Responsive To Change In Electrical Operating Characteristic Patents (Class 417/44.11)
  • Publication number: 20090035151
    Abstract: There are provided a vacuum pump self-diagnosis method, a vacuum pump self-diagnosis system, a vacuum pump central monitoring system capable of making self-diagnosis of a dry vacuum pump. A vacuum pump self-diagnosis method decides the occurrence of failure and generates an alarm when a predetermined alarm set value is exceeded by an integrated value or an average value of a current of a motor for rotating a rotor of said vacuum pump. In a vacuum pump self-diagnosis system for making self-diagnosis of a vacuum pump which comprises a casing and a rotor rotatably arranged in the casing for sucking and discharging a gas through rotations of the rotor, the rotor comprises a plurality of stages and a pressure sensor is provided between the rotor stages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuro Sugiura, Keiji Tanaka, Toshiharu Nakazawa, Koichi Kido, Tomoyuki Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20090010766
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling an operation of a reciprocating compressor are disclosed in which a frequency is variably controlled to uniformly maintain a phase difference between current and stroke, a load is determined with a size of frequency at a point of time when the phase difference between the current and the stroke is uniformly maintained, and capacity is varied according to the determined load, to thus improve an operation efficiency. The apparatus for controlling an operation of a reciprocating compressor includes: a control unit for detecting a phase difference between current and stroke and outputting a frequency variable signal or a frequency detect signal based on the detected phase difference; a load detecting unit for detecting a current operation load according to the frequency detect signal; and a stroke reference value determining unit for determining a stroke reference value corresponding to the detected load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jae-Yoo Yoo, Ji-Won Sung, Chel-Woong Lee
  • Publication number: 20090004026
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling an operation of a reciprocating compressor are disclosed in which a point of inflection with respect to an operation frequency of the reciprocating compressor is detected at a point of time when a phase difference between current and stroke is uniformly maintained, and an operation of the reciprocating compressor is controlled upon recognizing the detected point of inflection with respect to the operation frequency as a point TDC=O. The apparatus for controlling an operation of a reciprocating compressor includes: a control unit for detecting a phase difference between current and stroke and outputting a frequency inflection point detect signal or a frequency variable signal; and a stroke reference value control unit for determining whether a frequency inflection point has been detected or not according to the frequency inflection point detect signal and outputting a stroke reference value control signal based on the determining result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jae-Yoo Yoo, Ji-Won Sung, Chel-Woong Lee
  • Patent number: 7468588
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for controlling operation of a reciprocating compressor. The operating efficiency of the compressor can be improved by performing the steps of: detecting a current and a stroke applied a compressor; a calculating a mechanical resonance frequency by using the detected current and stroke; and determining an operating frequency command value by adding or subtracting the present operating frequency so as to be within a predetermined range of the calculated mechanical resonance frequency and then driving the compressor by the operating frequency command value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jae-Yoo Yoo, Chel-Woong Lee, Ji-Won Sung
  • Publication number: 20080310967
    Abstract: An intelligent air moving apparatus for cooling an electronics enclosure includes a motor for driving a fan at a variable rotational speed and a microcontroller for controlling the rotational speed of the motor. The microcontroller includes a speed sensor for sensing the rotational speed such that when the sensed rotational speed deviates below a target speed, the microcontroller detects a locked rotor condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Inventors: John P. Franz, Wade D. Vinson, Thomas D. Rhodes, David F. Heinrich, Stephen A. Kay
  • Patent number: 7466098
    Abstract: A method for controlling an operation of a compressor and its apparatus can easily control an operation of the compressor without a request for a high-priced operation control apparatus by operating the compressor with controlling the amount of currents flowing into a winding coil of a motor (100) of the compressor according to load capacity of the refrigerator. The apparatus includes a control unit (103) for generating a control signal for selecting a main winding coil (M) of a linear motor (100) of a compressor or an auxiliary winding coil (M2) on the basis of the load capacity of a refrigerator, and a switching unit (101) for selecting the main winding coil (M) of the linear motor (100) or the auxiliary winding coil (M2) on the basis of the control signal. Herein, the main winding coil of the linear motor (100) is divided into a plurality of auxiliary winding coils (M2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Gi-Bong Kwon, Su-Won Lee, Dae-Jin Moon, Won-Hyun Jung, Dong-Won Lee
  • Patent number: 7453229
