Load Control Patents (Class 318/98)
  • Patent number: 11897310
    Abstract: A control device supplies regenerative electric power to increase an output of a low-voltage air conditioner when the regenerative electric power is surplus with respect to electric power that is able to be charged to a main battery as compared with a case where the regenerative electric power is not surplus with respect to the electric power that is able to be charged to the main battery. Therefore, it is possible to reduce an output (work load and electric power per unit time) of a high-voltage air conditioner required to maintain comfort of an occupant in a vehicle cabin. Therefore, it is possible to improve electric power consumption rate while maintaining comfort of the occupant in the vehicle cabin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takayuki Shimauchi
  • Patent number: 11456684
    Abstract: An electric motor control device that drives and controls a plurality of electric motors connected in parallel, includes: a power conversion device; a current detection device; and a controller that includes a first control unit to perform first control on each of the plurality of electric motors based on the electric current, a second control unit to perform second control of controlling the plurality of electric motors such that an estimated speed of each of the plurality of electric motors obtained based on the current value follows the speed command value, and a switching determination unit to perform switching determination processing of switching between the first control performed by the first control unit and the second control performed by the second control unit according to drive information on at least one or more of the plurality of electric motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Wada, Akihiro Tsumura
  • Patent number: 9649945
    Abstract: A control unit for a vehicle is configured to control a power-generating unit such that electric power generated by the power-generating unit becomes smaller than that generated when a voltage between terminals of a smoothing capacitor is equal to or larger than an output voltage of a battery, when all of conditions i)-iii) are satisfied, where i) an external power supply unit supplies electric power to the outside in a condition where a shift lever is placed in a parking position, ii) after an amount of electric power stored in the battery is reduced to be smaller than a predetermined power storage amount in a condition where a relay is switched OFF, the relay is operated switch ON, and electric power is generated by the power-generating unit, and iii) the voltage between the terminals of the smoothing capacitor is smaller than the output voltage of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasutaka Funabashi
  • Patent number: 9131820
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner and a method for controlling the motor power of a vacuum cleaner are disclosed. The vacuum cleaner comprises an electric motor and an electric power supply for providing electric power to the electric motor. Furthermore, a voltage measuring means for measuring a motor voltage over the electric motor and a current measuring means for measuring a motor current flowing through the electric motor are provided. The vacuum cleaner further comprises a control means for controlling, based on the measured voltage and the measured current, the electric power provided to the electric motor from the electric power supply towards a target motor power value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget Electrolux
    Inventors: Ulrik Danestad, Michael Persson
  • Publication number: 20150145442
    Abstract: A power unit includes a first rotating electrical machine and a second rotating electrical machine as prime movers. The first rotating electrical machine, the second rotating electrical machine and a drive wheel are respectively connected to a ring gear, sun gear and carrier of a planetary gear mechanism. When a temperature of a permanent magnet of the first rotating electrical machine becomes close to a temperature at which demagnetization occurs, an output of the first rotating electrical machine is reduced, and an output of the second rotating electrical machine is increased. Thus, the total output of the power unit is kept.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohiko Miyamoto, Masayuki Ikemoto, Mamoru Kuramoto, Noriyuki Yagi
  • 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: 8736200
    Abstract: A method of power tuning an electric system, the electric system including an electric machine and a control system for driving the electric machine in response to control values stored in a power map. The method includes loading the control system with a first power map, driving the electric machine with the control system, measuring a power of the electric system, and loading the control system with a second power map in the event that the measured power lies outside a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Charlton Clothier, Tuncay Celik
  • Patent number: 8222840
