In Or About The Motor Being Controlled Patents (Class 318/473)
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Patent number: 8933658Abstract: An electric drive system may include a plurality of heat sensitive components, at least one temperature sensor positioned in or on each of the components and a system controller. The temperature sensors may be interconnected with the system controller to transmit temperature data from their respective heat sensitive components to the system controller. The system controller may be configured to transmit a reduced performance command in the event that a reached-temperature-threshold-limit signal is received from any one or more of the temperature sensors. System shutdown due to over temperature faults may be avoided.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2013Date of Patent: January 13, 2015Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Evgeni Ganev, Chiyuan Chiang
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Patent number: 8907608Abstract: Disclosed are alternate embodiments of various components of a barrier operator system. and methods of operation, including of the mechanical drive subsystem with segmented and self-locking rail unit, rail mounting supports, belt and chain drive tensioning, and drive assembly carriage and interface; the electronics and software routines for controlled operation of the various barrier operator functions; wall console communications with the barrier operator; encryption and decryption of access codes; establishment and monitoring of travel limits and barrier speed and force profiles; thermal protection of barrier operator drive motors; and establishment and control of communications from the barrier operator to accessories by way of a wireless adapter.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2012Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: Overhead Door CorporationInventors: Leroy G. Krupke, Mark Kenneth Siegesmund, Mark Raymond Wilzbach
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Publication number: 20140354204Abstract: A control device for a permanent magnet motor, including: a rotor position detector configured to detect a rotating speed of a rotor of a permanent magnet motor in a state in which the permanent magnet motor is disconnected from a load by a clutch and rotates without power supply; a magnet temperature estimator configured to estimate a magnet temperature of the permanent magnet motor based on the detected rotating speed; a current compensator configured to determine a compensation amount for compensating for a current command to the permanent magnet motor based on the estimated magnet temperature; and a drive control device configured to control a power converter for driving the permanent magnet motor based on the compensation amount.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2013Publication date: December 4, 2014Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATIONInventors: Tomoya Tachibana, Takeshi Mori, Mitsuharu Hashiba, Masaya Inoue, Moriyuki Hazeyama
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Publication number: 20140350762Abstract: An apparatus for temperature-dependent control of an electric motor, includes a control device for adjusting the power output of the electric motor, and means for detecting the temperature of a component of the electric motor, wherein the control device reduces the power of the electric motor in the case of a component temperature above a temperature threshold, and wherein the temperature detection means distinguish between self-heating and external heating, wherein the control device counteracts only the self-heating by reducing the power.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2012Publication date: November 27, 2014Inventors: André Wesenberg, Mirko Reuter
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Publication number: 20140340016Abstract: A mechanism for compensating power to a motor or actuator. Compensation may counter the effects of changing voltage levels of power to the motor and varying temperatures at the motor. An output of a wave generator may be input to a comparator along with a level of voltage representing the temperatures and voltage levels. An output may be a power signal for driving the motor at a constant speed and/or torque which can increase a maintenance-free lifetime of the motor and actuator.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2013Publication date: November 20, 2014Inventors: John C. Bartholomew, Mark D. Bokusky, Steffen J. Moeller
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Publication number: 20140265978Abstract: A system and method for preventing thermal damage to an electric motor in a vehicle includes arrangements for monitoring the motor and detecting a cycle of the motor. If the cycle occurred within a predetermined increment time, a cycle count is incremented. If no cycle occurs for a predetermined decrement time, the cycle count is decremented if the cycle count is greater than zero. If the cycle count is at least equal to a cycle limit, power operation of the motor is deactivated for at least the decrement time. The method may include continuously calculating energy consumed by the motor and, if the energy consumed exceeds one or more allowable energy thresholds, setting the cycle count equal to the cycle limit. The method may further include detecting a failure condition and setting the cycle count equal to the cycle limit when the failure condition is detected.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Michael D. Oakley, Dean A. Scott, JR., Trevor Scott Whitten
