Control system for a separately excited DC motor

• US 5,878,189 A
• Filed: 07/08/1997
• Issued: 03/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation, Solaria Research Enterprises, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
• Inventors: Meyer, David A, Hammer, Joe K, Killian, Christopher M, Lankin, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Ro, Bentsu
• Application Number:
  US08/889,227
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 388/801, 388/907.2, 388/907.5, 318/244, 318/245, 318/432, 318/433
• US Class Current: 388/801
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 7/2913 whereby the speed is regulated by measuring the motor speed and comparing it with a given physical value
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 7/2985 whereby the speed is regulated by measuring the motor speed and comparing it with a given physical value

Abstract

A microprocessor based control system generates optimal field and armature currents for a separately excited DC motor. The current levels for the field and armature coils are set by feedback control. Armature and field current setpoints are established in accordance with tabulated values selected for providing a required torque and speed in an optimal fashion. A table of corresponding values of armature voltage is also maintained. If the actual armature voltage is below the calculated value, then the field current setpoint is boosted by an amount sufficient to optimize output torque.

Claims

1. Apparatus for separately exciting a field coil and an armature coil of a direct current motor comprising:

(a) a matrix of field current values stored in a digital memory at addresses which may be accessed by combined torque values and speed values;

(b) a matrix of armature current values stored in said digital memory at addresses which may be accessed by said torque values and said speed values, said armature current values being related to said field current values in such a way that said torque values and said speed values will access optimal combinations of field current and armature current capable of producing torques corresponding to said addresses while said motor rotates at speed associated therewith;

(c) a microprocessor programmed for generating said addresses in response to speed signals and speed error signals and downloading said field current values and said armature current values;

(d) a field coil driver connected for delivering field currents to said field coil at levels corresponding to said field current values, and thereby establishing a corresponding flux field;

(e) an armature coil driver connected for delivering armature currents to said armature coil at levels corresponding to said armature current values, so that said armature coil generates said torques in reaction to said flux field and rotates at said speeds;

(f) a speed sensor connected for sensing the speed of rotation of the armature coil and generating said speed signals in response thereto; and

(g) an input circuit connected for receiving speed reference signals and generating said speed error signals in accordance with differences between said speed reference signals and said speed signals.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said field coil driver comprises field current delivery circuit responsive to field current error signals for delivering said field currents to said field coil, a field current sensor for sensing said field currents and generating field current feedback signals corresponding thereto, and a field current comparator for comparing said field current values with said field current feedback signals and generating said field current error signals in correspondence with differences therebetween.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said armature coil driver comprises armature current delivery means responsive to armature current error signals for delivering said armature currents to said armature coil, an armature current sensor for sensing said armature currents and generating armature current feedback signals corresponding t here to, and an armature current comparator for comparing said armature current values with said armature current feedback signals and generating said armature current error signals in correspondence with differences therebetween.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising

an voltage sensor connected to the armature for sensing an the armature voltage value;

a matrix of expected armature voltage values stored in said digital memory at addresses which may be accessed by said torque values and said speed values,

an armature voltage comparator for generating armature voltage error signals corresponding to differences between said armature voltage values and said expected armature voltage values; and

field current adjustment means for adjusting said field current values i n correspondence with said armature voltage error signals.

5. An apparatus for controlling a direct current motor having a separately excited field coil and an armature coil, said apparatus comprising:

an input circuit for providing a desired motor speed value;

a speed sensor for sensing the rotation of said motor;

a control circuit for establishing separate field current values and armature current values based on the torque signal for a given speed of the motor;

a field coil driver connected for delivering field current to said field coil at levels corresponding to said field current values, and thereby establishing a corresponding flux field;

an armature coil driver connected for delivering armature currents to said armature coil at levels corresponding to said armature current values such that said armature coil attempts to generate a desired torque in reaction to said flux field;

the improvement comprising

a circuit for providing expected armature voltage values for any given value of torque and motor speed,

a voltage sensor connected to the armature for sensing an armature voltage value;

an armature voltage comparator for generating armature voltage error signals corresponding to differences between said armature voltage values and said expected armature voltage values; and

a field current adjustment apparatus for adjusting said field current values, and thus the flux field, in correspondence with said armature voltage error signals thereby to obtain from said motor a desired torque value.

6. Apparatus of claim 5 wherein said circuit for providing expected armature voltage values for any given value of torque and motor speed includes

a matrix of expected armature voltage values stored in a digital memory at addresses which may be accessed by said torque values and said speed values.