    Abstract: A fuel cell mount apparatus includes: a fuel cell system including a power generation unit for generating electric power by use of a fuel and air, a hydrogen occlusion cylinder for supplying the fuel to the power generation unit, an air supply means for supplying air to the power generation unit, and a control unit for controlling the power generating operation of the power generation unit; and a dog type robot mounted with the fuel cell system and operated by electric power outputted from the fuel cell, wherein a part of component elements of the fuel cell system and a part of component elements of the dog type robot are used in common with each other, i.e., one of the component elements functions also as the other of the component elements, whereby a component element can be made to function as both a part of an electronic apparatus and a part of the fuel cell, the wastefulness of component elements can be removed, and the fuel cell can be efficiently mounted on various electronic apparatuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Tanaka, Chiaki Kanai, Kazutoshi Nomoto, Yasuhiro Watanabe, Yuichi Takai
  • Patent number: 8133033
    Abstract: A precharge circuit (20, 20?, 20?) charges at least one capacitor (22, 22?, 22?) associated with an electrical device with high capacitance, such as a motor (14) which drives a compressor (16) of the pneumatic system. One end of the at least one capacitor is connected with a high voltage bus (10). The other end of the at least one capacitor is connected by at least one charge limiting resistor (24, 24?, 24?) with a low reference node. When the at least one capacitor is charged at least to a preselected level, a control circuit (28, 28?, 28?) controls a switch (26, 26?, 26?) to bypass the current limiting resistor. In this manner, the current limiting resistors limit the surge current to charge the capacitors. Once the capacitors are charged, the resistors and their associated heat dissipation are removed from the circuit and only ripple current from across the capacitors flows through the switch reducing a required current carrying capacity and needed heat sinking for the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventor: Claude Abraham
  • Patent number: 8037964
    Abstract: When stopping operation of an electric power steering apparatus, a motor relay is kept in an on-state even after a power supply relay is in an off-state. A drive control portion sets a target value of a d-axis current to a value other than zero and sets a target value of a q-axis current to zero, and performs a processing same as that at the time of rotating a motor. MOS-FETs contained in a motor driving circuit are controlled such that each of driving currents of the two phases or more is not zero and the brushless motor does not rotate even supplied with these driving currents. Electric charge accumulated in a capacitor is discharged via the MOS-FETs each in an on-state, a motor relay and the windings of the brushless motor. The electric charge accumulated in the capacitor may be discharged via the excitation coil of the motor relay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignees: JTEKT Corporation, Koyo Electronics Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeki Nagase, Takeshi Ueda, Akira Sugimoto, Kimihito Chino
  • Patent number: 7893647
    Abstract: In a method or system for driving a load element, a drive motor is provided on a drive shaft of the load element that establishes a drive rotation speed of the load element. A rotation torque sensor on the drive shaft emits a load torque signal proportional to a rotation torque. A rotation torque influencing device generates a supplementary torque when the load torque signal deviates from a desired load angle value present when a change has not occurred to a load created by the load element and acting on the drive motor, the supplementary torque being added to a drive torque generated by the drive motor such that a load angle of the drive motor remains substantially constant and uninfluenced by a change of the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Oce Printing Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Scherdel, Manfred Viechter
  • Patent number: 7755306
    Abstract: A load on a vehicle is connected to first and second neutral points in first and second motor generators through a relay circuit and power output lines. A control device controls inverters depending on a requested voltage of the load on a vehicle such that a potential at the first neutral point becomes higher than a potential at the second neutral point by that requested voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hichirosai Oyobe, Shoichi Sasaki, Makoto Nakamura, Tetsuhiro Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 7737649
    Abstract: An apparatus on a spinning room machine, especially a spinning preparation machine, is arranged for monitoring an electric drive motor, which is connected to an electronic speed-setting and/or regulating device, a rotating operating element being connected to the drive motor. In order to monitor the drive motor so that no damage occurs even under different operating conditions, there is a device for automatically determining the loading of the drive motor during operation, which is connected to a device for comparison with pre-set values for the loading, to which there is connected a display and/or switching device which can be supplied with electrical signals in the event of departures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Trützchler GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Fritz Hösel
