Generator-fed Motor Systems Having Generator Control Patents (Class 318/140)
  • Patent number: 6495929
    Abstract: A power control system for a turbogenerator which provides electrical power to one or more pump-jack oil wells. When the induction motor of a pump-jack oil well is powered by three-phase utility power, the speed of the pump-jack shaft varies only slightly over the pumping cycle but the utility power requirements can vary by four times the average pumping power. This power variation makes it impractical to power a pump-jack oil well with a stand-alone turbogenerator controlled by a conventional power control system. This power control system comprises a turbogenerator inverter, a load inverter, and a central processing unit which controls the frequency and voltage/current of each inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Capstone Turbine Corporation
    Inventors: Robert W. Bosley, Edward C. Edelman, Steven W. Lampe, Brian W. Peticolas
  • Patent number: 6492785
    Abstract: A vehicle electric drive system includes an internal combustion engine, an electric motor/generator driven by the engine, a first inverter/rectifier coupled to motor/generator, a bus coupled to the first inverter/rectifier, a second inverter/rectifier coupled to the bus, and a traction motor/generator coupled to an output of the second inverter/rectifier, an operator speed control member, and a controller coupled to the second inverter/rectifier for controlling a current output of the second inverter/rectifier as a function of a position of the speed control member. Also included is an operator controlled foot pedal and a transducer coupled to the foot pedal and generating a signal representing foot pedal position which is supplied to the controller. The controller limits current supplied by the second inverter/rectifier to the traction motor/generator to a limit current as a function of the transducer signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Robert Eugene Kasten, Bruce Craig Newendorp, Norman Frederick Lemmon
  • Patent number: 6490511
    Abstract: A torque based monitor method, apparatus, and system, for a torque splitting hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) powertrain and regenerative brake 54 system. The preferred powertrain configuration includes an internal combustion engine 20, generator 32, and electric traction motor 36 combined to produce the vehicle's output shaft torque. The invention has a set of vehicle state sensors and communication interfaces connected independently to a main controller 200 and an independent plausibility check (IPC) 202. The IPC monitors and mitigates the powertrain output shaft torque (OST) by reducing powertrain torque when the detected OST is greater than the desired OST. The IPC has a second mode of operation to shut down the powertrain OST of the HEV powertrain when a fault or failure is detected. Additional features include a quizzer 204 function to continuously verify the functionality of the IPC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Abbas Raftari, Deepa Ramaswamy, Jerry D. Robichaux
  • Patent number: 6489692
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for starting a turbogenerator having a sensorless magnetic rotor supported for rotation in a stator by a compliant foil fluid film bearing, the method comprising energizing the stator to generate a continuously rotating magnetic field to capture the magnetic rotor and thereafter accelerating the rotational speed of the magnetic field to substantially minimize the time required for the magnetic rotor to reach a liftoff speed associated with the compliant foil fluid film bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Capstone Turbine Corporation
    Inventors: Mark G. Gilbreth, Joel B. Wacknov
  • Patent number: 6452352
    Abstract: This invention provides a process for determining a desired torque (load) value for a load-dependent current generating system, such as a fuel cell system, in an electric vehicle. The process calculates load based on various driver demands such as accelerator position, brake position, Key on/off, Gear selector position, and system component temperatures. Additionally, the process considers the amount of current available from the load-dependent current generating system and matches that current to the current drawn by the electric motor. The process can be applied to a direct current (DC) electric traction motor or an alternating current (AC) induction motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Ballard Power Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth James Farkas
  • Patent number: 6452358