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Publication number: 20140265656Abstract: An electric machine includes a housing, a stator including stator windings mounted to the housing, a rotor supported in the housing and configured to rotate relative to the stator, a temperature sensing system including one or more resistors mounted to one of the stator and the rotor, and a controller electrically connected to the one or more resistors. The controller is configured and disposed to determine a temperature of the one of the stator and the rotor based on an electrical parameter of the one or more resistors.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: REMY TECHNOLOGIES, L.L.C.Inventor: Paul Martin Dedrich
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Publication number: 20140262354Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a fire-extinguishing system and method for injecting foamant into a stream of water. The system can include a flow meter determining a flow rate of the stream of water and a foam pump having an inlet coupled to a supply of foamant and an outlet coupled to the stream of water. The system includes a servo motor driving the foam pump. The servo motor includes a sensor used to determine a rotor shaft speed and/or a rotor shaft torque.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Inventors: Jonathan Gamble, Ron Flanary, Robert L. Hosfield, Harold McCabe, Martin Piedl, Charles Ford, Troy Anderson
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Publication number: 20140265977Abstract: A hybrid industrial vehicle (1) has as a main configuration: an engine (2); a cargo handling generator motor (3) used for cargo handling; a cargo handling apparatus (4) that can be driven by power received from both the engine (2) and the cargo handling generator motor (3); and a hybrid control system (8). The hybrid control system (8) suppresses an output of the cargo handling generator motor (3) according to a temperature of the cargo handling generator motor (3) during powering of the cargo handling generator motor (3), and suppresses a regeneration amount of the cargo handling generator motor (3) according to the temperature of the cargo handling generator motor (3) during regeneration of the cargo handling generator motor (3).Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2012Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: MITSUBISHI NICHIYU FORKLIFT CO., LTD.Inventors: Yusuke Kinouchi, Kensuke Futahashi, Kiyomitsu Ogawa
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Publication number: 20140225550Abstract: The present document describes a wheel assembly defining a motor/generator. The wheel assembly comprises a plurality of stator units coaxially provided within a rotor. The stator units comprise a plurality of spokes co-centrically provided around a hub/shaft and a coil provided around at least a portion of the spokes for generating an electrical field. The rotor comprises a plurality of magnets provided on an inner periphery of the rotor facing the spokes. The rotor is rotatably attached to the hub/shaft of the stator for rotating around the stator units when the coils are activated. The coils and/or the stator units may be selectively activated and deactivated to avoid overheating.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2012Publication date: August 14, 2014Inventors: Jean I. Tchervenkov, Sylvain Crevier, Stephane Grenier
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Publication number: 20140223926Abstract: A heat pump device includes an inverter control unit outputting PWM signals to an inverter; a current detection unit detecting a current value flowing in the inverter and outputting the current value after reducing a current value having a first frequency or higher in detected current value; and a drive-signal stop unit that, when the current value output from the current detection unit is equal to or larger than an interruption level, stops output of PWM signals to the inverter. Particularly, the inverter control unit generates a voltage command value such that the voltage command value becomes a value equal to or larger than a lower limit determined according to the first frequency and generates PWM signals based on generated voltage command value and a carrier signal, thereby causing a voltage output time to the motor to be a predetermined time or longer.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2011Publication date: August 14, 2014Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATIONInventors: Kazunori Hatakeyama, Syota Kamiya, Kenta Yuasa, Shinya Matsushita, Shinsaku Kusube, Tsutomu Makino
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Publication number: 20140210392Abstract: An electric motor powers a fluidic pump fluidly connected to a hydraulic circuit. Operating the electric motor includes determining a heat transfer coefficient for the electric motor based upon a temperature of hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic circuit. A temperature of the electric motor is determined based upon the heat transfer coefficient. Operation of the electric motor is controlled based upon the temperature of the electric motor.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2013Publication date: July 31, 2014Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: DANIEL J. BERRY, PAUL F. TURNBULL, CHIA-CHOU YEH
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Publication number: 20140203748Abstract: There is provided a motor control device for an actuator having a motor, including a measuring unit configured to measure a temperature of the actuator or a temperature corresponding to the temperature of the actuator, a determining unit configured to determine whether the temperature measured by the measuring unit is lower than a preset temperature, and a boost control unit configured to perform boost control at activation of the motor to increase drive power supplied to the motor if the determining unit determines that the temperature measured by the measuring unit is lower than the preset temperature. The boost control unit is configured to perform the boost control such that, only within a boost period after starting activation of the motor, drive power larger than that supplied to the motor during steady driving after the boost period is supplied to the motor.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2013Publication date: July 24, 2014Applicant: MINEBEA CO., LTD.Inventors: Kazuo TAKADA, Takayuki MATSUI, Scott JACOBS
