Variable torque electric motor assembly
AssigneeHamilton Sundstrand Corporation
InventorsRichard A. Poisson, Naison E. Mastrocola
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An actuator assembly includes an electric motor including a rotor assembly and a stator assembly configured to be actuated to cause the rotor assembly to rotate based on an amount of magnetic flux in the rotor assembly is disclosed. The assembly also includes a controllable magnetic device coupled to the rotor assembly, an actuator coupled to the rotor assembly; and a controller configured to apply electric current to the controllable magnetic device to adjust an amount of torque provided by the electric motor by adjusting the magnetic flux in the rotor assembly.
Claims18
An actuator assembly comprising:
- an electric motor including a rotor assembly and a stator assembly configured to be actuated to cause the rotor assembly to rotate based on an amount of magnetic flux in the rotor assembly;
- a controllable magnetic device coupled to the rotor assembly;
- an actuator coupled to the rotor assembly;
- and
- a controller configured to apply electric current to the controllable magnetic device to adjust an amount of torque provided by the electric motor by adjusting the magnetic flux in the rotor assembly;
- wherein the electric motor is configured to generate an amount of torque that is less than or equal to a maximum amount of torque, and the controllable magnetic device is configured to increase the maximum amount of torque based on a change in a condition that affects the electric motor.
An actuator assembly comprising:
- an electric motor including a rotor assembly and a stator assembly configured to be actuated to cause the rotor assembly to rotate based on an amount of magnetic flux in the rotor assembly;
- a controllable magnetic device coupled to the rotor assembly;
- an actuator coupled to the rotor assembly;
- and
- a controller configured to apply electric current to the controllable magnetic device to adjust an amount of torque provided by the electric motor by adjusting the magnetic flux in the rotor assembly;
- wherein the controller is configured to apply the electric current in a first direction to increase the amount of torque by increasing the magnetic flux in the rotor assembly.
A method of controlling an actuator assembly comprising:
- actuating an electric motor by applying a first electric current to a stator assembly to cause rotation of a rotor assembly, the rotor assembly configured to rotate based on an amount of magnetic flux in the rotor assembly;
- causing movement of an actuator coupled to the rotor assembly;
- and
- applying a second electric current to a controllable magnetic device coupled to the rotor assembly, the second electric current causing an amount of torque provided by the electric motor to change by adjusting the magnetic flux in the rotor assembly;
- wherein the electric motor is configured to generate an amount of torque that is less than or equal to a maximum amount of torque, and the controllable magnetic device is configured to increase the maximum amount of torque based on a change in a condition that affects the electric motor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.