With Signals, Indicators, Recorders, Testing, Etc. Patents (Class 322/99)
  • Patent number: 11913993
    Abstract: A detector 100, which detects an abnormality of a communication line L1 connecting a moving body controller 30 and an energy storage apparatus 50 that are mounted on a moving body 10, detects occurrence or non-occurrence of the abnormality of the communication line L1 based on at least two pieces of information from: a moving body state signal Sv transmitted from the moving body controller 30 to the energy storage apparatus 50 and stored in the energy storage apparatus 50; a communication state between the moving body controller 30 and the energy storage apparatus 50; and information on the charge and discharge of the energy storage apparatus 50.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: GS YUASA INTERNATIONAL LTD.
    Inventor: Takeyuki Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 11695366
    Abstract: Provided are a short circuit state analyzer to compare difference value when the AC excitation current is applied at a first frequency with a threshold value, to estimate a short circuit resistance from the difference value based on data indicating a relationship between the short circuit resistance and the difference value at the first frequency when the difference value is smaller than the threshold value, to cause an excitation power supply to apply the AC excitation current to the field windings at a second frequency lower than the first frequency when the difference value is equal to or greater than the threshold value, and to estimate the short circuit resistance from a difference value obtained by the AC excitation current at the second frequency based on data indicating a relationship between the short circuit resistance and the difference value at the second frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuji Takizawa, Haruyuki Kometani, Ryosuke Kawashima, Kohei Majima, Susumu Maeda
  • Patent number: 11346885
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a winding interlayer short-circuit detection apparatus includes a processor configured to perform at least an interlayer short-circuit detecting process to detect, based on a difference between a measurement value of a field current in a field winding of a brushless exciter and a reference value, and based on a difference between a calculated value of an armature reaction voltage induced in the field winding of the brushless exciter and a reference value, a presence or absence of an interlayer short-circuit that may occur in any of the field winding of the brushless exciter, an armature winding of the brushless exciter, and a field winding of a rotary electric machine body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Sato, Masafumi Fujita, Norio Takahashi, Ken Nagakura, Koji Ando, Yoichi Tomoe
  • Patent number: 11280836
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting failures in a single-phase AC motor is disclosed. After a startup sequence, the motor is unpowered and a measurement is taken across terminals in the motor to detect a signal from residual magnetism in the iron core of the rotor. If the rotor was successfully started, the signal will be above a predetermined threshold. The signal may be measured across either a main stator winding or a start stator winding. Where the signal does not exceed the predetermined threshold, the startup sequence may be re-initiated and/or a failure message may be sent to an operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas B. Campbell
  • Patent number: 11061789
    Abstract: The subject disclosure relates to employing grouping and selection components to facilitate a grouping of failure data associated with oil and gas exploration equipment into one or more equipment failure type groups. In an example, a method comprises grouping, by a system operatively coupled to a processor, training data of a set of equipment failure data into one or more failure type groups based on one or more determined failure criteria, wherein the one or more failure type groups represent equipment failure classifications associated with energy exploration processes; and selecting, by the system, first ungrouped data from the set of equipment failure data based on a level of similarity between the first ungrouped data and the training data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jing Ding, Jing Li, Ji Jiang Song, Jian Wang
  • Patent number: 11063465
    Abstract: A switching mode front end surge protection circuit protects downstream devices from a load dump. Specifically, the switching mode front end surge protection circuit includes a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) that operates in either one of two modes based on an input voltage provided by an alternator. When the input voltage is less than a voltage threshold value, the MOSFET operates in a pass-through mode. When the input voltage is greater than the voltage threshold value, the MOSFET operates in a switching mode to oscillate between an on state and an off state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: NovAtel Inc.
