Motor controller with automated input power determination

• US 7,606,011 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2004
• Issued: 10/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sundyne, LLC
• Original Assignee: Sundyne Corporation
• Inventors: Weldon, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie; Rexford N
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, DHARTI HARIDAS
• Application Number:
  US10/825,059
• Publication Number:
  US 20050231860A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,014 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 361/23
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/08 for dynamo-electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/20 for measuring, monitoring, testing, protecting or switching rectifiers H02K11/04; power electronics H02K11/33
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 29/00 Arrangements for regulating or controlling electric motors, appropriate for both AC and DC motors arrangements for starting electric motors H02P1/00; arrangements for stopping or slowing electric motors H02P3/00; control of motors that can be connected to two or more different electric power supplies H02P4/00; regulating or controlling the speed or torque of two or more electric motors H02P5/00; vector control H02P21/00

Abstract

A motor controller automatically determines a motor input power setting based upon manually entered motor output values. The motor controller includes an interface and an input power determining module that determines the motor input power setting from the entered motor output values. A display portion provides a visual display of the determined motor input power setting to facilitate using the determined setting to control motor operation.

Claims

1. A motor controller comprising:

an interface for manually entering values of a motor output;

an input power setting determining module that automatically determines a motor input power setting based upon entered motor output values; and

a display portion that provides a visual display of the determined motor input power setting.

2. The motor controller as recited in claim 1, wherein said values of motor output comprise a motor rating value.

3. The motor controller as recited in claim 1, wherein said values of motor output comprise a motor efficiency value.

4. The motor controller as recited in claim 1, wherein said values of motor output comprise an external current transformer value.

5. The motor controller as recited in claim 1, including a trip module that automatically interrupts power to the motor responsive to an actual motor input power exceeding a motor input trip value that is based at least in part upon a motor output trip value.

6. The motor controller as recited in claim 5, wherein the controller automatically determines said motor input trip value based upon an entered motor output trip value.

7. The motor controller as recited in claim 1, wherein said interface selectively locks to prevent a user from changing a setting of the controller.

18. The motor controller of claim 1, wherein the interface is configured to allow a user to manually confirm use of the determined motor input power setting as displayed on the display portion.

19. The motor controller of claim 1, wherein the interface is configured to allow a user to manually change the input power setting from the determined motor input power setting displayed on the display portion.

8. A machine assembly comprising:

a motor having associated values of motor output;

a device driven by said motor;

an input power setting determining module that automatically determines a motor input power setting, using the associated motor output values; and

a display portion that provides a visual display of the determined motor input power setting.

9. The machine assembly as recited in claim 8, wherein said values of motor output comprise a motor rating value.

10. The machine assembly as recited in claim 8, wherein said values of motor output comprise a motor efficiency value.

11. The machine assembly as recited in claim 8, wherein said device comprises a pump.

12. The machine assembly as recited in claim 8, including a trip module that automatically interrupts power to the motor responsive to an actual input power exceeding a motor input trip value that is based at least in part upon an entered motor output trip value.

13. The machine assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein the controller automatically determines said motor input trip value based upon an entered motor output trip value.

14. The machine assembly as recited in claim 8, including an interface for allowing a user to manually enter the associated values.

15. The machine assembly as recited in claim 14, wherein said interface selectively locks to prevent a user from changing a setting.

20. The machine assembly of claim 8, comprising

an interface configured to allow a user to manually confirm the determined motor input power setting displayed on the display portion.

21. The machine assembly of claim 8, comprising

an interface configured to allow a user to manually change the determined motor input power setting displayed on the display portion.

16. A method of determining a motor input power setting comprising the steps of:

receiving values of a motor output including at least one of a motor rating value or a motor efficiency value;

automatically determining a motor input power setting based upon the received values of motor output; and

displaying the determined motor input power setting.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, comprising automatically determining an actual input power trip value responsive to a received motor output trip value and determining whether an actual input power corresponds to the trip value.

22. A method of controlling a motor input power setting, comprising the steps of:

manually entering a motor output value;

observing a displayed motor input power setting that is automatically determined based upon the manually entered motor output value; and

manually setting the motor input power setting responsive to observing the determined motor input power setting.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the motor output value comprises at least one of a motor rating value or a motor efficiency value.