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Patent number: 8788107Abstract: Damage is prevented on electric devices in a case where a generator is installed in a cold weather. A wind turbine generator includes a power supply unit connected to a utility grid via a switch gear; a utility grid voltage measuring unit provided between the power supply unit and the utility grid, for measuring a voltage of the utility grid; and a temperature measuring unit for obtaining an ambient temperature of the power supply unit. In a case where a measurement value of the temperature measuring unit or an ambient temperature of the power supply unit estimated based on the measurement value is smaller than a first temperature threshold determined based on a function guarantee temperature of the power supply unit and the voltage measured by the utility grid voltage measuring unit is smaller than a preset voltage threshold, the switch gear operates to interrupt the connection between the power supply unit and the utility grid.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2009Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Inventor: Akira Yasugi
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Patent number: 8786244Abstract: Methodologies and systems are provided for current estimation in electric motor. The system comprises an electric motor having sensors for sensing at least motor current, motor temperature and motor speed. A vehicle controller is coupled to the sensors and includes a closed-loop current control system for the electric motor having a current compensation circuit for providing a current compensation signal that is used to adjust a current command for the electric motor. The current compensation circuit includes a short-circuit current calculator for providing a short-circuit current value based upon the motor temperature and the motor speed, a compensation gain calculator for providing a gain compensation value based upon the motor speed, and circuitry for combining the motor current, the short-circuit current value and the gain compensation value to provide the current compensation signal. Methods for current estimation in electric motor are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2011Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventor: Jihoon Jang
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Publication number: 20140197769Abstract: An over temperature protection device for electric motors applicable to a railway vehicle driving system that operates a plurality of electric motors in parallel using one or a plurality of inverter devices includes a control device configured to control the operation of an inverter device and a protecting device configured to detect, on the basis of a frequency fs including frequency information at the time when the inverter device is applying control for fixing a ratio of a voltage and a frequency to electric motors and electric currents of at least one phase flowing to the electronic motors, an over temperature that could occur in the electric motors, to generate an over temperature protection signal Tf for protecting the electric motors from the over temperature, and to output the over temperature protection signal Tf to the control device.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2011Publication date: July 17, 2014Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATIONInventors: Tomohiro Kojiya, Yuruki Okada
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Publication number: 20140191696Abstract: A rotary electric machine includes a rotor that is arranged such that an axis of rotation of the rotor extends in a horizontal direction, a stator that is provided with an coil end on which coolant is supplied from a position above the coil end in a direction of gravitational force, and a temperature sensor that is arranged on an outer peripheral face of the coil end at a position near a horizontal plane that includes the axis of rotation of the rotor. When the flow rate of the coolant is below a threshold the temperature sensor measures the coil temperature. When the flow rate of the coolant is above a threshold, so that coolant is in direct contact with the temperature sensor, it measures the coolant temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2012Publication date: July 10, 2014Inventor: Hiroyuki Hattori
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Patent number: 8773058Abstract: A system and method including a runtime thermal model that estimates individual component temperatures, permitting the system to only limit power when necessary or desirable. A power-limiting system for a vector-controlled AC induction motor includes a torque command system for generating a torque command; a thermal protection system determining a runtime estimate for a temperature of a component of a rotational electro-magnetic component of the vector-controlled AC induction motor; and a controller configured to generate a motor control signal for the vector-controlled AC induction motor responsive to the torque command, wherein the thermal protection system determines the runtime estimate responsive to a multi-node thermal model of the vector-controlled AC induction motor, and wherein the controller limits a power of the vector-controlled AC induction motor to maintain a component temperature below its critical temperature.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2011Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.Inventors: Andrew David Baglino, Greg Grant Solberg, Yifan Tang