    Inventor: Jack Zhan
  • Patent number: 11030064
    Abstract: The subject disclosure relates to employing grouping and selection components to facilitate a grouping of failure data associated with oil and gas exploration equipment into one or more equipment failure type groups. In an example, a method comprises grouping, by a system operatively coupled to a processor, training data of a set of equipment failure data into one or more failure type groups based on one or more determined failure criteria, wherein the one or more failure type groups represent equipment failure classifications associated with energy exploration processes; and selecting, by the system, first ungrouped data from the set of equipment failure data based on a level of similarity between the first ungrouped data and the training data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jing Ding, Jing Li, Ji Jiang Song, Jian Wang
  • Patent number: 10843567
    Abstract: A monitoring system includes: a first monitor that receives, from a first output terminal, a voltage detected by a voltage detector and information on a circuit failure; a second monitor that receives, from a second output terminal, an abnormal voltage signal detected by the voltage detector; and a vehicle controller that electrically disconnects a driving motor from an electricity storing unit. When a circuit failure occurs in one circuit of a circuit on a side of the first output terminal and a circuit on a side of the second output terminal and a circuit failure does not occur in the other circuit, and the electricity storing unit is normal, the vehicle controller connects the driving motor with the electricity storing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masato Nishikawa, Kimihiko Furukawa, Hidetsugu Mukae, Shinya Inui, Tomonori Kawamoto
  • Patent number: 10732208
    Abstract: A flexible current sensor comprising a sensing coil wound on a cylindrical flexible core where the sensing coil comprises two in series connected overlapping windings wound along the cylindrical flexible core in mutually opposite direction. The cylindrical flexible core comprises a plurality of individual fibers from a nonmagnetic material arranged into the nearest approximation of a cylindrical shape and the sensing coil is equipped with a nonconductive separation layer located between its windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Inventor: Ladislav Gr{hacek over (n)}o
  • Patent number: 10727018
    Abstract: A circuit interrupter including a line conductor, a neutral conductor, separable contacts structured to open to interrupt current flowing through the line and neutral conductors, a circuit interrupter circuit structured to detect a fault based on current flowing through the line and neutral conductors and to output a trip signal in response to detecting the fault, a trip circuit structured to trip open the separable contacts in response to the trip signal, and an audible indicator circuit electrically connected between the line and neutral conductors and being structured to output an audible sound in response to the trip circuit tripping open the separable contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Lin Yang, Tom Xiong, Haidong Zhang, Martin Chen, Lili Du
  • Patent number: 10193479
    Abstract: A regulator has a circuit generating an activation command by bringing, to a first voltage higher than a high reference voltage, a bidirectional line connected to a detection circuit for detecting a status of the activation command. The detection circuit comprises generation means for generating a fault signal from a flag indicating a failure of the alternator, linking the line to a ground by means of a switching element, thus bringing the line to a second voltage lower than a fault voltage lower than the high reference voltage, and the control circuit comprises detection means for detecting the fault signal. The control circuit further transmits a setpoint PWM signal having a maximum higher than the high reference voltage and a minimum lower than a low reference voltage higher than the fault voltage, a duty ratio of the setpoint signal being representative of a setpoint voltage (V0) of the regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur
    Inventors: Pierre Chassard, Pierre Tisserand, Laurent De Lamarre, Thibault Arrou
  • Patent number: 10050565
    Abstract: Provided are a piezoelectric energy harvester and a wireless switch including a piezoelectric energy harvester. The piezoelectric energy harvester uses energy generated in the piezoelectric energy harvester as driving power, thereby transmitting communications signals to an external lighting device using this driving power. Furthermore, the piezoelectric energy harvester generates power having different magnitudes depending on magnitudes of external force applied to a pressing member by a user or duration of the external force. A transmitting module of the wireless switch transmits signals that may adjust intensity of light to the external lighting device depending on the magnitudes of the generated power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: In Wha Jeong, Jong Heum Park, Hugh Kim
  • Patent number: 9356462
    Abstract: A battery charging apparatus includes a plurality of input terminals which are connected to respective phases of a three-phase AC dynamo, and a rectifying circuit including a plurality of rectifying elements and a plurality of switching elements. A switching element control unit and pulse generation unit are provided, for controlling the turning on/off of the switching elements, and for generating a pulse signal, respectively. The switching element control unit is configured to control the plurality of switching elements, and includes a potential difference detection unit configured to detect potential differences between potentials of input terminals, and a specifying unit configured to determine a phase order of AC outputs which are input to the input terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignees: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., SHINDENGEN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yutaka Sonoda, Katsuhiro Ouchi, Kazuhiko Ono, Takeaki Sugimoto, Yuta Inoguchi
  • Patent number: 9088240
