Abstract:
A self-excited reluctance motor capable of driving a motor with a commutator and without having to use a commutator logic for power electric circuit. The self-excited reluctance motor includes a stator having a plurality of stator poles respectively wound by wires of different phases; a rotator having a plurality of rotator poles formed on an outer circumference thereof, the rotator rotatably inserted in the stator; and a commutator. The commutator includes a body coaxially arranged with the rotator, and formed of an insulating material; an electrode formed on an outer circumference of the commutator body; a plurality of switching portions formed on the outer circumference of the commutator body at a predetermined distance from each other, and electrically connected with the electrode; a plurality of switching brushes connected to stator wires of different phases and to the plurality of switching portions, for permitting an electric current to flow the respective stator wires; and an electrode brush electrically connected to an external power source and to the electrode.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a Switched Reluctance Motor (SRM), and more particularly to a self-excited reluctance motor capable of generating a rotating force with a simple commutator made based on a classical commutation theory, without using a commutation logic of an electric circuit, or making any changes to characteristics of a conventional SRM.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    Generally, a Switched Reluctance Motor (SRM) rotates at a relatively higher speed with a simpler structure, when compared to an induction motor. Also, by using a semiconductor element as a switch for controlling electric power, the SRM not only has an accurate control on various functions are possible, but also has a higher efficiency. For such advantages of the SRM, there have been many researches and developments of SRM.  
           [0005]    As shown in FIG. 1, the SRM simply includes a stator  1  and a rotator  3  without a commutator. The SRM has a dual-pole structure which has stator poles  2  and rotator poles  4 . The rotator  3  is formed of silicon steel plates which are stacked on each other firmly. In the stator  1 , two opposing stator poles  2  are connected by a wire in parallel or series in order to generate a magnetic flux toward the same direction.  
           [0006]    The SRM mainly includes a 6/4 pole SRM having six stator poles and four rotator poles, a 12/8 pole SRM having twelve stator poles and eight rotator poles, and 24/16 pole SRM having twenty-four stator poles and sixteen rotator poles.  
           [0007]    Among these, a driving principle and method of the SRM will be described, with reference to an example of 3-phase 12/8 pole SRM.  
           [0008]    First, the driving principle of the SRM will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a conventional 3-phase 12/8 pole SRM. Although FIG. 1 shows only certain stator poles  2  being wound by coils for a more convenient explanation thereof, it will be fully understood by those skilled in art that the other stator poles  2  are also wound by phase-A, phase-B, and phase-C coils in the same manner.  
           [0009]    When electric voltage is applied to a wire (a-a′) winding the stator poles  2   a  and  2   a′,  the stator poles  2   a  and  2   a′  are excited, and the neighboring rotator poles  4  are rotated in the direction of arrow of FIG. 1, to be aligned with the stator poles  2   a  and  2   a′  which are excited. Before the alignment of the excited stator poles  2   a  and  2   a′  and the neighboring rotator poles  4 , the electric voltage supply to the wire (a-a′) is cut off. Next, electric voltage is supplied to the neighboring stator wire (b-b′), and the stator poles  2   b  and  2   b′  are excited. Accordingly, in the same manner as described above, the neighboring rotator poles  4  of the newly excited stator poles  2   b  and  2   b′  are rotated in the direction of arrow of FIG. 1 to be aligned with the newly excited stator poles  2   b  and  2   b′.  As the stator poles  2   a  and  2   a′,    2   b  and  2   b′,  and  2   c  and  2   c′  are sequentially excited in the above-described manner, the rotator  3  is continuously rotated.  
           [0010]    FIGS.  2 ( a ) to  2 ( b ) are sectional views for showing the positions of the rotator poles  4  with respect to excited stator poles  2  of the 12/8 pole SRM. As shown in FIG. 2( a ), when the rotator poles  4   b  are aligned with the excited stator poles  2   a  and  2   a′  in a straight line (hereinafter called alignment position), a torque is not generated even when electric current flows in the stator wire (a-a′). Meanwhile, as shown in FIGS.  2 ( c ) and  2 ( d ), when the rotator poles  4   b  are out of alignment position with the stator poles  2   a  and  2   a′,  the rotator  3  generates a torque to go to the alignment position.  
           [0011]    As shown in FIG. 2( b ), when middle points of the neighboring poles  4   a  and  4   b,  and  4   c  and  4   d  of the rotator  3  are aligned with the excited stator poles  2   a  and  2   a′  in straight lines (Q: non-alignment position), as in the alignment state, a torque is not generated even when electric current flows in the stator wire (a-a′). If the rotator poles  4  are out of the alignment position even by a slight degree, the excited stator poles  2  attract the nearest rotator poles  4  to a new alignment position, generating a torque.  
