Trane International Inc.

American Standard Inc.

American Standard International Inc.

Matthew A Shepeck

David Marshall Foye

Joel C VanderZee

Benjamin James Sykora

Michael W Murry

Ali S Ameen

Petri J Mäki-Ontto

Ronald W Okoren

James W Ziemer

Nathan Thomas West

Korwin Jay Anderson

Dennis Lee Justin

Brady J Moroney

Brenda K Bricco

Chad J Kurszewski

Mark D Baines

Earl O Sanders

The technologies described and recited herein pertain to a permanent magnet motor having multiple voltage taps so that the motor may run in multiple configurations, e.g., a low-range and a high-range, and have multiple optimal operating points.

Mode switching for a centrifugal compressor

Diagnostic and/or control methods, systems and apparatuses for variable frequency drives are disclosed. The variable frequency drive may be controlled by a controller that may conduct one or more tests or evaluations. The tests or evaluations may include determining whether a switching device in the variable frequency drive is open-circuited, short-circuited, or operating normally. The tests may include determining whether current provided at an inverter output of the variable frequency drive is within a predetermined range. An exemplary embodiment evaluates the drive for a short circuit condition, an open circuit condition, and a sensor error or failure condition, controls operation of the drive based upon these one or more evaluations, may abort operation of the drive based upon one or more evaluations, and may set a fault code indicative of the type of error encountered.

Variable frequency drive self-check

A signal analyzer for calculating the power consumption and power factor of a three-phase power system driving a motor includes logic that determines whether the analyzer's own input terminals are wired in a proper or inverted manner. To do this, the signal analyzer observes a pattern of zero crossing slope values of the three line-to-line voltages of the three-phase power system and observes a pattern of zero crossing slope values of the current in the three power lines. The analyzer also compares the slope of a voltage signal as the signal passes through zero volts and the sign of a corresponding current signal that exists as the voltage signal crosses zero volts. Based on the observed voltage and current patterns and the voltage-to-current relationships, the analyzer can positively identify which of a plurality of inputs or signal wires are inverted.

Method of recognizing signal mis-wiring of a three-phase circuit

A motor test fixture for connection to motor terminal lugs. The fixture includes a housing including a plurality of external apertures positioned and formed to enclose the motor terminal lugs; an aperture in the housing; a chamber within the housing having a first end open to the aperture; and a slide bar moveably located in the chamber and moveable between at least a first position and a second position. The fixture also includes a plurality of plates moveably mounted in the housing to move between a motor lug engagement position and a motor lug disengagement position; and a plurality of plate motivators. Each plate motivator is arranged on the slide bar to engage a respective one of the plates and, when the slide bar is in the first position, to motivate the respective plate to the lug disengagement position and, when the bar is in the second position, to motivate the respective plate to the lug engagement position. The motor test fixture also preferably includes a polarity bar.

Motor terminal fixture

A motor starter. The motor starter comprises a motor; start, run, shorting and transition contactors operably associated with the motor; and run, start, shorting and transition auxiliary contactors. The transition auxiliary contactor operably controls the operation of a shorting contactor, and the shorting auxiliary operatively controls the operation of the run contactor.

Method of controlling three phase motor starting sequence

An HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air conditioning) control and method for interpreting a broad range of input voltages generates a series of voltage pulses whose quantity increases with the amplitude of the input voltages. Upon counting the pulses or accumulating them across a capacitor, the control applies an algorithm to determine whether an input voltage should be interpreted as a logic-1 or a logic-0. The control can accept AC input voltages having nominal amplitudes of either 110 or 220-volts. In some embodiments, software-based hysteresis helps filter out electrical noise and distinguish input signals that are marginally between a logic-1 and a logic-0.

HVAC control and method for interpreting broad range of input voltages

A sensor system. The system comprises a binary sensor issuing a signal representative of a first or second condition; sampling circuitry, operatively connected to the binary sensor, for monitoring the number of transitions between the first and second conditions during a sampling period; integration circuitry for accumulating the sampled number of transitions over time; and signal generation circuitry for issuing an analog signal representative of the accumulated transitions.

Liquid level sensor

An apparatus and method for protecting an induction motor from momentary power loss in a three-phase, alternating current, power supply. The apparatus includes a circuit for detecting when the motor switches from a mode of operation as a motor to a mode of operation as a generator, and a microprocessor connected to the detector to receive the detection of a switch in mode of operation, and for generating a fault disconnect signal in response thereto to initiate disconnecting the motor from the power source. The method includes the steps of detecting when the motor switches from a mode of operation as a motor to a mode of operation as a generator and generating a fault disconnect signal in response thereto to initiate disconnecting the motor from the power source. The apparatus and method provide for robustness of the fault detection data, and for avoiding false detections of momentary power loss.

Growing community of inventors

Holmen, WI, United States of America

Matthew A Shepeck