    Abstract: In an electronic apparatus which includes a power generator and a storage device for storing electric energy obtained thereby, it is detected whether a motor driven by the stored electric energy is rotating by comparing the rotation detecting voltage, which is proportional to the induction voltage generated in the motor caused by the rotation of the motor, with a rotation reference voltage. The generation state of the power generator or the charging state of the storage device is detected. The level of the rotation detecting voltage or the level of the rotation reference voltage is shifted by a predetermined amount based on the detected generation state of the power generator or the detected charging state of the storage device so that the voltage difference between the rotation detecting voltage and the rotation reference voltage is increased during the no-rotation period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Iijima, Kenji Iida, Shinji Nakamiya
  • Patent number: 6437535
    Abstract: A power electrical system is disclosed for a microturbine power generator. The invention permits the microturbine to be started using an external DC power source. The DC voltage is converted to a variable DC voltage by means of a bi-directional buck-boost circuit, DC bus and a DC-to-AC converter. The DC-to-AC converter produces at its output a fixed voltage pattern whose frequency is gradually increased in concert with the DC voltage, to accelerate the microturbine from standstill to startup speed. Once the microturbine is started, the excitation is discontinued, and the DC bus and DC-to-AC are used to produce output AC power at a voltage level and frequency to match an electrical load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Gautam Sinha
  • Patent number: 6430482
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle which increases electric power supply to a power storage unit to reduce the discharge amount from the power storage unit in the case where electric power consumption of the low voltage system is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Teruo Wakashiro, Atsushi Matsubara, Shinichi Kitajima, Kazutomo Sawamura, Atsushi Izumiura, Hideyuki Oki
  • Patent number: 6429613
    Abstract: A generation control device of a hybrid electric vehicle is able to satisfactorily generate power with an excellent responsiveness with respect to a high output requirement from a motor. If a charge level SOC sensed by a charge level sensing device is not greater than a generation start value SOCsta, a generator starts a normal output generation (P(G)=P1). The normal output generation is continued until the charge level SOC reaches a generation end value SOCend larger than the generation start value SOCsta. If a required power consumption Pm of a traction motor sensed by a required power consumption sensing device is not less than Ph, a high output generation (P(G)=P2) with a higher output than the normal output generation is executed instead of the normal output generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Yanase, Makoto Ogata
  • Patent number: 6392370
    Abstract: This invention is a back EMF permanent electromagnetic motor generator and method using a regauging process for capturing available electromagnetic energy in the system. The device is comprised of a rotor with magnets of the same polarity; a timing wheel in apposition to a magnetic Hall Effect pickup switch semiconductor; and a stator comprised of two bars connected by a permanent magnet with magnetized pole pieces at one end of each bar. There are input and output coils created by wrapping each bar with a conducting material such as copper wire. Energy from the output coils is transferred to a recovery rectifier or diode. The magnets of the rotor, which is located on a shaft along with the timing wheel, are in apposition to the magnetized pole pieces of the two bars. The invention works through a process of regauging, that is, the flux fields created by the coils is collapsed because of a reversal of the magnetic field in the magnetized pole pieces thus allowing the capture of available back EMP energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Bedini Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: John C. Bedini
  • Patent number: 6380701
    Abstract: An electrical charge assembly 10 for use within a vehicle 12 having a transmission 20, a starter assembly 16, and an engine 14. The assembly 10 includes a capacitor assembly 34 which selectively provides electrical charge to the starter assembly 16, effective to allow the engine 14 to be activated. The starter 16 may be selectively coupled to the transmission 20, effective to increase the torque produced by the transmission 20 and may selectively provide electrical charge to the capacitor assembly 34.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Visteon Global Tech., Inc.
