Slipping And/or Racing Control For Electric Motors Patents (Class 318/52)
  • Patent number: 11888430
    Abstract: A motor drive receives a position feedback signal from an encoder operatively connected to the motor. The motor drive executes a speed regulator module on a first periodic interval to achieve desired operation of the motor, and the motor drive executes an additional module at a second periodic interval, occurring more frequently than the first periodic interval, to increase the resolution of the position feedback. The position feedback signal is provided as or converted to counts. The motor drive maintains a first counter with a running total of each count received as well as a second counter which generates a higher resolution value than the first counter. During each second periodic interval the motor drive increments the high-resolution counter by the number of actual counts detected within the corresponding first periodic interval. This high-resolution counter is used by the speed regulator to obtain desired operation of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Magnetek, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Backman, Bryan Radke
  • Patent number: 11787374
    Abstract: A method for improving the adhesion of a rail vehicle by conditioning selected axle(s), detects whether a higher total brake force can be achieved by changing the manipulated variable of the wheel slip at at least one unit from a current starting wheel slip to a forced wheel slip, and, if so, changes the wheel slip at at least one unit from the current starting wheel slip to the forced wheel slip by regulating the manipulated variable of the brake application force at the unit, whereby the friction ratios between the wheel and the rail changes at the subsequent units, and regulates the manipulated variable of the brake application force at the subsequent units to regulate the wheel slip, which is likewise changed by the changed friction ratios, at the units back to the unchanged manipulated variable of the starting wheel slip, optimized brake forces being produced at the units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas Rasel, Ulf Friesen, Marc-Oliver Herden, Jörg-Johannes Wach, Reinhold Mayer
  • Patent number: 11780414
    Abstract: A braking control system includes braking control modules configured to generate a braking torque request signal, indicative of a requested braking torque value CFr, which is variable until reaching a target value Vt, and to supply the braking torque request signal to a braking means which converts it into a braking torque with effective braking torque value CFe. The braking control modules are configured to calculate a total difference of instantaneous braking torque ?CFt as the sum of the differences between the CFr values and the CFe values of all modules. If the calculated ?CFt is greater than zero when Vt is reached, the braking control modules increase the braking torque until a ?CFt subsequent to reaching Vt has a zero or negative value, or until the maximum available adhesion signal has indicated that a controlled axle has reached the maximum available adhesion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: FAIVELEY TRANSPORT ITALIA S.P.A
    Inventors: Roberto Tione, Matteo Frea, Luc Imbert
  • Patent number: 11772899
    Abstract: A control system for a cargo handling system is disclosed. The control system may be configured to advance larger containers at a slower speed than smaller containers. For instance, all containers may be initially advanced by the same first velocity control signal. At the expiration of a certain time period, all containers may thereafter be advanced by a different velocity control signal (from the first velocity control signal) that should least substantially maintain the velocity of the container as it existed at the time of the expiration of the noted time period. The length of the time period (for advancing the container at the first velocity control signal) may be varied based upon the size of the containers such that larger containers are accelerated for a shorter time than smaller containers and which in turn should then advance larger containers at a lower velocity compared to smaller containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventor: Scott P. Harms
  • Patent number: 11770085
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an electric machine (100) having a power converter (100) and multiple phases, in which method, phase currents flowing through the phases during operation of the electric machine (100) are determined and are used for continued operation of the electric machine (100), the phase currents being determined taking account of a fundamental wave and at least one harmonic of the current profile of each phase current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Freitag, Leonard Weiss
  • Patent number: 11628868
    Abstract: A car control device includes a driving force calculating unit that calculates driving force necessary for a train to travel; an operating number calculating unit that determines the number of M cars to be operated on the basis of the driving force; and a driving force command calculating unit that calculates driving force commands to be given to the M cars that operate depending on the number of M cars to be operated, wherein the driving force command calculating unit continuously changes the driving force commands when the number of M cars to be operated changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuruki Okada, Yoshinori Yamashita, Kota Teramoto, Yoshinori Chiba, Sho Kato
  • Patent number: 11338796
    Abstract: A traction control module includes a sensor/estimation module configured to output wheel stability data based on a plurality of wheel condition inputs and a wheel stability monitoring module configured to calculate a plurality of wheel stability predictors based on the wheel stability data. Each of the wheel stability predictors is independently indicative of a wheel slip condition. The traction control module further includes a wheel stability data fusion module configured to receive each of the plurality of wheel stability predictors, combine selected wheel stability predictors from the plurality of wheel stability predictors to generate combinations of the wheel stability predictors, and selectively output a torque reduction request based on the combinations of the wheel stability predictors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Yubiao Zhang, SeyedAlireza Kasaiezadeh Mahabadi, Ehsan Asadi, Naser Mehrabi, Hualin Tan
