Abstract: A solid state motor speed control is described that is capable of controlling a motor so that it operates quietly, eliminating annoying buzzing noises that would otherwise be generated by the motor's windings. The invention provides for motor speed control with infinitely variable speed control settings. Rather than use triacs that generate RFI noise and cause motor windings to buzz due to their inherent avalanche switching, the invention utilizes power FETs or IGBTs to provide the switching function to control power delivery to the motor load . The power switches are controlled by an oscillator that generates a pulse train with a duty cycle controllable by the user. A filter shapes this signal into a trapezoidal control signal that drives the gate input of the power FET or IGBT switch. A kick start circuit turns the motor on initially for two to three seconds to overcome the inertia of the motor and its load.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the speed of an induction motor includes a first winding and a second winding. The first winding and second winding are adapted to be coupled to an AC source for supplying an AC input signal. A first switching device is coupled to the first winding and a second switching device is coupled to the second winding. Each of the switching devices is operative in a low impedance state enabling current to flow through the associated winding of each switching device and a high impedance state preventing significant current flow through the associated winding of each switching device. A controller switches each of the switching devices from the high impedance state to the low impedance state in a sequence for controlling the current in the windings, which induces a phase shift between the AC voltages across the windings.

Abstract: A solid state motor speed control is described that is capable of controlling a motor so that it operates quietly, eliminating annoying buzzing noises that would otherwise be generated by the motor's windings. The invention provides for motor speed control with infinitely variable speed control settings. Rather than use triacs that generate RFI noise and cause motor windings to buzz due to their inherent avalanche switching, the invention utilizes power FETs or IGBTs to provide the switching function to control power delivery to the motor load. The power switches are controlled by an oscillator that generates a pulse train with a duty cycle controllable by the user. A filter shapes this signal into a trapezoidal control signal that drives the gate input of the power FET or IGBT switch. A kick start circuit turns the motor on initially for two to three seconds to overcome the inertia of the motor and its load.

Abstract: An auxiliary capacitance starting device is connected by only two wires to a capacitor start-induction run (CSIR) or permanent split capacitor (PSC) motor. The device includes an auxiliary start capacitor and an electro-mechanical switching relay that has a current sensing coil wound over a voltage sensing coil and a set of normally closed contacts. The relay is energized first by a current level (amperage) and then latches into an energized mode by voltage, necessarily in that order. The auxiliary start capacitor is electrically connected to the motor circuit in parallel to the start and run winding by two non-polarized leads and in series with the current sensing coil. The voltage sensing coil is connected across the normally closed contacts and senses no voltage as long as the contacts are closed.

Abstract: A starting device for single phase induction motors having a start capacitor is effective to disconnect the start capacitor at a desired motor speed in response to a specific phase relationship between the voltage across the main winding and the voltage across the start winding. The specific phase relationship is a condition wherein a phase angle defined by the phase relationship reverses from a decreasing value to an increasing value.

Abstract: A starting circuit for a single-phase induction motor having a start capacitor, an auxiliary or start winding, and a run winding includes user adjustable pick-up voltage means to allow a user to select a pick-up voltage in the field to correspond to the pick-up voltage of a particular induction motor such that a relay disconnects the start winding from the power supply when the start winding voltage exceeds the selected pick-up voltage. Protective circuitry is provided including a timing circuit to protect from missetting of the pick-up voltage or when the motor will not start for any reason and a relay current circuit to control the current flowing in the relay to protect from high voltage overloading.

Abstract: A multiphase load control system has switches in electrical series within each of several split sources of phase voltage. In each phase of one implementation, two contactor poles are in series between split sections of a secondary winding of a transformer. The contactor poles are part of one or more contactor units, each of which can have a voltage rating significantly less than the phase voltage provided by the system.

Abstract: This invention relates to a circuit for energizing a device in a domestic clothes dryer from a source of potential which if directly connected across the device would lead to premature failure of the device. In order to drop the potential applied to the device, the start winding of the drive motor is serially connected in the circuit containing the device to drop the potential applied to the device.

Abstract: A method for control of the speed of an asynchronous electric motor by powering the motor with a single-phase sine wave voltage for its running at rated speed, and supplying it with at least one first partialized voltage formed from the sine wave voltage for a half-period or half cycle thereof, for running the motor at speed reduced to a fraction of its rated speed. A device for applying the method including a first power supply applied to the motor with a sine wave voltage for running at rated speed and a second means power supply applied to the motor with at least one first partialized voltage formed from the sine wave voltage for a half-period of the sine wave every uneven number ns of half-periods thereof for running at a motor speed reduced to a fraction of rated speed. Control apparatus sends activation signals alternately to the first and second power supplies upon reception of control signals requiring running at rated speed or reduced speed.

