Motor temperature control using estimated motor temperature based on motor power dissipation
First Claim
1. A method of limiting motor temperature to a predetermined maximum temperature value by limiting motor power dissipation, the method comprising the steps of:
- sensing ambient temperature near the motor;
determining the motor power dissipation;
estimating motor winding temperature based on the sensed ambient temperature and the determined motor power dissipation;
determining a maximum motor power dissipation that would raise the motor temperature to the predetermined maximum temperature value in a predetermined time period based on the estimated winding temperature; and
limiting the motor power dissipation to a value that is below the determined maximum power dissipation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method of controlling motor temperature is based on computed motor power dissipation and a thermal model of the motor, rather than a measured motor temperature, in a control loop that limits the motor drive to prevent overheating. An ambient temperature sensor senses the ambient temperature near the motor, and a determination is made of the motor power dissipation. The motor winding temperature is estimated based on the sensed ambient temperature and the determined motor power dissipation. A maximum motor power dissipation that would raise the motor temperature to a predetermined maximum temperature value is determined based on the estimated temperature. The motor power dissipation is limited to a value that is below the determined maximum power dissipation.
28 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of limiting motor temperature to a predetermined maximum temperature value by limiting motor power dissipation, the method comprising the steps of:
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sensing ambient temperature near the motor; determining the motor power dissipation; estimating motor winding temperature based on the sensed ambient temperature and the determined motor power dissipation; determining a maximum motor power dissipation that would raise the motor temperature to the predetermined maximum temperature value in a predetermined time period based on the estimated winding temperature; and limiting the motor power dissipation to a value that is below the determined maximum power dissipation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for limiting motor temperature, comprising:
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an ambient temperature sensor operable to sense ambient temperature near the motor and supply an ambient temperature signal representative thereof; motor power dissipation determination means, responsive to motor commands, for supplying a motor power dissipation signal representative of power dissipation by the motor; thermal model means, responsive to the ambient temperature signal and the motor power dissipation signal, for (i) estimating motor winding temperature and (ii) supplying a motor winding temperature signal representative thereof; power dissipation limit determination means, responsive to the motor winding temperature signal, for (i) determining a maximum motor power that, when supplied to the motor, would raise the motor temperature to a predetermined maximum temperature value in a predetermined time period and (ii) supplying a motor power dissipation limit signal representative thereof; and limiter means, responsive to the motor power dissipation limit signal, for limiting the motor commands supplied to the motor based on the determined motor power dissipation limit signal. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A flight control surface actuation system, comprising:
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an actuator motor coupled to receive actuator motor commands and configured, upon receipt thereof, to supply a drive force; a flight control surface actuator coupled to receive the drive force and operable, upon receipt thereof, to move to a commanded position; an ambient temperature sensor operable to sense ambient temperature near the actuator motor and supply an ambient temperature signal representative thereof; and an actuator controller coupled to receive the ambient temperature signal and adapted to receive flight surface position commands, the actuator controller operable, in response to the ambient temperature signal and the flight control surface position commands, to supply the actuator motor commands to the actuator motor and limit actuator motor temperature to a predetermined maximum temperature, the actuator controller including; motor power dissipation determination means, responsive to the actuator motor commands, for supplying a motor power dissipation signal representative of power dissipation by the motor; thermal model means, responsive to the ambient temperature signal and the motor power dissipation signal, for (i) estimating motor winding temperature and (ii) supplying a motor winding temperature signal representative thereof, respectively; maximum power dissipation determination means, responsive to the motor winding temperature signal, for (i) determining a maximum actuator motor power that, when supplied to the actuator motor, would raise the actuator motor temperature to the predetermined maximum temperature value in a predetermined time period and (ii) supplying a maximum actuator motor power dissipation signal representative thereof; and limiter means, responsive to the maximum actuator motor power dissipation signal, for limiting the actuator motor commands supplied to the actuator motor based on the determined maximum actuator motor power.
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Specification