  • Patent number: 11177753
    Abstract: An electric machine control system adapted to a motor includes a voltage detector, a power module, a current detector and a controller. The voltage detector detects a bus voltage to generate a voltage detection signal. The power module generates a first phase current, a second phase current and a third phase current to drive the motor according to the bus voltage and a PWM signal. To generate the current detection signal, the current detector detects at least two of the following: the first phase current, the second phase current and the third phase current. When the motor is operating in a steady state and blocked, the controller calculates the DC offset error of the motor according to the voltage detection signal and the current detection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Shao-Kai Tseng
  • Patent number: 11097714
    Abstract: An apparatus for selectively sharing, towards separate users, the power of a multi-drive unit vehicle, includes a mechanical transmission, that connects propulsion units of the vehicle to at least one primary drive unit; a secondary power unit for service units, which is operatively positioned between the mechanical transmission and at least one service unit of the vehicle; as well as at least one of either a first or a second joint, that are mounted on the mechanical transmission on either side of the secondary power unit for service units and are switchable by operating suitable control means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.
    Inventor: Samuele Mazzini
  • Patent number: 10688878
    Abstract: A variable gauge train control device comprises an inverter, a location detector, and a torque calculator. The inverter collectively controls torques of main electric motors. The location detector detects an entry into a gauge changeover section. The torque calculator, upon detection by the location detector of the entry into the gauge changeover section, suspends idling control that otherwise restricts the torques of the main electric motors and calculates a first torque pattern for making the inverter operate in accordance with the torques of the main electric motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignees: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION, KYUSHU RAILWAY COMPANY
    Inventors: Kazuki Konishi, Hidetoshi Kitanaka, Tsuyoshi Morimitsu, Yuichi Mimura, Soichiro Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10554157
    Abstract: A method of operating a drive circuit for parallel electric motors is provided. The method includes receiving measurements of stator phase currents in the parallel electric motors. The method includes selecting a target PM motor, from among the parallel electric motors, that generates a largest torque output. The method includes executing a vector control algorithm to generate a complex command voltage vector for the target PM motor. The method includes generating and transmitting a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal based on the complex command voltage vector for controlling an inverter. The method includes operating the inverter according to the PWM signal to supply three-phase alternating current (AC) power to the parallel electric motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
    Inventors: Ludovic Andre Chretien, Paul Bryan Snipes
  • Patent number: 10459001
    Abstract: A speed of a rail vehicle equipped with a first chassis unit is determined. A chassis speed measurement variable is provided by a sensor unit. Inertial measurement variables are detected by an inertial measurement unit; a reference speed characteristic value is formed; an inertial speed characteristic value is determined by a calculation unit based on the inertial measurement variables, in a first operating mode, to estimate a deviation in the inertial calculation based on the reference speed characteristic value; the inertial speed characteristic value is determined, in a second operating mode, without taking into account the reference speed characteristic value. If an anomalous provision process of the chassis speed measurement variable is detected by a recognition unit on the basis of a reference characteristic value and the chassis speed measurement value, the inertial calculation is performed according to the second operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Mobility GmbH
    Inventors: Till Foerster, Stefan Hassler, Thorsten Stuetzle
  • Patent number: 10442310
    Abstract: A circuit budgets torque among independent field-oriented motor control circuits. A desired vehicle yaw turning moment is received from an operator control input. The circuit determines a positive or negative torque target for each electrically powered drive wheel and transmits it to an adaptive field-oriented motor control circuit which provides voltage magnitude and voltage frequency to a poly-phase synchronous alternating current electric motor. When wheel loading, limited traction, or stability prevents any motor from attaining the torque target, that data is returned to the budgeting circuit and torque budget is adjusted for all adaptive field-oriented motor control circuits. Varying numbers of powered wheels are assigned torque depending on vehicle dynamics. Performance of the vehicle can be adapted to driver capabilities. A vehicle may serve as a driving simulator for diverse vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Inventors: Dean Drako, Shivinder Singh Sikand
  • Patent number: 10053070
    Abstract: A system includes a plurality of wheels, a braking system, and one or more sensors. The plurality of wheels includes a guardian wheel and at least one non-guardian wheel and is disposed on a wheeled vehicle. The braking system is operatively connected to the guardian and non-guardian wheels and applies a first braking force to the at least one non-guardian wheel and a second braking force to the guardian wheel. The second braking force increases a slide risk of the guardian wheel beyond a slide risk of the at least one non-guardian wheel. One or more sensors disposed within the wheeled vehicle detect sliding of the guardian wheel allowing a corrective action to be taken to prevent sliding of the at least one non-guardian wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Bret Dwayne Worden