    Inventors: Gurinder Singh Kahlon, Ning Liu, Robert J. Mohan
  • Patent number: 6362580
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided with an engine and a motor, which has driving and electric generating functions and which is directly connected to the engine as a vehicle propulsion system, an engine controller for controlling the operating condition of the engine, and a motor controller for controlling the driving and electric generating conditions of the motor based on the operating condition of the engine and the driving condition of the vehicle independently from the control of the engine made by the engine controller. The vehicle runs by only utilizing its engine by simplifying the control of the engine and motor, and by improving the reliability of the motor controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Omata, Kazuhiko Morimoto
  • Publication number: 20020005698
    Abstract: The invention reduces ripples of a rectified output caused by setting a neutral-point diode and improves a generated output by preventing excessive heat generation. First and second stator windings are configured by Y-connecting a pair of three windings on a common stator core so as to have a phase difference of 30° from each other. A rectifier device includes a first and a second rectifier for rectifying and outputting a phase current derived from an end of each of the windings and a neutral-point current derived from a neutral point of each of the windings. Outputs of each of the rectifiers are synthesized to generate a synthesized output at an output terminal. The first and second rectifiers have rectifying diodes and neutral-point diodes disposed on a common heat sink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2000
    Publication date: January 17, 2002
    Inventor: Yoshihito Asao
  • Patent number: 6329772
    Abstract: A control apparatus of a hybrid vehicle is provided capable of protecting the peripheral components of the motor from a voltage generated by regeneration during travelling the vehicle. When the motor control device 5 detects failures of the motor system such as current sensors 13, 15, and 17, voltage sensors 14, and 16, and a failure of the motor 2 (breakage of the winding), the motor control device 5 stops the motor control by turning off the on-state main contactor and by electrically disconnecting the connection between the power drive unit 7 and the battery 3. At the same time, the motor control device 5 outputs a signal about the failure of the motor system to the engine control device 4. When the failure is detected by the motor control device 5 and when the main contactor 11 is in the off state, the engine control device 4 controls the engine such that the engine rotation speed is maintained below 5000 rpm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinobu Ochiai, Minoru Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6329773
    Abstract: A transmission voltage of a power transmission system in a transmission voltage control depends on a product of a voltage drooping factor and a difference between a reactive current of a synchronous generator and a reference value. The voltage drooping factor depends on a gain and a voltage-up ratio of a transformer arranged between the power transmission system and the synchronous generator. The voltage-up ratio changes with a tap position of the transformer. The tap position of the transformer is always detected to update the voltage-up ratio, the gain is determined according to the updated voltage-up ratio to maintain the voltage drooping factor at a constant value, and the transmission voltage is regulated by using the gain. Therefore, even though the tap position of the transformer is changed, the voltage drooping factor is maintained at a constant value, and the stability of the transmission voltage of the power transmission system is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuou Xia, Masaru Shimomura
  • Patent number: 6272410
    Abstract: To keep low the cross frequency of current feedback control and provide a good steering feeling, a first operation expression is selected when a difference &xgr; between a current instruction value computed based on a steering state of a steering wheel and a traveling state of a vehicle and a motor drive current value supplied from a battery to a motor for providing assist force to a system for transmitting power from the steering wheel to the wheels is larger than a predetermined value Th1, a second operation expression is selected when the difference &xgr; is smaller than the predetermined value Th1, and the difference &xgr; is corrected using the selected operation expression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Okanoue, Takayuki Kifuku
  • Patent number: 6232733
    Abstract: An engine-motor hybrid vehicle has a power transmission device including a first rotary electric machine and a second rotary electric machine. The first rotary electric machine has a first rotor connected to an engine and a second rotor connected to vehicle wheels. When the engine is in the idling condition, an electronic control apparatus controls the power transmission device to restrict engine vibrations from being transmitted to the vehicle. The electronic control apparatus controls the power transmission device based on a difference in timings of detecting a first rotor position and a second rotor position in the first rotary electric machine. The electronic control apparatus controls the power transmission device to reduce mechanical shocks which occurs immediately after engine operation starting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Obayashi, Tsuneyuki Egami, Hiroya Tsuji
