Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation

Adrian E Vandergrift

Brennan Fox

Christopher Derek Thornton

Dhaval S Patel

Vijay K Maddali

John F Defenbaugh

Sunil S Patel

Kevin C Peterson

Daniel Knope

Hemanth Kumar Pennam

Brian R Golden

Jordan K Vanevenhoven

Thomas P Joyce

Lon R Hoegberg

Natalie Filipski

Timothy Arn Goodrich

Deron J Staas

Richard T Wetzel

Francisco X Romo

Sumita Tandon

Michael Congdon

Arthur J Beneditz

Christopher Gillette

Benjamin Fisher

Dana A Sievert

Kevin C Petersen

A power distribution circuit includes a power input in electrical communication with a power input line, a switching circuit electrically connected to the power input line, and an overcurrent protection circuit electrically connected to the power input line. The overcurrent protection circuit includes a discrete silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) circuit, and a pulse qualifier configured and adapted to drive the discrete SCR circuit. A method for controlling a power distribution circuit includes detecting an ON status of at least a switching circuit. A semi-conductor control signal line connects the semi-conductor switch and the voltage command circuit. The method includes detecting an overcurrent status of the switching circuit with an overcurrent detection circuit. The method includes clamping voltage on the semi-conductor control signal line to cause the semi-conductor switch to be turned off.

Systems and methods for overcurrent protection

A power quality monitor (PQM) module includes a solid-state semi-conductor switch having a voltage input, two signal inputs and two voltage outputs. A voltage input line is electrically connected to the voltage input. A PQM signal input line is operatively connected to at least one of the two signal inputs. A voltage output line is electrically connected to one of the two voltage outputs to provide power to a load. A method of controlling a GCB includes opening a solid-state semi-conductor switch when a PQM signal is powered at a first logic voltage. The method includes closing the solid-state semi-conductor switch when a PQM signal is powered at a second logic voltage lower than the first logic voltage to allow a voltage from a GCU to go to the GCB.

Systems and methods for generator control

A system includes a generator control unit (GCU). The GCU includes a saturable reactor and a rectifier. Each of the saturable reactor and the rectifier has a separate input to receive AC power from a separate respective permanent magnet generator (PMG). A method includes supplying AC power from a first permanent magnet generator (PMG) of a generator to a saturable reactor of a generator control unit (GCU) that is operatively connected to control the generator. The method includes supplying AC power from a second PMG to a rectifier of the GCU, wherein the first PMG supplies a lower AC voltage to the saturable reactor than the second PMG supplies to the rectifier.

Saturable reactors in generator control units

A system includes a generator control unit (GCU). The GCU includes a first rectifier and a second rectifier. Each of the first rectifier and the second rectifier has a separate input to receive AC power from a separate respective permanent magnet generator (PMG). A method includes supplying AC power from a first PMG of a variable frequency generator (VFG) to a first rectifier of a generator control unit GCU that is operatively connected to control the VFG. The method includes supplying AC power from a second PMG to a second rectifier of the GCU. The first PMG supplies a lower AC voltage to the first rectifier than the second PMG supplies to the second rectifier.

Electric power generation system (EPGS) controller excitation system architecture for variable frequency generators

An exciter drive circuit comprises a direct current (DC) link to provide a positive DC voltage to a positive voltage exciter rail and a negative DC voltage to a negative voltage exciter rail. An exciter winding includes a first exciter terminal connected to the positive voltage exciter rail and an opposing second exciter terminal connected to the negative voltage exciter rail. A flyback circuit establishes a first flyback current path that conducts the current from exciter winding in response to an inductive flyback event. A flyback fault protection circuit establishes a second flyback current path that conducts the current from exciter winding in response to the inductive flyback event and a fault present in the flyback circuit. The second flyback current path delivers the current output by the exciter winding from the negative voltage exciter rail to the positive voltage exciter rail.

Open flyback diode protection

A trim head drive is provided. The trim head drive includes a nonlinear power supply. The nonlinear power supply includes an output and a return connected to a trim coil of a generator. An output of the nonlinear power supply directly drives a trim coil to control an output frequency of the generator. The nonlinear power supply varies the output positively and negatively to either sink or source a trim head current to control an output frequency of the generator.

Nonlinear trim head power supply with a wide input range and a high efficiency

System and methods for providing power to a generator control circuit are provided. Aspects include a generator, a first power converter comprising a first input and a first output, the first input coupled to an output of the generator and the first output coupled to a valve circuit, a second power converter comprising a second input and a second output, the second input coupled to the output of the generator and the second output coupled to the valve circuit, and a controller configured to monitor a characteristic associated with the generator, cause the first power converter to provide power to the valve circuit when the characteristic of the generator is within a first range of characteristic values, and cause the second power converter to provide power to the valve circuit when the characteristic of the generator is within a second range of characteristic values.

Low-power bias supply to facilitate the low-RPM startup of three-phase AC aircraft generators

An assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a synchronous machine including a rotating portion and a stationary portion, the rotating portion including at least one rotating diode coupled to a field winding, and the stationary portion including a stator winding and an exciter winding. A control unit includes a first gate and a second gate. The exciter winding is connected in series to the first gate and the second gate during a first operating mode to energize the exciter winding. The exciter winding is electrically connected in series to a first gate but is electrically disconnected from the second gate in a second, different operating mode to electrically disconnect the exciter winding from an exciter energy source. A method of operating a synchronous machine is also disclosed.

Shorted rotating diode protection for synchronous machines

A power distribution system and method has a controller and at least one semiconductor switch. The power distribution system additionally has an on status detector which detects the status of the semiconductor switches, and an overcurrent status circuit which checks for overcurrent conditions.

Current limiting circuit for a control circuit for controlling a semiconductor switch system

A system including a generator and a controller. The generator includes a permanent magnet generator (PMG), and an exciter. The controller manages operations of the generator. The controller includes an alternating current to direct current (AC-to-DC) converter that generates a direct current (DC) voltage, an exciter drive that provides a DC current to the exciter of the generator using the DC voltage created by the AC-to-DC converter in accordance with the control signal, and a regulator controller that drives the active AC-to-DC converter.

Controller for a generator

A generator control unit includes a plurality of permanent magnet generator (PMG) inputs, a transformer including a multi-configuration input winding and at least one output winding. Each PMG input in the plurality of PMG inputs is connected to the multi-configuration input winding at a corresponding input winding input.

Uniform generator control unit including multiple permanent magnet generator inputs

A voltage driver includes a voltage input, a voltage regulation controller including an on/off input. The voltage regulation controller is configured to control a switching converter in a first mode, a second mode, and at least one additional mode. The switching converter is configured to operate as an open pass switch in the first mode, is configured to operate as a closed pass switch in the second mode, and is configured to operate as an overcurrent and overvoltage protection switch in the at least one additional mode. A discrete output driver control and monitoring circuit can be used to control the switching converter. The output driver control and monitoring circuit includes a controller coupled to a communication bus and is configured to provide high level control instructions to the communication bus.

Voltage regulator including a buck converter pass switch

A power system includes an integrated drive generator (IDG) including an exciter field winding. A generator control unit (GCU) includes exciter drive circuit configured to electrically energize the exciter field winding, and a main stator configured to output voltage to at least one electrical load. The exciter drive circuit includes a dynamic flyback unit configured to selectively operate the exciter drive circuit between a first mode and a second mode different from the first mode based on a change in the at least one electrical load.

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Rockton, IL, United States of America

Adrian E Vandergrift