Patent ID: 6020711
Filing Date: 2000-02-01
Classification: G01R,H02K,H02P

Abstract:
Electrical fault accommodating multiple channel multiple phase reluctance motor/generator apparatus comprising the combination of:a salient poled electrical rotor member of N electrical poles and winding-free interpole spaces received along a lengthwise extending central axis of said reluctance motor/generator apparatus;a salient poled electrical stator member of N plus M electrical poles and electrical winding-containing interpole spaces received surrounding said salient poled electrical rotor member along said lengthwise extending central axis of said reluctance motor/generator apparatus;said stator electrical windings being divided into at least three electrically isolated channels of P electrical phases each with each phase of each channel including magnetic poles and associated electrical windings dispersed about said salient poled stator member;an electrical fault detector circuit connected with said motor/generator apparatus stator electrical windings and generating an electrical fault detected signal in response to electrical fault conditions sensed in a winding channel electrical energy path of said motor/generator apparatus;a plurality of electrical winding switching elements responsive to a control signal from said fault detector circuit and connected in a bi-directional winding current controlling switching array between said stator electrical windings and an electrical bus coupled to said motor/generator apparatus;an electrical control apparatus including a winding disconnect control algorithm also controlling said electrical winding switching elements, and excluding from connection with said electrical bus, windings of a winding channel generating said electrical fault detected signal;said control apparatus additionally including a winding current direction determination algorithm also controlling said electrical winding switching elements and enabling reversed magnetic polarity operation within each phase winding of a remaining non faulted winding channel in said motor/generator apparatus in response to said electrical fault signal.