Motor having integral programmable logic controller

• US 20080197797A1
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Reliance Electric Technologies LLC (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: El-Ibiary, Yehia M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,821,220 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 318/567
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/33 Drive circuits, e.g. power electronics H02K11/38 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/35 Devices for recording or transmitting machine parameters, e.g. memory chips or radio transmitters for diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 2006/045 Control of current
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 6/04 Arrangements for controlling or regulating the speed or torque of more than one motor H02P6/10 takes precedence

Abstract

A system, in one embodiment, includes a drive having a housing, a stator disposed in the housing, a rotor disposed in the stator, and a programmable logic controller disposed inside, mounted on, or in general proximity to the housing. In another embodiment, a system includes a network, a first motor having a first integral programmable logic controller coupled to the network, and a second motor having a second integral programmable logic controller coupled to the network. In a further embodiment, a system includes a rotary machine having a rotor and a stator disposed concentric with one another, a microprocessor, memory coupled to the microprocessor, a power supply coupled to the microprocessor and the memory, and a machine sensor coupled to the microprocessor.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a drive, comprising;

a housing;

a stator disposed in the housing;

a rotor disposed in the stator; and

a programmable logic controller disposed inside, mounted on, or in general proximity to the housing.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the programmable logic controller is configured to monitor and interpret sensor data.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the sensor data comprises voltage, or current, or power, or temperature, or vibration, or a combination thereof, of the drive.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the programmable logic controller is configured to control operational parameters of the drive or a system.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the operational parameters comprise voltage, or current, or power, or speed, or clutch position, or a combination thereof, of the drive or the system.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the programmable logic controller is configured to coordinate operation of the drive with other components of the system.

7. The system of claim 1, comprising a plurality of drives having programmable logic controllers configured to communicate with one another via a network.

8. The system of claim 1, comprising a drive controller disposed outside of the housing, wherein the drive controller is communicatively coupled to the programmable logic controller.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the programmable logic controller is configured to control the drive or the system without an external drive controller.

10. The system of claim 1, comprising a remote control and monitor system communicatively coupled to the drive.

11. A system, comprising:

a network;

a first motor comprising a first integral programmable logic controller coupled to the network; and

a second motor comprising a second integral programmable logic controller coupled to the network.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first and second integral programmable logic controllers are coupled to the network in series with one another.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the first and second integral programmable logic controllers are configured to coordinate control functions with one another.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the first and second integral programmable logic controllers are configured to read sensor data, interpret the sensor data, and control the respective first and second motors or the system based on the sensor data.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the first and second integral programmable logic controllers are configured to read sensor data, interpret the sensor data, and communicate the interpreted sensor data with external components of the system.

16. The system of claim 11, comprising a remote monitoring and control system coupled to the network.

17. A system, comprising:

a rotary machine, comprising;

a rotor and a stator disposed concentric with one another;

a microprocessor;

memory coupled to the microprocessor;

a power supply coupled to the microprocessor and the memory; and

a machine sensor coupled to the microprocessor.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the rotary machine comprises a motor, or a drive, or a generator, or a combination thereof.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor is configured to interpret signals from the machine sensor and to control the rotary machine based on the interpreted signals.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor is configured to interpret signals from the machine sensor and to communicate the interpreted signals with external components of the system.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the memory comprises volatile memory, non-volatile memory, or a combination thereof.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the power supply comprises a battery.

23. The system of claim 17, comprising a programmable logic controller, or a microcontroller, or a combination thereof, having the microprocessor and the memory.

24. A method, comprising:

receiving sensor data in a programmable logic controller coupled to a motor/drive;

interpreting the sensor data in the programmable logic controller to provide interpreted data on-site with the motor/drive; and

controlling the motor/drive based on the interpreted data.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein receiving the sensor data comprises receiving current data, or voltage data, or motor/drive data, or a combination thereof.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein interpreting the sensor data comprises converting the sensor data from analog to digital.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein controlling the motor/drive comprises directly controlling the motor/drive via the programmable logic controller.

28. The method of claim 24, comprising communicating signals serially between the programmable logic controller coupled to the motor/drive and a plurality of networked programmable logic controllers coupled to respective motors/drives.