Redundant field drive for an electric machine
First Claim
1. An electric power generating system comprising:
- an alternator; and
a regulator, including a normal field control and a redundant field control, and a selector for selecting between said normal field control and said redundant field control, said selector selecting said redundant field control when said normal field control is not operating.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electric power generating system comprising: a generator including an alternator and regulator, the regulator including a normal field control and a redundant field control with a default field command and a selector for selecting between the normal field control and the redundant field control. Further disclosed, is a method of providing excitation to an alternator, comprising: receiving a field default signal indicative of an inoperative normal field control and a normal field command responsive to the normal field control, indicative of a desired duty cycle command to a field coil of an alternator. The method further includes determining if a supply voltage is greater than a selected value and formulating a default field command; transmitting a field drive responsive to the default field command to a field coil of the alternator if the field default signal is asserted.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. An electric power generating system comprising:
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an alternator; and
a regulator, including a normal field control and a redundant field control, and a selector for selecting between said normal field control and said redundant field control, said selector selecting said redundant field control when said normal field control is not operating. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 30)
a means for determining and indicating whether said normal field control is not operative.
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10. An electric machine comprising:
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an alternator;
a regulator having a normal field control and a redundant field control each being coupled to said alternator;
a means for determining and indicating whether said normal field control is not operative; and
a selector for selecting between said operational field control and said redundant field control, said selector being responsive to said means for determining. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for providing excitation to an electric machine in an electric power generating system with an alternator and a regulator with a controller executing the method, comprising:
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receiving a field default signal indicative of an inoperative normal field control;
receiving a normal field command responsive to said normal field control, indicative of a desired duty cycle command to a field coil of the alternator;
formulating a default field command responsive to a selected value for a supply voltage;
selecting and transmitting a field drive responsive to said default field command to a field coil of the alternator if said field default signal is asserted; and
wherein the regulator includes an normal field control and a redundant field control.- View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An electric machine for providing a source of electrical power, comprising:
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an alternator;
a first means for determining and providing an excitation to a field coil of said alternator;
a second means for determining and providing an excitation for said field coil of said alternator, said second means providing said excitation if said first means is inoperative; and
a means for determining whether said first means is inoperative.
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27. A regulator for providing excitation to an alternator in an electric power generating system, comprising:
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means for receiving a field default signal indicative of an inoperative normal field control;
means for receiving a normal field control signal responsive to said normal field control, indicative of a desired duty cycle command to a field coil of the alternator;
means for formulating a default field command responsive to a selected value for a supply voltage;
means for selecting and transmitting a field drive responsive to said default field command to a field coil of the alternator if said field default signal is asserted, wherein said regulator includes an normal field control and a redundant field control. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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31. An electric power generating system, comprising:
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an alternator; and
a regulator, said regulator comprising;
a normal field control;
a redundant field control;
means for receiving a field default signal indicative of an inoperative normal field control;
means for receiving a normal field control signal responsive to said normal field control, indicative of a desired duty cycle command to a field coil of said alternator;
means for formulating a default field command responsive to a selected value for a supply voltage;
means for selecting and transmitting a field drive responsive to said default field command to a field coil of the alternator if said field default signal is asserted. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
means for determining and indicating that said normal field control is inoperative and generating said field default signal.
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33. The electric power generating system as in claim 31, further comprising:
means for determining and indicating that the alternator is not operative via an engine off detection, and wherein said means for selecting and transmitting a field drive is further responsive to said engine off detection.
Specification