           [0012]    As shown in FIGS.  2 ( c ) and  2 ( d ), when the rotator poles  4  are not in the alignment or non-alignment position, and when electric current flows in the stator wire (a-a′, b-b′, or c-c′) of the stator poles  2   a  and  2   a′,    2   b  and  2   b′,  or  2   c  and  2   c′,  a torque is generated to align the rotator  3  to the alignment position as in FIG. 2( a ).  
           [0013]    Next, a driving circuit for driving the 3-phase 12/8 pole SRM will be described. In order to drive the SRM, a driving converter is required. Generally, the driving converter has to i) supply a voltage to a wire of a stator pole  2  which corresponds to a rotator pole  4 , ii) control or maintain the electric current at a suitable level for exciting the stator pole  2 , and iii) supply a backward voltage for electric current extinction at an excited phase. The requirement iii) is mainly conducted by a diode.  
           [0014]    Currently, many converter topologies have been studied to control the SRM, in a manner of reducing converter manufacturing cost by reducing a number of switching elements, and also improving a controlling performance.  
           [0015]    As a driving converter, there mainly are Asymmetric Bridge Converter, Bifillar-Winding Converter, Split-Source Converter, Capacitor-Dump converter, Resistor-Dump Converter, and Switch-Shared Converter available at the present time. Among these converters, the driving method of the driving converter will now be described briefly with a reference to an example of the Asymmetric Bridge Converter.  
           [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram for showing a conventional Asymmetric Bridge Converter, especially for showing an electric circuit for driving the 3-phase 12/8 pole SRM. As shown in FIG. 3, the Asymmetric Bridge Converter includes plural pairs of switches (transistor elements T 1  and T 2 , T 3  and T 4 , and T 5  and T 6 ) and diodes (D 1  and D 2 , D 3  and D 4 , and D 5  and D 6 ).  
           [0017]    In the electric circuit, by turning on and thus supplying Direction Current voltage to the pair of switches T 1  and T 2 , or T 3  and T 4 , or T 5  and T 6  connected to phase-A, phase-B, or phase-C, the corresponding stator poles  2  are excited. While electric current flows in the stator wire, the level of electric current is controlled by selectively turning on or off one or both of the pair of switches T 1  or/and T 2 , or T 3  or/and T 4 , or T 5  or/and T 6 . Accordingly, electric current circulates through one diode D 1  or D 2  and one switch T 1  or T 2 , or circulates through both of the diodes D 1  and D 2 , charging a condenser. Next, when the pair of switches T 1  and T 2  are turned off, electric current is dissipated. Here, before an inductance of corresponding phase draws a negative slope, the electric current should be reduced to an dissipation or to a negligible degree.  
           [0018]    Since the conventional converter is formed of a plurality of electric elements, the structure thereof is complex, and the manufacturing cost increases. Accordingly, it is almost impossible to employ the converter in a low-price devices. Further, in order to control the switches T 1  and T 2 , T 3  and T 4 , and T 5  and T 6 , a separate controlling means such as a microcomputer is required. Since a control algorithm also should be developed, it is hard to employ the converter to control the SRM.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0019]    The present invention has been made to overcome the above-mentioned problems of the related art, and accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a self-excited reluctance motor capable of generating a rotating force with a simple commutator and without having to use a high-price electric circuit.  
           [0020]    The above object is accomplished by a self-excited reluctance motor according to the present invention, including a stator having a plurality of stator poles respectively wound by wires of different phases; a rotator having a plurality of rotator poles formed on an outer circumference thereof, the rotator rotatably inserted in the stator; and a commutator. The commutator includes a body coaxially arranged with the rotator, and formed of an insulating material; an electrode formed on an outer circumference of the commutator body; a plurality of switching portions formed on the outer circumference of the commutator body at a predetermined distance from each other, and connected with the electrode; a plurality of switching brushes electrically connected to stator wires of different phases and to the plurality of switching portions, for permitting an electric current to flow the respective stator wires; and an electrode brush electrically connected to an external power source and to the electrode.  
           [0021]    Accordingly to the present invention, the switching portions are spaced from each other at an angle that the stator is rotated from a point where a certain stator pole and rotator pole are aligned with each other to a point where the next stator pole and rotator pole are aligned with each other. The switching portions are symmetrically formed in pairs on an outer circumference of the commutator body.  