  • Publication number: 20090243518
    Abstract: A torque command for a first motor is set by setting a maximum torque restriction and a minimum torque restriction in a range, where the sum of the torques output from the first and second motors to a driving shaft be within a range from 0 to a required torque, the sum of the electric powers input from or output to the first and second motors be within a range of input and output restrictions of a battery, and the torque of the second motor be within a range from a value smaller than 0 by the permissible maximum amount of change to the sum of the permissible maximum amount of change and the previous torque command. A torque command for the second motor is set so that the required torque is output to the driving shaft within a range of the input and output restrictions of the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventor: Takao ITOH
  • Publication number: 20090152030
    Abstract: An Electric Vehicle is equipped with a plurality of Electric Motors, with at least one motor optimized for operation in one vehicle speed range and at least another motor optimized for operation in a different vehicle speed range. Under acceleration, at any instance in time a majority proportion of power is directed to the motor that is best optimized for the current vehicle speed. Under deceleration, at any instance in time a majority proportion of regenerative braking is drawn from the motor that is best optimized for the current vehicle speed. Motors may be mechanically coupled to the same driven axle or to different driven axles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventor: Dennis Palatov
  • Patent number: 7518323
    Abstract: A motor driving device is disclosed that includes a first drive circuit that drives a first electric motor and increases a rotational speed of the first electric motor according to an increase in a duty ratio of a pulse signal output from an electronic control unit. The motor driving device also includes a second drive circuit that drives a second electric motor and increases the rotational speed of the second electric motor according to the increase in the duty ratio of the pulse signal. The second drive circuit smooths the pulse signal from the electronic control unit to produce a direct-current voltage. Also, the second drive circuit supplies electric power to the second electric motor by applying the direct-current voltage to the second electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Katsuji Kuwada
  • Patent number: 7487023
    Abstract: In a hybrid construction machine, its display device displays, toward an operator, an artificial engine sound serving as load information according to a magnitude of a workload, instead of an engine sound. Furthermore, the display device issues an alarm sound to surrounding workers when performing an operation by only stored electrical power of an electrical energy storage device without using an engine. In this hybrid construction machine, in addition to the issuing of alarm from the display device during the operation without using the engine, the display device issues an advance notice sound for engine restart when at least one value out of the workload and a charge amount of the electrical energy storage device has become an advance notice set value close to a set value of engine restart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Komiyama, Masayuki Kagoshima
  • Patent number: 7479746
    Abstract: An electric engine starting system includes a permanent magnet motor that is used to start the engine and then to generate power for powering a load while the engine is running. A disclosed system includes a first phase controlled rectifier in series with a power converter and a second phase controlled rectifier. During an engine starting operation, the first phase controlled rectifier is switched to couple the permanent magnet motor to a power source for starting the engine. Once the engine is running, the first phase controlled rectifier is switched off and the second phase controlled rectifier is switched on. The second phase control rectifier converts variable AC power from the motor into DC power. The power converter converts the DC power into an appropriate power for driving the load. One disclosed example includes a filter between the power converter and the load to ensure that the load receives a selected quality of power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory I. Rozman, Richard J. Lapointe, Douglas A. Parsons
  • Patent number: 7454985
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and relevant electronic device (10) for determining the hydraulic flow rate in a pump driven by a synchronous electric motor (12), said motor (12) being of the type comprising a rotor (14), equipped with a permanent magnet, which is rotation-driven by the electromagnetic field generated by a stator (16) equipped with pole pieces (18) with relevant windings. The method comprises an indirect measuring of the flow rate through the following steps of: acquiring at least one pump operation variable; comparing the value of said variable with a predetermined correlation table to hydraulic flow rate values and determining a corresponding flow rate value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Askoll Holding S.r.l.
