Whirlpool Corporation

Arne M Nystuen

John M Kuss

Julio C Moreira

Edward H Getz

David Wayne Mundy

Ronald W Holling

Jeffrey L Burk

Rosario Ciancimino

Donald R Vander Molen

A motor controller for a single phase induction motor (SPIM), wherein the SPIM is driven by two windings, a line winding connected to the ac line and a control winding driven by the controller. The SPIM torque and hence the speed and direction is controlled by the voltage output of the controller for all speeds below the synchronous speed (set by ac line frequency). The controller adjusts the amplitude, the phase angle relative to the line winding, and the frequency of the voltage for the desired SPIM responses. The controller can also selectively switch power to the line winding for a different operating mode with both windings at below synchronous speed. Or, the controller can open the connection to the line winding after starting, and operate the SPIM via the control winding at any speed by adjusting the amplitude and frequency of the controller voltage.

Electric motor speed and direction controller and method

A permanent split capacitor motor and a drive system for an automatic washer including the motor for rotating an agitator in the automatic washer. A control circuit operates the motor in first and second directions. The motor has two stator windings with a turns ratio of approximately 1.0 and a low inertia rotor. The stator bore to outside stator diameter is preferably 0.43.

PSC motor for automatic washer

An automatic washer is provided with a separate motor to drive the drain pump, the motor having a displaceable stator portion connected to the basket brake mechanism such that when the pump motor is energized the basket brake will be released. Such a construction obviates the need for a separate component such as a solenoid to deactivate the brake mechanism. The stator portion is displaceable perpendicularly to the rotor axis and can move either in a radial sliding manner or can be pivotally mounted so as to move through an arc relative to the rotor.

Pump motor/basket brake for an automatic washer

A method and control for an automatic washer is provided in which moisture extraction from a fabric load is controlled by extracting the moisture at increasingly faster levels of basket rotation. Initially the basket is rotated relatively slowly and it is subsequently rotated at successively faster speed levels, each increase occurring after substantially all of the moisture has been removed which is removable at a given speed level. Inertia of the fabric load is measured to determine the amount of incremental moisture removal. Use of such a method substantially reduces the force applied to the fabric load during the centrifugal extraction resulting in less wrinkling of the fabrics.

Water extraction method and control for automatic washer

Structure for maintaining accurate spacing between opposed pole elements of a split-field coil structure. The motor structure includes a support for supporting the armature for rotation about an axis, and a field coil structure having opposed C-shaped laminated cores. Each core has a pair of legs forming motor poles, each pole being defined by an arcuate surface spaced radially from the armature and a distal end surface. The core further defines a bight portion extending between the legs. The field coil is wound about a two-piece bobbin which serves further to retain the laminations of the field coil in stacked, assembled relationship. The end surfaces of the legs of the cores are in spaced, opposed alignment, with the support portion fitting therebetween for providing the accurately maintained minimum spacing between the pole end surfaces.

Method of adjusting motor performance

A method and apparatus for balancing of a motor armature and fan coupled thereto is disclosed. The apparatus includes a pair of spaced end brackets for supporting an armature of the motor and the fan for rotary movement. At least one motor bracket is coupled between the end brackets and includes means for detachably mounting a set of field coils for the motor thereon. The motor bracket further includes a recess therein which, when the set of field coils is detached from the motor bracket, exposes the armature to permit the armature and fan to be rotated as a unit so that the balance of the unit can be determined. The method and apparatus are particularly adavantageous for balancing a motor-fan system in which the motor is of the split-field coil type.

Method and apparatus for balancing a motor-fan system

A method of and apparatus for balancing a rotary body is disclosed. The apparatus includes an unbalance detection unit which rotates the body in first and second spaced bearings, the location of the first and second bearings defining first and second bearing planes, respectively. The forces developed by rotation of the body are sensed at the first and second bearing planes and the forces about the first bearing plane are summed to determine the weight and angular location of a mass compensation which, if effected, would substantially statically balance the body. An iterative technique is utilized which determines the axial location of the mass to be removed or added which would reduce to a minimum the dynamic unbalance of the body. The body is then passed to an unbalance correction unit which removes or adds the mass at the determined angular and axial locations to minimize the static and dynamic unbalances. Should a single addition or removal of mass be insufficient to reduce the dynamic unbalance to an acceptable level, additional mass compensations can be carried out to minimize the unbalance.

Method of and apparatus for balancing a rotary body

Structure for maintaining accurate spacing between opposed pole elements of a split-field coil structure. The motor structure includes a support for supporting the armature for rotation about an axis and a field coil structure having opposed C-shaped laminated cores. Each core has a pair of legs forming motor poles, each pole being defined by an arcuate surface spaced radially from the armature and a distal end surface. The core further defines a bight portion extending between the legs. The field coil is wound about a two-piece bobbin which serves further to retain the laminations of the field coil in stacked, assembled relationship. The end surfaces of the legs of the cores are in spaced, opposed alignment, with the support portion fitting therebetween for providing the accurately maintained minimum spacing between the pole end surfaces.

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Lincoln, MI, United States of America

Arne M Nystuen