  • Patent number: 6198256
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a synchronous generator system has: a voltage instruction generator for generating voltage instructions (Vu*, Vv*, Vw*) based on an output power reference (P*) of the synchronous generator, currents (Iu, Iv) flowing through the synchronous generator and position information (&thgr;0, &ohgr;r) of magnetic poles of the synchronous generator; a zero crossing point detector for detecting a point that the voltage (Vu) of the synchronous generator passes through zero volt.; and a magnetic pole position calculator for calculating the information (&thgr;0, &ohgr;r) on the position of magnetic poles of the synchronous generator on the basis of the voltage instruction (Vu*) and the power reference (P*) when the synchronous generator is under the generation mode, and on the basis of an output signal of the zero crossing point detector when the synchronous generator is under the stand-by mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Taizou Miyazaki, Ryoso Masaki, Satoru Kaneko, Kazuyoshi Sasazawa, Sanshiro Obara, Nobunori Matsudaira
  • Patent number: 6198176
    Abstract: An improved UPS/CPS system employs a high-efficiency uninterrupted power supply function integrated with an engine-generator set that combines both short term protection against momentary power interruptions with longer term power generation. Feedback from a controller provides for improved voltage regulation during abrupt load changes and flexibility of application. A number of features and operating modes are disclosed. In one embodiment, the system is useful as a kit to retrofit existing backup power facilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Statordyne LLC
    Inventor: Stephen Gillette
  • Patent number: 6169334
    Abstract: A command and control system and method for multiple turbogenerators in a grid parallel system includes a master controller to start, sequence, coordinate power commands, and provide fault handling to each of the individual turbogenerators and the specific control modes. A bi-directional power meter, that measures the load consumption (or production when a turbogenerator system is installed) in a building or application, may also be utilized. This power meter can provide a reference or setpoint to the master controller for controlling the individual turbogenerators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Capstone Turbine Corporation
    Inventor: Edward C. Edelman
  • Patent number: 6166499
    Abstract: A power output apparatus 20 implements a smooth switching between the connection of a rotor-rotating shaft 38 of an assist motor 40 with a crankshaft 56 of an engine 50 and the connection of the rotor-rotating shaft 38 of the assist motor 40 with a drive shaft 22, and enables the power output from the engine 50 to be output to the drive shaft 22 with a high efficiency. The power output from the engine 50 is converted to a desired power by a clutch motor 30 having rotors 31 and 33 respectively linked with the crankshaft 56 and the drive shaft 22 and by the assist motor 40 connected to either the crankshaft 56 or the drive shaft 22 via a first clutch 45 and a second clutch 46, and is output to the drive shaft 22. The connection of the assist motor 40 is switched in the state where both the clutches 45 and 46 are set in ON position, when the revolving speed of the engine 50 is made coincident with the revolving speed of the drive shaft 22.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiko Kanamori, Yasutomo Kawabata, Norihiko Akao, Hiroaki Urano, Masaru Hirako, Tetsuya Miura
  • Patent number: 6161068
    Abstract: An electric power steering control system reducing steering torque without making a driver feel uncomfortable torque oscillation, including a rotation speed observer for estimating the rotation speed of a motor based on the output of a torque sensor high pass filter (HPF) and the output of a drive current HPF obtained by removing a steering frequency component from a drive current detection value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiko Kurishige, Noriyuki Inoue, Takayuki Kifuku, Susumu Zeniya
  • Patent number: 6157149
    Abstract: A kinetic energy regenerating device for an electric motor bicycle by using an electric motor for rear wheel driving and is utilized as a dynamo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Tokyo R&D Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobuhito Ohnuma
  • Patent number: 6137250
    Abstract: There is disclosed a controller for an electric vehicle that allows for securing a sufficient battery capacity and is able to substantially avoid giving an uncomfortable feeling to the crew even if an engine for power generation is started. The controller comprises a power generation control unit which makes a generator of the electric vehicle generate electric power by starting a generator-driving engine of the electric vehicle in the case that an SOC (state of charge) of a battery of the electric vehicle is equal to or less than a first value, and further makes the generator generate the electric power by starting the generator-driving engine in the case that the SOC of the battery is equal to or less than a second value larger than the first value and a predetermined condition is satisfied. Further, an electric vehicle provided with such a controller is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Hirano, Shinichirou Kitada, Toshio Kikuchi, Eiji Inada, Ryuichi Idoguchi, Takeshi Asou, Yutarou Kaneko