    Inventor: Elio Marioni
  • Publication number: 20080107435
    Abstract: In a method or system for driving a load element, a drive motor is provided on a drive shaft of the load element that establishes a drive rotation speed of the load element. A rotation torque sensor on the drive shaft emits a load torque signal proportional to a rotation torque. A rotation torque influencing device generates a supplementary torque when the load torque signal deviates from a desired load angle value present when a change has not occurred to a load created by the load element and acting on the drive motor, the supplementary torque being added to a drive torque generated by the drive motor such that a load angle of the drive motor remains substantially constant and uninfluenced by a change of the load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2005
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Inventors: Stefan Scherdel, Manfred Viechter
  • Publication number: 20080074063
    Abstract: A drive system has a number of electrical machines. One machine operates as a generator supplying an output to a DC link, which in turn supplies one or more machines operating as motors to drive loads. The motors are supplied through power converters. The total capacitance of the DC link is minimised and the link kept in a stable condition by preventing it falling to a hazardous level. One embodiment prevents the phase currents adding in such a manner as to reduce the DC link voltage. Another embodiment employs freewheeling in the phase currents to prevent the DC link voltage falling below a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Applicant: Switched Reluctance Drives Limited
    Inventors: Norman Neilson Fulton, Peter Richard Mayes
  • Patent number: 7308383
    Abstract: A soft starter system for monitoring and diagnosing electrical power system characteristics includes a motor controller including solid state switches for controlling application of power to a motor. A control circuit controls operation of the solid state switches. The control circuit includes a programmed processor for commanding operation of the solid state switches and for measuring electrical power system characteristics relating to operation of the solid state switches. A memory is connected to the programmed processor storing parameters of the measured electrical power system characteristics. An external monitoring and diagnostic device includes a memory for storing parameters of the measured electrical power system characteristics and an interface for communication with the motor controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Zuzuly, Scott Mayhew, Scott Wakefield
  • Patent number: 7265505
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a synchronous motor such as a switched reluctance motor, having a plurality of respectively separate stator windings, can operate the motor in either a normal mode or a low-torque mode by selectively supplying drive current to the stator windings. In the low-torque mode, alternate ones of the stator windings are driven in succession, thereby ensuring that electromagnetic forces will not be continually applied to the rotor of the motor along the same limited range of directions and so preventing unbalanced wear of the rotor shaft and bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Nakai, Shigeru Kamio
  • Patent number: 7199534
    Abstract: A method and device for detecting the stroke limit of an electric motor-driven jack while the jack is being used to adjust the attitude of a mobile platform. A controller is programmed to detect when an electric jack motor has driven a jack to a jack stroke limit by monitoring one or more jack motor power draw characteristics and comparing those values to known values associated with the driving of a jack at or near the end of a jack stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Innovative Design Solutions
    Inventors: Robert M. Ford, John P. Manfreda, Mark J. Woloszyk, Shawn P. Haley
  • Patent number: 7190146
    Abstract: Included herein is a system and method for controlling a velocity vector of an overhead crane. A motor is attached to the crane and is positioned to move the overhead crane and has an output vector including a rotational direction and a rotational speed. A variable frequency drive is positioned to transfer voltage and current at a frequency to the motor. A processing unit converts the output vector to an amount of voltage and current at a given frequency and can instruct the variable frequency drive to send a frequency to the motor at a frequency substantially equal to the frequency at which the motor is presently rotating. This creates a speed match for the motor reducing spikes during operation of the motor and substantially eliminates open circuit decay. A hydraulic brake operates in connection with the processing unit and the variable frequency drive to slow the crane without driving the motor into the brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Magnetek, Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron S. Kureck
  • Patent number: 7123462
    Abstract: A load control device having a power control element connected in series to a series circuit of a load and an alternating power supply and a snubber circuit comprises suppressing means for suppressing current flowing through the snubber circuit when the load is not in operation and for suppressing current flowing through the snubber circuit during a predetermined period which begins when the power control element shifts from an ON state to an OFF state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuya Uekawa
  • Patent number: 7026771
    Abstract: A microprocessor of the motor control apparatus acquires a zero-cross detection signal from a zero-cross detection section and a load current from a current detection section at a prescribed sampling period. The processor obtains a load current instant value every sampling period and a corresponding sine-functional value from a sine-functional value table to calculate a compensation value for the load current instant value. The processor also calculates a load current compensation total value by adding the compensation value by the predetermined number of times of sampling and compares the load current compensation total value with a load current reference value to obtain a difference therebetween. In response to the difference, an instruction value for delay time that determines the output timing of a trigger signal to a switching element is changed so that power consumption of the motor falls within a prescribed range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kushida, Osamu Sakurai, Akihiro Ishizawa