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the operation of a reciprocating compressor are capable of preventing distortion of a current applied to the reciprocating compressor by generating a current amplitude value for compensating a difference value between a stroke reference value of the reciprocating compressor and a stroke estimate value and outputting the current amplitude value in a form of a sine wave to the reciprocating compressor. The apparatus for controlling an operation of a reciprocating compressor generates a current amplitude value for compensating a difference value between a stroke reference value and a stroke estimate value of the reciprocating compressor and outputs the current amplitude value in a sine wave form to the reciprocating compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Chel Woong Lee, Ji-Won Sung
  • Patent number: 7444824
    Abstract: A unitary control for operating at least the fan and compressor of a climate control apparatus in response to signals received from a thermostat, the unitary air conditioning control includes a circuit board, a microprocessor on the circuit board; a first relay on the circuit board operable by the microprocessor, to connect a fan connected thereto to line voltage, and having first and second contacts at least one of which is connected to the microprocessor; and a second relay on the circuit board operable by the microprocessor, to connect a fan connected thereto to line voltage, and having first and second contacts connected to the microprocessor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: William P. Butler, Dean A. Drake, Nagaraj B. Jayanth
  • Publication number: 20080260541
    Abstract: The operation of an AC induction motor 24 is controlled in response to the actual slip exhibited by the motor during operation. The slip of the motor 24 may be determined by determining the actual running speed, n, of the motor shaft 25A, measuring the line frequency, ns, of the electricity supplied to the motor, and calculating the slip, S, of the motor using the relationship: S=((ns?n)/ns)*100. If the slip is too high when compared to a predetermined maximum acceptable slip, corrective action is taken to decrease the loading on the motor. If the slip is too low when compared to a predetermined minimum acceptable slip, corrective action is taken to increase the loading on the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Lifson, Michael F. Taras
  • Publication number: 20080253899
    Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for driving a brushless motor comprising a stator including coils of three phases and a magnet rotor placed in the stator. The apparatus including a controller arranged to rotate the magnet rotor by sequentially switching energization of the coils of the phases, detect a position of the magnet rotor based on induced voltage generated in the coils of the phases, and control the energization of the coils of the phases based on the detected position. When power supply to the control device is interrupted, the controller executes initial setting control for setting the position of the magnet rotor at an initial position allowing next forced drive control to be carried out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shingo Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 7437215
    Abstract: A system for controlling operation of a progressing cavity pump to maintain the motor operating under power disturbance conditions. For a blackout condition, a backspin controller uses regenerative power to provide controlled deceleration of the pump, counteracting backspin and preventing backspinning freely. For a brownout condition, a power dip controller weakens the motor field to maximize pump production consistent with reduced input power availability. For a phase loss or voltage imbalance condition, a phase loss controller reduces motor power output to keep drive system output power at or below single phase capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Unico, Inc.
    Inventors: Robb G. Anderson, Mark E. Garlow, Harry W. Schulz
  • Patent number: 7435059
    Abstract: A system for pumping blood to assist or assume the cardiac function of a patient is characterized by a blood pump that exhibits a steep performance curve such that only small changes in pump flow occur for large changes in differential pressure across the pump. The pump therefore exhibits flow-limiting characteristics to protect the physiological system against harmful flow rates or pressures. Pump flow may also be limited by controlling the current provided to a driver from a power supply or by suitable restrictions within or external to the pump housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: The Cleveland Clinic Foundation
    Inventors: William A. Smith, Leonard A. R. Golding
  • Publication number: 20080247880
    Abstract: Systems and methods for using variable speed drives to restart downhole submersible pump motors. In one embodiment, a downhole pump is controlled using a variable speed drive that includes a control system configured to detect interruptions in the operation of the pump system. After an interruption that requires the restart of the pump motor, the control system determines the reverse rotational speed of the pump motor and restarts the motor when this speed is sufficiently low. The control system may be configured to reduce the output voltage of the variable speed drive and sweep through a range of output frequencies to determine the frequency at which the current drawn by the motor is lowest. This is the frequency at which the drive's output matches the speed of the motor and the apparent impedance of the motor is highest. When the speed is low enough, the motor is restarted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: John M. Leuthen, Sheldon Plitt, Jerald R. Rider, Tom G. Yohanan