    Abstract: The invention relates to an energy storage device (2) comprising at least one first energy supply branch (2a, 2b, 2c) which is designed to supply a separately excited electrical machine (1) with energy via a first connection (3a, 3b, 3c), and a second energy supply branch (2d) which is connected in parallel to the at least one first energy supply branch (2a, 2b, 2c) and which is designed to supply a field winding (11) of the separately excited electrical machine (1) with current via a second connection (3d), the at least one first energy supply branch (2a, 2b, 2c) and the second energy supply branch (2d) being connected to the field winding (11) by means of third connections (4a, 4b, 4c; 4d) via a common reference bus (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Feuerstack, Erik Weissenborn, Martin Kessler
  • Patent number: 8912766
    Abstract: A generator airgap monitoring system includes a first proximity sensor disposed in a first location of a stator and configured to transmit a first signal representative of a first distance between the first proximity sensor and a plurality of rotor poles of a rotor, and a controller communicatively coupled to the first proximity sensor. The controller is configured to derive a first plurality of instantaneous airgaps based on the first signal and to determine a difference between a first instantaneous airgap of the first plurality of instantaneous airgaps and a second instantaneous airgap of the first plurality of instantaneous airgaps. The first plurality of instantaneous airgaps includes a first plurality of measurements of airgaps between the stator and the plurality of rotor poles when the rotor is rotating. The first instantaneous airgap and the second instantaneous airgaps include measurements for respective rotor poles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Wesley Grant, Raymond Verle Jensen
  • Publication number: 20140225576
    Abstract: A system includes a first proximity sensor and a controller. The first proximity sensor is disposed in a first location of a stator and configured to transmit a first signal representative of a first distance between the first proximity sensor and a plurality of rotor poles. The controller is communicatively coupled to the first proximity sensor. The controller is configured to derive a first plurality of instantaneous airgaps based on the first signal and to determine a difference between a first instantaneous airgap of the first plurality of airgaps and a second instantaneous airgap of the first plurality of airgaps. The first plurality of instantaneous airgaps includes a first plurality of measurements of gaps between the stator and the plurality of rotor poles when the rotor is rotating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: John Wesley Grant, Raymond Verle Jensen
  • Publication number: 20140070775
    Abstract: A method for detecting shorted turns in the windings of salient rotor poles of an electric rotating machine, the method comprising: for each one of the salient rotor poles, measuring a radial magnetic flux between a stator of the electric rotating machine and the salient rotor pole, and measuring a thickness of an air-gap between the stator and the salient rotor pole; for each one of the salient rotor poles, determining an expected radial flux using the measured radial magnetic flux and the measured thickness of the air-gap; and identifying shorted turns by comparing, for each one of the salient rotor poles, the measured radial magnetic flux to the expected radial magnetic flux.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: VIBROSYSTM INC.
    Inventor: Marius CLOUTIER
  • Publication number: 20140055103
    Abstract: The electric machine comprises at least one winding made of a material having a temperature dependent resistance. The temperature of the winding is monitored using the resistance therein. Temperatures or resistances indicative of a fault can be sensed, and corrective action taken, without the need for dedicated temperature sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventor: Kevin Allan DOOLEY
  • Patent number: 8624564
    Abstract: A method of estimating rotor speed of a generator 106 having a rotor 110 and a stator 112 is provided. The method may provide a source current to the stator 112, determine a relative rotor speed based on a sensor signal provided by a rotor speed sensor 130, determine a relative rotor position corresponding to the relative rotor speed, determine an absolute rotor position based on the sensor signal and phase currents, and calibrate the sensor signal based on an offset between the relative rotor position and the absolute rotor position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Hartman, Robert Lindsey, Jackson Wai, Jesse Gerdes
  • Publication number: 20130265013
    Abstract: Parameters of PM machines, especially for IPM machine, are known to vary by significant amounts. This affects the controllability of such machines, which may lead to reduced power loading capability and increased losses. The present invention relates to a method for PM machine inductance profile identification based on voltage mode stator flux observation which could be easily integrated to the generator start-up process in wind turbine application for both stator flux vector feedback control system and current vector feedback control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Shu Yu CAO, Anshuman TRIPATHI, Swee Yee FONN, Ramasamy ANBARASU, Amit Kumar GUPTA
  • Patent number: 8536839
    Abstract: A method is provided for monitoring and/or analysis of electrical machines during operation. An electrical machine has at least one generator with a shaft, an exciter system and drive device that drives the shaft. In this case, a first signal, which describes a voltage across a rotor winding, and a second signal, which describes a current flowing through the rotor winding, are measured simultaneously. The two signals are supplied to an analysis unit. The signals are split into individual frequency components in the analysis unit. The impedance of the rotor winding is then determined in order to identify fault states in the electrical machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Alston Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Max Hobelsberger, Bernhard Mark
  • Patent number: 8525490