Abstract: A starting device for a single phase induction motor, of the type having a cage type rotor and a stator having at least one main coil and one starting coil, which is connected in series with first and second terminals of an alternating current source. The starting device comprises a relay (RL) having at least one contact, with one of the terminals thereof being connected to the first terminal (1) of the alternating current source (F), while the other terminal of said contact is connected to the terminal of the starting coil (L2); and a coil (B) for actuating the relay; an electronic timer circuit (T), which is connected to the terminals of the coil (B) for actuating the relay (RL), in order to open the contact of the latter by supplying a current to the coil (B) thereof, thereby finishing the starting operation of the motor (M), after a period of time has elapsed from the motor (M) powering up.

Abstract: An auxiliary capacitance starting device is connected by only two wires to a permanent split capacitor motor. The device includes an auxiliary start capacitor and a control relay which has a set of normally closed contacts, a coil, and a resistor. The auxiliary start capacitor and the normally closed contacts are connected in series and the coil and resistor are connected in series and in parallel with the auxiliary start capacitor and contacts. The free ends of two non-polarized wire leads are interchangeably electrically connected to the start and run windings or the run capacitor of the motor to place the circuit in parallel with the start and run windings or the run capacitor such that the relay coil means becomes energized upon detection of voltage representing full motor speed to open the contacts and break the electrical connection between the auxiliary start capacitor and the start and run windings.

Abstract: A multiple speed alternating current motor is disclosed for operation from a source of single phase alternating current power. For high speed operation, first and second windings are supplied with operating power through a multiple position switch. These windings are electrically angularly displaced from one another by 90.degree. on the stator core and are inductively coupled to the rotor of the motor. Maximum starting torque and maximum speed operation of the motor is provided in this condition of operation. When the switch is operated to a low speed position, the impedence of the second winding is increased.

Abstract: An autotransformer is used to replace the start capacitor in a split phase induction motor. The autotransformer windings are protected by a PTC resistor which also serves to effectively de-energize the auxiliary winding. In a preferred embodiment, efficiency of the motor in the run mode is enhanced by shunting the secondary of the autotransformer with an NTC element. In alternative embodiments a relay coil is placed in series with the auxiliary winding circuit to remove the PTC and the primary of the autotransformer from the circuit when the motor is in the run mode.

Abstract: An auxiliary capacitance starting device is connected by only two wires to a permanent split capacitor motor. The device includes an auxiliary capacitor and a potential relay which has a set of normally closed contacts and a relay coil. The auxiliary capacitor and the normally closed contacts are connected in series and the relay coil is connected in parallel therewith. The free ends of the two non-polarized wire leads are interchangeably electrically connected to the start and run windings or the run capacitor of the motor to place the circuit in parallel with the start and run windings or the run capacitor such that the relay coil means becomes energized upon detection of voltage representing full motor speed to open the contacts and break the electrical connection between the auxiliary capacitor and the start and run windings.

Abstract: An electronic circuit for starting a single phase induction motor operating from a source of alternating current, the motor having a cage type rotor, a coiled stator having at least a main winding and a starting winding, and a permanent capacitor connected in series with the starting winding. The permanent capacitor and the starting winding are connected in parallel to the alternating current source and the main winding in series. A TRIAC has a first terminal connected to one side of the alternating current source and a second terminal connected to the starting winding and to the permanent capacitor. A TRIAC trigger circuit is connected between the TRIAC second terminal and its GATE terminal and a bilateral swtich is connected to the TRIAC GATE terminal.

Abstract: An electric floor cleaner is of the type arranged to drive a three-phase motor, whose rated voltage is substantially equal to a voltage obtained by voltage doubling and rectifying a single-phase commercial power line and then by converting a voltage doubled d.c. voltage into three-phase a.c. by an inverter. The voltage and frequency of the three-phase a.c. output from the inverter are controlled for a predetermined period of time after a power switch is put into a turned on state from a turned off state. It is therefore possible to reduce the starting current to a small value enabling the use of a larger rated output motor than a motor in a conventional system within an allowable current limit of a commercial power line.

Abstract: The stator winding of a single-phase brushless DC motor with symmetrical rotor and stator air gap geometry is comprised of two serially connected relatively displaced sections energized with a source of direct current in accordance with the rotary position of the motor rotor. In the run mode, the full winding is energized; in the start mode, one of the sections is momentarily short-circuited if the initial winding energization fails to produce sufficient torque for starting.

