Electronic control circuit for a bidirectional motor

• US 4,910,443 A
• Filed: 02/28/1989
• Issued: 03/20/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Square D Company (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Square D Company (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Zylstra, Henry J., Etscheidt, Ronald J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ro, Bentsu
• Application Number:
  US07/317,268
• Time in Patent Office: 385 Days
• Field of Search: 318/244, 318/245, 318/246, 318/249, 318/250, 318/251, 318/252, 318/253, 318/291, 318/293, 318/294, 318/264, 318/265, 318/266, 318/285, 318/286
• US Class Current: 318/294
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 7/025 with flat clutching surfaces, e.g. discs
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/266 having control circuits for motor operating switches, e.g. controlling the opening or closing speed of the contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/26 using dynamo-electric motor for storing energy in a spring motor H01H3/30
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/58 using friction, toothed, or other mechanical clutch
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 7/04 by means of a H-bridge circuit

Abstract

A field installable motor operator for a circuit breaker includes a bidirectionally controllable motor that is coupled through a torque limited module to a circuit breaker operating mechanism. The motor is bidirectionally driven by a transistor switching bridge that supplies output current in reversible flow directions through one of the windings of the motor to the input of a rectifier bridge that supplies the other winding with currents that flow in the same direction. The torque limited module includes a centering and spacing ring which precisely confines the clutch elements to provide consistent torque. The motor is supplied with a current pulse of 250 milliseconds duration that is longer than the time required to fully operate the breaker. The clutch slips when breaker operation is completed and permits the motor to overrun without damage.

Claims

1. A bidirectional motor system comprising:

a motor having separate armature and field windings;

a first conductive bridge, including four transistor switches having base-emitter input circuits, having input terminals and output terminals;

a source of voltage coupled across said input terminals of said first conductive bridge;

a second conductive bridge including four diodes and having input terminals and output terminals;

means connecting one of said armature and field windings in series with said input terminals of said second conductive bridge between said output terminals of said first conductive bridge;

means connecting the other of said armature and said field windings between said output terminals of said second conductive bridge;

control signal means for supplying a control signal;

monostable timing means generating a fixed duration current output responsive to said control signal for simultaneously driving an oppositely oriented pair of said four transistor switches conductive to supply current to said second conductive bridge; and

FET transistors driven conductive responsive to said control signal and coupled to the base-emitter input circuits of said transistor switches.

2. A bidirectional motor system comprising:

a motor having separate armature and field windings;

a switching bridge including four transistors and having input terminals and output terminals;

a source of voltage coupled across said input terminals of said switching bridge;

a rectifier bridge including four diodes having input terminals and output terminals;

means connecting one of said armature and field windings in series with said input terminals of said rectifier bridge between said output terminals of said switching bridge;

means connecting the other of said armature and field windings between said output terminals of said rectifier bridge;

control signal means for supplying a control signal; and

monostable timing means for generating a fixed duration current output responsive to said control signal for simultaneously driving an oppositely oriented pair of said four transistor switches conductive to supply current to said rectifier bridge.

3. A bidirectional motor control system comprising:

a bidirectional motor having separate armature and field windings;

a rectifier bridge connected in series with one of said armature and field windings;

a switching bridge including two pairs of transistor switches and having output terminals connecting the other of said armature and said field windings in series with said rectifier bridge;

dual monostable timer means for selectively supplying two predetermined duration output signals responsive to input signals of variable duration;

a pair of transistor driver means, selectively energized by said two predetermined duration output signals for driving said motor in different directions;

means responsive to said two predetermined duration output signals for selectively driving one of said two pairs of transistor switches in said switching bridge conductive; and

means responsive to a received one of said two output signals for disabling the input to said dual monostable timer means associated with the other of said two output signals.

4. A bidirectional motor control system comprising:

a bidirectional motor having separate armature and field windings;

a rectifier bridge connected in series with one of said armature and field windings;

a switching bridge including two pairs of transistor switches and having output terminals connecting the other of said armature and said field windings in series with said rectifier bridge;

dual monostable timer means for selectively supplying two predetermined duration output signals in response to input signals of variable duration;

a pair of transistor driver means energized by respective ones of said two predetermined duration output signals for selectively driving one of said two pairs of transistor switches in said switching bridge conductive to operate said motor in one direction; and

means responsive to a received one of said two output signals for disabling the input to said dual monostable timer means associated with the other of said two output signals.