  • Publication number: 20080240931
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining faults during the operation of a pump unit. At least two electric variables that determine the electric output of the motor and at least one fluctuating hydraulic variable of the pump are detected. The detected values or values formed from said variables by means of algorithms are automatically compared to predefined stored values using electronic data processing and the results of said comparison are used to determine whether or not faults have occurred.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2005
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventor: Carsten Kallesoe
  • Publication number: 20080232977
    Abstract: A pump control system for controlling a fluid pump powered by an AC signal. The pump control system includes a signal phase detector coupled to the fluid pump to detect the AC signal supplied to the fluid pump and to generate phase signals indicating a phase parameter of the AC signal. The pump control system also includes a micro-controller to receive the phase signals and to generate a rectified output signal based on the phase signals, and a relay to control the power supplied to the fluid pump based on the output signal of the micro-controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Applicant: AOS HOLDING COMPANY
    Inventors: Xiaochun Pan, Hui Wang, Joseph E. Troccoli
  • Publication number: 20080226465
    Abstract: An operation controlling apparatus for a reciprocating compressor, and a method thereof, which are capable of accurately controlling the reciprocating compressor by sensing a size of a load applied to the reciprocating compressor and a stroke estimation value of the reciprocating compressor and then compensating a parameter of a motor in the reciprocating compressor based upon the sensing, the operation controlling apparatus comprising a controlling unit a controlling unit for comparing a phase difference between a detected current and a stroke with a reference phase difference to determine a size of a load, and outputting, according to the determined size of the load, a compensation control signal to compensate a parameter of a motor and a stroke control signal to control the stroke.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Inventors: Hyeung-Ju Kim, Ji-Won Sung, Chang-Oh Kim
  • Publication number: 20080187443
    Abstract: An adjustable frequency pump control system (10) that is primarily designed for use in commercial pool filtration systems. The system (10) automatically selects one of three operating speeds that control the speed of a motor that operates a circulation pump (62). The system (10) includes a programmed logic control (PLC) (42) that is activated upon the application of select mode signal (31), a mode timing signal (35), a line pressure signal (37), a circulation pump-run signal (39) and a backwash signal (41). The output of the PLC (42) is a frequency set signal (17) that is applied to an adjustable frequency drive (AFD) (18). From the output of the AFD (18) a motor speed control signal is produced that is applied to the motor that operates the circulation pump (62). The speed of the circulation pump (12) is governed by the frequency of the motor speed control signal, wherein the frequency is determined by the motor speed that is applicable to a particular design point of the pump's filtration cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventors: Ray A. Aguilar, Robert M. Castle
  • Publication number: 20080181789
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a pump control system. One or more embodiments of the invention include a pump controller that can perform a self-calibrating procedure, can provide precise motor speed control, can provide a limp mode before shutting down the motor when system parameters are exceeded and/or fault conditions occur, can detect fault conditions, and can store fault conditions for later retrieval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventor: Robert M. Koehl
  • Patent number: 7405529
    Abstract: A system for controlling a linear compressor, generates freezing force as a piston reciprocates according to rotation of a motor which receives alternating current power through a triac. The system includes a controller which moves up or delays a trigger signal corresponding to an absorption cycle or a compression cycle, such that the center point of the piston reaches a resonant point when a current and a phase difference of the motor deviate from predetermined ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nam Su Kim, Ji Heon Lim, Sung Mo Lee
  • Publication number: 20080159876
    Abstract: A protective device for a controlling system of a sewage pump has a protective circuit to protect a start capacitor and to avoid the start capacitor from burnout when an overload is occurred by actuating power source (ON status) or when a transient voltage is occurred by malfunction of a controlling circuit. Therefore, the start capacitor is certainly protected and significantly improved in lifespan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventor: Robert M. Keener
  • Patent number: 7385368
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an operation of a reciprocating compressor includes a inductance increasing device connected to a motor of the reciprocating compressor, so that a surge current generated when power is applied to the reciprocating compressor at an initial stage is reduced and thus an initial stroke of the reciprocating compressor is reduced. Accordingly, operational efficiency of the reciprocating compressor is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Eon-Pyo Hong, Kyeong-Bae Park, Tae-Hee Kwak, Ki-Chul Choi, Sung-Hyun Ki