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Patent number: 8762027Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for controlling a motor that determines whether or not to control the motor in order to control a variable valve lift device by using a measurement value of a valve lift and a target value of the valve lift; compares a predetermined base temperature with a temperature of an engine room in order to control the motor; determines a temperature factor corresponding to the temperature of the engine room when the temperature of the engine room is larger than the base temperature; and determines a driving signal value for the motor by applying the temperature factor to a predetermined base signal value.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2011Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventor: Chongwon Kim
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Publication number: 20140171330Abstract: The invention relates to an electric machine (101) comprising a stator (103), a rotatably mounted rotor (105) having a magnetizable and coolable rotor section (107) made of a super-conducting material (417), a control unit (109) designed to control a stator flow for inducing a magnetic flow through the superconducting material (417). The invention also relates to a method for operating an electric machine (101).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2012Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Peter Kummeth, Heinz Schmidt
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Patent number: 8723469Abstract: A winding overheat prevention apparatus comprises: a stator winding temperature calculation unit which calculates winding temperature based on the ambient temperature of the motor and on the amount of change in the estimated temperature of a stator winding; a position sensor temperature detection unit which detects the temperature indicated by a temperature sensing element in a position sensor a rotor; and an alarm signal output unit which outputs an alarm signal when the winding temperature exceeds an alarm level, wherein when the ambient temperature is not higher than a prescribed temperature, the alarm level is set equal to a temperature preset based on the ambient temperature and the maximum value of the amount of the temperature change, while when the ambient temperature is higher than the prescribed temperature, the alarm level is set equal to a temperature preset in order to protect the position sensor from overheating.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2012Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: Fanuc CorporationInventors: Hidetoshi Uematsu, SeungJun Lee
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Patent number: 8723468Abstract: A motor having a first portion configured to turn in a forward direction, a second portion coaxially mirrors the first portion; and a central fan between the first and second portions, and forcing air through the portions. A thermoelectric cooler element, thermally coupled to the portion is configured to cool the motor. A motor controller is electrically coupled to the first and second portions, and operates a portion in response to a condition sensed by the motor controller. The condition sensed by the motor controller is a motor torque, a motor speed, a motor casing temperature, or a zoned motor casing temperature. A method includes detecting a motor operational command; selecting a motor operational state using motor portion responsive to the motor command; sensing a heating state of a motor portion; and providing a cooling state to the motor portion responsive to the heating state.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2011Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: Aurora Office Equipment Co., Ltd.Inventor: John O'Rourke
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Publication number: 20140125268Abstract: A method and a device for operating an electrical machine having separate excitation, especially a synchronous machine. With the aid of a sensor system, a variable characterizing a rotor temperature and/or a stator temperature are/is determined, and an excitation current and stator currents for the electrical machine are specified by a control unit as a function of the variable characterizing the rotor temperature and/or the stator temperature, at least in specifiable operating ranges.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2011Publication date: May 8, 2014Inventors: Mercedes Herranz Gracia, Stefan Kolmorgen, Stefan Spannhake, Yves Challand, Daniel Raichle, Mario Beyer, Dragan Mikulec, Gunther Goetting, Alexander Scheidle
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Publication number: 20140117909Abstract: A driving motor for an electric vehicle includes a rotor having a field coil wound thereon and a stator having an armature coil wound thereon. The driving motor includes a motor control unit to perform temperature based control between the stator and the rotor based on which one has a higher temperature than the other, in order reduce a current value to the one having the higher temperature than the other.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2013Publication date: May 1, 2014Applicant: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Youngboong Kim, Hokyoung Lim, Seungdo Han, Yunho Kim