    Abstract: A power supply device includes: a magneto generator with a rotor having a magnet; a torque supplying device supplying torque to the rotor; a rectifier circuit supplying electric power to a electrical load device by rectifying an output of the magneto generator; a short circuit electrically shorting an output end of the magneto generator; a voltage detection circuit detecting a terminal voltage of the electrical load device; and a control circuit controlling a voltage of the electrical load device to be a first set value by controlling the short circuit to switch ON (short operating mode) and OFF (rectification operating mode) according to the voltage detected by the voltage detection circuit and allowing the short circuit to operate while making a switching between the two operating modes according to a operating state relating to a rotation of the rotor of the magneto generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Itoi, Masayoshi Maeda, Nobuhiro Kihara, Hiroshi Okuda, Fumito Uemura
  • Patent number: 8497664
    Abstract: A generator system that includes a six-phase AC machine and an active rectifier bridge employing low on-resistance switches, such as MOSFET switches, for converting the AC current from the machine to a DC current. The system also includes a switch control circuit to switch the MOSFET switches in synchronization with the six-phase current flow. The system determines the phase-to-ground voltages of the machine for inputs to the switch control circuit. The control circuit calculates the phase-to-phase voltages from the phase-to-ground voltages. The control circuit uses a specific control scheme to determine if each of the phase-to-phase voltages is above or below first and second predetermined threshold voltages, where if the phase-to-phase voltage is above the first threshold voltage, the control circuit closes the switch, and if the phase-to-phase voltage is below the second threshold voltage, the control circuit opens the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Lei Hao, Chandra S. Namuduri
  • Patent number: 8427116
    Abstract: A starting/generating system includes a rotor portion and a stator portion. The stator portion is connected to a DC power source during starting operations and to a DC load during generating operations, and includes a DC link having a first and second DC link bus, a DC link capacitor connected between the DC link buses, and an inverter/rectifier that converts AC power to DC power and vice versa. A switching device is connected in series on the first DC link bus and is controlled by a controller that turns the switching device On and Off to provide various functionality to the starting/generating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory I. Rozman, Matthew L. Wilhide
  • Patent number: 8415931
    Abstract: A power supply device includes: a rectifier having a full-wave rectification circuit whose low side elements are made of MOSFETs; an electrical load supplied with DC power from the rectifier; and a control circuit having a load voltage detector and an AC voltage detector for detecting an input terminal voltage from a permanent-magnet generator; wherein when a terminal voltage across the electrical load is lower than a predetermined value, the control circuit operates the rectifier in full-wave rectification mode, whereas when the terminal voltage across the electrical load is higher than the predetermined value, the control circuit short-circuits input terminals of the permanent-magnet generator with each other, and when power for driving the control circuit is not secured, the control circuit retains the full-wave rectification mode even if the terminal voltage across the electrical load is higher than the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Kihara, Masayoshi Maeda, Naoki Itoi, Hiroshi Okuda
  • Publication number: 20130057228
    Abstract: A method is provided for monitoring the function of a rotating electric machine, operating between 20 and 500 MVA, which includes a rotor, surrounded concentrically by a stator, the rotor and the stator having rotor and stator lamination elements made from sheets layered and pressed in the axial direction to form a composite and pressed by electrically insulated tension bolts passing through the rotor and stator lamination elements in the axial direction and insulated with respect to the lamination elements. Simple and reliable monitoring of the insulation of the tension bolts is achieved since the tension bolt insulation is electrically measured continuously during operation of the machine, the tension bolts each being set to a predetermined potential with respect to the associated lamination element by a voltage source, and the current flow through the voltage source and/or through the respective tension bolt being measured and evaluated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Thomas Kunz, Alexander Schwery
  • Publication number: 20130054160
    Abstract: The subject matter herein generally relates to electrical generators and motors, and more specifically, to electrical turbo-generators. In an embodiment, an electrical system includes a circuit. The circuit includes one or more rotating power delivery assemblies comprising a plurality of sliding surfaces that deliver power to a rotating load. The circuit also includes one or more radio frequency current transformers (RFCTs) that measure radio frequency (RF) signals corresponding to arcing events in the one or more rotating power delivery assemblies. The electrical system also includes a processor that receives the measurements from the one or more RFCTs and determines a health value of the circuit based, at least in part, on the received measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Karim Younsi, Ruben Jeevanasan Fair
  • Patent number: 8378645
    Abstract: A method for monitoring an electrodynamic machine a stator and a rotor arrangement mounted along a rotatable shaft. The rotor arrangement is disposed within the stator and forms an air gap between the rotor arrangement and the stator. At least one sensor is disposed in the air gap and/or within the stator. Measurement signals are detected that are dependent on a magnetic field produced by the electrodynamic machine. The measurement signals are used as a basis for detecting oscillations of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Max Hobelsberger, Bernhard Mark
  • Publication number: 20130027003
