US 5,703,457 A · Power supply to a stator of a polyphase reluctance machine

Abstract

A polyphase switched reluctance machine has only n power cable connections for n phases. Each phase winding includes a series connected diode and the phase windings and their diodes are arranged in a conducting ring. Alternating currents are fed to the nodes of the conducting ring from an inverter. The nodal connections between the phases allows the alternating current to energize the windings where previously only a greater number of cables and a unidirectional current would have been required. Due to the presence of alternating current, a transformer may be interposed between the inverter and the nodes of the conducting ring to allow a boosted voltage to be delivered over long distances.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A stator for a polyphase reluctance machine comprising a stator body, a phase winding for each phase of the machine, and at least one uni-directional current device connected in series with each phase winding to form a phase unit therewith, the uni-directional current device adapted to carry the main phase winding current of its associated phase winding when the associated phase winding is energized, the phase units being arranged in at least one conducting ring defining nodes of connections between the phase units.

A method of driving a switched reluctance machine having a stator, the stator comprising a stator body;

a phase winding for each phase of the machine;
at least one uni-directional current device connected in series with each phase winding to form a phase unit therewith, the uni-directional current device adapted to carry the main phase winding current of its associated phase winding when the associated phase winding is energized, the phase units being arranged in at least one conducting ring defining nodes of connections between the phase units;
and a switching circuit having positive and negative dc supply terminals, serially connected first and second switch means for each node, and means for transmitting electrical energy between each node of the conducting ring and the first and second switch means of the switching circuit, the pairs of serially connected switch means being connected across the positive and negative supply terminals, the method comprising;
(a) applying a supply voltage across the positive and negative supply terminals;
(b) initiating a phase conduction cycle by turning on the first switch means connected with one of the nodes and the second switch means connected with another of the nodes, such that a positive voltage is applied to, and flux increases within the magnetic circuit associated with, the phase winding between the nodes;
(c) turning off the said first and second switch means when the flux associated with the phase winding between the nodes reaches a required level;
(d) initiating a subsequent phase conduction cycle by turning on the first switch means connected with the said another of the nodes and the second switch means connected with a further one of the nodes adjacent the said another of the nodes, such that a positive voltage is applied across the adjacent phase winding between those nodes;
and
(e) sequentially turning on and off the first and second switch means connected with the nodes of successive adjacent phase units according to steps b) to d) to initiate a cyclic sequence of phase conduction cycles.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

08/501,643Filed 12 Jul 1995

Priority

GB 941411613 Jul 1994

Granted

30 Dec 1997

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

H02P 9/40
Arrangements for controlling electric generators for the purpose of obtaining a desired output: by variation of reluctance of magnetic circuit of…
H02K 3/28
Windings characterised by the conductor shape, form or construction, e.g. with bar conductors: layout of windings or of connections between windings
H02P 3/065
For stopping or slowing an individual dynamo-electric motor or dynamo-electric converter: for stopping or slowing a reluctance motor
H02K 19/103
For multi-phase current: motors having windings on the stator and a variable reluctance soft-iron rotor without windings

Power supply to a stator of a polyphase reluctance machine

Life of this patent

Power supply to a stator of a polyphase reluctance machine

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23