  • Patent number: 6137247
    Abstract: A regulator for a vehicle-mounted alternator is connected to a vehicle-mounted engine control unit through a single signal line. The engine control unit produces serially a plurality of control signals in the form of pulse signals. The regulator includes an external signal receiver circuit, which detects periods of the control signals and duty ratios of the control signals. Control variables of the alternator such as a target voltage and gradual excitation period are determined by the detected periods. Control values of the control variables are determined by the detected duty ratios, respectively. The regulator thus controls a switching device, which supplies excitation current to the alternator based on the determined control variables and the control values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Fuyuki Maehara, Hirohide Satoh
  • Patent number: 6128204
    Abstract: A line power unit controls electrical power delivery to a grid from a three phase permanent magnet generator. A line power unit controller receives a power level command and controls a main inverter that draws DC power from a DC bus to deliver the commanded power to a grid. The DC bus is fed DC voltage via a three phase permanent magnet generator and a rectifier. The inverter delivers power to the grid via a filter, transformer and main contactor. The line power unit controller also controls the main contactor to break the connection with the grid. A precharge circuit draws power from the grid to precharge the DC bus to a precharge voltage. Alternatives include a start inverter separate from the main inverter that permits simultaneous delivery of power to the grid and commutation of the permanent magnet generator as a motor to spin an engine connected thereto at a speed sufficient to permit engine starting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: James L. Munro, Thomas C. Underwood, Thomas C. Matty, William B. Hall, Edward T. Wagner
  • Patent number: 6127813
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle has an engine as a propulsive power unit for the hybrid vehicle, an electric energy storage device for storing electric energy, and a generator motor operable alternatively as an electric motor for generating an assistive output power to be added to an output power generated by the engine, from the electric energy stored by the electric energy storage device, and as an electric generator for regenerating electric energy to be charged into the electric energy storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yutaka Tamagawa
  • Patent number: 6107775
    Abstract: A controller for a starter/generator used with an aircraft engine, includes means for monitoring field return current in a generator field winding; means for monitoring generator voltage; and microprocessor control means for adjusting generator field current as a function of the field current and voltage and field return current. The field return current and output voltage monitoring functions allow for open field, field integrity, over voltage, field weakening and torque limiting functions to be realized in an integrated programmable system configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Inventors: Kevin E. Rice, Ronald W. Roseman, Charles A. Green
  • Patent number: 6093974
    Abstract: A control device for restarting an engine is configured to engage a forward clutch of an automatic transmission quickly, with little shock and without involving a special cost for restarting the engine. When the engine is restarted, a way for supplying an oil is changed in accordance with a leaving amount of an oil from an oil passage with respect to the forward clutch of the automatic transmission or an oil temperature. A time for executing a quick pressure increase control and a control target pressure is changed in accordance with a leaving amount of the oil or the oil temperature. Further, the quick pressure increase control is started at a timing when an engine revolution (a rotational speed of an oil pump) is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Tabata, Kojiro Kuramochi, Shuji Nagano, Shogo Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 6087734
    Abstract: A power output apparatus 20 includes a clutch motor, an assist motor, and a controller. The clutch motor and the assist motor are controlled by the controller to enable the power output from an engine to a crankshaft 56, and expressed as the product of its revolving speed and torque, to be converted to the power expressed as the product of a revolving speed and a torque of a drive shaft and to be output to the drive shaft. The engine can be driven at an arbitrary driving point defined by a revolving speed and a torque, as long as the energy or power output to the crankshaft is identical. A desired driving point that attains the highest possible efficiency with respect to each amount of output energy is determined in advance. In order to allow the engine to be driven at the desired driving point, the controller controls the clutch motor and the assist motor as well as the fuel injection and the throttle valve position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoharu Maeda, Yoshihide Nii, Shoichi Sasaki, Takeshi Kotani, Eiji Yamada, Yasutomo Kawabata
  • Patent number: 6087791