           [0022]    Further, the electrode includes a positive electrode and a negative electrode. The positive electrode is electrically connected to one of the switching portions and through an interior of the commutator body, while the negative electrode is electrically connected to the other one of the switching portion and through the interior of the commutator.  
           [0023]    According to another aspect of the present invention, a number of the switching portions formed on the outer circumference of the commutator body corresponds to a number of places where the stator poles and the rotator poles are aligned with each other.  
           [0024]    The switching brushes are spaced from each other at an angle that the stator is rotated from a point where a certain stator pole and rotator pole are aligned with each other to a point where the next stator pole and rotator pole are aligned with each other. The switching portions are formed on the outer circumference of the commutator body, and are spaced from each other at an angle of 90°.  
           [0025]    According to the present invention, during the rotation of the commutator body and the rotator, the switching portions and switching brushes repeat electricity supply and cut-off with respect to the stator wires of the respective phases. Accordingly, a torque is generated at the rotator, and the rotator is continuously rotated.  
           [0026]    Accordingly, without any switching operation of the circuit elements with respect to the respective phases, the rotator is continuously rotated by a mechanism of the commutator connected to the rotator, and thus, the motor is also continuously rotated.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0027]    The above and other objects and the advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a conventional 3-phase 12/8 pole SRM;  
         [0029]    FIGS.  2 ( a ) to  2 ( d ) are sectional views for showing the position of rotator poles with respect to excited stator poles of the 3-phase 12/8 pole SRM;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of a conventional Asymmetric Bridge Converter, for showing an electric circuit for driving the 3-phase 12/8 pole SRM;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 4 is a perspective view for schematically showing a self-excited reluctance motor in which a commutator is disposed on a shaft of the rotators according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 5 is an equivalent circuit diagram of the self-excited reluctance motor of FIG. 4;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 6 is a perspective view for schematically showing the self-excited reluctance motor in which a commutator is disposed on a shaft of the rotator according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 7 is an equivalent circuit diagram of the self-excited reluctance motor of FIG. 6.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0035]    Embodiments 1 and 2 respectively describe the cases where different types of commutator are applied to drive a motor.  
       Embodiment 1  
       [0036]    [0036]FIG. 4 is a perspective view for schematically showing a self-excited reluctance motor in which a commutator is disposed on a shaft of the rotator according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is an equivalent circuit diagram of the SRM of FIG. 4. In this embodiment, a 3-phase 12/8 pole SRM is employed. In FIG. 4, a reference numeral  1  is a stator,  2  is a stator pole,  3  is a rotator,  4  is a rotator pole, and  5  is a rotator shaft. Except for a type of commutator being employed, the structure of the self-excited reluctance motor is identical with the structure of the SRM described earlier with reference to FIG. 1. Accordingly, only a commutator will be described in greater detail.  
         [0037]    In FIG. 4, a reference numeral  6  is a commutator body, and reference numerals  10   a,    10   b,  and  10   c  are phase-A, phase-B, and phase-C switching portions for supplying or cutting off electricity to respective stator wires of phase-A, phase-B, and phase-C. Reference numerals  7   a,    7   b,  and  7   c  are first phase-A, phase-B, and phase-C switching brushes connected to terminals of phase-A, phase-B, and phase-C stator wires, and  7   a′,    7   b′,  and  7   c′  are second phase-A, phase-B, and phase-C switching brushes connected to terminals of other phase-A, phase-B, and phase-C stator wires. Albeit not shown, the phase-A, phase-B, and phase-C switching portions  10   a,    10   b,  and  10   c  are formed in pairs, opposing to each other on the outer circumference of the commutator body  6 .  
         [0038]    As shown in FIG. 4, the commutator according to the present invention is disposed on a shaft  5  of the rotator  3 . A pair of conductors (not shown) are formed in the commutator body  6 , while a cylindric insulating material is formed on the outer surface of the commutator body  6 . The pair of conductors are insulated from each other by the insulating material. A diameter of the commutator body  6  is identical to the diameter of the rotator  3 . The commutator body  6  is integrally fixed on the shaft  5  of the rotator  3  to be rotated together with the rotator  3 .  
         [0039]    The outer circumference of the commutator body  6  is divided into a plurality of bands where pairs of phase-A, phase-B, and phase-C switching portions  10   a,    10   b,  and  10   c,  and electrodes  9   a  and  9   b  of conductive material are partially formed. Preferably, the conductive material can either formed by molding, or any proper method such as coating.  
