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.

Abstract: Described herein is a drive arrangement for the motor-driven adjustment of an adjustable element in a motor vehicle, the drive arrangement having two electrical drives and a control device, the drives, in the fitted state, acting in the same way on the adjustable element and having a substantially identical configuration, apart from tolerance-related discrepancies. The control device has a power controller which, in the fitted state, during the motor-driven adjustment of the adjustable element, subjects the electrical power that is output respectively to the two drives to closed-loop control, for the purpose of compensating for the tolerance-related discrepancies, in such a way that an identical electrical power consumption is established for both drives.

Abstract: When two (in particular electric) drives operate on wheels decoupled from each other in a motor vehicle, the drives should have an identical construction and the same properties. However, if one drive is stronger than the other, distribution factors other than 0.5 must define the target torque for the two drives, i.e. the fraction of a total torque, in order to provide a correction. The distribution factors are determined while the motor vehicle is in operation. For this purpose, a steering angle and an additional quantity such as the lateral acceleration or the yaw rate are determined and a check is performed to determine if the additional quantity has the correct functional dependency on the steering angle.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the holding torque of a brake in a material handling system is disclosed. The material handling system may include a bridge, a trolley, and a hoist, each driven along a different axis by a motor. A brake is operatively coupled to the motor to prevent unwanted motion of the motor. A motor controller is coupled to each motor which controls operation of the motor and its corresponding brake. The motor controller generates a torque command to the motor while keeping the brake set. The initial torque command is less than the holding torque of the brake. The torque command is incremented until motion is detected on the motor. The torque value when motion is detected is stored in the motor controller and displayed to an operator.

Abstract: Described herein is a drive arrangement for the motor-driven adjustment of an adjustable element in a motor vehicle, the drive arrangement having two electrical drives and a control device, the drives, in the fitted state, acting in the same way on the adjustable element and having a substantially identical configuration, apart from tolerance-related discrepancies. The control device has a power controller which, in the fitted state, during the motor-driven adjustment of the adjustable element, subjects the electrical power that is output respectively to the two drives to closed-loop control, for the purpose of compensating for the tolerance-related discrepancies, in such a way that an identical electrical power consumption is established for both drives.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and computer storage media provide for the establishment of a parallel motor controller architecture and the dynamic reconfiguration of the architecture to redirect power to various motors according to the changing power load requirements of the motors. According to embodiments described herein, the present power load requirement for each motor of a group of motors is determined. The number of motor controllers to connect to each motor to provide the present power load requirement is then determined. A power switching network that connects the motor controllers to the motors is configured to connect the determined number of motor controllers to the corresponding motors. As the power load requirements of the motors changes, the power switching network is dynamically reconfigured to redirect power accordingly.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Abstract: A dual motor drive system particularly adapted for the drive of long printing presses provides uncoupled control of both the voltage and current provided to the motors. A current divider proportions the current provided to a main and secondary motor in accordance with a chosen ratio to maintain speed and torque in accordance with press requirements.

Abstract: At least two commutator type motors are arranged to reduce cyclic voltage imbalances or oscillations by connecting a check diode in series with the armature of each motor, and by partially interlocking the motors by connecting the series winding of a neighboring motor to the end of the armature which is not connected to the check diode.

Abstract: The disclosure involves a drive system having a control section, an adjustable frequency drive unit coupled to the control section, and first and second drive motors. The drive system is used with a material handling machine such as a light-duty crane on which any two of the hoist, bridge and trolley drives are rarely used simultaneously and in any event need not be used simultaneously. The drive unit is a scalar or flux vector (feedback-type) inverter and is the sole drive unit providing electrical power to the drive motors. Preferred control is by a pendant station or radio transmitter. Operating a pushbutton on the pendant station (or a paddle-like stick control on the transmitter) for a particular drive motor "locks out" operation of the other motors. Motors are operated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Abstract: An invention is disclosed which promotes even wear within a multiple-motor drivetrain. In one embodiment of the invention, a vehicle drivetrain includes two motors. The total torque to be provided by the motors is partitioned between the motors such that the total efficiency of the drivetrain is maximum. Such partitioning usually involves providing more torque from one motor than from the other. The motor selected to provide the greater torque does so until a predetermined number of differential torque-hours are accumulated between the two motors. The other motor is then selected to provide the greater torque, again until a predetermined number of differential torque-hours are accumulated. Excessive wear of one portion of the driveline is thus prevented.

Abstract: The invention is an improvement in an AC adjustable frequency load-moving system of the type having a control circuit providing a motor speed signal and using command ramps to control each of plural AC squirrel cage motors. The invention helps assure substantially equal load sharing by the motors. The improvement includes a dwell circuit which maintains the motor speed reference signal at a synchronizing value at least for a period of time denominated as the dwell time. This permits microprocessors--which may be running asynchronously--to both "read" the same value of motor speed signal even though such value may be read at slightly different instants. Separate inverter units monitor such signal and responsively generate synchronized command ramps to effect load sharing. The invention is suitable for use with a wide variety of plural-motor drive systems and has been found to be particularly suitable for use on crane hoist systems.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gondola lift having two parallel suspension haulage cables between which the gondolas hang. The two cable loops extend between two stations and each cable is driven by a direct current electrical motor, the two motors being identical and having separate excitation circuits. The armature windings are connected to the same power supply source by two armature circuits including identical resistors which provide an armature voltage drop and a reduction in speed for restoring identical power outputs of the two motors when one of the cables is in advance. The mechanical connections between the cables and the motors include gear boxes, the high speed shafts therefrom being coupled by a control clutch.

