Abstract: A heat engine operates an alternator that supplies electrical power to an electric continuously variable transmission for driving at least one ac motor through a differential to multiple wheels or to multiple independent ac wheel motors in an automobile, bus or truck. A heat engine control operates in a closed-loop power mode and decouples heat engine speed from motor speed, allowing the heat engine to produce required power at an operating speed and throttle position, or fuel injector duty cycle, that maximizes fuel economy and minimizes engine emissions. An energy storage unit (e.g., a battery, flywheel, ultracapacitor, superconducting magnetic energy storage device, or combination thereof) provides electrical energy to the electric drive system during vehicle accelerations and further reduces peak power demands on the heat engine. Advantageously, energy is recovered during vehicle deceleration and braking; and the recovered energy is used to recharge the energy storage unit.

Abstract: A power supply board for connecting dry communication lines from a remote station to the electronic equipment at a power station and includes a brushless PM motor mounted in a motor section of the board. The motor is powered by a station-derived low voltage direct current source provided at the power station. A brushless PM generator is mounted in a spaced alternator section on the board. The motor and generator shafts are connected by a flexible tube for generating a voltage suitable for operating of the electronic equipment at the power station. An integrated motor drive circuit is mounted on the motor section and connected to the D.C. source via a protective circuit. The motor has a bank of Hall cell sensors for generating position control signals to the circuit for sequential energization of the three phase motor winding. The output of the alternator is rectified to establish an output voltage for operating the communication equipment.

Abstract: A generator driving apparatus is provided with a thyristor driving device for driving a motor-generator, and the thyristor driving device always controls the driving of the motor-generator regardless of the number of rotations thereof. Also, when the motor-generator is coming to a stop, energy conserved in the motor-generator is regenerated to an electric power system through the thyristor driving device.

Abstract: The power supply unit (20) includes an average voltage multiphase supply network (21) with power less than the theoretical power required to feed the high-power electric motor (5) for rotary-driving a centrifuge arm (1), a multiphase step-down transformer (21), a first static device (23) for controlling a multiphase rotating machine, said control device (23) having one multiphase input connected to the secondary of the multiphase transformer (22) and one multiphase output connected to a node (29) with electric linkages, one multiphase rotating machine (27) electrically connected to said node (29), a high-capacity inertia flywheel (28) mechanically coupled to said multiphase rotating machine (27) and output terminals (30) connected to said node (29). The high-power electric motor (5) is connected to the output terminals (30) by means of a second static device (7) for controlling an electric motor.

Abstract: A space craft cellular energy generating and storage device for generating electrical power in space and storing the power for extended periods of time. The space craft generating and storage device characterized by having a pair of annular rotating housings having a plurality of individual compartments therein. The compartments receiving material which is compartmentalized to accurately control the mass distribution during the rotation of the housing for maintaining speed as energy is withdrawn or generated.

Abstract: A drive for a high-voltage isolating switch includes a shaft which acts on a moving contact of the isolating switch, a flywheel which is connected via a coupling to the shaft, a drive motor for energizing the flywheel before a switching process begins and a control circuit. The control circuit is used for determining the direction of rotation of the drive motor during the energizing process and for automatically switching the drive motor from a motor to a generator operation, during a period when the movable contact is to be moved. The motor is preferably a series-wound motor which provides high operational reliability. A rectifier is connected in the current path between the rotor and stator windings of the motor. The rectifier stabilizes the current direction in the stator winding during the switching-over phase of the drive motor from motor to generator operation.

Abstract: An improved power supply and drive system for an elevator is disclosed. An electric motor is connected to an electrical power source for a building. The electric motor is mechanically connected through a start-up clutch and an override clutch to a bevel gear assembly. A flywheel is also mechanically connected to the bevel gear assembly. The bevel gear assembly is connected through a disconnectig clutch to a conventional Ward Leonard elevator drive system, which includes a generator and a hoist motor. The electric motor is sized to generate a power output representing the integrated or average requirement of the elevator system over its prolonged duty, typically one-fourth of the size required in conventional systems. The bevel gear assembly, the flywheel, and the various clutches are provided to store energy used to operate the elevator during the relatively brief power surge requirements of the elevator system.

Abstract: An energy storage system for a spacecraft is provided which employs a solar powered flywheel arrangement including a motor-generator which, in different operating modes, drives the flywheel and is driven thereby. A control circuit, including a threshold comparator, senses the output of a solar energy converter, and when a threshold voltage is exceeded thereby indicating the availability of solar power for the spacecraft loads, activates a speed control loop including the motor-generator so as to accelerate the flywheel to a constant speed and thereby store mechanical energy, while also supplying energy from the solar converter to the loads. Under circumstances where solar energy is not available and thus the threshold voltage is not exceeded, the control circuit deactivates the speed control loop and activates a voltage control loop that provides for operation of the motor as a generator so that mechanical energy from the flywheel is converted into electrical energy for supply to the spacecraft loads.

