| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080315584 | Engine start system with a regulated permanent magnet machine - An electromechanical power transfer system that transfers power between a direct current (DC) electrical power system and a prime mover, comprises: a permanent magnet machine (PMM) comprising a permanent magnet (PM) rotor that rotates a drive shaft of the prime mover, a stator with a multiphase alternating current (AC) winding coupled to the AC bus for developing a rotating magnetic field with a magnetic flux path that causes rotation of the PM rotor and a control coil with a winding that has a configuration to generate a magnetic field with flux that varies the reactance of the stator winding upon the application of current through the control coil; a plurality of AC current sensors for sensing the current in each phase of the multi-phase AC bus and generating respective AC bus current signals that represent the current level of each phase; an average current detector that receives the AC bus current signals and generates a respective current load feedback signal; a back electromotive force (emf) detector coupled to the AC bus that detects back emf generated by the stator in response to the application of AC power to the stator and generates a back emf signal representative of the detected level of back emf; a rotor position/speed estimator that receives the back emf signal and generates an estimated rotor position signal that is representative of the position of the rotor, an estimated rotor speed signal that is representative of the speed of the rotor and a closed loop enable signal that indicates a speed for the electrical starting system to switch from an open loop mode of operation to a closed loop mode of operation; a control coil current sensor for generating a control coil current signal in a control coil current feedback loop that is representative of the level of electrical current in the control coil; a first speed switch that switches between an open loop position reference signal that represents a desired position of the rotor in an open loop mode and the estimated rotor position signal that represents the position of the rotor in a closed loop mode to provide a position reference signal; a second speed switch that switches between an open loop current reference signal that represents a desired control coil current level in the open loop mode and a closed loop current reference signal that represents a desired control coil current level in the closed loop mode to provide a control coil current reference signal; an inverter/rectifier system for converting DC power from the DC power system to multiphase alternating current (AC) power on an AC bus; a control coil current regulator system for regulating current through the control coil; wherein the inverter/rectifier system responds to the position reference signal, the current load feedback signal and a current load reference signal to regulate acceleration of the PMM; wherein the control coil current regulator system responds to the control coil current reference signal and the control coil current feedback signal to regulate current in the PMM; and wherein the power transfer system starts in the open loop mode, the rotor position/speed estimator generates the closed loop enable signal that indicates a speed for the electrical starting system to switch from the open loop mode of operation to the closed loop mode of operation at a predetermined rotor speed, and the first and second speed switches respond to the closed loop enable mode to switch from their open loop mode to their closed loop mode. | 12-25-2008 |
| 20090008993 | Hybrid electromechanical power transfer system - An electromechanical power transfer system that transfers power between a prime mover and a combination of multiphase alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) electrical power systems, comprises: a dynamoelectric machine that has a rotor assembly coupled to the prime mover, a main stator with a multiphase alternating current (AC) winding coupled to a main stator bus and a control coil with a winding that varies the output of the main stator with the application of control coil current; a matrix converter coupled to the main stator bus for converting AC on the main stator bus to AC of a desired electrical frequency and potential on an AC system bus; an active rectifier coupled to the main stator bus for converting AC on the main stator bus to DC of a desired potential on a DC bus; and a system control unit for generating the control coil current with a level that regulates the output of the main stator on the main stator bus, controlling the output of the matrix converter to regulate the output of the AC system bus and controlling the output of the active rectifier to regulate the output of the DC bus. | 01-08-2009 |
