Method for limiting the current in an electric motor, and a motor for carrying out one such method

US6906484B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• ebm-papst St. Georgen GmbH & Co. KG · DE

Inventors

• Hansjörg Berroth · Villingen-Schwenningen, DE
• Alexander Hahn · Roetgen, DE
• Frank Heller · Berlin, DE
• Frank Jeske · Tennenbronn, DE
• Arno Karwath · Rottweil, DE
• Arnold Kuner · St. Georgen, DE
• Hans-Dieter Schondelmaier · St. Georgen, DE
• Hermann Rappenecker · Vöhrenbach, DE
• Günther Strasser · Rottenbuch, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 21, 2001
• Grant date: Jun 14, 2005
• Expiry date: Dec 21, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H02P2209/07
• WIPO field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A method of limiting current in a DC motor acts on a full bridge circuit (137) through which the stator winding arrangement (102) of that motor is supplied with current. Upon response of the current limiter, energy supply to the stator winding arrangement (102) from the DC power network is interrupted. The stator winding arrangement is then operated substantially in short circuit via semiconductor switches of the full bridge circuit, and the decaying current flowing in that context serves substantially to continue driving the motor. When that current has reached a lower value, energy supply from the DC power network to the motor is once again activated. The effective value of the current flowing to the motor is preferably reduced when the current limiter responds. The time period during which that current flows, in the form of current blocks, is then increased in compensatory fashion.