The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 04, 2000
Filed:
Mar. 01, 1994
William S Heglund, Davis Junction, IL (US);
Stephen R Jones, Rockford, IL (US);
Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation, Rockford, IL (US);
Abstract
An electric power starter/generator system for converting electrical energy from a remote dc electrical power source coupled to a dc distribution bus to mechanical energy to start a turbine engine in a start mode, and for converting mechanical energy from the turbine engine to electrical energy to power utilization equipment connected to the dc bus in a generate mode, comprises a switched reluctance machine, an inverter having a dc input/output coupled to the dc distribution bus, and at least a first and a second switch coupling each of the machine's phase windings to the dc bus, and at least a first and a second diode for cross-cupling each of said phase windings to the dc bus, and a controller coupled to the inverter for monitoring and controlling system performance during the start mode and the generate mode of system operation. The controller monitors rotor position and generates switching control signals to enable the switches for each of the phase windings at a fixed angle prior to alignment of the rotor pole with the associated stator pole, coupling the phase winding to the dc bus and allowing dc phase current to flow to energize the winding. The controller further generates switching control signals to disable the switches at a fixed angle after alignment, decoupling the phase winding from the dc bus and forcing dc current flow back through the diodes to allow the switched reluctance machine to operate as a generator. During this mode, the controller monitors phase current and dc bus voltage, calculates a maximum phase current limit and a minimum phase current limit, and modulates the switches to regulate the dc phase current within these limits. In this way, the controller maintains the dc bus voltage at a desired level regardless of system load. The controller also allows operation in a start mode.