| 20090009146 | Generating system with a regulated permanent magnet machine - An electromechanical power transfer system that transfers power between a prime mover and a direct current (DC) electrical power system, comprises: a permanent magnet machine (PMM) that has a permanent magnet (PM) rotor coupled to the prime mover, a stator with a multiphase alternating current (AC) winding coupled to an AC bus and a control coil with a winding that has a configuration to generate a magnetic field with flux that varies the reactance of the stator winding with the application of control coil current; a position sensing system for generating a rotor position signal that is representative of the angular position of the PM rotor; a control coil current sensor for generating a control coil current signal that is representative of the level of electrical current in the control coil; an electrical potential sensor for generating a DC bus potential signal that is representative of the level of DC potential on the DC bus; an electrical current sensor for generating a DC bus current signal that is representative of the level of DC current that the active rectifier supplies to the electrical load by way of the DC bus; an output power estimator that compares the DC bus potential signal with the DC bus current signal to generate an output power signal; a differentiator that receives the output power signal to generate a respective rate of output power signal; a summer that adds the rate of output power signal with the DC bus potential signal to generate a DC potential feedback signal; and a selectable main active/passive rectifier system for converting multiphase AC power developed by the stator to DC power supplied to the electrical load by way of a DC bus; a control coil current regulator system to regulate the control coil current; wherein the control coil current regulator system generates a level of the control coil current that regulates current in the stator to a desired level in response to a control coil current feedback loop that comprises the control coil current signal and a DC bus potential feedback loop that comprises the DC potential feedback signal and in a generating mode the main active rectifier system maintains a constant potential on the DC bus regardless of sudden changes in electrical load on the DC bus in response to the DC bus potential feedback loop and the rotor position feedback loop; and wherein both the control coil current regulator system and the main active rectifier system switch from an active regulating mode to a protection non-regulating mode upon detection of a fault in the DC bus. | 01-08-2009 |
| 20090045292 | ENGINE HAVING POWER BUS FAULT SHORT CIRCUIT CONTROL WITH A DISCONNECTION SWITCH - An aircraft electrical system comprises a generator to be driven as part of a gas turbine engine. The generator supplies electrical power to a plurality of accessories associated with the gas turbine engine, and to an aircraft power bus in parallel to the supply to the accessories. A control detects a short circuit on the aircraft power bus. When a short circuit is detected on the aircraft power bus, a switch is driven open to disconnect the aircraft power bus from the generator. In this manner, the power will continue to be delivered to the plurality of accessories. In a separate feature, a control voltage is provided by an auxiliary permanent magnet generator to a voltage regulator for the main generator. | 02-19-2009 |
| 20090045293 | GENERATOR FOR GAS TURBINE ENGINE HAVING DC BUS FAULT SHORT CIRCUIT CONTROL USING A BATTERY - An aircraft electrical system comprises a generator to be driven as part of a gas turbine engine. The generator supplies electrical power to a plurality of accessories associated with the gas turbine engine, and to an aircraft DC bus in parallel to the supply to the accessories. A battery supplies voltage to a control circuit for the generator through a selectively opened and closed switch. A control detects a short circuit on the aircraft DC bus. The battery switch allows power from the battery to flow to provide control voltage for the generator when the control detects a short circuit on the aircraft DC bus. | 02-19-2009 |
| 20090079261 | GENERATOR FOR GAS TURBINE ENGINE HAVING MAIN DC BUS ACCESSORY AC BUS - An aircraft electrical system includes a generator that supplies electrical AC power to a plurality of accessories associated with a gas turbine engine. The generator also supplies power to an aircraft DC bus in parallel to the supply to the accessory bus. | 03-26-2009 |
| 20090091132 | STARTER/GENERATOR SYSTEM WITH CONTROL TO ADDRESS A VOLTAGE RISE - A control circuit for a generator has a control function that monitors the voltage across a bus capacitor. The circuit delivers excess voltage back to associated stator windings if an unduly high voltage is detected across the bus capacitor. | 04-09-2009 |
| 20090115269 | ELECTRIC MOTOR CONTROL WITH BUCK BOOST CONVERTER - A power supply for an electric motor includes a converter that can increase and decrease a voltage supplied into an inverter and then into the stator windings of the motor. As a separate feature, the inverter includes a control coil which is positioned within a motor housing such that it may be cooled by a thermal management system for the motor. | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090153083 | METHOD OF OPERATING A BRUSHLESS MOTOR WHEREIN OPEN LOOP AND CLOSED LOOP CONTROLLERS UTILIZE DIFFERENT COMMUTATION METHODS - A motor control is provided with both open loop and closed loop controllers. The open loop and closed loop controllers provide commutation signals back to gate drives for an inverter, wherein the commutation signals utilize sinusoidal signals in open loop control, and utilize six step commutation in closed loop control. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090167225 | Motor Drive Architecture with Active Snubber - A method and apparatus is disclosed for controlling a system comprising at least one electric motor. The motor drive circuit includes a reconfigurable active snubber. Under given resonance conditions, the active snubber is configured to use a resistive element to dissipate electrical transients across the commutation circuit. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090167255 | Voltage Regulation to Reduce Ripple in a Power Generation System - Methods and systems are disclosed for reducing alternating current ripples in direct current electrical power generation systems with one or more regulated permanent magnet machines. Ripple suppression is achieved, in one aspect, by modulating the control current of a regulated permanent magnet machine. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090167541 | Monitoring of Capacitor - A capacitive element is monitored to detect at least one of a degradation level, a capacitor life expectancy, and preferably servicing alarms are generated upon detection of a critical health state. The system allows, among other things, non-hermetically sealed capacitances to be safely and cost-effectively used in weight-sensitive applications, such as in aircraft electronic systems. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090187326 | ELECTRIC MOTOR FOR FUEL PUMP WITH IMPROVED SHUTDOWN FEATURES - An electric motor for a fuel pump is provided with a shutdown switch positioned intermediate an inverter, and its control coil. In this location, the shutdown function can be achieved without heavy components. In another feature, when the fuel pump is shut down, a signal is sent upstream to a voltage regulator associated with a generator, such that the voltage supplied downstream by the generator can be reduced to eliminate any potential voltage spike due to the shutdown of the electric motor. The electric motor with shutdown switch enables low weight fault tolerant flux regulated machines. | 07-23-2009 |
| 20090251020 | Permanent magnet dynamoelectric machine with variable magnetic flux excitation - A permanent magnet (PM) dynamoelectric machine with directly controllable field excitation control comprises: a drive shaft; a PM rotor assembly with multiple PMs arranged around an outer axial periphery of the rotor assembly; a stator assembly comprising a ferromagnetic stator yoke, multiple ferromagnetic stator teeth mounted to the stator yoke with distal ends proximate the outer axial periphery of the rotor assembly separated by an air gap and multiple stator coils mounted between the stator teeth; multiple saturable ferromagnetic shunts, each shunt coupling adjacent distal ends of the stator teeth to shunt air gap magnetic flux Φ | 10-08-2009 |
| 20090251112 | Permanent magnet electric generator with variable magnet flux excitation - A permanent magnet (PM) electric generator with directly controllable field excitation control comprises: a drive shaft; a PM rotor assembly with multiple PMs arranged around an outer axial periphery of the rotor assembly; a stator assembly comprising a ferromagnetic stator yoke, multiple ferromagnetic stator teeth mounted to the stator yoke with distal ends proximate the outer axial periphery of the rotor assembly separated by an air gap and multiple stator coils mounted between the stator teeth; multiple saturable ferromagnetic shunts, each shunt coupling adjacent distal ends of the stator teeth to shunt air gap magnetic flux Φ | 10-08-2009 |
| 20090256511 | Direct Flux Regulated Permanent Magnet Brushless Motor Utilizing Sensorless Control - A permanent magnet rotor for use in a flux regulated permanent magnet brushless machine is constructed such that the inductance along the direct and quadrature axes is markedly different to provide sensorless position feedback for the rotor. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090261586 | Dual Channel Power Generation System - A dual channel power generation system comprises: a prime mover; a permanent magnet (PM) dynamoelectric machine that has a PM rotor coupled to the prime mover, two multiphase alternating current (AC) stators that develop electromotive force (EMF) in response to rotation of the PM rotor due to the magnetic flux linkage between the PM rotor and the stators, two control coils that each change the magnetic flux linkage of a respective stator in response to the level of a control current that passes through the control coil; a multiphase AC rectifier for each stator that receives AC power from its respective stator to supply DC power on a respective rectifier bus; a current feedback loop for each rectifier bus; a voltage feedback loop for each rectifier bus; a load-sharing controller responsive to both current feedback loops to develop a voltage regulator reference signal for each rectifier bus that is representative of the value of voltage that its corresponding stator should produce to maintain equal values of current for both rectifier buses; and a voltage regulator for each rectifier bus responsive to its respective voltage feedback loop and voltage regulator reference signal to produce the control current for its respective control coil that changes the magnetic flux linkage of its respective stator to maintain the value of voltage that its corresponding stator should produce to maintain equal values of current for both rectifier buses. | 10-22-2009 |