    Abstract: To obtain a control apparatus for a Diesel-electric locomotive that harmonizes an engine power with a torque command of an induction motor, which is a load of an engine, in the Diesel-electric locomotive and avoids an overload of the engine.A cooperative controller 15 is provided, the controller 15 which receives a notch signal N, an engine speed command value n* corresponding to the notch signal N, an engine speed n, and rotating speed fr of an induction motor 17, calculates a torque command value Tp corresponding to the engine speed n from torque command values before and after the notch signal changing during response time for control of the engine speed if the notch signal N changes, and calculates the torque command value Tp corresponding to the notch signal N after a notch is changed, except the case thereof. Furthermore, the torque command value Tp is outputted to an inverter controller 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takafumi Maruyama
  • Patent number: 6081082
    Abstract: Disclosed is a rotatable inverter. The rotatable inverter comprises a rotatable inverting means for inverting a DC power source to an AC power source by means of a rotational force, and a transformer which receives the AC power source inverted by the rotatable inverting means and outputs a predetermined higher voltage. The rotatable inverting means comprises a motor generating the rotational force, a commutator driven by the motor and a plurality of brushes which are respectively contacted with the outer surface of the commutator. The commutator comprises a cylindrical body made of an insulating material, and conductive parts which are divided into an even-number by non-conductive parts, respectively, having a desired width. Further, it is preferable that the cooling fan is coupled to the motor along with the commutator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chul Kim, Yong-woon Han, Seong-deog Jang, Han-jun Sung
  • Patent number: 6051941
    Abstract: Power electronic based power and propulsion systems are used in a wide variety of applications including locomotives, hybrid electric vehicles, aircraft, spacecraft, and ships. In general, the power electronic loads in such systems have tightly regulated outputs which causes them to behave as constant power loads exhibiting negative input impedances in a small signal sense. Such systems can be prone to negative impedance instability. The present invention mitigates negative impedance instability without the introduction of any passive or active devices into the system by providing nonlinear modulation of the power into the power electronic load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: P.C. Krause & Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott D. Sudhoff, Steven F. Glover
  • Patent number: 6031352
    Abstract: A control apparatus controlling the operation of pulse width modulator for an electric clutch or electric motor in portable spray painting equipment having a pressure transducer for sensing the pressure, a manually adjustable pressure reference, a comparator type error detector, and a pressure deadband control for inserting a deadband in a pressure control loop with the deadband varying as the pressure reference varies. A fixed deadband is provided below a predetermined low pressure setting to avoid excessive cycling of the control apparatus during low pressure operation. The pulse width modulator control circuit includes compensation for improving input power factor. The clutch control includes an active alternative load circuit switched in when the alternator output voltage is above a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Wagner Spray Tech Corporation
    Inventor: Dennis A. Carlson
  • Patent number: 6023134
    Abstract: A bi-directional power conversion system interconnects hydraulic and electrical power systems on-board a vehicle such as an air-craft, whereby the power conversion system can selectively convert available electrical power to needed hydraulic power or vice versa. The power conversion system includes a hydraulic machine (15) connected to the hydraulic system (10) of the vehicle, an electrical machine (20) connected to the electrical system (3) of the vehicle through a power converter and control unit (22), a rotational drive shaft (14) mechanically interconnecting the hydraulic machine (15) and the electrical machine (20), and a priority and safety control unit (26) that controls the operation of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Aerospace Airbus Gmbh
    Inventors: Udo Carl, Wolfgang Besing, Stefan Frischemeier
  • Patent number: 6023135
    Abstract: A turbogenerator/motor control system having a plurality of proportional integral control loops including a fuel command control loop and a current command control loop. The exhaust gas temperature of the gas turbine of the turbogenerator/motor is maintained at a constant value with stability is achieved by varying the sampling times of the different proportional integral controls within the control loops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: Capstone Turbine Corporation
    Inventors: Mark G. Gilbreth, James Brian Dickey, Charles R. Gilbreth, Jr., Edward C. Edelman
  • Patent number: 6020697
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle has a generator motor coupled to the output shaft of an engine through a transfer shaft, for transmitting an assistive output power for assisting an output power of the engine through the transfer shaft to the output shaft of the engine. A battery stores electric energy regenerated by the generator motor from kinetic energy of the hybrid vehicle transmitted from the output shaft of the engine through the transfer shaft. A generator is mounted on the transfer shaft and has an electric energy generating ability smaller than the generator motor. The generator generates electric energy to energize another device than the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuichi Shimasaki, Kenji Nakano, Hironao Fukuchi, Hideyuki Takahashi, Kazutomo Sawamura, Teruo Wakashiro