  • Publication number: 20080112817
    Abstract: A liquid container aeration system for replenishing gases dissolved in a selected liquid present in an interior of said liquid container that checks on an electrical power source capability to continue operation and allows selected liquid substitution in the interior of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Inventor: Jeffrey S. Sylvester
  • Publication number: 20080108469
    Abstract: A pump drive for a vehicle transmission pump. A transmission input torque member is operable to carry prime mover torque. A source of pump torque includes a pump input torque member circumscribing the transmission input torque member to apply torque to the transmission pump. An overrunning clutch is interposed between the pump input torque member and the transmission input torque member to carry the prime mover torque from the transmission input torque member to the pump torque output member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Inventors: Lars Weinschenker, Zhenxing Fu, Robert Inderka
  • Publication number: 20080095640
    Abstract: A method of controlling a motor operating a pumping apparatus of a system includes determining a trip value for a parameter, floating the trip value, and monitoring the operation of the pump. Monitoring the operation of the pump includes determining a value for the parameter, comparing the value to the trip value, and determining whether the comparison indicates a condition of the pump. The method of controlling the motor also includes controlling the motor to operate the pump based on the condition of the pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: A.O. SMITH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brian Thomas Branecky, William Louis Mehlhorn
  • Publication number: 20080095639
    Abstract: A pumping apparatus for a jetted-fluid system includes a pump having an inlet connectable to the drain, and an outlet connectable to the return. The pump is adapted to receive the fluid from the drain and jet fluid through the return. The pumping apparatus includes a motor coupled to the pump to operate the pump, a sensor connectable to the power source and configured to generate a signal having a relation to a parameter of the motor, and a switch coupled to the motor and configured to control at least a characteristic of the motor. The pumping apparatus also includes a microcontroller coupled to the sensor and the switch. The microcontroller is configured to generate a derivative value based on the signal, and to control the motor based on the derivative value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: A.O. SMITH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ronald P. Bartos, Brian Thomas Branecky, Howard Richardson
  • Publication number: 20080063534
    Abstract: An operation control devices and operation methods thereof so as to eliminates the difficulties in such a case of introduction of vacuum sensors and/or inverter control is disclosed. The disclosure relates to a control of plural sets of vacuum pumps. In order to comply with the subjects to overcome the difficulties, the disclosure proposes to utilize current detection approach instead of direct pressure detection approach, while showing how to estimate a vacuum degree achieved under the operation of the pumps as well as presenting a method on the control of the number of pumps. It is also described how organically a current detecting device, a vacuum degree estimating device, a working pump control device and related methods to satisfy the subjects are linked. The usefulness of the disclosure is also revealed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: ANEST IWATA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takamitsu Nakayama, Kazuaki Satoh
  • Patent number: 7335001
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for controlling an operation of a reciprocating compressor can improve efficiency of a compressor by reconciling an operation frequency with a mechanical resonant frequency. The apparatus includes a mechanical resonant frequency calculating unit for calculating mechanical resonant frequency, using a current applied to a compressor and a stroke; an operation frequency reference value determining unit for determining an operation frequency reference value within a predetermined range of the calculated mechanical resonant frequency; and a controller for comparing the determined operation frequency and a current operation frequency, and then variably controlling an operation frequency of the compressor according to the comparison result, so that stroke feedback or TDC feedback can be controlled more accurately. Accordingly, an operational efficiency of the compressor is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Chel-Woong Lee, Ji-Won Sung, Jae-Yoo Yoo
  • Patent number: 7330779
    Abstract: A system for controlling operation of a progressing cavity pump to maintain the motor operating under power disturbance conditions. For a blackout condition, a backspin controller uses regenerative power to provide controlled deceleration of the pump, counteracting backspin and preventing backspinning freely. For a brownout condition, a power dip controller weakens the motor field to maximize pump production consistent with reduced input power availability. For a phase loss or voltage imbalance condition, a phase loss controller reduces motor power output to keep drive system output power at or below single phase capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Unico, Inc.
