Abstract: A motor control device controls a motor driving mechanism which drives a motor according to a motor drive signal for providing a normal drive signal and a locked condition signal. When the motor becomes overloaded while being driven by the motor driving mechanism according to the motor drive signal, the motor driving mechanism is controlled by controlling circuitry which inhibits the motor drive signal from being supplied to the motor driving mechanism. The controlling circuitry, while the motor is in the overloaded state, controls the motor driving mechanism so that power is supplied intermittently to the motor, or so that the supply of power for the regular and reverse rotation is given alternately. The controlling circuitry, when the load of the motor becomes normal, allows driving of the motor according to the motor drive signal.

Abstract: A water pump protector unit which includes electrical circuitry through which an electric motor is energized. The pump protector unit is primarily adapted for operation of a capacitor-start induction-run electric motor which operates a water pump. The electrical circuitry includes components for energization and deenergization of the start winding of a capacitor-start induction-run electric motor. The electrical circuitry senses the phase angle between the voltage and the current applied to the electric motor. When the phase angle indicates that the electric motor is operating without a load, the circuitry deenergizes the electric motor. Thus, the water pump is protected against damage which may occur when the water pump is operated without pumping water. Preferably, all of the components of the water pump protector unit are housed within a single cabinet.

Abstract: A load state detecting apparatus of an induction motor having two coils, the apparatus having a drive voltage supplying unit for supplying a drive voltage to the coils in the induction motor, a phase difference detecting unit for detecting a phase difference between the drive voltage supplied across the coils of the induction motor and a current flowing through one of the coils upon application of the drive voltage and for generating a phase difference signal, and a load state detecting unit for comparing the phase difference signal generated by the phase difference detecting unit with a predetermined reference value and generating a signal depending on a load state of the induction motor.

Abstract: An electrical circuit for providing electrical energy to an electric motor which operates a liquid pump. The motor and the pump are adapted to be submerged in the liquid which is pumped by the pump. The circuit disclosed herein senses the phase angle between the current and the voltage applied to the electric motor. When the phase angle indicates that the motor is operating without a load, the circuit deenergizes the electric motor. Thus, the motor and the liquid pump are protected against damage. Recognizing that harmonics may exist in the current flow through the motor, the circuit provides for obtaining a filtered signal proportional to the fundamental frequency of the current flowing through the motor. Thus, an accurate measurement of the loading of a motor is obtained. The circuitry of this invention also provides an accurate method of compensation for applied line voltage variations, so that a change in the applied line voltage does not produce a false indication that the motor loading has changed.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for detecting energy, such as power, consumed by a load. The apparatus preferably takes the form of a housing of sufficiently small size to be mounted in a motor control panel of a machine tool. The apparatus includes a digital processor adapted to enable bidirectional communication between the device and an external computer such as a host computer or machine controller. The processor is also used to perform various calibration functions.

Abstract: An electronic control for a motor drives the motor with pulses of current, and protects the motor from extreme values of line voltage and motor current. A current sensor, connected in series with a conductor which supplies current to the motor windings, develops a monitoring signal that is sensed for the purpose of shutting down the motor when the monitoring signal indicates that the motor current is excessive. A power supply in the control isolates the control from the AC line voltage, provides regulated DC voltages to power various portions of the control, and provides an unregulated DC sense voltage which indicates when the AC line voltage is too high or too low so that the motor can be shut down.

Abstract: The safety circuit of the present invention is connected to a drive control circuit for applying driving signals to a plurality of switching devices connected to respective stator coils of the brushless D.C. motor at a predetermined timing, and sequentially supplying a driving current to each phase of the stator cells. The safety circuit is adapted to simultaneously detect the driving signals and generate a cut-off signal for cutting off the driving current supplied to each of the stator coils in the event that the driving signals are simultaneously applied to the switching devices in controlling a driving operation of the brushless D.C. motor.

Abstract: An underload protection system for an electric motor connected to first and second power supply lines, the lines being connectable to an AC power supply. The system comprises a line voltage sensing circuit connected to the first line and having a line voltage signal impressed therein, and an amplitude adjustment circuit connected to the voltage sensing circuit for adjusting the line voltage signal to produce an amplitude adjusted voltage signal. A line current sensing circuit is connected to the second line and has a line current signal impressed thereon, and a phase adjustment circuit is connected to the current sensing circuit for adjusting the phase of the current signal to produce a phase adjusted current signal.