  • Patent number: 6903526
    Abstract: An electronically commutated DC motor comprises a stator comprising at least one stator winding (22, 24, 26), a rotor (28) electromagnetically interacting with the stator, a positive and a negative DC voltage line (76, 78) for supplying power to the motor (20), in particular from a battery (77), a full bridge circuit (74) for controlling the current in the at least one stator winding (22, 24, 26), which full bridge circuit (74) comprises a plurality of bridge arms that each comprise an upper bridge transistor (66, 80, 86) for controlling the current from the positive DC voltage line (76) to an associated terminal (68; 82; 88) of that stator winding (22, 24, 26) as well as a lower bridge transistor (70, 84, 90) for controlling the current from the relevant terminal of the stator winding to the negative DC voltage line (78).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: ebm-papst St. Georgen GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Wilhelm Weisser, Walter Heydrich, Hermann Rappenecker
  • Patent number: 6838839
    Abstract: An electric vehicle includes a drive-motor driving device and a compressor-driving device for air-conditioning. Both of these driving devices share a smoothing capacitor and a radiator. The drive-motor driving devices, the compressor-driving device, and the smoothing capacitor are disposed in a shielding case against electromagnetic wave, so that the electric circuit of the vehicle can be downsized and light-weighted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naomi Goto, Makoto Yoshida
  • Patent number: 6771036
    Abstract: When driving a plurality of paralleled feed drive mechanisms individually by servo motors (105, 106), torque of the servo motors (105, 106) is detected, and in dependence on a difference therebetween, a position command of servo motor (106) at a slave side is corrected, so that torque of the slave side servo motor (106) is matched to to torque of servo motor (105) at a master side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Toshiba Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Jun Fujita
  • Publication number: 20040046516
    Abstract: A load control device having a power control element connected in series to a series circuit of a load and an alternating power supply and a snubber circuit comprises suppressing means for suppressing current flowing through the snubber circuit when the load is not in operation and for suppressing current flowing through the snubber circuit during a predetermined period which begins when the power control element shifts from an ON state to an OFF state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventor: Kazuya Uekawa
  • Patent number: 6577095
    Abstract: AC servo motor drives which allow several AC drives to be connected in parallel and allow for the connection and reconnection of AC servo motors to be accomplished primarily through a central processing unit (CPU). Thus, multiple AC servo motor drives may be ganged under the supervision of the CPU to provide a servo motor with multiple times the current available from a single drive and optionally redundancy in the drives. To provide necessary coordination, the required motor current magnitude and phase (current vector) are broadcast by an axis controller to the drives. This command current vector is broadcast over a high speed serial data bus which allows many simultaneous listeners (the AC servo motor drives). To protect against damage to each drive, each of the three current output terminals is preceded by an output filter. The output filters preceding the terminals permit phase by phase parallel connection of several drives in the service of one servo motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Whedco, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul W. Firehammer
  • Patent number: 6342768
    Abstract: A displacement apparatus comprising a first rail and a second rail, extending substantially parallel thereto, while on the first rail a first driving gear with a first motor is provided and on the second rail a second driving gear with a second motor is provided, the first and the second rail comprising at least one inclined portion, and control means being provided for the two motors, which control means are arranged for controlling the first and the second motor in a force-controlled manner at least on a portion of the at least one inclined part of the first and the second rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: Thyssen de Reus B.V.
    Inventor: Arnoldus Theodorus van der Heiden
  • Patent number: 6259222
    Abstract: A device for controlling load on a first motor whose load is affected by a second motor, comprises a controller having a first input for being connected to a horsepower transducer connected to the first motor being monitored and an output for being connected to the second motor; and a program configured to receive the first input and generate the output responsive to the input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Inventor: Alan K. Kira
  • Patent number: 5942862
    Abstract: A power output apparatus (20) of the present invention includes a clutch motor (30), an assist motor (40), an engine (50), and a controller (80) for controlling the clutch motor (30) and the assist motor (40). Auxiliary machinery driven by the rotation of a crankshaft (56), such as a cooling pump (104) and a P/S pump (106), are connected directly or via a belt (102) to a crankshaft (56B) of the engine (50). When the assist motor (40) rotates a drive shaft (22) only with electric power stored in a battery (94) under the non-operating condition of the engine (50), the clutch motor (30) applies a torque of rotational motion TST to the crankshaft (56) to rotate the crankshaft (56) at a predetermined revolving speed. This structure allows the crankshaft (56) to be rotated even when the engine (50) is at a stop, thereby supplying the required power to drive the auxiliary machinery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eiji Yamada, Takao Miyatani, Yasutomo Kawabata