  • Patent number: 5909094
    Abstract: A power output apparatus (20) of the invention includes an engine (50), a clutch motor (30), an assist motor (40), and a controller (80) for controlling the clutch motor (30) and the assist motor (40). In response to an engine stop signal to stop operation of the engine (50), the controller (80) successively lowers a torque command value of the clutch motor (30) and a target engine torque and a target engine speed of the engine (50) to make the engine (50) kept at an idle. The assist motor (40) is controlled to use power stored in a battery (94) and make up for a decrease in torque output to a drive shaft (22) accompanied by the decrease in torque command value of the clutch motor (30). When the engine (50) falls in the idling state, supply of fuel into the engine (50) is stopped to terminate operation of the engine (50). In this state, the drive shaft (22) is driven and operated only by the torque of the assist motor (40), which is generated by the power stored in the battery (94).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eiji Yamada, Takao Miyatani, Yasutomo Kawabata, Masatoshi Uchida
  • Patent number: 5903116
    Abstract: A turbogenerator/motor controller with a microprocessor based inverter having multiple modes of operation. To start the turbine, the inverter connects to and supplies fixed current, variable voltage, variable frequency, AC power to the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor, driving the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor as a motor to accelerate the gas turbine. During this acceleration, spark and fuel are introduced in the correct sequence, and self-sustaining gas turbine operating conditions are reached. The inverter is then disconnected from the permanent magnet generator/motor, reconfigured to a controlled 60 hertz mode, and then either supplies regulated 60 hertz three phase voltage to a stand alone load or phase locks to the utility, or to other like controllers, to operate as a supplement to the utility. In this mode of operation, the power for the inverter is derived from the permanent magnet generator/motor via high frequency rectifier bridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Capstone Turbine Corporation
    Inventors: Everett R. Geis, Brian W. Peticolas
  • Patent number: 5903130
    Abstract: A controller for a starter/generator used with an aircraft engine, includes means for monitoring field return current in a generator field winding; means for monitoring generator voltage; and microprocessor control means for adjusting generator field current as a function of the field current and voltage and field return current. The field return current and output voltage monitoring functions allow for open field, field integrity, over voltage, field weakening and torque limiting functions to be realized in an integrated programmable system configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Lucas Aerospace Power Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin E. Rice, Ronald W. Roseman, Charles A. Green, Dean A. Snider
  • Patent number: 5844384
    Abstract: A control circuit of the current to the secondary and a control circuit of the voltage to the secondary are such that the current for charging the battery and the current for starting will each have a defined maximum value, and such that the voltage at the battery terminals will have a predetermined maximum value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Lacme
    Inventors: Valery Hamm, Yves Mulet-Marquis
  • Patent number: 5801497
    Abstract: In a power output apparatus 10, a complex motor 30 includes a stator 32, a rotor 34 linked with a crankshaft 56 of an engine 50, and a rotor 36 linked with a drive shaft 22, wherein the stator 32 and the rotor 34 constitute a first motor MG1 constructed as an induction motor and the stator 32 and the rotor 36 constitute a second motor MG2 constructed as an induction motor. A driving circuit 92 regulates the frequency of an exciting electric current to be flown through three-phase coils 38 of the stator 32 within a range between the frequency of the rotor 34 and the frequency of the rotor 36. This procedure enables the first motor MG1 and the second motor MG2 to function respectively as a generator and a motor. Electromagnetic energy regenerated by the first motor MG1 is supplied to the second motor MG2 not via the driving circuit 92 but directly from the stator 32.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sumikazu Shamoto, Kaoru Kubo
  • Patent number: 5767636
    Abstract: To provide a vehicle power generating apparatus capable of transmitting plural kinds of control signals from an external control device to a generated voltage control unit provided in a generator for power generation control while curbing increases in the size of apparatus or wiring required and without degrading the noise reduction characteristics, a generated voltage control device is normally disposed integrally with a generator for maintaining the generated voltage at a predetermined target level. For transmission of a vehicle condition signal from an external control device to the generated voltage control device, the vehicle condition signal is converted into a binary pulse train signal before being transmitted. The generated voltage control device holds the binary pulse train signal received or a vehicle condition signal decoded from the binary pulse signal until the next reception. Thereby, complicated power generation control can be achieved with a small amount of communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wakako Kanazawa, Fuyuki Maehara, Yasuhiro Takase
