Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated

Angelo R Bortolus

Zhongyuan Cheng

F Michael Frayne

Chao Chen

Navid RezA Zargari

Qing Jia

Reginald A Drake

Jeffrey David Gandier

Xiang Jing

Bin Wu

Jahangir Afsharian

Marius G Chis

Catalin Florin Gemanaru

David Scott MacLennan

Vijay Khatri

John David Allan

George Zhongyuan Cheng

A method and apparatus for identifying a health status of a contactor includes a processor coupled to a computer readable media. The processor is coupled to the contactor to instruct the contactor to open and close. A database stored in the computer readable media includes operation count variables for the contactor, closing time variables for the contactor, and health status rules for the contactor. The operation count variables and the closing time variables may be inputs to the health status rules to identify the health status of the contactor. A customization program may also be stored in the computer readable media. The customization program enables an operator to modify at least one of the operation count variables, the closing time variables, and the health status rules to affect the identified health status of the contactor.

Customizable contactor prognostics system

Motor drive diagnostic and control methods and apparatus are provided in which rectifier and inverter switching devices are individually monitored for malfunctions, and detected malfunctions initiate implementation of a safety function to signal a drive controller to shut down non-safety-related processing, to discontinue command pulse signaling to the switching devices, and to disable optical transmitters between the drive controller and the rectifier and inverter switches, and an input contactor or other switching circuit is opened to disconnect input power from the motor drive after implementation of the safety function.

Power structure diagnostic method and apparatus for improved motor drive diagnostic coverage

Motor drives and switch driver power systems are presented in which high frequency AC current (I) is provided through one or more cables () magnetically coupled with local driver current transformers (), and the transformer secondary currents are converted to provide DC power to switch drivers of an active power converter stage () in the motor drive.

DC power for SGCT devices using a high frequency current loop with multiple current transformers

A method and apparatus for identifying the health status of a contactor include the steps of counting the number of operations performed by the contactor, identifying a closing time of the contactor, using the number of operations and the closing time to assess the health status of the contactor and, where the health of the contactor is a first health status, reporting the health status of the contactor.

Self-powered supplies with on-board diagnostics are presented for powering a power converter switch driver with power obtained from an associated snubber circuit, including a first converter stage with a full bridge rectifier with a crowbar circuit creating a first DC bus and a second stage with an isolated DC to DC converter, and on-board diagnostics to indicate snubber failures and abnormal conditions of the self-powered supply.

Self powered supply for power converter switch driver

A control system for controlling and synchronizing a plurality of medium-voltage vacuum contactors comprises a two-level network structure. A dedicated network includes a plurality of servant control units operably coupled to the vacuum contactors and configured to ascertain a plurality of different data and conditions thereof. In addition, the dedicated network includes a master control unit in serial communication with the servant control units and configured to send and receive communications therewith. The master control unit is operably coupled to a control network including a plurality of various control devices. The master control unit is configured to send predetermined data received from the servant control units to the control network. The two-level network structure enables relatively jitter free communication on the dedicated network while not overwhelming the control network with unnecessary data. The system is further configured to diagnose and prevent a variety of different vacuum contactor failures.

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Mississauga, Canada

Angelo R Bortolus