Kohler Company

Discovery Energy, LLC

Adam Larson

Isaac S Frampton

Richard D Van Maaren

Frank C Formas

Terrence M Rotter

Robert J Danforth, Iii

Jonathan Thomas Bykowski

Todd Baumann

Robert J Danforth Iii

An apparatus includes a first inverter circuit and a second inverter circuit. The first invertor circuit is configured to couple an alternator and a load device to deliver a driving signal from the alternator to the load device. The second invertor circuit is configured to couple the alternator to the load device to deliver a driving signal from the alternator to the load device and configured to couple a battery to the alternator to deliver a charging signal from the alternator to the battery.

Synchronous inverter

An apparatus includes a controlled field alternator or utility source of electrical power, a conversion device, and a controller. The conversion device includes a first power input associated with a first power source, a second power input associated with a second power source, and circuitry configured to perform a first conversion of power from a first format from the first power source to a second format for charging the second power source and perform a second conversion of power from the second format for the second power source to a third format for supplying a load.

Generator and battery backup with conversion device

A system and method for paralleling generators is described. A timing signal indicative of a waveform reference point of at least a first generator of the generators is received at a second generator. The receiving generator determines a closing time for a second generator breaker associated with the second generator in response the timing signal from the first generator. The first generator breaker and the second generator breaker, or an aggregated generator breaker is closed to a bus at the closing time.

Offline synchronization of generators

An electric machine includes at least a printed circuit board and a magnetically permeable element. The printed circuit board includes a reluctance coil configured to generate a voltage in presence of a magnetic flux. The magnetically permeable element has a first end positioned adjacent to a rotor of the electrical machine and a second end positioned adjacent to the coil of the printed circuit board. In some examples, rotation of the rotor causes a change in the magnetic flux through the magnetically permeable element and generation of the voltage across the reluctance coil.

Reluctance sensor for detection of a position of a rotor

A circuit for minimizing energy provided to a ground fault includes a source, a multiple switches, an output filter, and a controller. The switches include a first side pair of switches and a second side pair of switches configured to provide an output signal based on the source. The output filter includes one or more energy storage elements coupled to the first side pair of switches or the second side pair of switches. The controller is configured to receive a ground fault signal that indicates a fault has occurred and configured to generate a switch signal for the switches for a minimum energy state of the output filter and in response to the ground fault signal.

Ground fault minimization

In one embodiment, an inverter system is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of inverter circuits, each inverter circuit configured to provide a respective alternating current (AC) signal to an output. The system further includes a plurality of rectifier circuits configured to supply respective direct current (DC) signals to the plurality of inverter circuits, and an alternator comprising inductively-coupled windings and configured to provide respective AC power to the plurality of rectifier circuits. The plurality of rectifier circuits are synchronous rectifier circuits configured to drive the alternator in reverse to transfer power to another one of the plurality of rectifier circuits via the respective windings.

Inverter system

An isolated bus inverter system including inverter circuits and a controller. The inverter circuits include a switching array to provide a polyphase alternating current (AC) signal to an output. Each of the inverter circuits includes an energy source isolated from the other inverter circuits of the inverter circuits or a reference isolated from the other inverter circuits of the inverter circuits. The controller is configured to generate timing signals for the inverter circuits to generate the AC signals for the output based on DC signals received from one or more rectifier circuits.

Isolated inverters

An alternator includes an exciter field device generating an exciter magnetic field in a first air gap, an exciter armature device configured to rotate with respect to the exciter magnetic field and impart a first voltage in a first set of coils at the first air gap, a main stator device including a second set of coils, and a rotor field device configured to be energized by the first current in the first set of coils and generate a main magnetic field that imparts a second voltage on the main stator device at a second air gap. The main stator device and the exciter field device lie in on a common plane normal to an axis of rotation, and the exciter armature device is inwardly spaced from the exciter field device, main stator device, and the rotor field device.

Dual axis alternator

An electric machine includes a plurality of permanent magnets and a plurality of conductors. The plurality of permanent magnets are arranged radially around a rotation axis of the electric machine and spaced apart from the rotation axis of the electric machine. At least one of the plurality of magnets has a shape in a plane of rotation intersected by the rotation axis. The plurality of conductors are arranged relative to the plurality of magnets and spaced apart from each other circumferentially around the rotation axis of the electric machine. At least one of the plurality of conductors includes a trace having a polygon shape different than the shape of the at least one of the plurality of magnets.

Printed circuit board electrical machine

Reluctance sensor for detection of position of a rotor in an electric machine

An electric machine includes a rotor, a stator, at least one measurement circuit, and a controller. The rotor includes a plurality of salient poles arranged radially around a rotation axis of the electric machine and spaced apart from the rotation axis of the electric machine. The stator includes a plurality of coils configured to selectively align with the plurality of salient poles of the rotor. The at least one measurement circuit is configured to measure at least one current through at least one of the plurality of coils. The measured current includes a current ripple. The controller configured to compute a position of the rotor based on a characteristic of the current ripple.

Sensorless position detection for electric machine

A system and method for an interleaved inverter including a set of module circuits and an inverter controller. The module circuits include multiple switches. The inverter controller is configured to assign a first phase shift value to each of the module circuits during a normal mode of operation and assign a second phase shift value to at least one of the module circuits during a failure mode of operation. The second phase shift value is greater than the first phase shift value.

Interleaved inverter

A system for supplementing a fixed fuel source for an engine includes a motor-generator set connected to a mechanical load device and a controller. The motor-generator set includes a motor and a generator. The engine is configured to provide a first torque from a fixed fuel source from an independent variable flow input. The fixed fuel source is independent of the engine and set external to the engine. The mechanical load device is driven by the engine and configured to require a second torque defined by an independent flow device. The controller is configured to compare the first torque and the second torque, provide a first control signal to the motor to provide power to the engine when the second torque exceeds the first torque and provide a second control signal to the generator to draw power from the engine when the first torque exceeds the second torque.

Growing community of inventors

Mequon, WI, United States of America

Adam Larson