Efficient stator

• US 20020180403A1
• Filed: 05/17/2002
• Published: 12/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motion Holdings, LLC (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Comair Rotron Incorporated (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Inventors: Brown, Fred A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,741,061 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 318/727
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/54 Windings for different functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/56 with switched windings
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 17/08 Motors with auxiliary phase obtained by externally fed auxiliary windings, e.g. capacitor motors
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 2213/09 Machines characterised by the presence of elements which are subject to variation, e.g. adjustable bearings, reconfigurable windings, variable pitch ventilators
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 1/46 for starting an individual synchronous motor H02P27/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility

Abstract

A stator in a synchronous fan includes first and second main windings, and an auxiliary winding. Illustratively, the first and second main windings are wound in a bifilar arrangement. In addition, the stator has a switch to switch the stator between a plurality of configurations. One of those configurations is an induction configuration that permits the first main winding to induce a voltage in the auxiliary winding when a current (e.g., a time-varying current) is transmitted through the first main winding. Moreover, the first main winding is electrically isolated from the auxiliary winding when in the induction configuration.

Claims

1. A stator in a synchronous fan, the stator comprising:

a first main winding;

a second main winding;

an auxiliary winding, the first and second main windings being wound in a bifilar arrangement; and

a switch to switch the stator between a plurality of configurations,

one of the plurality of configurations being an induction configuration that permits the first main winding to induce a voltage in the auxiliary winding when a current is transmitted through the first main winding, the first main winding being electrically isolated from the auxiliary winding when in the induction configuration.

2. The stator as defined by claim 1 wherein a second voltage is induced in the second main winding when a first voltage is produced by the first main winding, the induced voltage in the second main winding producing the induced voltage in the auxiliary winding.

3. The stator as defined by claim 2 wherein the second voltage induced in the second main winding is no greater than about half the first voltage in the first main winding.

4. The stator as defined by claim 1 wherein the first main winding includes a first input, and the second main winding includes a second input, the voltage being induced in the auxiliary winding when no signal is applied to the second input, and a signal is applied to the first input.

5. The stator as defined by claim 4 wherein the stator has a non-induction configuration where the first and second inputs are connected to electrically connect the auxiliary winding with the first and second main windings.

6. The stator as defined by claim 1 wherein the voltage is induced in the auxiliary winding by a magnetic field produced by the first main winding.

7. The stator as defined by claim 1 further including a capacitance in series with the auxiliary winding to form an auxiliary branch, the auxiliary branch being in parallel with the second main winding.

8. The stator as defined by claim 1 wherein the motor includes a rotor that interacts with the stator to rotate, the rotor receiving a sufficient amount of torque when in an at rest position when the voltage is induced to begin rotating.

9. The stator as defined by claim 1 wherein the current is an AC current, the AC current producing a voltage in the first main winding.

10. A stator circuit for use in a stator of an AC electric motor, the stator circuit comprising:

a first main winding;

a second main winding; and

an auxiliary winding,

the second main winding and auxiliary winding being within a first closed loop,

the first main winding and second main winding being connectable in a second closed loop, the first and second main windings being configured so that when in operation and not connected in the second closed loop with the second main winding, a first voltage in the first main winding induces a second voltage in the second main winding.

11. The stator circuit as defined by claim 10 wherein the first main winding is wound in a bifilar configuration with the second main winding.

12. The stator circuit as defined by claim 10 further comprising:

a first input in electrical communication with the first main winding; and

a second input in electrical communication with the second main winding and the auxiliary winding, the two inputs being electrically connectable to form the second closed loop.

13. The stator circuit as defined by claim 12 wherein when in operation and the two inputs are not electrically connected, the first main winding is not in the second closed loop with the second main winding.

14. The stator circuit as defined by claim 13 wherein when in operation and the first winding is not in the second closed loop with the second main winding, the first voltage is applied to the first input only.

15. The stator circuit as defined by claim 13 wherein when in operation and the first winding is not in the second closed loop with the second main winding, the first main winding is not electrically impacted by a third voltage applied to the second input when no voltage is applied to the first input.

16. The stator circuit as defined by claim 10 wherein the second voltage causes an auxiliary voltage in the auxiliary winding.

17. The stator circuit as defined by claim 10 further comprising a capacitance in series with the auxiliary winding to form an auxiliary branch, the auxiliary branch being in parallel with the second main winding.

18. The stator circuit as defined by claim 10 wherein when in use and the first main winding is connected in the second closed loop with the second main winding, the first main winding is electrically connected in parallel to the second main winding.

19. The stator circuit as defined by claim 10 wherein the auxiliary winding is physically located about 90 degrees from the first main winding within the motor.

20. The stator circuit as defined by claim 10 wherein when in operation, the stator circuit is capable of applying more torque when the first main stator is in the second closed loop with the second main winding than when the first main stator is not in the second closed loop with the second main winding.

21. The stator circuit as defined by claim 10 including an additional auxiliary winding connectable in parallel with the auxiliary winding.

22. A stator circuit for use in a stator of an AC electric motor, the stator circuit comprising:

a first main winding;

a second main winding; and

an auxiliary winding in electrical communication with the second main winding,

means for controlling the first and second main windings to be in either one of a low state and a high state, the high state providing higher torque than the low state when in operation,

when in the low state, the first main winding being electrically isolated from the second main winding, the windings being configured so that a first voltage across the first main winding induces a second voltage in the second main winding.

23. The stator circuit as defined by claim 22 wherein the means for controlling also permits the first and second main windings to be in a medium state, the first main winding being electrically isolated from the second main winding, a third voltage in the second main winding having no electrical impact on the first main winding.

24. The stator circuit as defined by claim 22 wherein when in the high state and operating, the first main winding is in parallel with the second main winding, a fourth voltage applied to the first and second main windings produces a voltage across the auxiliary winding.

25. The stator circuit as defined by claim 22 wherein the first main winding is wound in a bifilar configuration with the second main winding.