  • Patent number: 10052970
    Abstract: A power converting apparatus for vehicles according to an embodiment controls a plurality of AC motors for vehicle traveling set on a motor setting table. The power converting apparatus includes a plurality of inverter circuits and a plurality of controllers. The plurality of inverter circuits supply three-phase AC power to the AC motors. The plurality of controllers generate control signals for ON/OFF-controlling a plurality of switching elements of the inverter circuits and perform PWM control on the inverter circuits associated with the plurality of controllers among the plurality of inverter circuits. The plurality of controllers perform the PWM control on the associated inverter circuits according to control signals generated using carrier waves having phases different from one another. A phase difference between the carrier waves is based on the number of the plurality of AC motors set on the motor setting table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Takashi Takagi
  • Patent number: 10044310
    Abstract: In one example embodiment, a method includes determining a first adjustment value for a slip frequency of a rotor in an induction motor, determining a second adjustment value for an inductance of the induction motor and tuning the slip frequency of the rotor and the inductance of the induction motor based on the first adjustment value and the second adjustment value, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Lav Thyagarajan, Long Wu, Tianjun Fu
  • Patent number: 9917537
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electric motor includes receiving a first control command that is indicative of a desired motor control. A current operating condition for the motor is determined. It is then determined whether the first control command meets at least one predetermined criterion at the current operating condition. A second control command that is different from the first control command is generated when the first control command meets the at least one predetermined criterion. Generating the second control command includes determining a current value of a motor parameter, changing the parameter value, and using the changed parameter value to generate the second control command. The second control command is then used to control the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hongrae Kim, Michael W. Degner, William Reynolds
  • Patent number: 9539914
    Abstract: The Brushless Multiphase Self-Commutation Controller or BMSCC is an adjustable speed drive for reliable, contact-less and stable self-commutation control of electric apparatus, including electric motors and generators. BMSCC transforms multiphase electrical excitation from one frequency to variable frequency that is automatically synchronized to the movement of the electric apparatus without traditional estimation methods of commutation and frequency synthesis using derivatives of electronic, electro-mechanical, and field-oriented-control. Instead, BMSCC comprises an analog electromagnetic computer with synchronous modulation techniques to first establish magnetic energy and then dynamically share packets of magnetic energy between phase windings of a multiphase, position dependent flux, high frequency transformer by direct AC-to-AC conversion without an intermediate DC conversion stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Inventor: Frederick William Klatt
  • Patent number: 9490738
    Abstract: Disclosed examples include methods, computer readable mediums and motor drive power conversion systems for sensorless speed control of a motor driven by an inverter through an intervening filter, a transformer and a motor cable, in which sensorless vector control is used to regulate the motor speed based on a speed feedback value computed according to voltage or current values associated with the motor drive using an observer having formulas and impedance parameters of the filter, the transformer, the motor cable and the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Nondahl, Jingbo Liu, Semyon Royak, Peter B. Schmidt, Ehsan Al-Nabi, Jingya Dai
  • Patent number: 9457804
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle braking/driving force control apparatus for securing travel stability of a vehicle by priority when a slip occurs on a wheel for generating a braking/driving force while a plurality of motions are controlled. An electronic control unit identifies a slipping wheel having the maximum slip ratio (Si (i=fl, fr, rl, rr)) among wheels. The unit determines to increase or decrease a target roll moment (KmxMx) and a target pitch moment (KmyMy) for controlling a roll motion and a pitch motion, which are motions on the body in the vehicle vertical direction, so that the driving force on the slipping wheel has a direction to eliminate the slip state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Etsuo Katsuyama
  • Patent number: 9337503
    Abstract: A system and method for managing power flow in a fuel cell vehicle. The method provides a difference between a power limit signal and an actual power signal to a PI controller to generate a power offset signal. The method determines whether a fuel cell stack is able to provide enough power to satisfy a power request, and if so, adds the power request and the power offset signal to generate a stack power request signal to cause the upper power limit signal to move towards and be matched to the actual power signal. If the stack is not able to provide enough power to satisfy the load power request signal, the method subtracts the power offset signal from the power limit signal to provide a load limit signal to cause the actual stack power signal to move towards and be matched to the upper power limit signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jochen Lenz, Andreas Voigt, Jochen Schaffnit, Sebastian Lienkamp
  • Patent number: 9160262
