Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation

Sundstrand Corporation

Eric Alan Henderson

Vijay K Maddali

John F Defenbaugh

Bruce D Beneditz

Stephen R Jones

Steven E Squier

Wayne H Oldenburg

Peter D Waters

David J Mrowiec

Terrill G Power

Robert G Glass

William J Peterson

A solid state power control includes a sensor to detect when the power control is not connected to a power source. Disconnecting the power source turns off an output stage in the power control. If the power control receives a command to turn on its output stage while the power source is disconnected from the power control or otherwise not present, logic in the power control prevents the command from reaching the output stage. When the power source is connected or reconnected to the power control, the output stage remains off until the logic detects a zero crossing in the power source, thereby preventing high inrush currents into the power control. Suppressing high inrush currents caused by power source reconnection ensures that any current trip circuitry in the power control will be activated only by short circuit conditions and not by abnormal inrush currents.

Power control interrupt management

A remote data concentrator receives signals from a plurality of sensors. The plurality of sensors are for use on an aircraft. Each of the sensors have their signals split between at least two flow paths, such that each of the sensors are provided with redundancy. The remote data concentrator is also utilized as part of an aircraft electrical control system.

Failsafe remote data concentrator

The present invention is a generator control system where each generator in the system has an associated controller. Each controller communicates generator data or information with the other controllers in the generator control system. Each of the controllers includes a digital signal processor for analyzing the generator signal from the associated generator and information from the other controllers in the generator control system. The controllers each compare their generator signal with a system average and adjust the associated generator until the generators all supply equal amounts of power to the system.

Digital real and reactive load division control

A method for assessing the reliability of an electrical power distribution system begins with identifying each element of the electrical power distribution system, and establishing characteristic data for each of these elements. The characteristic data at least identifies one operating characteristic of the element and further identifies interconnections of that element to other elements in the system. Next, at least one &ldquo;minimum cut&rdquo; is determined separating a first system element from a second system element, e.g., a power source from a load. The minimum cut is at least based upon the interconnection data. At least one third element is then identified, located on the minimum cut, and the reliability may then be assessed by evaluating the characteristic data of the at least one third element.

System reliability assessment tool

A refrigeration system which may be operated to control superheat at an inlet to a compressor (12) to produce a controlled superheat or to control a temperature of a fluid cooled by at least one evaporator (68) to provide the cooled fluid at a set temperature by controlling an opening of at least one expansion valve (62) in accordance with the invention includes a temperature control (206) which is activable to control the at least one expansion valve to cool the fluid to a set temperature in response to an enabling signal; a superheat control (208) which is activable to control the at least one expansion valve to control the superheat at the inlet of the compressor in response to an enabling signal; and a controller (204) responsive to the at least one logic operational state of the refrigeration system, for generating one of the enabling signals to activate one of the temperature control or the superheat control to control the at least one expansion valve to control superheat or provide cooled fluid at the set temperature.

Vapor cycle system evaporator control

A measuring system (40) for measuring a magnitude of a quantity in accordance with the invention includes a light source (52) for providing a light beam (58); a polarization controller (44), optically coupled to the light beam, for rotating a plane of polarization of the light beam through an angle in response to a control signal, which is proportional to the magnitude of the quantity being measured to provide a first rotated polarized beam of light; a sensor (46), coupled optically to the first rotated polarized beam of light and to the quantity being measured, which rotates the plane of polarization of the first rotated polarized beam through an angle proportional to the quantity being measured to provide a second rotated polarized beam of light; an analyzer (42), coupled optically to the second rotated polarized beam of light, having a constant plane of polarization for detecting the second rotated polarized beam of light produced by the quantity being measured; and a feedback and output circuit, coupled to an output of the analyzer, for providing an output proportional to magnitude of the quantity being measured and producing the control signal.

Polarization feedback control of polarization rotating sensor

A power generation system (40), (120), is disclosed in which the phase and frequency of alternating current generated by one or more generators (14) is locked to the phase of alternating current generated by a master generator (12) or to an external power source (124). A master control unit (42), (122) contains a master count generator (52) which generates a synchronization count which is transmitted to each generator control unit (44). The synchronization count at any point in time of the master count generator is directly proportional to the phase of electrical current being generated by the master generator or the external power source. Each generator control unit (44) receives the synchronization count and compares the synchronization count with a locally generated synchronization count which is proportional to the phase of electrical current being generated by a generator controlled by the generator control unit receiving the synchronization count. The phase of the alternating current generated by the generators controlled by the each generator control unit receiving the synchronization count is adjusted as a function of the difference of the received and locally generated synchronization count to lock the phase and frequency of the alternating current with the phase and frequency of alternating current generated by the master generator or the phase and frequency of the external, power source.

Electrical power generating system having parallel generator control

A snubber circuit for protecting power switches which modulate the flow of power through an inductive element in a power converter, such as a main primary winding of a transformer, includes a snubbing capacitor and a first switch which is operable to connect the snubbing capacitor to a power switch. A second switch is operable to connect the snubbing capacitor to an auxiliary primary winding of the transformer. The first and second switches are operated so that immediately prior to turn-off of the power switch, the capacitor is connected thereto to store the turn-off reactive power caused by turn-off of the power switch. The first switch is then opened and the second switch closed to couple the reactive power to the auxiliary primary winding to improve the efficiency of the converter.

Growing community of inventors

Rockford, IL, United States of America

Eric Alan Henderson