| 20090273952 | INVERTER WITH HIGH FREQUENCY ISOLATION TRANSFORMER - An inverter receives a DC power supply and converts it into AC power to a primary coil of a high frequency transformer. The output of the high frequency transformer passes through two secondary coils, and each secondary coil is associated with a bus. The busses supply positive and negative AC power to a downstream output. The flow of the power from the two busses is alternatively controlled to provide a desired frequency on the output. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20100034003 | Electric Power Generation and Conversion with Controlled Magnetics - A power conversion system comprises: a source of multiphase high frequency alternating current (AC) electrical input power; a high frequency controlled magnetics transformer for each phase of the multiphase high frequency AC input power, with each transformer having a primary winding coupled to its respective phase of the multiphase high frequency AC input power, at least one secondary winding that produces high frequency AC output power and at least one control winding responsive to a direct current (DC) control signal that changes the high frequency output power in proportion to the amplitude of the DC control signal; a power converter that receives the multiphase high frequency AC output power from each high frequency transformer secondary and converts it to system output power without the high frequency AC content; and a system controller responsive to the system output power that produces a DC control signal for each control winding that changes in amplitude in response to changes in a measured parameter of the system output power. | 02-11-2010 |
| 20100045222 | DIRECT FLUX REGULATED PERMANENT MAGNET BRUSHLESS MOTOR UTILIZING SENSORLESS CONTROL BY DC AND AC EXCITATION - A flux regulated permanent magnet brushless motor has a stator having an inner peripheral bore. A permanent magnet rotor is mounted within the inner peripheral bore. A control winding is supplied to a DC current to regulate flux of the machine. A small AC current is also supplied and an output is sensed to determine a position of the permanent magnet rotor. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100141028 | MORE ELECTRIC ENGINE WITH REGULATED PERMANENT MAGNET MACHINES - A generator and associated power supply system comprises a prime mover for driving a shaft to rotate. A pair of permanent magnets is associated with the rotating shaft. A first stator winding is associated with a first of said permanent magnets, with a customer DC bus for providing a first relatively low voltage to the customer DC bus. A second of said permanent magnets is associated with a second stator winding, and an engine accessory DC bus. The engine accessory DC bus provides power to a motor controller and associated accessory motors associated with the prime mover. The engine accessory DC bus is provided with a second relatively high voltage from the second stator winding. | 06-10-2010 |
| 20100181969 | VOLTAGE REGULATED PERMANENT MAGNET GENERATOR - A single phase AC generator uses a rotor contained within a stator. The stator has an armature winding and a control winding which is capable of having its magnetic permeability adjusted, thereby limiting the output voltage of the armature winding. The stator additionally has two core sections. | 07-22-2010 |
| 20100283242 | High Voltage Start of an Engine from a Low Voltage Battery - Method and system are disclosed for starting a high voltage engine using a starter permanent magnet motor. The starter motor is powered using a DC power source remote from the starter motor. A bidirectional DC-to-DC converter local to the DC power source is used to produce a variable high voltage variable frequency power for driving the starter motor, and is remotely controlled to produce a controlled output current level. During generate mode the DC-DC converter may be used to charge the battery. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20100283415 | Motor Drive System with Flux Regulated PM Generator - A method of generating and controlling power for an alternating current (AC) motor by means of at least one controlled permanent magnet machine (PMM) with a permanent magnet (PM) rotor and a stator with a magnetic flux diverter circuit for controlling the output of the PMM, comprises the steps of: rotating the PM rotor at a velocity sufficient to develop a high frequency alternating current (HFAC) power output from the stator; transforming the HFAC output to produce a variable low frequency alternating current (AC) motor control output for the motor; sensing desired motor control parameters; generating a control signal responsive to the sensed parameters; and applying the control signal to the magnetic flux diverter circuit to control the motor control output. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20100284208 | POWER-CONVERSION CONTROL SYSTEM INCLUDING SLIDING MODE CONTROLLER AND CYCLOCONVERTER - A power-conversion control system includes an inverter, a cycloconverter, and a sliding mode controller. The inverter is operable to receive a DC voltage input and produce a first AC voltage output having a first frequency. The cycloconverter has a plurality of bidirectional switches, and is operable to receive the first AC voltage and to synthesize a second AC voltage having a second frequency that is lower than the first frequency. The sliding mode controller is operable to provide a control signal to command the plurality of bidirectional switches to turn OFF and ON when the first AC voltage is at a zero crossing condition. The sliding mode controller is also operable to selectively adjust the frequency and amplitude of the second AC voltage. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20100295517 | POWER GENERATING SYSTEM WITH FLUX REGULATED GENERATOR - A method for generating and controlling power by means of at least one controlled permanent magnet machine (PMM) with a permanent magnet (PM) rotor and a stator with a magnetic flux diverter circuit for controlling the output of the PMM, comprises the steps of: rotating the PM rotor at a velocity sufficient to develop a high frequency alternating current (HFAC) power output from the stator; transforming the HFAC output to produce a desired non-HFAC power output; sensing desired power output parameters; generating a control signal responsive to the sensed parameters; and applying the control signal to the magnetic flux diverter circuit to control the desired power output. | 11-25-2010 |