Abstract: An inertial energy storage device including a synchronous rotary electrical machine for bidirectional conversion between mechanical and electrical energy including: a stator having two axially spaced sets of circumferentially spaced teeth; field excitation means disposed on the stator to provide an axially polarized magnetic field; stator windings including a plurality of coils, each of which surrounds at least one tooth from each set; and a rotor having a plurality of circumferentially spaced teeth facing the stator teeth, and a circumferential flywheel mass radially spaced from its rotational axis; and a motor control circuit including sensor means for sensing the position of the rotor relative to the stator; means, responsive to the sensor means, for generating a waveform for driving the machine when it is operating as a motor; a voltage control circuit for controlling the amplitude of the waveform for driving the machine; and a current control circuit for controlling amplitude of the current provided to t

Abstract: An electric vehicle power system has a battery system to drive an electric drive motor. A flywheel is provided to supply energy to drive a generator for supplying electric current during peak loads on the battery-motor system and minimize current drain on the battery caused by acceleration of the vehicle. A microprocessor controls the system to apply needed current to the vehicle drive motor or motors. The flywheel is mounted in a vacuum housing which allows angular motion of the vehicle relative to the flywheel to avoid gyroscopic effects of the flywheel on the vehicle. A flywheel is mounted on a horizontal axis in a housing pivotal on a vertical axis, or the flywheel is mounted on a vertical axis in a housing pivotal on a horizontal axis. In one form, the flywheel is the rotor of the motor-generator.

Abstract: A flywheel energy storage system comprises a dynamoelectric machine, a flywheel connected to the dynamoelectric machine for rotation therewith, an auxiliary machine for performing operational tasks associated with the operation of the dynamoelectric machine and the flywheel, a low voltage power source for operating the auxiliary machine, a permanent magnet generator connected to be operated by energy stored in the flywheel for generating electric power which is supplied to the auxiliary machine when the low-voltage power source is not available, and a converter means connected between the permanent magnet generator and the auxiliary machine for converting a varying voltage from the permanent magnet generator into a stable voltage which can be supplied to the auxiliary machine.

Abstract: An energy storage device comprising three flywheels mounted mutually perpendicular on said shafts in three dimensions within a rigid enclosure. The shafts are interconnected within the enclosure through a bevel gear arrangement in which the motion of one flywheel is imparted to the other flywheels. The shafts pass through the walls of the enclosure through a bearing arrangement.

Abstract: Vehicle propulsion system or the like characterized by energy interchange between a plurality of flywheel assemblies each including a driving/driven induction motor/generator, and a plurality of vehicle drive wheel assemblies including drive wheels each directly driving/driven by an induction motor/generator, with energy makeup provided by a heat engine driven generator means, operated on demand, such energy interchange being by means of a multi-directional bus to which the flywheel and drive wheel motor/generators are selectively connected by variable frequency switch means and to which the engine driven generator is connected when operating, the switching being under control of a digital computer type controller, the controller receiving as inputs various vehicle operating conditions including flywheel, drive wheel, brake, steering angle and speed control positions, and bus voltage and heat engine driven generator operating condition, and the controller generating switch means controlling outputs causing en

Abstract: A variable frequency drive for a motor-generator/alternator set which is used to supply electrical power to computer or data processing equipment. Power failures in commercially supplied power results in aberrations and erroneous computations in computers and data processing equipment. An induction motor is used to drive a generator/alternator. The induction motor is driven below the synchronous speed of the generator/alternator and a variable speed drive increases the velocity supplied to the generator/alternator, preferably to a point above its synchronous speed. Therefore, when there is a commercial power failure, the generator/alternator remains within a desired frequency range for a longer period of time than a comparable generator/alternator driven at synchronous speed.

Abstract: A motor drive system for a mining shovel includes three a.c. motors which are driven by associated inverter circuits that receive power from a common d.c. bus. The d.c. bus connects to the a.c. power lines through a rectifier circuit and large variations in power occur during various portions of the digging cycle. To limit the peak power demanded during a digging cycle a peak power limiter system comprised of a fourth inverter driven a.c. motor is attached to the d.c. bus. This a.c. motor drives a flywheel which is operated to store energy during periods of low power demand and which is operated to regenerate stored energy to the d.c. bus when power demanded from the a.c. power lines exceeds a preset amount.

Abstract: Alternating current is supplied to an auxiliary load on a transit car from a power supply comprised of a DC-energized inverter and a synchronous machine coupled to the inverter. The inverter supplies the alternating current requirements of the load up to the normal steady state load current magnitude. The synchronous machine stores kinetic energy when the load current load does not exceed its normal steady state magnitude, and converts kinetic energy into electrical energy to supply the load current requirements in excess of its normal steady-state load magnitude and to supply load current whenever the DC source-inverter connection is interrupted. Frequency and amplitude of load voltage are regulated by operator commands through control apparatus coupled to the inverter and the synchronous machine.

Abstract: A power conversion system for converting between electrical power at different frequencies, including a rotary electrical machine including a rotor, a stator, first and second independently controllable field windings, and at least one armature winding for each phase; a switching circuit including a plurality of switching devices and having first terminal means interconnected with the armature winding which carries a high frequency signal established by the machine, and a second terminal for interconnection with an impedance establishing a lower frequency signal; the first field control circuit for monitoring the machine to sense phase difference between the optimum zero crossings and actual zero crossings of the higher frequency signal for driving the first field winding to adjust the phase of the higher frequency signal to minimize the phase difference; a second field control circuit for modulating the higher frequency signal carried by the armature winding with the lower frequency signal and for monitoring

Abstract: A synchronous machine, operable as both a motor and a generator, is mounted on an electrically powered vehicle, such as a mine shuttle car, and includes a plurality of conductors having connections that are detachably engagable with receptacles of a stationary power bank. Engagement of the conductors with the receptacles supplies variable voltage alternating current power to the machine. The machine is drivingly connected to a flywheel on the vehicle and, operating as a motor, energizes the flywheel to store a preselected amount of mechanical energy. The electrical connection between the vehicle and the power bank is opened after the flywheel has been sufficiently charged. The stored energy in the flywheel is then available to drive the machine as a generator and produce high frequency, three phase, alternating current power.