Method of drive protection for a switched reluctance electric motor
US5659452A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 17, 1996 |
| Grant date | Aug 19, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 17, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02H7/093
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method of operating a switched reluctance machine is disclosed, which provides electrical current overload protection. The stator winding motor drive employs a high-side semiconductor switch, along with a corresponding high-side gate driver (which incorporates a bootstrap-type drive circuit). A low-side semiconductor switch, and a corresponding gate driver is also used to thereby define a two-switch per phase topology. The high-side MOSFET switch gate driver must have rising, and falling edges from an associated controller in order for the bootstrap drive power supply portion to function. A drive controller is configured so that it will generate these rising, and falling edges only when the motor is moving, as indicated by a speed signal. Therefore, if the motor stops moving, due to an unexpected load, such as a seized pump connected to an output shaft thereof, the speed signal will so indicate the stall, wherein the controller will not generate a signal having rising and falling edges. A bootstrap capacitor in the bootstrap drive circuit will slowly discharge in the absence of pulses from the controller. Once discharged to a predetermined level, the drive circuit will no longer …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.