  • Patent number: 5734239
    Abstract: A device and method for continuously monitoring the availability of an external electric power supply into a recreational vehicle such as a motor home, a boat and the like and controlling the operation of an onboard engine powered generator to serve as an alternate source of electric power for the recreational vehicle. After a predetermined initial time delay following external power source failure, the device activates the cranking motor for a predetermined cranking time period to attempt to start the engine. After another predetermined waiting time period, the cranking motor will be reactivated for the cranking time period if the engine has failed to start and supply electric power to the recreational vehicle. As soon as external electric power is restored, the engine is automatically shut off by the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Inventor: William W. Turner
  • Patent number: 5680019
    Abstract: An adjusting motor is connected in series with a load and power supply to thereby adjust the voltage across the load, the speed of the motor being responsive to changes in the load voltage, and the load voltage in turn being adjusted as a result of changes in the counter electro-motive force or impedance of the motor. Further control of the voltage adjustment provided by the motor can be obtained by adding an auxiliary generator or a mechanical load to control the response of the motor to voltage changes in the load. Even further control of the voltage adjustment can be obtained by adding an adjustable power load to the auxiliary generator, and by controlling the motor or auxiliary generator based on feedback of load voltage or adjusting motor current levels to a central controller and electrical machine control device, and/or by making the controller responsive to input or set values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Inventor: Tai-Her Yang
  • Patent number: 5619108
    Abstract: A vehicle alternating-current generator control device having a single in-line molded package type control component with its leads arranged on one side. Disposed on the control component is an extension adapter with its ends connected to the leads of the control component and other ends connected to conductor links. A holder designed for an open-type control component is thus used for a single in-line molded package type control component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keiichi Komurasaki, Kyoko Kurusu
  • Patent number: 5550445
    Abstract: A generator controller and controlling method of a hybrid vehicle. A battery voltage is compared with a predetermined value and when the battery voltage is lower than the predetermined value as a result of the comparison, an state of charge of the battery is discriminated. In the case of an state of charge of at least 70%, a generator output is controlled on the basis of a motor output, and in the case of an state of charge of less than 70%, while the generator output is controlled to a relatively high value, the motor output is limited. When the state of charge is restored to more than 75%, the voltage is controlled depending on the motor output. In the case of at least the predetermined value of the battery voltage, an idle control of an engine is carried out. As a result, the state of charge of the battery can be ensured and overcharging of the battery can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshihide Nii
  • Patent number: 5522434
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for actuating a drive member in a weaving machine comprises a drive unit, connected to a power supply network, for controllably rotating the drive member. The drive unit includes a direct-current operated unit selectively operable both as a direct-current motor and as a direct-current generator. A control unit is provided for generating and supplying to the drive unit at least one control signal for substantially continuously controlling the angular velocity of the drive member in each of its revolutions. According to the present method the control signal further selectively controls the drive unit to operate in first modes where the drive unit operates as a direct-current motor and in second modes where the drive unit operates as a direct-current generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: Texo AB
    Inventor: Bo Lindblom
  • Patent number: 5519276
    Abstract: A DC compound motor of the type having a series winding and a shunt field winding includes an auxiliary generator driven by the motor for supplying power to the shunt field winding. The generator can be chosen, or a control circuit added, to control the current supply to the shunt field winding based on the speed of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Inventor: Tai-Her Yang
  • Patent number: 5493186
    Abstract: Sub-excitation of a series-type excitation magnetic field winding for a DC motor or generator is provided by an auxiliary power supply which, when the voltage in the main circuit is low, supplies voltage through a diode to the main series field winding in order to keep the voltage at or near saturation and thereby improve motor efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1996
    Inventor: Tai-Her Yang