    Abstract: An electric motor control system includes a power inverter and control circuitry configured to control the power inverter either according to a target voltage in a voltage-based control mode or according to a target current in a current-based control mode. A controller is operable to switch operation of the control circuitry between the voltage-based control mode and the current-based control mode. The controller may be configured to operate the control circuitry in the current-based control mode at lower motor operating speeds where stator current margin is of greater significance, and to operate the control circuitry in the voltage-based control mode at higher motor operating speeds where stator voltage margin is of greater significance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Mile Bozic, Darko Marcetic
  • Patent number: 9102239
    Abstract: Provided are a train speed measuring device and method. The train speed measuring device includes: at least one first tachometer disposed at an axle of a trailer car and for outputting a pulse signal according to a wheel revolution of the trailer car; at least one second tachometer disposed at an axle of a motor car and for outputting a pulse signal according to a wheel revolution of the motor car; at least one speed measuring unit for measuring speed values on the basis of pulse signals outputted from the at least one first tachometer and the at least one second tachometer; and a speed calculating unit for calculating the speed of the train on the basis of the measured speed values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: LSIS Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seok Heon Kim, Jae Mun Han
  • Patent number: 8988016
    Abstract: A control method comprises determining wheel creep of a wheel operably coupled to a traction motor and limiting a rate of change of an excitation frequency applied to the traction motor to drive the wheel, based on the determined wheel creep. According to one aspect, the rate of change of the excitation frequency is limited if the wheel creep exceeds a wheel creep threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey Louis Daigle, Jeremy McGarry
  • Publication number: 20150042245
    Abstract: A motor controller obtains: a first motor target rotation number, a first motor actual rotation number of a first motor, a second motor target rotation number, and a second motor actual rotation number of a second motor; determines a first rotation number difference between the first motor target rotation number and the first motor actual rotation number of the first motor, and a second rotation number difference between the second motor target rotation number and the second motor actual rotation number of the second motor, determines first and second rotation control torques based on a smaller one of the first rotation number difference and the second rotation number difference; and determines a first motor torque of the first motor and a second motor torque of the second motor based on the first and second rotation control torques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sei Shinohara, Satoshi Ando, Masatoshi Noguchi, Masakatsu Hori, Makoto Tsuchihashi
  • Patent number: 8954214
    Abstract: A motor assembly comprises an electric power train that is adapted to be connected to a power source and is also adapted to impart a torque to a wheel when the motor assembly is operating. The assembly further comprises a power determination means adapted to determine the amount of power supplied from the power source to the electric power train when the motor assembly is operating. In addition, the assembly comprises a rotational speed determination means adapted to determine a rotational speed of the wheel when the motor assembly is operating. Moreover, the assembly comprises a torque determination means adapted to determine a command torque value indicative of a requested torque to the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Hans Pehrson, Sture Wingard
  • Patent number: 8878465
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a variable frequency drive system and a method of controlling a pump driven by a motor with the pump in fluid communication with a fluid system. The drive system and method can provide one or more of the following: a sleep mode, pipe break detection, a line fill mode, an automatic start mode, dry run protection, an electromagnetic interference filter compatible with a ground fault circuit interrupter, two-wire and three-wire and three-phase motor compatibility, a simple start-up process, automatic password protection, a pump out mode, digital input/output terminals, and removable input and output power terminal blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Pentair Flow Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Melissa Drechsel Kidd, William James Genaw, Micheal Robert Pasche, Gary Thomas Baase, II, Lars Hoffmann Berthelsen, Rasmus Fink, Martin Skov Holm
  • Patent number: 8855841
    Abstract: A method for operating an electric vehicle, the electric vehicle having an electric motor and a brake device, and the electric motor and the brake device being capable of being influenced by a control device. When the electric vehicle is at a standstill, when there is an error of the control device, the brake device is actuated so that the electric vehicle cannot move, or at least can move only to a very limited extent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Doerr, Roland Schleser, Holger Niemann, Markus Kretschmer, Oliver Kaefer, Daniel Damm, Dirk Gollub, Andreas Heyl
  • Patent number: 8769949
    Abstract: Disclosed is a control system and method for controlling a superturbocharged engine system in various operation modes. Throttle control mode may idle the superturbocharger during low and medium engine loads, so that boost is not created in the intake manifold. During high engine load conditions (open throttle), boosting occurs in response to the driver, operator, or control system requesting increased engine loads. For transient control mode, the control system may respond to transient conditions in response to engine speed and load so that the engine does not bog down or overcome vehicle traction limits. The control system may also predict future operating points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Vandyne Superturbo, Inc.