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Patent number: 8712597Abstract: A computer-implemented method optimizes air mover performance to minimize temperature variations in a computer system enclosure. The computer system includes one or more modules and at least one air mover. The method includes collecting thermal data from the modules; using the collected thermal data, determining a maximum value of the thermal data; comparing the determined maximum value of the thermal data to a current maximum value of the thermal data; using the determined and the current maximum values, determining a desired operating characteristic of the air mover; and adjusting the air mover to the desired operating characteristic.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2008Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventor: James A. Rozzi
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Patent number: 8704477Abstract: A method of controlling a fan in a vehicle comprising: measuring a control input signal; measuring a continuous applied voltage to the fan; comparing the continuous applied voltage to a look up table; and activating the fan when the control input signal is open and the continuous applied voltage is greater than a system voltage by about 0.5 volts.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2012Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: W.E.T. Automotive (China) Ltd.Inventor: Fred A. Brown
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Patent number: 8698438Abstract: According to one embodiment, a motor control apparatus includes a timer to measure a period in which a job is not executed, a sensor to detect a temperature of a physical object, an acquisition part to acquire time information measured by the timer and temperature information detected by the sensor, and a drive control part that determines a current value of a motor provided in the physical object based on the time information and the temperature information acquired by the acquisition part, and controls the motor current value by applying a voltage level corresponding to the determined current value to a drive element of the motor.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2011Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shinya Mori
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Publication number: 20140084834Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic control device for controlling an electric actuator, which includes: a housing fixed to an outer side of an exterior part of the electric actuator; a circuit board accommodated in an inner space of the housing; a temperature sensor mounted on the circuit board; and a heat transfer part having a thermally conductive relay member extending from the circuit board in a direction toward the exterior part to define a continuous heat transfer path from the temperature sensor to an inner side of the exterior part such that heat of the inner side of the exterior part can be transferred to the temperature sensor through the heat transfer path.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2013Publication date: March 27, 2014Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.Inventor: Hiroyuki SAITO
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Patent number: 8680801Abstract: A rotating electrical machine system includes a stator that has stator windings of a plurality of phases, and that generates a stator magnetomotive force in accordance with stator current of different phases, which is supplied to the stator windings of the plurality of phases; a rotor on which rotor windings are wound such that rotor current is generated in accordance with the stator magnetomotive force generated by the stator and a magnetic pole is formed by the rotor current; and a control unit that controls an output torque from the rotor, by controlling the stator current. In a case where a predetermined torque is output from the rotor, the control unit applies a pulse to the stator current so as to increase the stator current and reduce the rotor current, when a temperature of the rotor is high as compared with when the temperature of the rotor is low.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2012Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Eiji Yamada, Kenji Hiramoto, Hideo Nakai, Norimoto Minoshima
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Patent number: 8674641Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method controlling motor rotation speed and provides a cooling system and method configured to control a temperature associated with an integrated circuit. The cooling system includes a brushless motor, a temperature monitoring input, a clock input, and a motor controller.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2010Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Shanghai SIM-BCD Semiconductor Manufacturing LimitedInventors: Zhihong Zhang, XuJiang Huang
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Publication number: 20140009095Abstract: A method of controlling a brushless motor that includes sensing a temperature and using the sensed temperature to define a current limit. A lower current limit is then defined for a lower sensed temperature. A winding of the motor is sequentially energised and de-energised, with the winding being de-energised when current in the winding exceeds the defined current limit.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2013Publication date: January 9, 2014Inventors: Stephen GREETHAM, David John HAWKER
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Patent number: 8618759Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for heating of robots in cold environments, whereby the robot possesses permanent magnet brushless or three-phase synchronous motors with three motor phases including three stator coils (L1, L2, L3) connected to an inverter controllable by a control-unit and with a rotor with permanent magnet excitation. A current can be applied to at least one phase of the stator coil (L1, L2, L3) of the motor such that, if the motor stands still, a directed magnetic flux (?) is created which interacts with the permanent magnets of the rotor in such a way that the resulting torque will be close to zero.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2012Date of Patent: December 31, 2013Assignee: ABB AGInventors: Sönke Kock, Jens Hofschulte
