and the negative sequence impedance. Motor torque is estimated by employing the at least two motor phase currents and the at least two motor phase voltages. Motor pu slip is estimated by employing the motor torque. The motor pu slip is used to estimate the load variation effect on the negative sequence impedance. The negative sequence impedance is adjusted in accordance with the load variation effect, and it is determined whether the adjusted negative sequence impedance value indicates the presence of a turn fault.

Abstract: A single-phase ECM in a radial flux configuration has parking magnets situated on both ends of its rotor and parking lamination extensions situated on its stator, such that the parking magnets and parking lamination extensions interact to provide sufficient starting torque from rest at predetermined parking positions. As a result, the parking and torque production functions in the ECM are separated; and the ECM has good starting capability while operating at relatively high torque production and efficiency with minimal torque pulsations and noise.

Abstract: A permanent magnet rotor is shaped to optimize the flux distribution thereabout. In one embodiment, cut-outs in the rotor core between magnetic poles forces more of the magnetizing flux, i.e., that which would normally be distributed about the transition zone between the poles, into the main part of the poles, resulting in a substantially trapezoidal flux distribution that is substantially flat over approximately the central 120.degree. of each respective 180.degree. half-cycle thereof. In an alternative embodiment, the rotor core is shaped to be substantially square with rounded edges. Permanent magnet material is molded onto the square-shaped rotor core to form a plurality of magnetic poles such that the flux distribution about the rotor core is substantially sinusoidal.

Abstract: A circuit breaker for protecting a motor-driven system from overcurrents and undervoltages includes both current and voltage sensors and derives a precise estimate of electromagnetic torque output from sensed currents and voltages. A contactor similarly includes torque estimating capability.

Abstract: A fault tolerant active magnetic bearing has at least three magnetically isolated control axes. To this end, the active magnetic bearing has a segmented stator which employs non-magnetic sections for magnetically isolating adjacent electromagnetic force actuators, and hence adjacent control axes. As a result, operating force actuators are not affected by magnetic poles experiencing a fault. Hence, in a three-phase active magnetic bearing rotor suspension control system, for example, full control of rotor shaft position can be maintained with only two functioning control axes.

Abstract: A rotor assembly for an internal permanent magnet rotor comprises a plurality of interior laminations stacked to form a substantially continuous internal core and a plurality of external laminations stacked to form a substantially continuous external core. A plurality of permanent magnets are positioned between the internal and external cores and folded in the radial plane so as to form a substantially W-shaped arrangement. The magnets may be placed in slots formed through the stacked laminations between the internal and external core sections or the internal and external core sections may be formed as two separate units with the magnets sandwiched therebetween. The core laminations may be strengthened by using nonmagnetic inserts in selected positions which can be welded to the magnetic portions of the laminations. The outer core portion, when separate from the inner core portion, may be held against the inner core portion by bolts through the outer core portion or by a sleeve around the rotor assembly.

Abstract: A rotor assembly for an internal permanent magnet rotor comprises a plurality of interior laminations stacked to form a substantially continuous internal core and a plurality of external laminations stacked to form a substantially continuous external core. A plurality of permanent magnets are positioned between the internal and external cores and folded in the radial plane so as to form a substantially W-shaped arrangement. The magnets may be placed in slots formed through the stacked laminations between the internal and external core sections or the internal and external core sections may be formed as two separate units with the magnets sandwiched therebetween. The core laminations may be strengthened by using nonmagnetic inserts in selected positions which can be welded to the magnetic portions of the laminations. The outer core portion, when separate from the inner core portion, may be held against the inner core portion by bolts through the outer core portion or by a sleeve around the rotor assembly.

Abstract: An improved reluctance motor with reduced windage losses and reduced internal rotor stresses is proposed. The reluctance motor is constructed with continuous, non-magnetic supported members in the interpolar spaces of the salient pole rotor. End plates may be added to the rotor which are attached to the support members creating a "cage" structure which supports the rotor. In addition, the rotor through shaft may be eliminated by providing stub shafts on the cage end plates to transmit torque from the rotor. Various methods of constructing the rotor of the invention are also described.