    Abstract: Provided is a doubly-fed induction generator system and a self-test method for the active crowbar circuit of the doubly-fed induction generator system. The invention is featured by using the controller of the doubly-fed induction generator system to carry out a self-test procedure to detect the loop current of the active crowbar circuit for determining if the active crowbar circuit can be turned on and off normally. Also, the rotor-side converter and the active crowbar circuit of the doubly-fed induction generator system are forbidden to turn on simultaneously during the execution of the self-test procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: DELTA ELECTRONICS (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jianfei Zheng, Fei Lu, Zhi Li, Aibin Qiu
  • Patent number: 8310213
    Abstract: A motive unit, such as a generator, is disclosed. The motive unit has a fault transmitter to provide a status indication of a component of the motive unit. Failure of a component, such as a diode on the rotor of a generator, can be accordingly communicated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Brush SEM s.r.o.
    Inventor: Pavel Hlavac
  • Patent number: 8299762
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory I. Rozman, Matthew L. Wilhide
  • Publication number: 20120262131
    Abstract: A rotating electrical machine abnormal state detection apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes: a current signal acquisition unit, coupled to a rotating electrical machine, for acquiring a set of real-time current waveforms from the rotating electrical machine; a state characteristic database, pre-storing a plurality of abnormal state characteristics which respectively correspond to a plurality of abnormal states; and an abnormal state detection unit, coupled to the current signal acquisition unit and the state characteristic database, for performing signal analysis on the set of real-time current waveforms to produce a current state characteristic, and comparing the current state characteristic with the abnormal state characteristics pre-stored in the state characteristic database to determine the abnormal state of the rotating electrical machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: CHUNG YUAN CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Chun-Yao Lee
  • Patent number: 8288644
    Abstract: A photovoltaic power generation system, wherein electrical power generated by multiple photovoltaic power generator units is gathered in a single unit group power collection control section and, in addition, supplied (transferred) to a single power converter corresponding to a single unit group power collection control section. The photovoltaic power generation system comprises generator unit groups formed by arrangement of multiple photovoltaic power generator units and unit group power collection control sections, which are connected with the photovoltaic power generator units through unit cables, and collect and control the electric power generated by the photovoltaic power generator units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keiji Morimoto
  • Publication number: 20120242296
    Abstract: A vehicle electrical system comprises a generator and a control device coupled with the generator and operable to protect the generator from catastrophic failure while providing the electrical load in the electrical system with sufficient electrical power. The control device determines a loss of symmetry between two alternating phase signals generated by a first and second phase windings of a single or multiple stator generator. In particular, the control device determines a first and second average values of two of the two or more alternating phase signals and either limits or ceases the total electrical output current of the generator, via a generator output power controller, when the first average value differs from the second average value by a predetermined value. The control device may alternatively be configured to generate an error signal without varying the generator's total electrical output current even in the event of a malfunction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventor: Ciaran Patterson
  • Patent number: 8258760
    Abstract: An exciter assembly for supplying a field current to the rotor windings of a superconducting synchronous machine includes a pulse transformer having a stationary primary winding, a secondary winding and a tertiary winding. A switched mode power supply supplies a pulsed voltage to the primary winding of the pulse transformer. The pulsed voltage developed at the secondary winding of the pulse transformer is supplied to the rotor windings through a pair of transfer leads. A controller controls synchronous rectification of the pulsed voltage supplied to the rotor windings based on a signal from the tertiary winding of the pulse transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Converteam UK LTD
    Inventor: Allan David Crane
  • Publication number: 20120181789
    Abstract: A monitoring system for use in detecting an electrical discharge within at least one component of a machine includes at least one sensor coupled to the machine for measuring an operating condition of the at least one component. The monitoring system includes a signal analysis module configured to receive a signal representative of the measured operating condition and to calculate an asymmetry value based on the signal received. The monitoring system includes a detection module coupled to the signal analysis module for detecting an electrical discharge within the at least one component based on the asymmetry value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Inventors: Charles Terrance Hatch, Adam Weiss
  • Publication number: 20120161725
    Abstract: A method of estimating rotor speed of a generator 106 having a rotor 110 and a stator 112 is provided. The method may provide a source current to the stator 112, determine a relative rotor speed based on a sensor signal provided by a rotor speed sensor 130, determine a relative rotor position corresponding to the relative rotor speed, determine an absolute rotor position based on the sensor signal and phase currents, and calibrate the sensor signal based on an offset between the relative rotor position and the absolute rotor position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR, INC.