    Inventor: Harry W. Schulz
  • Patent number: 7323845
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for controlling an operation of a compressor which can always apply a constant voltage to the compressor without noise and a method therefor. The apparatus for controlling the operation of the compressor includes: a triac electrically connected to the compressor; and a controller for controlling a turn-on duration of the triac on the basis of a voltage value of an alternating current power applied to the compressor and a predetermined reference voltage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Eon-Pyo Hong, Kyeong-Bae Park, Tae-Hee Kwak, Ki-Chul Choi
  • Patent number: 7314350
    Abstract: A fan controller for controlling the rotation of a rotor (with a fan blade) has a current limiting element to control current flow to a capacitive storage apparatus. More specifically, the fan controller has an input for receiving an input voltage, the noted capacitive storage in electrical communication with both rotor circuitry (that controls rotor rotation) and the input, and the noted current limiting element coupled between the input and the capacitive storage. The rotor circuitry is energizable by the input voltage, while, in a similar manner, the capacitive storage is capable of charging by receiving current from the input. The current limiting element at least in part controls current flow from the input to the capacitive storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Comair Rotron, Inc.
    Inventor: Fred A. Brown
  • Publication number: 20070286737
    Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for more accurately monitoring and determining pump failure. The apparatus and system include at least a power circuit, a current sensing circuit, alarm circuit and a controller. The controller is connectable to and receives an input from the current sensing circuit. The controller is configured to calculate a baseline operating current, current thresholds and operating conditions affecting the operation of the pump. The alarm circuit is connectable to and receives outputs from the controller, and provides alarm indications corresponding to operating conditions determined by the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Applicant: STAK Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen M. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7271563
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus for controlling an operation of a reciprocating compressor and a method therefor which can reduce errors in an operation of a stroke estimated value of the reciprocating compressor, by previously preventing over-saturation of a magnetic flux density generated in a coil of a motor. The apparatus for controlling the operation of the reciprocating compressor includes a magnetic flux saturation constant operation unit for operating a magnetic flux saturation constant of a motor of the reciprocating compressor on the basis of a stroke estimated value of the reciprocating compressor, a stroke reference value generation unit for generating an increased or decreased stroke reference value by increasing or decreasing a predetermined stroke reference value on the basis of the magnetic flux saturation constant, and a control unit for controlling a voltage applied to the motor of the reciprocating compressor on the basis of the generated stroke reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jae-Yoo Yoo, Chel-Woong Lee, Hyung-Joo Kim
  • Patent number: 7267531
    Abstract: A pump system includes a peristaltic pump having a rotor, a motor and a controller. The motor is configured to drive the peristaltic pump so as to deliver a liquid product from a source to a receiving location. The controller monitors a drive current of the motor so as to track rotation of the pump's rotor. The controller counts units of rotation of the pump's rotor, and stops the motor when the counted units of rotation reach a specified target count value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: JohnsonDiversey, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas D. Anderson, Andrew J. Cocking
  • Patent number: 7259533
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of controlling drive speed of a motor operating in overload conditions. The method includes the steps of: driving the motor at a predetermined reference speed; detecting phase voltage and phase current applied to the motor; determining whether or not the motor is operating in overload conditions based on the detected phase voltage and phase current; and controlling the motor according to whether or not the motor is operating in overload conditions. Accordingly, the present invention can prevent occurrence of over-current due to the instantaneous acceleration of the motor to a predetermined initial speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Soon-bae Yang, Tae-kyung Kim, Sung-min Park, Tae-won Kim
  • Publication number: 20070189907
    Abstract: A pump apparatus includes a housing. A rotor is eccentrically accommodated in the housing. A motor rotates the rotor in the housing. A vane is substantially radially movable relative to the rotor. The vane has a radially outer end that is slidable relative to an inner circumferential periphery of the housing as the rotor and the vane rotates for increasing or decreasing pressure of gas. A pressure sensor detects pressure of the gas. A control unit that evaluates whether an adherence abnormality, in which the vane adheres to the rotor, occurs in accordance with both a detection signal of the pressure sensor and electricity supplied to the motor when the motor rotates the rotor. When the control unit determines the adherence abnormality to be caused, the control unit operates the motor to remove the vane from the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seiji Kunihiro, Hitoshi Amano
  • Patent number: 7217103
    Abstract: A system for optimizing compressor output flow when a maximum power consumption limit exists and the compressor inlet pressure can vary. Utilizing the invention the maximum compressor output flow can be obtained even while the inlet pressure to the compressor varies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: RIX Industries