    Inventors: Ed VanDyne, Jared William Brown, Volker Schumacher, Christopher J. Chadwell
  • Patent number: 8692488
    Abstract: A motor control apparatus for synchronously controlling a master axis motor for driving a master axis and a slave axis motor for driving a slave axis, includes: a master axis position detector which outputs position data of the master axis and a reference signal with a predetermined fixed period; a master axis receiving circuit which receives the position data and the reference signal output from the master axis position detector; a master axis computation circuit which computes a master axis error representing a difference between the position data received by the master axis receiving circuit and the position data acquired at the time of the reception of the reference signal; and a slave axis motor control unit which controls the operation of the slave axis motor by using the master axis error as a command for synchronizing the operation of the master axis motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Takayama, Hiroyuki Kawamura
  • Patent number: 8686677
    Abstract: A synchronous fan system is provided which intermittently calibrates the fans by rotating periodically the fans each to a common stop position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Inventor: Larry R. Gordon
  • Patent number: 8653781
    Abstract: Provided is a variable frequency drive and a rotation speed searching apparatus for an induction motor incorporated therein. The rotation speed searching apparatus is featured by scanning the rotor frequency of the induction motor and determining either the error between a detected DC-bus voltage and a set DC-bus voltage or the error between a detected output current and a set output current, so that the rotation speed of the induction motor can be searched out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Hui-Chung Hsieh, Chi-Lung Hsiao
  • Publication number: 20130241445
    Abstract: A method for optimizing the torque applied by each motor of a dual motor drive system of an all-electric vehicle is provided, the torque adjustments taking into account wheel slip as well as other vehicular operating conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventor: Yifan Tang
  • Patent number: 8452425
    Abstract: A position control device for suppressing occurrence of stick-slip during a feed operation performed in a very low speed region is provided. Adders add an output obtained by multiplying actual speed deviation by a proportional gain, an integral component of actual speed deviation obtained by inputting actual speed deviation to an integral compensator, an output obtained by multiplying motor speed deviation by a proportional gain, and an integral component of the motor speed deviation obtained by inputting motor speed deviation to an integral compensator. The result is output as a torque feedback command. Each integral compensator has a coefficient changer capable of changing a coefficient from 0 to 1 to adjust integral gains in accordance with a speed feedforward command or a speed command. Large integral gain increases the response speed of switching from static to kinetic friction torque in a very low speed region thereby suppressing occurrence of stick-slip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Okuma Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Kawazu, Tomohisa Kameyama
  • Patent number: 8436559
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a variable frequency drive system and a method of controlling a pump driven by a motor with the pump in fluid communication with a fluid system. The drive system and method can provide one or more of the following: a sleep mode, pipe break detection, a line fill mode, an automatic start mode, dry run protection, an electromagnetic interference filter compatible with a ground fault circuit interrupter, two-wire and three-wire and three-phase motor compatibility, a simple start-up process, automatic password protection, a pump out mode, digital input/output terminals, and removable input and output power terminal blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignees: Sta-Rite Industries, LLC, Danfoss Low Power Drives
    Inventors: Melissa Drechsel Kidd, William James Genaw, Micheal Robert Pasche, Gary Thomas Baase, II, Lars Hoffmann Berthelsen, Rasmus Fink, Martin Skov Holm
  • Publication number: 20130082626
    Abstract: A control method comprises determining wheel creep of a wheel operably coupled to a traction motor and limiting a rate of change of an excitation frequency applied to the traction motor to drive the wheel, based on the determined wheel creep. According to one aspect, the rate of change of the excitation frequency is limited if the wheel creep exceeds a wheel creep threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
  • Patent number: 8346417
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for controlling a motor for an electric vehicle. The method and apparatus calculates the current acceleration ? of the motor according to the detected rotor position values in real-time, and if the current acceleration ? is greater than a predetermined forward acceleration ?0, the output torque of the motor is decreased. If the acceleration ? is less than a predetermined backward acceleration ?1, then the output torque of the motor is decreased. Thus, when the vehicle travels from a normal road surface to a smooth road surface, the decrease or increase output torque may suppress the abrupt speed variations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Byd Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiaohua Tang, Ming Yu, Xuguang Zhou, Jian Gong, Nan Liu, Guangming Yang
