General Electric Company

Nidec Motor Corporation

Merkle-korff Industries, Inc.

Robert K Hollenbeck

James E Grimm

David M Erdman

Dennis P Bobay

Jimmy R Rickard

David T Molnar

Gregory A Thompson

Jeffrey A Hall

James R Kiefer

Brian Lee Beifus

Michael F Finch

Harold B Harms

William Hull Bicknell

Robert David Sirois

Bruce C Ley

Donald Richard Dickerson, Jr

James J Holich

Roger Carlos Becerra

Thomas E Jenkins

Charles Michael Stephens

Glen C Young

Brent Charles Kumfer

Mark A Brattoli

Paul Michael Szczesny

Arthur C Keck

Thomas M Jahns

Kerry Baker Shelton

Mariano Pablo Filippa

Meher Prasadu Kollipara

LeRoy J Herbst

Theodore J Blevins

Robert V Zigler

Richard S Tatman

Eric R Benedict

John Marshall Hooker

John L Preher

Edward James Hatfield

Gerald L Roberts

David L Smith

Tariq M Alkhairy

Kmk Genghis Khan

Norman Golm, Jr

Erik C Ringberg

Norman P Golm, Jr

William C Hittie, Jr

Mark M Lulling

Austars R Schnore

Trevor Perdue

Bart Long

Justin A Anteau

Justin Mumaw

Donald R Dickerson

Donald Richard Dickerson

Meher Kollipara

A power supply generates power factor corrected power from AC power having one or more phases and different levels of output voltages. The power supply includes a power factor correction circuit that charges a capacitor through at least one inductor. Each inductor of the at least one inductor is independently connected to the capacitor to charge the capacitor with rectified power.

Universal voltage and phase input power supply for electrical motors

An electrical motor controller changes the PWM frequency that is used by a motor driver to form the fundamental frequency and voltage magnitude for the electrical power delivered to an electrical motor. The electrical motor controller compares a signal generated by a first sensor that indicates an output speed of the motor to a predetermined speed threshold and compares a signal generated by a second sensor that corresponds to phase currents in the electrical motor to a predetermined motor power threshold. These comparisons are used to set the PWM frequency for the motor driver. The PWM frequency either corresponds to a frequency in a humanly imperceptible audio range or to a frequency that is in a humanly perceptible audio range.

System and method for improving the operation of electronically controlled motors

A power circuit is configured with mostly passive electrical components to connect a phase shift capacitor to a phase shift winding of a PSC motor selectively. The power circuit includes a timing circuit, a switching circuit, and a triac having a first anode connected to the second capacitor and a second anode connected to electrical ground. The timing circuit has a plurality of passive electrical components and a single active comparator configured to generate a signal indicative of an expiration of a predetermined time period after application of a line voltage to the motor. The switching circuit has a plurality of passive electrical components and a single active switch, which generates a signal to operate the triac to electrically connect the second capacitor to the second winding during the predetermined time period and to disconnect electrically the second capacitor from the second winding in response to a signal generated by the timing circuit indicating the predetermined time period has expired.

System and method for timed insertion of a phase shift capacitor upon powering a split capacitor electrical motor

An electric motor has a control circuit that enables an operational speed of the electric motor to be selected with reference to multiple ranges of speeds and the input voltage to the motor. Switching between speed ranges occurs in response to activation of a switch or in response to expiration of a time period set by a selector switch.

System for selecting an output speed for an electric motor

A method for assembling a washing machine is provided. The method includes providing a mode shifter including a solenoid, coupling a basket and an agitator to the mode shifter, and coupling a motor to the mode shifter. The solenoid selectively allows the motor to rotate at least one of the basket and the agitator. The method also includes affixing a motor controller to the motor, and electrically coupling the motor controller to each of the mode shifter and the motor. The motor controller is in operational control communication with the mode shifter and the motor.

Method and apparatus for controlling a mode shifter in a washing machine from a motor controller

A method, and corresponding system, for dishwasher operation including receiving an operation setting at a dishwasher to be performed by the dishwasher, where the dishwasher is configured to receive an input of electrical power at a defined operating voltage and frequency; and causing an operation of the dishwasher based on the operation setting by causing an inverter of the dishwasher to operate a pump motor of the dishwasher at an electrical power condition different from the defined operating voltage and frequency received at the dishwasher, where the electrical power condition at the pump motor causes the dishwasher to operate in accordance with a quiet dishwashing cycle, a high water pressure dishwashing cycle, a constant mass flow operation, or a minimum water use operation.