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Patent number: 8604738Abstract: An electric vehicle employs an oil commonly used as a lubricating oil for gears and a coolant for a motor and is propelled by transmitting the rotational torque of the motor to wheels through the gears, the motor being partly immersed in the oil. It is determined whether the motor is in a state prior to being started or not. If it is judged that the motor is in the state prior to being started, coils of the motor are energized alternately with a first current supplied to the motor at an advanced angle for no torque to generate a magnetic flux, and a second current supplied to the motor at another advanced angle for no torque to generate a magnetic flux in a direction opposite to the magnetic flux generated by the first current, thereby heating the oil.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2010Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Daijiro Takizawa
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Patent number: 8604737Abstract: A three-phase electric motor of a compressor receives first, second, and third phases from a three-phase power supply. A method for protecting the motor includes, using a line break protector, disconnecting the motor from only the first phase in response to a temperature being greater than a predetermined temperature threshold. The method also includes measuring a first current flowing through the line break protector, and determining a current value based on the first current independent of current in the second and third phases. The method further includes disconnecting the motor from the first, second, and third phases in response to the current value being less than or equal to a predetermined threshold.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2013Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Nagaraj B. Jayanth, Wayne R. Warner
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Publication number: 20130305760Abstract: An object of the present invention is to efficiently heat a refrigerant retained in a compressor. An inverter control unit generates six drive signals corresponding to the respective switching elements of the inverter, and outputs the generated drive signals to the corresponding switching elements of the inverter to cause the inverter to generate a high-frequency AC voltage. Particularly, the inverter control unit generates a drive signal having a switching pattern A for turning on all the three switching elements on a positive voltage side or a negative voltage side of the inverter, and subsequent thereto, generates a drive signal having a switching pattern B for turning on two switching elements of the three switching elements and turning off one switching element thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2011Publication date: November 21, 2013Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATIONInventors: Yosuke Shinomoto, Kazunori Hatakeyama, Shinsaku Kusube, Shinya Matsushita
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Patent number: 8587243Abstract: A rotary breaker that interrupts a transmission of a driving force from a motor to a drive mechanism unit is provided between the motor having a permanent magnet incorporated therein and the drive mechanism unit of an electric vehicle. A second controller controls the rotary breaker based on operation states of a power converting unit that has a power converter that drives the motor by converting a direct-current voltage or an alternate-current voltage into an alternate-current voltage with an arbitrary frequency and a first controller that controls the power converter, operation states of the motor and the rotary breaker, and an operation state of the second controller itself.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2009Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Masamichi Sakane, Kenta Kaneko
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Publication number: 20130285587Abstract: A electric power steering control device equipped with a motor having a resolver detection unit comprises: an ambient temperature detecting means (33) for detecting ambient temperature around a portion generating heat by current flow; a motor temperature detecting means (32) for, based on a signal from the resolver detection unit (13) of the motor (4), estimating the temperature of the portion generating heat; and an abnormality determining means (34) for comparing the temperature detected by the ambient temperature detecting means with the temperature detected by the motor temperature detecting means and determining that the ambient temperature detecting means is abnormal.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2011Publication date: October 31, 2013Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATIONInventors: Yasushi Takemoto, Kazushi Kimura
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Patent number: 8564236Abstract: A technique for providing a user with effective information in performing an operation is provided in a power tool having a speed change mechanism. A power tool has a speed change mechanism that switches a tool bit 113 from first drive mode in which the tool bit is driven at high speed and low torque to second drive mode in which the tool bit is driven at low speed and high torque, according to load on the tool bit 113. The power tool includes detecting and indicating device 161, 163, 167 that detect a predetermined status condition of the first drive mode and indicate switching from the first drive mode to the second drive mode before switching to the second drive mode.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2010Date of Patent: October 22, 2013Assignee: Makita CorporationInventors: Shinji Hirabayashi, Shusuke Ito