    Inventor: John Below
  • Patent number: 7168924
    Abstract: A rod pump control system includes a parameter estimator that determines from motor data parameters relating to operation of the rod pump and/or downhole dynamometer card without the need for external instrumentation, such as down hole sensors, rod load sensors, flow sensors, acoustic fluid level sensors, etc. In one embodiment, instantaneous motor current and voltage together with pump parameters are used in determining rod position and load. The rod position and load are used to control the operation of the rod pump to optimize the operation of the pump. Also disclosed in a pump stroke amplifier that is capable of increasing pump stroke without changing the overall pumping speed, or in the alternative, maintaining the well output with decreased overall pumping speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Unico, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Beck, Ronald G. Peterson, Mark E. Garlow, Theresa Smigura
  • Patent number: 7163380
    Abstract: An apparatus for and methods of control of a fluid flow. In a system for supercritical processing of an object, the apparatus includes a measuring device for measuring a pump performance parameter and a controller for adjusting a fluid flow in response to the performance parameter. The system further includes a processing chamber for performing a supercritical process and a device for circulating at least one of a gaseous, liquid, supercritical and near-supercritical fluid within the processing chamber. A method of control of a fluid flow includes the steps of: measuring a pump performance parameter; comparing a measured pump performance parameter to a predetermined target pump performance parameter; and adjusting a fluid flow in response to a difference in the measured pump performance parameter and the predetermined target pump performance parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: William Dale Jones
  • Patent number: 7163381
    Abstract: A pump includes a motor and a motor control in operative connection with the motor. The motor control provides energy input to the motor to drive the motor and receives feedback from the motor of motor function. The motor control includes a motor control protocol that controls the energy input to the motor based upon the feedback received from the motor. The motor control protocol causes a rapid increase in energy provided to the motor if motor feedback indicates an unusual load on the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Caesarea Medical Electronics
    Inventor: Swi Barak
  • Patent number: 7156873
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods for detecting an abnormal condition of a blood pump system based on the power consumption of the pump actuator. By plotting differentiated power consumption of the pump actuator over time against the power consumption, a plot pattern is obtained. A change of the plot pattern area and/or a movement of the plot pattern will indicate a change in condition of the pump. A Heart Pump Area (HPA) index may be established which corresponds to the changing area of the plot pattern over time. A Heart Pump Position (HPP) index may be established which corresponds to the changing position of the plot pattern over time (e.g., corresponding to the distance the plot pattern has moved). By plotting the HPA index against the HPP index, changes in the condition of the pump can be monitored and any abnormal condition of the pump can be detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignees: Miwatec Co., Ltd., Baylor College of Medicine
    Inventors: Yukihiko Nose, Toshiyuki Shinohara, Kuniyoshi Watanabe, Fumiyuki Ichihashi
  • Patent number: 7118347
    Abstract: The methods serves for activating an electric motor of a metering pump with which the fluid quantity (Vnom) to be delivered is set by an external impulse trigger, wherein a predetermined delivery quantity (Vnom) is allocated to each impulse (t). The control detects the temporal interval (?t) of the two last-received impulses and activates the electric motor such that the fluid quantity to be delivered, taking the previously evaluated interval as a basis, is distributed over the subsequent impulse interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Grundfos A/S
    Inventors: Kurt Solgaard, Bo Kragelund
  • Patent number: 7100382
    Abstract: A unitary control for operating at least the fan and compressor of a climate control apparatus in response to signals received from a thermostat, the unitary air conditioning control includes a circuit board, a microprocessor on the circuit board; a first relay on the circuit board operable by the microprocessor, to connect a fan connected thereto to line voltage, and having first and second contacts at least one of which is connected to the microprocessor; and a second relay on the circuit board operable by the microprocessor, to connect a fan connected thereto to line voltage, and having first and second contacts connected to the microprocessor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: William P. Butler, Dean A. Drake, Nagaraj B. Jayanth
  • Patent number: 7090470
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling a linear compressor is provided. The linear compressor controlling apparatus includes a voltage detection unit, a current detection unit, a control unit and a compressor drive unit. The voltage detection unit detects a voltage supplied to the linear compressor, while the current detection unit detects a current supplied to the linear compressor. The control unit determines whether a collision of a piston of the compressor with a valve of the compressor occurs using output signals of the voltage and current detection units, and controls the amplitude of the piston if the collision of the piston with the valve occurs. The compressor drive unit controls the amplitude of the piston under the control of the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tae-Duk Kim
  • Patent number: 7033147