  • Patent number: 8310176
    Abstract: A method of propelling a mobile machine is disclosed. The mobile machine may have a plurality of DC traction motors, including a first DC traction motor and a second DC traction motor. The method may include driving a first traction device with the first DC traction motor, the first DC traction motor including a first field coil and a first armature electrically connected in series. The method may also include driving a second DC traction device with the second DC traction motor electrically connected in series with the first DC traction motor, the second DC traction motor including a second field coil and a second armature electrically connected in series. Additionally, the method may include, in response to slippage of the first traction device, bypassing at least a portion of electric current flowing through the first field coil around the first armature. The method may also include directing at least a portion of the bypassed electric current through the second field coil and the second armature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Progress Rail Services Corp
    Inventor: Walter E. Earleson
  • Patent number: 8301324
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a traction motor, a transmission, a speed encoder for the motor, and a control system. The control system compensates for angular wobble in an encoder signal. The control system receives, via a hybrid control processor (HCP), the encoder signal from the speed encoder, and determines a set of wobble characteristics of the encoder signal below a threshold motor speed. The control system also calculates a wobble-compensated speed value via the HCP using the wobble characteristics, and uses the wobble-compensated speed value as at least part of the input signals when controlling the motor. A lookup table tabulates a learned wobble value relative to the angular position value, and a learned wobble value is subtracted from a current angular wobble value to generate an error-adjusted wobble value. A method compensates for wobble in the encoder signal using the above control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Robert L. Morris
  • Patent number: 8280568
    Abstract: A first threshold is determined, with reference to an absolute acceleration that is determined in accordance with a vehicle usage condition, to detect an acceleration change generated in acceleration of a self-axle speed that is a maximum speed (a minimum speed in a decelerating operation) of revolving speeds of plural motors that drive plural driving wheel axles. When the acceleration exceeds the first threshold, a system for generating a target torque command value reduced in accordance with the acceleration deviation is separated by setting an output of a comparator circuit to level “0”, and a first-order delay circuit outputs the target torque command value subjected to a reduction process during a processing period designated by an output of a delay time generating circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Keiji Nakatsu, Masataka Yabuuchi
  • Patent number: 8183812
    Abstract: A synchronous fan system is provided which intermittently calibrates the fans by rotating periodically the fans each to a common stop position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Inventor: Larry R. Gordon
  • Patent number: 7952306
    Abstract: A method of operating a power system is provided. The method may include running one or more of a plurality of generator units that each include a power source, a first electric generator, and a second electric generator. Additionally, the method may include supplying electricity from one or more of the first electric generators of the one or more running generator units to a first set of one or more electric power loads. The method may also include supplying electricity from one or more of the second electric generators of the one or more running generator units to a second set of one or more electric power loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Progress Rail Services Corp
    Inventors: Jeffrey Holt Wright, Roy Christopher Fonseca
  • Patent number: 7906919
    Abstract: A slip control device, a slip control method, and a vehicle provided with such a slip control device are provided, with which the vehicle can travel stably even on a slippery road surface while maintaining good road holding. The device has torque directive control means (23) for calculating torque directives for the motors respectively based on accelerator pedal depressions (24) and steering angles (26) and outputting them to each of motor control sections (21, 22) of the motors, first reference speed calculation means (48) for calculating a first reference speed of one of the pair of left and right motors to be controlled based on rotation speed of the other motor, and restriction applying means (20) for applying restriction to each of the torque directives based on a permissible speed range determined for each of the motors by applying prescribed permissible speed deviation to each of the calculated reference speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsugu Nakamura, Osamu Nakakita, Yoshihide Iwamoto, Atsushi Nakao
  • Patent number: 7904216