  • Patent number: 5939846
    Abstract: Torque is distributed by calculating first and second torque commands using a requested torque and a ratio of speeds of first and second wheels and limiting them in accordance with respective torque command approved ranges and approved change rates; converting the limited torque commands to horsepower commands and limiting them in accordance with respective horsepower command approved ranges and approved change rates; and converting the limited horsepower commands to present torque commands. Maximum horsepower available is determined by using an engine speed to determine a nominal amount of available horsepower; applying a desired load status signal and an actual engine load status signal to a proportional-integral regulator; and using the nominal amount of available horsepower and an output signal of the regulator to determine the maximum amount of available horsepower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Henry Todd Young, Frederick Gaylord Beach
  • Patent number: 5874813
    Abstract: A load-balancing method for a multiplicity of controlled drives, especially individual electric motors of the rolls of a leveling machine for metal strip, in which all of the motors have speed and current-control circuits and are interconnected by a superordinate memory programmable computer or controller. A respective load-balancing controller, preferably of the PI type, is provided between the computer and the input to the current controller to vary the current setpoint signal supplied to the latter by the speed controller in each system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: SMS Schloemann-Siemag AG
    Inventors: Thorsten Bode, Jurgen Bernhardt
  • Patent number: 5625262
    Abstract: A system having two or more A.C. motors driving the same load. The stator windings and rotors of both motors each conduct current having a vector representative of a magnitude and angular position of the current in the respective rotor and stator winding. Stator current sensors are provided for producing an indication of the magnitude of the stator current vector to each motor. Encoders are provided for sensing the rotating speed of each of the rotors from which can be calculated the angular position of the rotor load current vector with respect to the rotating stator flux current vector. A first torque control controls the magnitude of the stator current of a first one of the motors such that the stator flux current vector of the first motor and the rotor load current vector of the first motor are angularly separated by 90.degree.. This angular relationship produces maximum torque at the rotating speed of the first motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Assignee: Harnischfeger Corporation
    Inventor: Robert J. Lapota
  • Patent number: 5384520
    Abstract: Balanced-drive multiple motors each including an armature rotatably actuated by a field winding. Cross-coupled series excitation of the field windings is accomplished by electrically connecting the field winding of each motor in series with the armature of another motor, thereby balancing the rotational speed of all the motors when unequal loads are applied. A means for adjusting the proportionate speed of the motors is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Inventor: Tai-Her Yang
  • Patent number: 5204591
    Abstract: Device for controlling at least one electric servomotor with high power from a low-voltage network, in particular for motorizing a turret on a tank, characterized in that it comprises, in combination:a voltage booster converter (C),a reversible chopping amplifier (A.sub.1, A.sub.2) fed by the converter (C) and delivering the current required by the motor to be controlled (M.sub.1, M.sub.2) which is of the type able to operate as a generator, anda capacitive type electric energy accumulator (B) inserted between the converter (C) and the amplifier (A.sub.1, A.sub.2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Assignee: Compagnie de Signaux et D'Equipements
    Inventors: Michel Kaitandjian, Philippe J. Pradat, Emile Y. Urvoy
  • Patent number: 5004966
    Abstract: A machine is designed to be used as an educational tool. The machine is connected to a 120 volt alternating current source of electrical power and to a personal computer. The computer is programmed to put questions on a monitor and to send a signal to the machine, after a certain number of correct responses to the questions have been entered into said computer. The signal causes the source of electrical power to move one of a plurality of compartments, 75, to an opening, 58, in the machine so that a person may retrieve the object the compartment was holding, as a reward for having answered the questions correctly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1991
    Inventor: Gary N. Eakin
  • Patent number: 4987351
    Abstract: An AC motor control based on an iterative computation of the motor load and method of accurately determining motor load. At the initiation of motor operation, the load term (%LOAD) is initialized to zero, and the motor is energized in accordance with a predetermined voltage and frequency schedule for producing motor rotation. During the starting interval the power loss term LOSSES and the load term (%LOAD) are iteratively computed as a function of the input voltage and current (V.sub.bus, I.sub.bus) and the motor inverter frequency (IF). When a predetermined motor speed has been achieved, the run mode is initiated. At this point, the load is known based on the iterative load calculations performed during starting, and the motor voltage and inverter frequency are scheduled as a function of motor speed and load. The iterative computation of losses and load continue during the run mode so that changes in the motor load are taken into account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1991
