Motor start switch
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsEric A. Depner, James A. Butcher
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for disconnecting a starting winding of a single-phase motor during startup. The method includes the steps of disposing a heater element of a thermal switch in series with a main winding of the single-phase motor and disposing a set of contacts of the thermal switch in series with the starting winding of the single-phase motor.
Claims19
A method of disconnecting a starting winding of a single-phase motor during startup, such method comprising the steps of:
- disposing a heater element of a thermal switch in series with a main winding of the single-phase motor;
- disposing a set of contacts of the thermal switch in series with the starting winding of the single-phase motor;
- and
- opening the set of contacts in series with the starting winding when the motor has accelerated to a full load running speed thereby allowing the motor to continue to run without current flow through the starting winding.
The method of disconnecting a starting winding as in claim further comprising providing a delay between application of the single phase power source to the main winding and opening the set of contacts of the thermal switch.
Apparatus for disconnecting a starting winding of a single-phase motor during startup, such apparatus comprising:
- means for generating heat disposed in series with a main winding of the single-phase motor;
- and
- means coupled to the means for generating heat for interrupting current in the starting winding of the single-phase motor when the motor has accelerated to a full load running speed thereby allowing the motor to continue to run without current flow through the starting winding.
Apparatus for disconnecting a starting winding of a single-phase motor during startup, such apparatus comprising:
- a heater element adapted to generate heat disposing in series with a main winding of the single-phase motor;
- and
- a thermally activated switch coupled to the thermal element and adapted to interrupt current within the starting winding of the single-phase motor when the motor has accelerated to a full load running speed thereby allowing the motor to continue to run without current flow through the starting winding.
A single-phase motor comprising:
- a main winding;
- a starting winding;
- and
- a thermal switch with a heater element of the thermal switch disposed in series with the main winding and a set of thermally activated contacts of the thermal switch disposed in series with the starting winding.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.