Winding fault detection system

• US 20090033357A1
• Filed: 07/31/2007
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Sychra, Robert R., Lindsey, Robert W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,834,573 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/765.10
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/343 in operation
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/346 Testing of armature or field windings
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/0855 avoiding response to transient overloads, e.g. during starting

Abstract

A control system is disclosed. The control system has an electric machine coupled to provide power to or receive power from a DC bus and a controller in communication with the electric machine and the DC bus. The controller is configured to receive a voltage from the DC bus, compare the voltage from the DC bus to a characteristic indicative of a fault of at least one winding of the electric machine, and take a precaution based on the comparison.

Claims

1. A control system, comprising:

an electric machine coupled to provide power to or receive power from a DC bus;

a controller in communication with the electric machine and the DC bus, the controller being configured to;

receive a voltage from the DC bus;

compare the voltage from the DC bus to a characteristic indicative of a fault of at least one winding of the electric machine; and

take a precaution based on the comparison.

2. The control system of claim 1, wherein the electric machine includes one of a motor, a generator, and a motor/generator.

3. The control system of claim 1, wherein the characteristic includes a voltage range.

4. The control system of claim 3, wherein comparing includes:

averaging the voltage from the DC bus; and

determining whether a difference between the voltage from the DC bus and the averaged voltage from the DC bus falls outside the range.

5. The control system of claim 1, wherein the characteristic includes a frequency.

6. The control system of claim 1, wherein the fault includes a short of the at least one winding to ground.

7. The control system of claim 1, wherein taking a precaution includes at least one of activating an alarm, powering down the electric machine, and interrupting a circuit.

8. A method for detecting a winding fault, comprising:

providing power to or receiving power from an electric machine via a DC bus;

receiving a voltage from the DC bus;

comparing the voltage from the DC bus to a voltage characteristic indicative of a fault of at least one winding of the electric machine; and

taking a precaution based on the comparison.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the electric machine includes one of a motor, a generator, and a motor/generator.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the characteristic includes a voltage range.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein comparing includes:

averaging the voltage from the DC bus; and

determining whether a difference between the voltage from the DC bus and the averaged voltage from the DC bus falls outside the range.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the characteristic includes a frequency.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the fault includes a short of the at least one winding to ground.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein taking a precaution includes at least one of activating an alarm, powering down the electric machine, and interrupting a circuit.

15. A machine, comprising:

a combustion engine configured to power operations of the machine;

a motor arranged to move the machine;

a generator coupled to receive a mechanical power input from the combustion engine, and provide electrical power output through a DC bus to the motor; and

a controller in communication with the generator, the motor, and the DC bus, the controller being configured to;

receive a voltage from the DC bus;

compare the voltage from the DC bus to a characteristic indicative of a fault of at least one winding of the motor and/or the generator; and

take a precaution based on the comparison.

16. The machine of claim 15, wherein the voltage characteristic includes a voltage range.

17. The machine of claim 16, wherein comparing includes:

averaging the voltage from the DC bus; and

determining whether a difference between the voltage from the DC bus and the averaged voltage from the DC bus falls outside the range.

18. The machine of claim 15, wherein the characteristic includes a frequency.

19. The machine of claim 15, wherein the fault includes a short of the at least one winding to ground.

20. The machine of claim 15, wherein taking a precaution includes at least one of activating an alarm, powering down the electric machine, and interrupting a circuit.