Apparatus and method for testing a motor-shorting relay
OwnerGordon D. Richardson, Steven Donald Klein +1inventors
InventorsGordon D. Richardson, Steven Donald Klein, Brian Lemanski
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Abstract
An apparatus for monitoring the operational condition of a relay configured for selective short-circuiting of the windings of a motor is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the apparatus includes a current source connected to a first node in common with a first contact in the relay, and a second node in common with a second contact in the relay. A microprocessor provides an input signal to the current source. The input signal, when applied to the current source, causes the current source to apply a first voltage to the first node and a second voltage to the second node.
Claims14
An apparatus for monitoring the operational condition of a relay, the relay configured for selective short-circuiting of the windings of a motor, the apparatus comprising:
- a current source, said current source connected to a first node, said first node in common with a first contact in the relay, and said current source connected to a second node, said second node in common with a second contact in the relay;
- and
- a microprocessor, said microprocessor providing an input signal to said current source;
- said input signal, when applied to said current source, causing said current source to apply a first voltage to said first node and a second voltage to said second node.
A motor controller unit for a synchronous motor having a plurality of phase windings, the motor controller unit comprising:
- a microprocessor;
- a motor driver circuit, said motor driver circuit providing an excitation current to each of said plurality of phase windings, said motor driver circuit further providing motor current feedback information to microprocessor;
- a motor shorting relay, connected in parallel with said plurality of phase windings, said motor shorting relay further comprising:
- a plurality of contacts corresponding to each of said plurality of said phase windings, and
- an electromagnetic coil energized by said microprocessor;
- and
- a current source, driven by said microprocessor, said current source applying a voltage to at least two of said plurality of contacts.
A method for monitoring the operational condition of a relay, the relay configured for selective short-circuiting of the windings of a motor, the method comprising:
- applying a first voltage to a first contact in the relay while the relay is de-energized;
- applying a second voltage to a second contact in the relay while the relay is de-energized;
- comparing said first and second voltages, while the relay is de-energized;
- energizing the relay;
- applying said first voltage to said first contact while the relay is energized;
- applying said second voltage to said second contact while the relay is energized;
- and
- comparing said first and said second voltages, while the relay is energized.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.