Motor controller for electric blower motors
AssigneeRegal Beloit America, Inc.
InventorsBrian Lee Beifus, Kathryn Bloomfield, Andrew C. Barry
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A motor controller for an electric motor is provided. The electric motor is configured to drive a blower to generate an airflow. The motor controller includes a memory and a processor coupled thereto. The memory is configured to store a speed-to-airflow ratio associated with an airflow restriction on the blower. The processor is configured to receive a command for a calibrating airflow and operate the electric motor in a constant airflow mode to generate the calibrating airflow at a calibrating speed. The processor is further configured to write the calibrating speed and the calibrating airflow to the memory as the speed-to-airflow ratio.
Claims18
A motor controller for an electric motor configured to drive a blower to generate an airflow, said motor controller comprising:
- a memory configured to store a single speed-to-airflow ratio associated with an airflow restriction on the blower;
- and
- a processor coupled to said memory and configured to:
- receive a command for a calibrating airflow;
- operate the electric motor in a constant airflow mode to generate the calibrating airflow at a calibrating speed;
- write the calibrating speed and the calibrating airflow to said memory as the single speed-to-airflow ratio;
- receive a first command for a first objective airflow;
- compute a first objective speed based on the single speed-to-airflow ratio and the first objective airflow;
- operate the electric motor at the first objective speed to generate a first output airflow;
- receive a second command for a second objective airflow;
- compute a second objective speed based on the single speed-to-airflow ratio and the second objective airflow;
- and
- operate the electric motor at the second objective speed to generate a second output airflow.
A method of operating an electric motor configured to drive a blower to generate an airflow, said method comprising:
- operating the electric motor at a calibrating speed to drive the blower to generate a calibrating airflow;
- storing the calibrating speed and the calibrating airflow in a memory as a single speed-to-airflow ratio;
- receiving a first command for a first objective airflow that is less than the calibrating airflow;
- computing first objective speed based on the single speed-to-airflow ratio and the first objective airflow;
- operating the electric motor at the first objective speed to drive the blower to generate a first output airflow;
- receiving a second command for a second objective airflow;
- computing a second objective speed based on the single speed-to-airflow ratio and the second objective airflow;
- and
- operating the electric motor at the second objective speed to generate a second output airflow.
A blower system, comprising:
- a blower configured to generate an airflow;
- an electric motor coupled to said blower and configured to drive said blower;
- and
- a motor controller coupled to said electric motor and configured to:
- receive a command for a calibrating airflow;
- determine a calibrating speed at which said electric motor turns to drive said blower to generate a calibrating airflow;
- operate the electric motor to drive said blower to generate the calibrating airflow at the calibrating speed;
- and
- store the calibrating speed and the calibrating airflow in a memory as a single speed-to-airflow ratio;
- compute a first objective speed based on the single speed-to-airflow ratio and a first commanded objective airflow;
- and
- operate said electric motor at the first objective speed to generate a first output airflow;
- compute a second objective speed based on the single speed-to-airflow ratio and a second commanded objective airflow;
- and
- operating the electric motor at the second objective speed to generate a second output airflow.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.