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US 9,518,570 B2Granted
Motor winding heater systems and methods
AssigneeRockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
InventorsDavid Messersmith, Andrew Jaap
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A motor controller includes a motor winding heater function. The motor controller applies a predefined current to one or more of the motor windings without the use of additional dedicated motor winding heater devices. The motor controller serves to control the operation of the motor, while the motor windings serve both as a heater at times and to produce torque at times.
Claims15
A motor winding heater comprising:
- a motor controller configured to receive an alternating current (AC) power and transmit at least a portion of the AC power during a conduction interval of a cycle of the AC power to a motor, the motor including at least two motor windings;
- the motor controller including a processor configured to control operation of the motor controller in a first operation mode and a second operation mode;
- the motor controller further including a heating level input to the second operation mode, the heating level input to set at least one of a heating level and a heating period to control heating of the at least two motor windings, the heating level to control a level of heating current to the at least two motor windings;
- wherein in the first operation mode, the motor controller operates to transmit a first AC power derived from the AC power to all of the at least two motor windings to cause the motor to rotate;
- and
- wherein in the second operation mode, the motor controller operates to transmit a second AC power derived from the AC power to all of the motor windings, the second AC power transmitted at a lower frequency than the first AC power to heat the motor windings without causing the motor to rotate.
3 more elements
A motor controller comprising:
- a processor configured to control operation of the motor controller to rotate a motor having at least two motor windings, and when not rotating the motor, the processor is configured to control operation of the motor controller to heat the motor;
- the motor controller further including a heating level input to heat the motor, the heating level input to set at least one of a heating level and a heating period to control heating of the at least two motor windings, the heating level to control a level of heating current to the at least two motor windings;
- wherein when the processor controls operation of the motor controller to rotate the motor, the processor controls operation of the motor controller to transmit a first AC power to all of the at least two motor windings to cause the motor to rotate;
- wherein when the processor controls operation of the motor controller to heat the motor, the processor controls operation of the motor controller to transmit a second AC power to all of the motor windings having a frequency less than the first AC power, such that the frequency of the second AC power is sufficient to heat the motor without causing the motor to rotate;
- and
- an input to the motor controller, the input to control at least one of the level of the AC power to the motor and the duration of the AC power to the motor.
3 more elements
A method for heating a motor having at least two motor windings, the method comprising:
- receiving an alternating current (AC) power and transmitting at least a portion of the AC power during a conduction interval of a cycle of the AC power to the at least two motor windings;
- providing a motor controller including a processor configured for controlling operation of the motor controller in a first operation mode and a second operation mode:
- the motor controller further including a heating level input to the second operation mode, the heating level input to set at least one of a heating level and a heating period to control heating of the at least two motor windings, the heating level to control a level of heating current to the at least two motor windings;
- controlling operation of the motor controller in the first operation mode, such that the motor controller is transmitting a first AC power derived from the AC power to all of the at least two motor windings and causing the motor to rotate;
- and
- controlling operation of the motor controller in the second operation mode, such that the motor controller is transmitting a second AC power derived from the AC power to all of the motor windings, the second AC power being transmitted at a lower frequency than the first AC power and heating the motor windings without causing the motor to rotate.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.