    Abstract: A centrifugal fluid pump assembly includes a body section and a control mechanism 6. The body section includes a housing, an impeller rotatable within the housing, and a motor for rotating the impeller. The pump assembly includes a motor current flow rate-related data storage section for storing, for a plurality of different predetermined viscosities, predetermined viscosity-related flow rate data formed from a plurality of motor current flow rate relation data at a plurality of different impeller rotational speeds at predetermined fluid viscosity, a fluid measurement data inputting section, an impeller rotational speed measurement function, a motor current measurement function, and a flow rate calculating section 58 for using a fluid viscosity value, an impeller rotational speed value, a measured motor current and data stored in the motor current flow rate-related data storage section to calculate a fluid flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masamichi Yanai, Mitsutoshi Yaegashi
  • Patent number: 7025571
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for controlling a reciprocating compressor capable of inexpensively and exactly controlling a position of a piston in a cylinder, by which a top clearance is minimized according to the information of a phase difference between a square wave of a piston stroke and a square wave of a current supplied to the compressor. The apparatus comprises a driving section for driving the reciprocating compressor by varying an angle or ignition in response to a control signal; a current phase detecting section for outputting a square wave corresponding to the detected current supplied to the compressor; a stroke phase detecting section for outputting a square wave corresponding to a stroke of the compressor; and a control section for controlling the angle of ignition of the driving section according to the phase difference between the square wave produced from the current phase detecting section and the square wave produced from the stroke phase detecting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Young-Hwan Jeun
  • Patent number: 6997684
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fan arrangement comprising a radial or diagonal fan (370) with which a direct current motor (32) is associated as drive motor, further comprising a digital control element (23, 24) such as a microcontroller or microprocessor, associated with that direct current motor (32), and comprising a program, associated with that digital control element (23, 24), for controlling the current flowing through the direct current motor (32), which program is embodied to generate a substantially constant current in the motor (32) in the working rotation speed range of the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: ebm-papst St. Georgen GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Alexander Hahn, Hermann Rappenecker
  • Patent number: 6987373
    Abstract: A starting system for a pump includes a driving motor, an electric source, a selector switch, a starter sensor, a temperature sensor and a control unit. The selector switch is located between the driving motor and the electric source for reversing polarity of the electric power supplied from the electric source to the driving motor. The starter sensor senses whether or not the driving motor has been started. The temperature sensor senses a temperature. The control unit operates the selector switch so as to repeatedly give the driving motor indications of reverse rotation and normal rotation in a case where the starter sensor does not sense that the driving motor has been started even if the control unit operates the selector switch so as to give the driving motor the indication of normal rotation in a state where the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor is below a preset temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidishokki
    Inventors: Masanao Kagami, Toshiro Fujii, Kazuho Yamada, Tatsuyuki Hoshino, Takayuki Hirano
  • Patent number: 6960893
    Abstract: A driving apparatus of a linear motor which reciprocally drives a movable element supported by an elastic member, includes an inverter that converts a direct current power into an alternating-current power with a specified frequency to drive the linear motor, a current detector that detects the output current of the inverter, a voltage detector that detects the output voltage of the inverter, an amplitude detector that detects an amplitude of the movable element of the linear motor, an amplitude controller adjusts the output current or output voltage in a first control cycle so that the amplitude of the movable element is a desired constant value, and a resonant controller that adjusts the output frequency of the inverter in a second control cycle which is larger than the first control cycle so that the output current of the inverter is substantially minimum on condition that the amplitude is substantially constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Yoshida, Mitsuo Ueda
  • Patent number: 6954040
    Abstract: A free piston gas compressor comprising a cylinder, a piston reciprocable within the cylinder and a reciprocating linear electric motor derivably coupled to the piston having at least one excitation winding. A measure of the reciprocation time of the piston is obtained, any change in the reciprocation time is detected and the power input to said excitation winding is adjusted in response to any detected change in reciprocation time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Appliances Limited
    Inventors: Ian McGill, Zhuang Tian
  • Patent number: 6941785
    Abstract: A pump diagnostic system and method comprising current sensing probes clamped on electrical motor leads of a pump for sensing only current signals on incoming motor power, a signal processor having a means for buffering and anti-aliasing current signals into a pump motor current signal, and a computer having a means for analyzing, displaying, and reporting motor current signatures from the motor current signal to determine pump health using integrated motor and pump diagnostic parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventors: Howard D. Haynes, Daryl F. Cox, Donald E. Welch