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an electric train control apparatus having a plurality of electric motors and a plurality of inverters configured to control electric motors, independently of one another, including shaft speed calculating units respectively, and configured to calculate shaft speeds of electric motors, reference speed calculating unit configured to calculate a reference speed from shaft speeds of electric motors, acceleration detection control units configured to calculate torque reduction values from rates at which shaft speeds calculated, slip speed control units configured to reduce torques in accordance with a difference between shaft speeds of electric motors, state monitoring units configured to monitor states of detecting shaft speeds and output state signals, and changeover unit configured to switch control of inverters, between control performed by acceleration detection control units and control performed by slip speed control units, in accordance with state signals received from state m
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yosuke Nakazawa, Tetsu Tone
  • Patent number: 7898194
    Abstract: A power system having a DC electric motor is disclosed. The DC electric motor may include an armature and a field coil electrically connected in series with the armature, the field coil having an input and an output. The power system may also include an additional electrical path. Additionally, the power system may include one or more current-control elements that control one or more aspects of electrical activity in the additional electrical path, which may include, when inductance of the field coil generates a higher voltage at the output than at the input in response to a decrease in electric current through the field coil, allowing electric current to flow from the output, through the additional electrical path, to the input without flowing through the armature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Progress Rail Services Corp
    Inventor: Walter Earle Earleson
  • Patent number: 7548032
    Abstract: A method and system for determining a ground speed for locomotives (e.g., 12, 14) of a train (16) comprising at least two locomotives for use in controlling an operation of the train. The method includes selecting an axle of any one locomotive of the train for measuring a speed corresponding to the selected axle. The method also includes determining a ground speed for at least another locomotive of the train based on a measured speed corresponding to the selected axle of the one locomotive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Alton, Jr., Ajith K. Kumar, Bret D. Worden
  • Publication number: 20090106912
    Abstract: A method of operating a motor, the method comprising: operating a motor at a first speed; operating the motor in negative slip; imbalancing at least one phase of the motor to dissipate regeneration energy using windings of the motor; and wherein a next motor speed is decreased to a speed less than the first speed. An apparatus for carrying out the method is also presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: Mariano Filippa, Edward Hatfield, Richard D. Suel, II, John Steven Holmes
  • Publication number: 20090026984
    Abstract: A slip control device, a slip control method, and a vehicle provided with such a slip control device are provided, with which the vehicle can travel stably even on a slippery road surface maintaining good road holding. The device is provided with a torque directive control means (23) for calculating torque directives for the motors respectively based on acceleration pedal depressions (24) and steering angles (26) and outputting them to each of motor control sections (21, 22) of the motors, a first reference speed calculation means (48) for calculating first reference speed of one of the pair of left and right motors to be controlled based on rotation speed of the other motor of the pair of motors, and a restriction putting means (20) for putting restriction to each of the torque directives sent from the torque directive control means (23) based on a permissible speed range determined for each of the motors by putting prescribed permissible speed deviation to each of the calculated reference speeds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsugu Nakamura, Osamu Nakakita, Yoshihide Iwamoto, Atsushi Nakao
  • Patent number: 7477036
    Abstract: In a motor-driven power steering apparatus for converting rotation of an electric motor into a linear stroke of a rack shaft by an interposition of a power transmission mechanism and steering a tire wheel connected to the rack shaft, there is provided a motor slip detecting means for previously determining a cumulative rotational speed of the electric motor corresponding to a maximum stroke displacement amount of the rack shaft, integrating the rotational speed of the electric motor, and estimating that slip or idle running is generated in a rotational force transmission system from the electric motor to the rack shaft, where the integral rotational speed of the electric motor becomes more than a prescribed cumulative rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Showa Corporation
    Inventors: Yohei Koike, Takahiro Kasuga
  • Patent number: 7467830
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to the termination of the occurrence of wheel slip/skid and prediction and prevention of the onset of wheel slip/skid in a locomotive. In one configuration, a lookup table of adhesion factors is used to predict the occurrence of wheel slip/skid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Railpower Technologies Corp.
    Inventor: Frank Wegner Donnelly