Electric constant speed/variable speed drive/generator assembly

An electric constant-speed/variable-speed drive/generator unit for receiving mechanical input power from an engine and for generating electrical power comprising:

• an ac synchronous generator having rotor and stator elements;
• a bi-directional and variable-speed ac induction motor having rotor and stator elements;
• a drive assembly coupling said engine, said generator and said motor together such that said engine drives said generator and said motor can affect the rate that said engine drives said generator;
• means for controlling the speed and direction of said induction motor and for selectively operating said induction motor with said drive assembly, whereby said generator provides constant-voltage/constant-frequency power over a preselected speed range of said engine, and variable-voltage/variable-frequency power over speeds outside said preselected range comprising:
• speed logic means;
• a brake element adapted to selectively operate said induction motor with said gear drive assembly;
• power electronic means for providing a bi-directional synthesized rotating ac power field in said induction motor;
• and
• said brake element, speed logic means, and power electronic means being interactively arranged such that said brake element is "on" at engine speeds outside said preselected range and said induction motor locks said drive assembly means causing said generator to operate in a variable-voltage/variable-frequency mode, and said brake element is "off" at engine speeds within
• said preselected range and said induction motor operates to drive said drive assembly means at a speed and in a direction to maintain said generator in a scheduled constant-voltage/constant-frequency mode.