Abstract: A servo power amplifier for driving multiple DC motors (10, 12) employs a load equalization circuit (36) which allows reduction of the overall number of circuit components required to drive the motors. The load equalization circuit is coupled in parallel with each of the motor drive circuits (14, 16) across the power source (46, 48) and controls an inductive load (84) which temporarily stores energy that is returned to the power source from the motors. The equalization circuit is pulse width modulated in accordance with a control signal which is derived by sensing the current flowing through the inductive load and using a sensing circuit (44) to determine the difference in the magnitude of the positive and negative voltages supplied by the power source. The equalization control circuit and the motor drive circuits are each T-configured and employ no more than two switching elements for controlling current flow.

Abstract: A controllable power source is suitable for driving one or more electric motors from a low voltage battery. A converter steps up the d.c. voltage to a higher level at which the motors are designed to operate and a power regulator placed between the converter and each motor regulates the power which is drawn at the higher voltage by the motors. A current limit is imposed on the converter which is significantly less than the maximum current handling capabilities of the motors, so that when a motor attempts to draw an excessive current the output voltage of the converter drops accordingly. This enables the overall power handling capability of the converter to be minimize, while still allowing a motor to draw maximum current or maximum voltage, but not both simultaneously.

Abstract: A drive system for an automotive vehicle, especially an industrial floor vehicle such as a forklift truck, comprises an internal combustion engine, preferably a diesel engine, whose speed-controlling element (e.g. fuel-injection pump) in connected to a speed-setting member (e.g. a drive pedal) and propels an externally energized direct-current generator which, in turn, is connected to an externally energized direct-current motor driving the load, e.g. at least one wheel of the vehicle. According to the invention, the speed-controlling element of the internal combustion engine is provided with a speed-setting signal generator, the output shaft of the internal combustion engine with an engine shaft-speed signal generator and the output shaft of the direct current motor with a motor shaft-speed signal generator.

Abstract: An electrically operated dual motor drive system of the type having differentially variable left and right traction motor circuits (10,12) including left and right variable duty cycle power switches (20,22) connecting the motors (14,16) independently to a power source (18), left and right auxiliary switches (28,36) in series with the traction motor circuits for complemental operation of same and a selectively operated shunt switch (64) which connects the power transistors (20,22) in parallel for high torque, low speed operating conditions.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner structure having a control for reducing the total current delivery to the vacuum cleaner as when both a suction motor thereof and a brush motor thereof are being operated concurrently. The control includes an "On-Off" switch mounted on a portion of the suction hose for the vacuum cleaner. The invention comprehends the provision of such a current-reducing control where the full load currents of the suction and brush motors cumulatively total an amount greater than a preselected safe current deliverable to the vacuum cleaner. The control is arranged to be used with a vacuum cleaner having a suction hose connected between a suction unit and a cleaning unit thereof, such as a floor cleaning unit. In one form, the control utilizes a two-conductor wire suction hose, and in another form, the control utilizes a three-conductor wire suction hose.

Abstract: Rotary positioning of an antenna is provided from a remote control apparatus using a first reversible motor at the antenna and a second reversible motor at the control. A rotary switch at the control is coupled mechanically and electrically to the control motor such that movement of the rotary switch energizes both the antenna and control motors, which have substantially identical speed characteristics. When the antenna has attained the desired position, the system de-energizes itself. Mechanical resistance to movement of the antenna is simulated by a feedback motor mechanically coupled to the control motor and electrically connected in series with the antenna motor. The system contemplates use of direct current motors and a two wire connection between the antenna and the remote control apparatus.

Abstract: A tennis ball throwing machine for use in the practice of tennis having the capability of controllably delivering tennis balls to a player's forehand and backhand at various speeds and with various spins simulating conditions commonly encountered in game play. The machine has a pair of wheels which are independently and controllably driven so as to throw a tennis ball delivered therebetween by an automatic ball feed mechanism at a speed and with a spin determined by the speed of each of the wheels. Various features include an oscillating system to alternate pitches between the forehand and backhand in a controllable manner, an elevation adjustment mechanism for controllably varying the height of the delivery or providing a random variation in such height, and independent ball speed and ball spin controls. Remote controls for the machine may be provided.

Abstract: A driving system for moving paths or escalators which use an endles chain adapted to be circulated between a path for transporting passengers, comprising a first and a second sprocket disposed at one end portion and substantially middle portion of the path, respectively, a first and a second induction motor coupled respectively to the first and second sprockets and each having the same rating output the sum of which is selected to be substantially equal to a maximum capacity of the system, an induction coupling interposed between the second sprocket and the second induction motor, means for detecting a current flow through the first induction motor, means for setting a reference value, and a thyristor amplifier for exciting the induction coupling in response to an excess developed when an output of the detecting means exceeds the reference value.