Abstract: A logic circuit (34) is provided for preventing the application of energizing voltage to a positioning motor in the case of a circuit failure in the drivers stage of a control system. An equality gate provides a signal to each AND gate corresponding to a failure detection criterion whenever signals of the same level are present at the respective transistors controlling operation of the motor into opposite directions. At one AND gate a signal is provided if either of the transistors is conducting, indicating a failure if there is no control signal. At the other AND gate a signal is provided if either terminal of the motor is connected to energizing potential, likewise indicating a failure if no control signal at a transistor input is present. If either AND gate responds the equivalent of a control signal is applied to a pair of diodes to both of the transistor inputs, thereby blocking the motor.

Abstract: A method of short-circuit protection of an electrical three-phase machine, realized in a short-circuit protection device for a three-phase electrical machine, provides that phase currents are formed in phases of the stator winding of a three-phase electrical machine and, concurrently, a magnetic flux is produced by the end loops of coil groups of each phase in the stator winding, and a reverse current is separated from phase currents by a reverse current discriminating unit. Afterwards, current measuring and comparing units simultaneously measure the reverse current and the total electromotive force, produced by the magnetic flux in conditions excluding short-circuits in the stator winding and added up by a means for summing and converting magnetic fluxes into the electromotive force. In case the measured magnitude of the current and the value of the electromotive force exceed the maximum, three-phase electrical machine disconnection signal shapers produced respective signals which cut out the machine.

Abstract: The winding temperature of an asynchronous motor is determined for control as regards overheating, in that a value representing the prevailing motor resistance is calculated on the basis of the amplitude of the voltage (2) impressed on the motor, the amplitude of the motor current (1), the phase angle (8) between the voltage and the current, as well as the slip (3), derived from overtones in the current flowing in the input lines to the motor. The resistance value is converted (15) to a corresponding temperature value which is used for updating a winding temperature value produced in parallel on the basis of the difference between the dissipated power and the cooling loss power, when the slip lies within predetermined limits.

Abstract: A motor protection circuit which generates a signal having a value proportional to the magnitude of the input current of the motor and a motor speed signal having a value proportional to the difference between the rated motor speed and the actual motor speed. The motor speed signal is multiplied by the input motor current proportional signal to derive a product signal. The product signal is summed with the input motor current proportional signal to derive a sum signal. The sum signal is compared with respect to a preset level to determine if it is greater than a preset level. If it is greater than a preset level, the sum signal is coupled to the input of a voltage controlled oscillator which generates an output signal having a value proportional to the magnitude of the sum signal. The output of the voltage controlled oscillator is counted in an up/down counter and an output is gated when the total count reaches a predetermined level.

Abstract: A motor control circuit for disconnecting the motor's power supply when the motor is stalled but maintaining it connected when it is running comprising a power loop and control loop, the former including a signal sensing means which provides an output sensing signal whose magnitude is a function of the motor's state in series with an ON, OFF switching means' input-output terminals which is responsive to the magnitude of a control signal applied to its control terminal to control its state. The control loop comprises a counter which provides a control output signal in response to a predetermined count and whose input is fed by the output of a voltage controlled oscillator whose frequency is a function of the magnitude of the output sensing signal of the signal sensing means to which it is connected. A resetting means is coupled to the reset terminal of the counter for periodically resetting the counter. The output control signal from the counter is fed to the control terminal of the switching means.

Abstract: A load indicator for A.C. motors has an analog multiplying circuit for producing a signal proportional to the product of the current of the A.C. motor and the voltage thereof. From this signal a signal is substracted which is proportional to the absolute value of the motor current. The average value of the differential signal is a measure of the load of the motor which is substantially independent of variations in the motor voltage, provided the proportionality constants are chosen in a suitable manner.

Abstract: A power amplifier is disclosed for controlling the current flow through a load, such as a d-c servo motor. The amplifier includes a plurality of switching elements connected in bridge fashion with the load and a predetermined power source for coupling the load across alternate output terminals of the power source in accordance with the levels of a plurality of control signals respectively coupled to the plurality of switching elements. Logic circuitry, when enabled, couples each of the control signals to their respective switching elements for controlling same. Sensing circuitry is coupled to the load for generating an actual current signal indicative of the actual level of current flow through the load. A current limiter is coupled to the sensing circuitry for comparing the actual current signal with high and low level limit signals and for generating a current disable signal when either the actual current signal exceeds the high limit signal or the low limit signal exceeds the actual current signal.