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Disser, Jeff A. Foust, Richard N. Lehnhoff, Donald E. Graham, Bruce A. Heaston
  • Patent number: 4983892
    Abstract: A control apparatus is placed in a drive circuit of a motor of an electrically driven antenna. The drive circuit is provided in parallel with a transmitter-receiver circuit of a transmitter-receiver, and an operation unit is provided so that control instruction can be given by manual operation to a control apparatus. The electrically driven antenna is extended or contracted by an amount determined by the instruction that is given from an operation unit interlocked with a turn-on or off of the power source of a transmitter-receiver. The control apparatus includes, for example, switch plates which are moved by a small motor. Variable contact pieces for the switch plates are adjusted by a manual operation unit to obtain a suitable control instruction through mechanical operation. Alternatively, the control apparatus can be operated electrically by using a control circuit and operation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1991
    Assignee: Nippon Antenna Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Suga, Akio Takizawa
  • Patent number: 4885698
    Abstract: An overload prevention apparatus for a jacking system of a rack and pinion type for use in offshore structures is disclosed. Each of the pinions is provided with a torque meter and tachometer for detecting a relative position between the pinion and the rack. The information detected by the torque meter and the tachometer are respectively fed to a computer the output of which is supplied to an adjust unit for equalizing the load on the jacking system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1989
    Assignee: Mitsui Ocean Development & Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Josho Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 4822185
    Abstract: A driving method for a printing apparatus having a non-stabilized power source compensates for power supply fluctuations by selectively driving an additional load, such as another electric actuator, in a non-functional mode to thereby stabilize the current and voltage supplied to driven electric actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1989
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tatsuji Imai
  • Patent number: 4788476
    Abstract: A lapping machine for correcting the asymmetrical hardening distortions which occur during the hardening of gear wheels, especially bevel gears, is disclosed. This machine is particularly advantageous in connection with large bevel gear transmissions or drives produced in small batches. This is achieved by selective lapping, in that both bevel gears are each driven by a respective separate speed-regulated electric motor. An electronic transmission or drive, also referred to as an electric shaft, controls and regulates one electric motor to serve as the master motor and the other to serve as the slave motor as a function of the rotational speed of the master motor and the gear ratio of the two bevel gears. A device serves for controlling and regulating a selectable relative lapping torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1988
    Assignee: Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik Oerlikon-Buhrle AG
    Inventor: Ami Ginier
  • Patent number: 4683786
    Abstract: A numerically controlled turning machine comprises a main spindle (H.sub.s) and at least two cross slides (K.sub.1,K.sub.2) each provided with a saddle (W.sub.1 and W.sub.2, respectively). Another saddle (W.sub.3) is provided at the main spindle end. The cross slide (K.sub.1) is provided in addition with a driven tail spindle (G.sub.s). The control of the machine is subdivided into a first control system which includes X-axis and Z-axis controls as well as C-axis control with positional adjustment and a second control system which does not have any C-axis control but does include X-axis and Z-axis controls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1987
    Assignee: Traub AG
    Inventors: Gunther Kersten, Walter Klauss, Jurgen Michl
  • Patent number: 4604557
    Abstract: An improved vending machine power switching apparatus in which a single power switching circuit is associated with a plurality of load selecting relay switches and a switching control circuit, in which the control circuit controls the order of switching of the power switch and relay switches, such that any relay switch is always closed before power is delivered to its associated load and is always opened after power is removed from the load, and the power is applied and removed by the power switching means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1986
    Assignee: Mars Incorporated
    Inventor: John C. Cowles
  • Patent number: 4559482
    Abstract: An electric drive system for automotive wheel rim forming equipment having inner and outer forming rolls mounted on driven spindles. The drive system includes separate drives for each forming roll and a control system for maintaining a predetermined speed ratio between the forming rolls in the absence of a working load thereon. The control system further maintains a predetermined torque ratio between the outputs of the drives for the forming rolls during the forming of a wheel rim by the forming rolls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1985
    Assignee: Grotnes Metalforming Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Vernon R. Fencl
  • Patent number: RE33314
    Abstract: An improved vending machine power switching apparatus in which a single power switching circuit is associated with a plurality of load selecting relay switches and a switching control circuit, in which the control circuit controls the order of switching of the power switch and relay switches, such that any relay switch is always closed before power is delivered to its associated load and is always opened after power is removed from the load, and the power is applied and removed by the power switching means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1990
    Assignee: Mars Incorporated
    Inventor: John C. Cowles