Marine propulsion – Means to control the supply of energy responsive to a sensed...
Reexamination Certificate
2003-01-16
2004-03-02
Avila, Stephen (Department: 3617)
Marine propulsion
Means to control the supply of energy responsive to a sensed...
C440S084000, C440S085000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06699081
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally related to a switched reluctance or variable reluctance machine used both as a starter motor and a generator and, more particularly, to the use of a switched reluctance starter motor and generator system in conjunction with a marine propulsion device, such as an outboard motor.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Switched reluctance machines have been known to those skilled in the art for many years. These machines can be used either as an electric motor or as an electric generator.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,864,477, which issued to Webster on Jan. 26, 1999, describes a converter circuit for a polyphase switched inductive load. A converter circuit for an inductive load, such as the phase windings of a switched reluctance motor, uses only n-switches for n-phases. In a four phase machine, each of the three of the phases is serially connected with a switch across one voltage source. The remaining phase is serially connected with a switch across another voltage source which receives the inductive energy returned by the other three phases. This returned energy is used to energize the fourth phase. A generator converter is also disclosed in which the energy in the fourth phase is used to provide the excitation for the other three phases.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,075,610, which issued to Harris on Dec. 24, 1991, describes a switched reluctance motor control circuit with energy recovery capability. A control circuit for a switched reluctance motor is provided with a connection between a second end of each stator winding and a first end of an associated other winding. The purpose of this connection is to permit the flow of current from a phase winding to an energy storage device following the disconnection of the phase winding from a primary power source. Because of the inductive characteristics of the phase winding in a switched reluctance motor, the current flow through the winding does not immediately cease when the winding is disconnected from the power source. Instead, the inductive characteristic resists the immediate cessation of current flow following the opening of an associated switch. That continued current flow is directed to an energy storage device, such as a capacitor, for the purpose of raising the voltage at the first, or input, end of another stator winding. This increased voltage potential at the first end of the other stator winding assists the initiation of current flow through that stator winding when its switch is later closed for the purpose of energizing the winding. Alternative embodiments of the invention include the directing of the continued current flow to more than one other winding to permit bi-directional rotation of the motor rotor.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,736,828, which issued to Turner et al on Apr. 7, 1998, describes an electric machine controller. The controller for a switch reluctance machine, especially a switch reluctance motor, takes timing information from a rotor position transducer to generate a switch-off output at a point near maximum phase inductance in a phase inductance cycle. A switch-on signal is generated after a delay but still within the phase inductance cycle. A simple form of single pulse control is thereby achieved. A comparator is also provided which monitors phase winding current. A pulse generator is actuated by the comparator when the winding current exceeds a reference level and is used to control the motor in a chopping mode at low speeds and is disabled by the comparator at higher speeds when the single-pulse control is used.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,446,359, which issued to Horst on Aug. 29, 1995, describes a current decay control in a switched reluctance motor. A control circuit for controlling the residual or tail current decay in a single phase or polyphase switched reluctance motor winding when a phase is switched from active to inactive is described. A Hall-effect type sensor senses rotor position of the switched reluctance motor. Current flows through a winding of the motor when the motor phase winding is active; and, current flow into the windings decays to zero when the phase becomes inactive. Semiconductor switches direct current flow into the winding when the phase is active and then redirect residual energy into winding between an energy recovery circuit and an energy dissipation circuit when the phase becomes inactive. A pulse width modulated signal generator provides pulse width modulated operating signals to the switches to control current flow first into the winding and then between the recovery and dissipation circuits. A control module or microprocessor with a pulse width modulated output is responsive to rotor position information for controlling operation of the pulse width modulated signal generator. The signal generator provides pulse width modulated signals having one set of signal characteristics when there is current flow to the winding and a different set of characteristics when there is not. This produces alternative intervals of zero voltage and forced commutation residual current decay while the phase is inactive. During the decay interval, both pulse width modulated frequency and the pulse duty cycle are variable to produce a current decay scheme which eliminates ringing and motor noise.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,373,206, which issued to Lim on Dec. 13, 1994, describes a position detection of rotors for switched reluctance motors. A position detection apparatus for a switched reluctance motor is disclosed wherein a single sensor is used for detecting a rotor position and thus driving the motor. A sensing unit is provided with a single sensor for detecting a position of a rotor, a start signal generation circuit, for generating a start signal for aligning the rotor with a stator upon starting, a position detection signal input circuit for passing the position detection signal following the start signal, a drive control pulse generation circuit, for receiving an output signal from the position detection signal input signal as a clock signal, sequentially shifting driving signals for respective phases and generating drive control pulses for respective phases, and a phase excitation circuit for logically combining phase drive control pulses from the drive control pulse generator with the start signal from the start, signal generation circuit and exciting the phases sequentially.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,012,177, which issued to Dhyanchand et al on Apr. 30, 1991, describes a power conversion system using a switched reluctance motor/generator. Prior power conversion systems operable in generating and starting modes have utilized brushless generators which are suitable for only certain applications. In order to overcome this problem, a power conversion system operable in generating and starting modes utilizes a switched reluctance motor/generator which is reliable and inexpensive and which can be used in a variety of environments.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,012,172, which issued to Sember on Apr. 30, 1991, describes a control system for a switched reluctance motor operating as a power generator. A method for operating a multi-phase switched reluctance motor in a generator mode includes gating switches connected in series with selected ones of the phase windings of the motor into conduction to establish current flow in a selected one of the windings. The switches are thereafter disabled and current is forced to commutate into flyback diodes whereby the current is returned to an associated DC bus. The instant at which the conducting switches are gated out of conduction is selected or measured in angular displacement between an associated stator pole and a corresponding rotor pole by establishing a preselected magnitude of current such that when the current in the winding reaches that magnitude, the switches are disabled. The voltage at the DC bus is regulated during generator mode operation by adjusting the phase angle measured between a stator pole and a corresponding rotor pole at which the switches are gated into conduction. The voltage is alternatively regulated at the DC bus b
Divljakovic Vojislav V.
Neumann David L.
Sleder, Sr. Richard L.
Avila Stephen
Brunswick Corporation
Lanyi William D.
LandOfFree
Marine propulsion device with a switched reluctance starter... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Marine propulsion device with a switched reluctance starter..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Marine propulsion device with a switched reluctance starter... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3222451