Abstract: A power amplifier is disclosed for controlling the current flow through a load. The power amplifier includes a plurality of switching elements connected in bridge fashion with the load and a first predetermined power source for coupling the load across alternate output terminals of the power source in accordance with the levels of a plurality of control signals respectively applied to the plurality of switching elements. Circuitry is coupled to a second predetermined power source for generating the control signals. Logic circuitry, when enabled, is capable of coupling each of the control signals to the respective switching element. A power monitor circuit compares the voltage level of the second power source with a predetermined reference potential and generates a current disable signal when the voltage level is less than the reference potential.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for sensing and responding to short circuit faults, in particular in three phase alternating current supply lines for direct-on-line starting three phase squirrel cage induction motors. Line current in each line is sensed by a respective current transformer and signals representing both the amplitude and phase of each line current are produced. Line-to-line or line-to-neutral voltage for each phase is also sensed, by photo-electric isolator circuitry, and signals produced representative of the respective phases of these voltages. Logic circuitry is used to produce from the signals representative of current and voltage phases three phase difference signals in the form of currents each varying substantially directly with the difference between the respective current and voltage phases of the respective line.

Abstract: A circuit for protecting single phase induction motors of the type having a start winding connected in series with a start/run capacitor. The circuit contains a resistance bridge wherein the motor start winding forms one leg thereof. A d.c. signal is applied to the input terminals of the bridge. A filter is connected to the output terminals of the bridge so that a relatively ripple free d.c. output signal from the bridge can be applied to the positive input terminal of a d.c. comparator, the negative terminal of which is connected to d.c. reference ground. A reference resistor in a leg of the bridge adjacent the start winding is selected so that the bridge is unbalanced to present a positive d.c. signal to a terminal of the comparator so long as the resistance value of the start winding is less than the value of the reference resistor.

Abstract: A dynamo-electric machine is provided with a protective circuit arrangement whereby the machine is caused to be switched off if a short circuit current flowing in the machine exceeds a predetermined level.False operation of the protective circuit is avoided by incorporating a discriminating circuit which is able to distinguish the phase angle between the current and the voltage. This causes the protective circuit to trip for an over load current where the phase angle difference is small and the power factor near unity, which occurs with resistive fault situations; and not to trip where the phase angle difference is high, and thus there is a low power factor indicating a reactive condition, which occurs on start-up of the machine. A machine is able to run more safely as a result.

Abstract: An electronic signal proportional to Icos.theta. for an induction motor is substantially proportional to the mechanical power output of the motor. This signal is detected by rectifying a signal which is an analog of motor current in phase with the motor voltage and time averaging the rectified signal. Comparing the averaged signal to a reference level permits the interruption of motor current for an underload or an overload condition. The circuit permits detection of excessive ice formation on the outdoor heat exchanger of a heat pump system. The circuit is connected to the impeller drive motor which forces air across the heat exchanger and stops the motor and initiates the de-ice procedure when the ice blockage causes mechanical power delivered by the motor to deviate to a selected level.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting and correcting the occurrence of flashover in a direct current electric motor. The polarity and magnitude of voltage on the field winding of the motor is continuously monitored. Detection of a sudden reversal of the polarity of the field voltage accompanied by a rapid increase in magnitude results in the generation of a flashover signal. The flashover signal is coupled to power controlling elements regulating power supplied to the motor and is effective to force removal of power from the motor. In a preferred embodiment the apparatus is disclosed in a two-motor system with two field windings serially connected such that the field voltage monitoring is accomplished on a differential basis.

Abstract: In a protective arrangement for protecting a brushless synchronous machine against overvoltage at a field winding which is connected to a rotating excitation rectifier which is fed from an exciter machine, in which the field winding is short circuited by means of a solid state switching element when overvoltages occur, a voltage comparison means is provided to which are fed as respective first and second inputs, a first input voltage proportional to the primary voltage of the exciter machine and a second input voltage proportional to the primary current of the exciter machine with the proportionality constant chosen such that for normal operation of the synchronous machine the absolute value of the second input voltage is lower than the first input voltage and for operation when the field winding is short circuited, the absolute value of the second input voltage is greater than the first input voltage.

Abstract: A DC motor speed control circuit in which the current to the motor is delivered in a series of pulses the width of which is variable in accordance with the setting on a throttle control potentiometer. The pulses are shaped to provide a fast turn on and slow turn off of the control transistor to avoid heat build up and lessen the inductive kickback of the motor. A novel feedback circuit senses excessive current draw and automatically shuts down the circuit and remains latched in that condition until the throttle control potentiometer is reduced to zero whereupon the circuit automatically resets itself. High efficiency is achieved by directing both the power current and the control current through the motor windings thus increasing the battery life.