Multiphase motor having winding connections specific to respective operating speed ranges

A method for dynamically controlling a motor having a plurality of salient pole stator core segments, each core segment having a plurality of sets of coils wound thereon to form a core segment winding, the method comprising the steps of:

• energizing all coils of each core segment winding to start motor rotation;
• determining whether the motor has accelerated to a predetermined threshold speed;
• in response to the motor having obtained the predetermined threshold speed as determined in said determining step, de-energizing one of said plurality of sets of coils of each core segment winding while maintaining energization of the remaining coils of each core segment winding;
• and
• determining whether the speed of the motor has exceeded another predetermined speed threshold;
• and
• in response to the motor having obtained said another predetermined threshold speed as determined in said further determining step, de-energizing an additional one of said plurality of said sets of coils of each core segment winding while maintaining energization of the remaining coils of each core segment winding.

A method for dynamically controlling a motor having a plurality of salient pole stator core segments, each core segment having a plurality of sets of coils wound thereon to form a core segment winding, the method comprising the steps of:

• establishing a plurality of mutually exclusive speed ranges between startup and a maximum speed;
• designating which sets of coils of each core segment winding are to be energized for each speed range;
• connecting an energy source to the core segment windings to start motor rotation;
• determining when the motor speed changes from a first one of said speed ranges to a second one of said speed ranges;
• and
• changing an existing connection of the energy source to the sets of coils designated for the second speed range in response to the determining step.

A motor control system comprising:

• a motor having a plurality of salient pole stator core segments that are ferromagnetically isolated from each other, each core segment having a plurality of sets of coils wound thereon to form a core segment winding, said motor operable over an entire speed range that comprises a plurality of speed range subsets;
• a controlled energy source;
• a controller having stored therein a plurality of settings respectively corresponding to each said speed range subset;
• and
• means for applying said controlled energy source to a prescribed number of coil sets of each winding in response to said controller, the prescribed number corresponding to one of said settings for a speed range subset.