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Publication number: 20130271060Abstract: A motor controller includes a motor winding heater function. The motor controller applies a predefined current to one or more of the motor windings without the use of additional dedicated motor winding heater devices. The motor controller serves to control the operation of the motor, while the motor windings serve both as a heater at times and to produce torque at times.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2012Publication date: October 17, 2013Inventors: David Messersmith, Andrew Jaap
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Patent number: 8536815Abstract: A method for operating a controller includes receiving a first accumulated thermal value of an electrical machine and an associated first time stamp from a memory, initializing a processor of the controller with the first accumulated thermal value and the associated first time stamp, determining whether a second time stamp has been received, calculating a difference between the second time stamp and the first time stamp responsive to determining that the second time stamp has been received, calculating a second accumulated thermal value as a function of the first accumulated thermal value, the first time stamp, and the second time stamp, and updating the first accumulated thermal value with the second accumulated thermal value.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2011Date of Patent: September 17, 2013Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Nataniel Barbosa Vicente, Torsten Brandt, Todd Elliott Greenwood, Joachim Mueller, Srinath Topucharla
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Patent number: 8527123Abstract: In a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), the available energy from a battery may be inadequate to drive a motor to generate additional torque sufficient for driveability upon a request for an increase in wheel torque. The motor may then be operated in a lossy, inefficient mode. When the motor operates in the lossy mode, engine power can be increased such that the sum of the engine power and the maximum available battery power may exceed requested wheel power. The increased engine power may be dissipated as heat in the motor until an increase in wheel torque is requested, whereby the motor may switch from the lossy mode back to a normal, efficient mode. By switching back to the normal mode, the excessive engine power that was being dissipated as heat in the motor may contribute to the output torque of the motor.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2010Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Thomas Chrostowski, Joseph Youqing Xiang
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Publication number: 20130193893Abstract: A method of controlling a fan in a vehicle comprising: measuring a control input signal; measuring a continuous applied voltage to the fan; comparing the continuous applied voltage to a look up table; and activating the fan when the control input signal is open and the continuous applied voltage is greater than a system voltage by about 0.5 volts.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2012Publication date: August 1, 2013Applicant: W.E.T. AUTOMOTIVE (CHINA) LTD.Inventor: W.E.T. AUTOMOTIVE (CHINA) LTD.
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Patent number: 8482238Abstract: An electric drive machine includes an electric drive system including an internal combustion engine and an electrical power generator coupled to the internal combustion engine. An electronic controller is in control communication with the electric drive system and is configured to determine an estimated temperature of a rotor of the electrical power generator at least in part by determining a rotor temperature rise estimation, compare the estimated rotor temperature to a rotor temperature threshold, and initiate an excessive temperature action if the estimated rotor temperature is greater than or equal to the rotor temperature threshold.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2010Date of Patent: July 9, 2013Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Bo Xie, Suresh B. Reddy, Matt Hendrickson
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Patent number: 8482237Abstract: A vehicle includes a power source, a motor, and a computing device. The power source provides electrical energy to the motor, and the motor generates rotational motion from the electrical energy received. The computing device is configured to estimate a temperature of the motor in real time based at least in part on a thermal model of the motor. The thermal model includes a plurality of nodes and at least one thermal resistance. Each node represents a region of the motor and each thermal resistance represents a heat transfer path between at least two of the nodes. A method includes solving one or more energy balance equations to determine a temperature change at each node and estimating the temperature of the motor in real time based at least in part on the temperature change at each node and at least one of the thermal resistances in the thermal model.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2011Date of Patent: July 9, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Daniel J. Berry, Pankaj Mithal, Paul F. Turnbull, Peter J. Savagian, Chia-Chou Yeh, Steven E. Schulz