| 20100308582 | STARTING/GENERATING SYSTEM WITH MULTI-FUNCTIONAL CIRCUIT BREAKER - A pre-charge circuit limits in-rush currents on a direct current (DC) link that includes a first DC link bus and a second DC link bus. The pre-charge circuit includes a switching device connected in series with the first DC link bus. The switching device has an ON state in which power flow is enabled on the DC link and an OFF state in which power is disabled on the DC link. A controller selectively modulates the state of the switching device to limit in-rush currents on the DC link. | 12-09-2010 |
| 20110031841 | Permanent Magnet Brushless Machine with Magnetic Flux Regulation - A permanent magnet machine (PMM) comprises: a generally cylindrical permanent magnet (PM) rotor that comprises multiple PM rotor poles arranged around a rotor axis of rotation; and a stator with two generally cylindrical and concentric yokes, an inner yoke proximate the PM rotor with associated multiple inner poles and inner armature windings suitable for multiphase alternating current operation that form a PMM magnetic flux circuit, an outer yoke with associated multiple outer poles and outer control windings suitable for connection to a direct current source, with distal ends of the outer poles in contact with the inner yoke to form an external magnetic flux circuit that diverts magnetic flux from the PMM magnetic flux circuit; wherein application of increasing direct current to the outer windings results in increased magnetic reluctance of the external magnetic flux circuit, thereby causing the external magnetic flux circuit to divert less magnetic flux from the PMM magnetic flux circuit. | 02-10-2011 |
| 20110062280 | ELECTROMAGNETIC LANDING GEAR BRAKES - An electromagnetic control for the landing gear of an aircraft includes a hub to be fixed to a frame of an aircraft landing gear. A rotor rotates with a tire on the aircraft landing gear. Permanent magnetic disks are associated with the rotor, and interspersed with disks on the hub. Some of the disks on the hub are electromagnetic disks supplied with electric power, and some of the plurality of disks on the hub are made of high electric conductivity material. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110062786 | ELECTRIC POWER GENERATING SYSTEM FOR MULTIPLE SOURCES AND INTERFACE TO AN AC GRID - An electric power generating system includes a plurality of variable power sources including at least one source of DC power and at least one source of AC power. Converters convert power supplied by the plurality of power sources to a common source of power to be communicated to a collector bus. A power grid supplies three-phase power to components requiring three-phase power downstream of the collector bus. Converters provide three phases of power to the power bus from the collector bus. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110062833 | TRANSVERSE REGULATED FLUX ALTERNATOR - An alternator has a rotor to be associated with a prime mover shaft and driven for rotation. The rotor is provided with permanent magnets. A stator has pole pieces, including a main winding and flux diverters separating the main winding from a control coil. Control is provided for controlling the power passing through the control coil. The alternator is a transverse flux machine. A vehicle power system including the alternator is also disclosed. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110121769 | MULTI-TASKING POWER PROCESSOR FOR A VEHICLE ELECTRIC SYSTEM - A multi-tasking power processor ( | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110128707 | POWER SEMICONDUCTOR MODULE FOR WIDE TEMPERATURE APPLICATIONS - A power semiconductor module includes an insulating substrate with a conductive circuit layer attached to one side and a baseplate attached to the other side. A power semiconductor device is attached to the conductive circuit layer. The conductive circuit layer and the baseplate are formed of a material with a coefficient of thermal expansion less than about 8.0×10 | 06-02-2011 |
| 20110133485 | TRANSVERSE REGULATED FLUX MACHINE - A machine has a rotor to be associated with a shaft. The rotor is provided with permanent magnets. A stator has pole pieces, including a main winding and flux diverters separating the main winding from a control coil. Control is provided for controlling the power passing through the control coil. The machine is a transverse flux machine. The machine may be utilized as a generator, an electric motor, or for other application. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110133703 | ARCHITECTURE FOR DUAL SOURCE ELECTRIC POWER GENERATING SYSTEM - A dual source electric power generating system (EPGS) provides both a regulated AC output and a regulated DC output. The EPGS includes a rotating portion and a stationary portion. The stationary portion includes a plurality of windings (permanent magnet generator (PMG) armature windings, an exciter field winding, and high-voltage main generator armature windings), a voltage regulator, a rectifier, an inverter, a point of regulation (POR) sensor. The high-voltage main generator armature windings generate a high-voltage AC that is converted to a regulated, high-voltage AC by the rectifier and the inverter. The stationary portion is further characterized by circuitry for producing the regulated DC output from AC voltage produced by a winding other than the high-voltage main generator armature windings. | 06-09-2011 |