Method and system for dishwasher operation

A method and control system for automatically halting operation of a washing machine by stopping operation of the washing machine motor is provided. The washing machine that implements the method includes a motor controller having a primary microprocessor and a secondary microprocessor which serves as a backup redundancy processor in the event there is a malfunction with the primary microprocessor or the primary microprocessor fails to halt washing machine operation within a prescribed window of time. The primary microprocessor controls operation of all of the washing machine electrically controlled components. The secondary microprocessor is electrically connected to a lid switch and the washing machine motor and is configured to halt operation of the motor in response to the primary microprocessor failing to halt motor operation after the lid is open.

Method and apparatus for providing redundancy in monitoring the lid switch and basket of a washing machine

A circuit for servicing a load connectable with a power supply is disclosed. The circuit includes a plurality of three-terminal switches and one control supply. The three-terminal switches define a series conduction path connectable between the power supply and the load. Each of the plurality of three terminal switches includes a source terminal, a drain terminal, and a gate terminal. The control supply is productive of a control voltage and in power connection between the gate terminal and source terminal of each of the plurality of three-terminal switches. Each of the plurality of three-terminal switches is responsive to the control voltage at its respective gate terminal to close a connection between the respective source terminal and respective drain terminal of each of the plurality of three-terminal switches.

Switching circuit apparatus having a series conduction path for servicing a load and switching method

An electric motor including a stator, a rotor, and a housing adapted to support the stator and the rotor is provided. The stator includes a stator core, a first and second lamination stack, a flux tube extending therethrough, and windings on the stator core. The rotor includes a hub having an inner surface, a magnet coupled to the hub inner surface, and a shaft received in the stator core for rotation of the rotor relative to the stator about the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

Method and apparatus for forming an electric motor having stacked laminations

A laminated plate assembly in which the laminations in a stack are secured together by means of one or more interlocks or tabs that project from the uppermost lamination in the assembly through holes or slots in all the other laminations in the assembly, or around the periphery of the other laminations in the assembly, with each tab being bent or pressed against the underside of the bottom lamination in the assembly. This secures all the laminations in the stack together, much like a staple secures papers in a stack together, allowing for additional handling and processing of the laminated plate assembly without concern that the laminated plates in the stack will become misaligned or even become removed from the stack.

Interlock tabs for laminations

A method and apparatus for progressively cutting, piercing, bending, stacking, and interlocking lamination assemblies from a strip of laminate. The stacked laminations are mechanically interlocked with a staple-style interlock that secures all the laminations in the stack together. All the steps in the process of forming, stacking and interlocking are done within the tool and die assembly, eliminating the need for additional equipment to stack and interlock assemblies.

Assembly method for stamped and cupped laminations

Methods and apparatus for minimizing electrical machine vibration are described. In an exemplary embodiment of the method, power is applied to the motor under microprocessor control such that a pulse modulated current profile is applied to the motor which in turn controls the amount of torque generated by the motor. By adjusting current profiles, torque generation is controlled, and vibration and noise are eliminated.

Methods and systems for minimizing vibration in electric machines

A fan assembly includes a shroud attached to a motor housing to prevent negative pressure from developing within the motor housing and prevent moisture from being drawn into drain openings. The assembly includes a fan, a motor, a motor housing, and a fan control. The motor and fan control are disposed within the motor housing. The motor housing includes drain openings to permit the motor housing to be assembled and to permit moisture to drain to the environment from the motor housing. The shroud is attached downstream from the fan such that the drain openings remain open to the environment.

Methods and apparatus for preventing moisture in fan motor housings

A fan assembly includes a vibration damping system to reduce induced vibrational energy generated as a result of fan motor operation. The vibration damping system includes a plurality of arms and damping material. The vibration damping system arms extend between a fan motor housing and a shroud assembly disposed circumferentially outward from the fan motor housing. The damping material is attached to an end of each of the vibration damping system arms and connects each arm to the shroud assembly. The damping material absorbs induced vibrational energy generated by fan motor operation.

Methods and apparatus for reducing vibrations induced within fan assemblies

A refrigeration control system containing a chamber in a fresh food compartment of a refrigerator. In one embodiment, a fan motor is positioned between an evaporator and the chamber. The fan motor speed or torque is adjusted to control the volume of cold evaporator air blown into the chamber. The rate of air flow to the chamber adjusts the temperature of the chamber.

Method and apparatus for adjusting temperature using air flow

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Fort Wayne, IN, United States of America

Robert K Hollenbeck