    Inventors: Mark Hartman, Robert Lindsey, Jackson Wai, Jesse Gerdes
  • Patent number: 8193782
    Abstract: The abnormality detection apparatus includes a first function of measuring a first temperature of a first portion of the abnormality detection apparatus, the first temperature having a correlation with a second temperature of a second portion of a vehicle alternator, a second function of integrating a stress depending on a temperature variation of the first portion on the basis of the first temperature measured by the first function, a third function of predicting occurrence of abnormality in the second portion depending on the stress integrated by the second function, and a fourth function of issuing an alarm when the third function predicts occurrence of abnormality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Mori, Toshinori Maruyama
  • Patent number: 8183820
    Abstract: Embodiments include a power processing system and methods of its operation in a plug-in electric vehicle. The power processing system includes at least one AC electric motor, a bi-directional inverter system, and an electronic control system. The electronic control system provides a drive function by providing first control signals to the bi-directional inverter system which, in response, draws DC electrical power from a DC energy source, converts the DC power to AC power, and provides the AC power to windings of the at least one AC electric motor. The electronic control system also provides a charging function by providing second control signals to the bi-directional inverter system which, in response, draws AC power from the windings of the at least one AC electric motor, converts the AC power to DC power, and provides the DC power to the DC energy source in order to recharge the DC energy source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Mohammad N. Anwar, Erkan Mese
  • Patent number: 8174246
    Abstract: A switching element, a duty deciding circuit, an LRC circuit, a voltage detecting circuit, and an LRC limit value deciding circuit are included. The switching element 58 outputs a duty factor of a field winding of a vehicle power generator towards an ECU, via an FR terminal. The duty deciding circuit limits a speed at which the duty factor of the field winding increases to a predetermined limit value. The voltage detecting circuit detects a voltage at the FR terminal. The LRC limit value deciding circuit switches the limit value of the speed at which the duty factor increases based on the voltage value detected by the voltage detecting circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Toshikazu Kizawa, Tomoya Okuno
  • Publication number: 20120105021
    Abstract: A system and method for diagnosis and prognosis of thermal sensitivity in a rotor of an electrical machine. A first system is provided for evaluating thermal sensitivity in a rotor of an electrical machine and includes: an input system for obtaining vibration data and field current from the rotor and for obtaining a set of operating parameter; a system for calculating a relationship between vibration and field current; an evaluation system for determining whether the relationship is significant; and a system for issuing a notification of thermal sensitivity in response to a determination of a significant relationship.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ravikumar Sandrana, Sudhanshu Rai
  • Publication number: 20120105022
    Abstract: A system for predicting a condition includes an electric machine having slip rings and an exciter providing current and voltage to the electric machine through the slip rings. The system also includes a monitoring device that measures the current and voltage provided by the exciter to the electric machine and that forms a regression model from a current sample and compares values from a next sample to values predicted by the regression model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sreedhar Desabhatla, Shashidhar Nibhanupudi
  • Publication number: 20120081083
    Abstract: In a rotary electric machine, an on-timing setter sets on-timings of each of a high-side switching element and a low-side switching element for each of at least two-phase stator windings. An off-timing setter sets off-timings of each of the high-side switching element and the low-side switching element. An off-timing fault determiner determines a fault of an off-timing of a target switching element as one of the high-side switching element and the low-side switching element set by the off-timing setter when a time interval from the off-timing of the target switching element set by the off-timing setter to time when a phase voltage corresponding to the target switching element reaches a threshold after the off-timing thereof is shorter than a preset value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Harumi HORIHATA, Hideaki NAKAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20110320169
    Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for predicting collector flashover is disclosed. The method includes receiving a frame of measured data from a data acquisition system, fitting a statistical model to the measured data wherein the measured data includes a plurality of measured variables measured at multiple time instances. The statistical model and the measured data are used for estimating one or more parameters for the frame wherein the one or more parameters include at least one of field circuit impedance and field current noise. A flashover is predicted based, at least in part, upon the one or more estimated parameter for the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Debasis Bal, Paul August Quail, Sudhanshu Rai, Larry Weldon Dill
  • Patent number: 8076909
    Abstract: A method and system for monitoring the operating conditions of an electric generator. The system includes a triad sensor array formed within a predetermined section of a fiber optic conductor. The triad sensor array is formed of a group of sensors including a first sensor including a Bragg grating for producing a first signal representative of strain in a stator bar of the generator, a second sensor including a Bragg grating for producing a second signal representative of temperature in the stator bar, and a third sensor including a Bragg grating for producing a third signal representative of vibration amplitude in the stator bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Evangelos Diatzikis, Hans-Gerd Brummel, Michael Twerdochlib, Lutz Intichar, Matthias Humer, Detlef Frerichs
  • Patent number: 8054051
    Abstract: The present invention provides, as one aspect, an apparatus for detecting an abnormality of a generator for vehicles. The generator includes a multi-phase armature winding that has phase windings and a rectifier that rectifies multi-phase output of the armature winding. The apparatus includes a first period detection unit that detects a first period of an output voltage of the generator, a second period detection unit that detects a second period of an voltage of one of the phase windings, and an abnormality determination unit that determines presence or absence of an abnormality of the generator by comparing the first period with the second period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Tadakazu Nagata, Toshinori Maruyama
  • Patent number: 8054013
    Abstract: Power lines are connected to neutral points of motor generators, respectively, and an electric power is transmitted and received between a vehicle and a load outside the vehicle via the power lines. In this transmission, an ECU simultaneously PWM-controls all phases of one of inverters, and controls the other inverter to keep continuously the conducting state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hichirosai Oyobe, Yoshinori Fujitake, Toru Wakimoto
  • Publication number: 20110254516
    Abstract: An automatic detection method and apparatus for a rotor initial position angle of a double-fed machine (2). The method comprises the following steps: giving a reference voltage angle ?given, and combining with a given reference voltage amplitude Vref to generate a reference voltage vector; converting the reference voltage vector into a driving signal by space vector width modulation SVPWM to drive a rotor side PWM converter (5) to generate an alternating current voltage signal and apply it to a rotor winding of the double-fed machine (2); obtaining a rotor mechanical angle n*?rotor of the double-fed machine (2); obtaining a stator voltage vector angle ?1; and subtracting the rotor mechanical angle n*?rotor and the given reference voltage angle ?given from the stator voltage vector angle ?1 to obtain the rotor initial position angle ?initial; wherein n is the number of pole pairs of the double-fed machine (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2009
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Inventors: Xiaofeng Ren, Ru Wei
  • Publication number: 20110234181
    Abstract: A method is provided for monitoring and/or analysis of electrical machines during operation. An electrical machine has at least one generator with a shaft, an exciter system and drive device that drives the shaft. In this case, a first signal, which describes a voltage across a rotor winding, and a second signal, which describes a current flowing through the rotor winding, are measured simultaneously. The two signals are supplied to an analysis unit. The signals are split into individual frequency components in the analysis unit. The impedance of the rotor winding is then determined in order to identify fault states in the electrical machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Max HOBELSBERGER, Bernhard MARK
  • Publication number: 20110234180
    Abstract: An electrical machine system including a permanent magnet assembly having a magnetic field and a plurality of conductive coils, the magnet assembly and coils arranged for relative rotation between the coils and magnetic field in the manner of an electrical generator or motor, the system further comprising a current injector electrically connected to said coils and arranged selectively to supply a current signal thereto, the current signal being asynchronous with the frequency of rotation between the permanent magnet assembly and coils so as to heat and thereby demagnetise one or more magnet within said permanent magnet assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: John J. A. CULLEN, Geraint W. JEWELL