Abstract: A permanent split-phase capacitor induction motor having a capacitor (7) connected in series with an auxiliary winding (5) via an electronic switch (9) which is operated by a control circuit (11, 13) so as to obtain a higher starting torque than if the switch were permanently closed.The control circuit suitably comprises an integrating (21 to 31) responsive to the voltage appearing across the switch (9) and trigger circuit (19) which closes the switch when the output of the integrating circuit exceeds a threshold value, the integrating circuit resetting when the switch closes, and the switch reopening at the next current zero.

Abstract: A start switch is provided for a single phase AC motor having a start winding and a start capacitor connected in series with the start winding and a main winding connected in parallel with the start winding and start capacitor. The AC motor is connectable with an AC power source in order to supply AC main winding voltage to the main winding and AC start winding voltage to the start winding. The start switch includes conductors connected with the main winding for sensing the AC main winding voltage and conductors connected with the start winding for sensing the AC start winding voltage. Phase sensor circuitry is employed to sense a difference in voltage phase between the start winding voltage and the main winding voltage. Detector circuitry is connected with the phase sensor circuitry to detect when the difference in the voltage phase reaches a threshold.

Abstract: A starting circuit for single phase electric motors including both split-phase and capacitor start motors includes a gate controlled solid state switch serially connected to the start winding of the motor. Rectified reference pulses from a pulse transformer are generated to turn on a first transistor to provide gating current for the solid state switch. Initially, when the motor is energized at zero rpm, the pulses are received at the switch after the start winding current passes through the zero current level to gate the switch to conduct each half cycle and energize the start winding however as the motor speeds up, the pulses are received earlier and earlier relative to the start winding current zero cross over until at a selected speed the pulses are received at the switch prior to the start winding current zero cross over with the result that the switch is no longer gated conductive. When this occurs, the voltage across the switch goes high.

Abstract: Single-speed, three-phase motors and two-speed, three-phase motors are started and run by a static phase converter which comprises a timing circuit, adjustable for a starting interval, and a switching device which configures a plurality of capacitors, with respect to motor windings, so that a starting capacitance and a running capacitance are connected during a starting mode for a high-torque condition, and, thereafter, the run capacitance is connected for running the motor.

Abstract: A starting circuit for single phase electric motors including both split-phase and capacitor start motors includes a gate controlled solid state switch serially connected to the start winding of the motor. Rectified reference pulses from a pulse transformer are generated to turn on a first transistor to provide gating current for the solid state switch. Initially, when the motor is energized at zero rpm, the pulses are received at the switch after the start winding current passes through the zero current level to gate the switch to conduct each half cycle and energize the start winding however as the motor speeds up, the pulses are received earlier and earlier relative to the start winding current zero cross over until at a selected speed the pulses are received at the switch prior to the start winding current zero cross over with the result that the switch is no longer gated conductive. When this occurs the voltage across the switch goes high.

Abstract: A start-up control technique is disclosed for an AC motor. At least one H-switch connects a motor winding to a pair of AC-supplied power lines and is switched between designated states to yield a fundamental frequency component voltage waveform in the winding phase shifted from the voltage waveform in another winding. A rotating field is provided for start-up, without energy-storage phasing capacitors or inductors.

Abstract: A starting control circuit is provided for an alternating current motor having a run winding and a start winding and a mechanical rotational output. The motor is powered by an alternating current source. A reference oscillator produces pulses having a reference frequency. A first control circuit is provided for counting the number of reference pulses produced during a predetermined number of cycles of the alternating current source. A sensor is provided for sensing a predetermined amount of rotational movement of the mechanical rotational output of the motor and producing a sensor pulse indicative thereof. A second control circuit is provided for counting the number of reference pulses produced during the time between a predetermined number of sensor pulses and for comparing the counts on the first and second control circuits. The second control circuit assumes first and second output states dependent on the relationship between the first and second output counts.

Abstract: The control relay of a phase converter for converting a three phase motor to one phase operation is operated by D-C power in order to prevent voltage fluctuations on single phase power lines from causing the starting capacitors or the motor from being destroyed. The D-C power is obtained from a rectifier having its input coupled to the secondary of a transformer. The primary of the transformer is adapted to be coupled to the windings of the motor.The phase converter is adapted to be used with a 230 volt or 460 volt motor.

Abstract: Capacitive phase shift circuitry for supplying current to the two coils of a synchronous motor at a desired voltage and phase relation, without the need for a voltage drop resistor.