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Patent number: 8466649Abstract: An electrical machine having a rotor component configured to rotate with respect to a stator component includes a sensing arrangement to sense electrical, magnetic, and/or mechanical machine parameters during machine operation. The electrical machine also includes a fluid sprayer coupled to a cooling controller. The cooling controller activates the fluid sprayer to spray cooling fluid on a portion of the electrical machine in response to in response to the sensed electrical, magnetic, and/or mechanical machine parameters.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2010Date of Patent: June 18, 2013Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
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Patent number: 8428805Abstract: An electric drive system includes a fuel-driven engine (202) driving an electrical power generator (204) that provides power to one or more electric drive motors (210). A method of load management in the electric drive system includes receiving an actual fuel signal, an engine speed (920) signal, a throttle position signal, a motor speed (712) signal, an intake air pressure, a barometric pressure signal, and an intake air temperature signal. These values are used to determine a torque limit. The torque limit is used to limit a torque command to the electric drive motors (210) such that the torque command is consistent with the operating capabilities of the engine (202).Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2012Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Bradley Bailey, Matthew Hendrickson, William J. Tate, Walter E. Earleson, Jeffrey E. Brand
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Patent number: 8427085Abstract: A speed adjustment circuit for a plurality of fans includes a voltage input terminal, a plurality of speed control modules, and a fan tachometer. Each of the speed control modules includes a fan connector, a speed adjusting unit, and a detector switch unit. The speed adjusting unit includes a switching control unit, a voltage adjusting chip, and a variable resistor. The detector switch unit includes a first switch. The voltage input terminal connects to the input terminal of the voltage adjusting chip through the switching control unit. The output terminal of the voltage adjusting chip connects to the power pin of the fan connector. The adjusting terminal of the voltage adjusting chip connects to ground through the variable resistor, and connects to the output terminal of the voltage adjusting chip through a resistor. The detection pin of the fan connector connects to the fan tachometer through the first switch.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2011Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.Inventors: Bo Deng, Xian-Guang Tan
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Patent number: 8418789Abstract: A fan motor is controlled via a switching circuit from the moment when a cooling fan control routine is started until the moment when the rotational speed of the fan motor reaches a control-switching speed so that the higher the detected auxiliary battery voltage is when the cooling fan control is started, the lower the command duty ratio that is set. Accordingly, it is possible to activate the fan motor more reliably and to avoid generating excessive operating noise by the cooling fan when the fan motor is activated.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2009Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kimihito Nakamura, Yoshiaki Kikuchi, Masahito Suzuki
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Patent number: 8421391Abstract: An electric motor system includes an electric motor comprising a stator with windings and a rotor configured to operate at a motor speed; a cooling system comprising coolant configured to cool the rotor and the stator, the coolant having a coolant flow rate and a coolant temperature; an inverter module coupled to the electric motor and configured to provide current to the windings based on inverter control signals; a current regulated torque controller coupled to the inverter module and configured to generate the inverter control signals in response to a derated torque command; and a temperature estimation controller coupled to the current regulated torque controller and configured to generate the derated torque command based on an initial torque command and an estimated stator winding temperature. The temperature estimation controller is configured to estimate the estimated stator winding temperature based on the motor speed and the coolant flow rate.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2010Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Chia-Chou Yeh, Steven E. Schulz
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Publication number: 20130069579Abstract: A winding overheat prevention apparatus comprises: a stator winding temperature calculation unit which calculates winding temperature based on the ambient temperature of the motor and on the amount of change in the estimated temperature of a stator winding; a position sensor temperature detection unit which detects the temperature indicated by a temperature sensing element in a position sensor a rotor; and an alarm signal output unit which outputs an alarm signal when the winding temperature exceeds an alarm level, wherein when the ambient temperature is not higher than a prescribed temperature, the alarm level is set equal to a temperature preset based on the ambient temperature and the maximum value of the amount of the temperature change, while when the ambient temperature is higher than the prescribed temperature, the alarm level is set equal to a temperature preset in order to protect the position sensor from overheating.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2012Publication date: March 21, 2013Applicant: FANUC CORPORATIONInventors: Hidetoshi UEMATSU, SeungJun LEE