         [0040]    The electrodes  9   a  and  9   b  include a positive electrode  9   a  and negative electrode  9   b  which are formed as a conductive material is applied to the whole outer circumference of a lower end of the commutator body  6 . Since the pair of positive and negative electrodes  9   a  and  9   b  are vertically spaced from each other at a predetermined distance due to the presence of an insulating band formed therebewteen, the positive and negative electrodes  9   a  and  9   b  do not contact with each other, but contact with the electrode brushes  8  which are connected to an external power source.  
         [0041]    Above the electrodes  9   a  and  9   b,  and on the outer circumference of the commutator body  6 , a switching portion of conductive material are formed, corresponding to the number of phases of the motor. Accordingly, in the 3-phase motor, three conductive phase-A, phase-B, and phase-C switching portions  10   a,    10   b,  and  10   c  are partially formed on the three straps of insulating material on the outer circumference of the commutator body  6 . The switching portions  10   a,    10   b,  and  10   c  of conductive material are spaced from each other at a predetermined distance due to the presence of insulating material.  
         [0042]    Further, by arranging the phase-A, phase-B, and phase-C switching portions  10   a,    10   b,  and  10   c  on the outer circumference of the commutator body  6  at a predetermined distance from each other in a circumferential direction, the respective phases are spaced from each other at a predetermined interval. One of the phase-A, phase-B, and phase-C switching portions  10   a,    10   b,  and  10   c  and the positive electrode  9   a  are integrally formed with the conductor within the commutator body  6 , while the other one of the phase-A, phase-B, and phase-C switching portions  10   a,    10   b,  and  10   c  and the negative electrode  9   b  are integrally formed with the other conductor within the commutator body  6 .  
         [0043]    In the 3-phase 12/8 pole SRM where the rotator  3  rotates from the non-alignment state to the alignment state by an angle of 15°, it is preferable that phase-A, phase-B, and phase-C switching portions  10   a,    10   b,  and  10   c  are spaced from each other by the insulating material at an angle of 15°.  
         [0044]    Although FIG. 4 shows only ones of the pairs of phase-A, phase-B, and phase-C switching portions  10   a,    10   b,  and  10   c  formed on the outer circumference of the commutator body  6 , the other ones of the pairs of phase-A, phase-B, and phase-C switching portions  10   a,    10   b,  and  10   c  are also correspondingly formed on the opposite side of the outer circumference of the commutator body  6 .  
         [0045]    Further, one of the phase-A switching portions  10   a  and the first phase-A switching brush  7   a  form a first phase-A switch SW 1 , while the other one of the phase-A switching portions  10   a  and the second phase-A switching brush  7   a′  form a second phase-A switch SW 1 ′. Also, the pair of phase-B switching portions  10   b  and the pair of phase-B switching brushes  7   b  and  7   b′  form first and second phase-B switches SW 2  and SW 2 ′, while the pairs of the phase-C switching portions  10   c  and the pair of phase-C switching brushes  7   c  and  7   c′  form first and second phase-C switches SW 3  and SW 3 ′.  
         [0046]    In the commutator constructed as above, electricity is applied by the contact of the electrode brushes  8  and the electrodes  9   a  and  9   b.  By the contact of the pair of phase-A switching portions  10   a  of the commutator body  6  and the first and second and phase-A switching brushes  7   a  and  7   a′,  the first and second phase-A switches SW 1  and SW 1 ′ are switched on (see FIG. 5), permitting electric current to flow only through the phase-A stator wire. Accordingly, the phase-A stator poles  2  are excited, and the neighboring rotator poles  4  are rotated to be aligned with the excited stator poles  2  (i.e., to be in alignment position).  
         [0047]    The commutator body  6  is rotated together with the rotator  3 , passing the alignment position. As a result, the contact of the pair of the phase-A switching portions  10   a  with the first and second phase-A switching brushes  7   a  and  7   a′  is cut off. The first and second phase-A switches SW 1  and SW 1 ′ are switched off, while the pair of phase-B switching portions  10   b  contact with the first and second phase-B switching brushes  7   b  and  7   b′.  Accordingly, the first and second phase-B switches SW 2  and SW 2 ′ are switched on, permitting electric current only through the phase-B stator wire. The phase-B stator poles  2  are excited, and the neighboring rotator poles  4  are rotated to be aligned with the excited stator poles  2 . In this manner, the rotator  3  and the commutator body  6  are continuously rotated.  
         [0048]    As described above, by the sequential contact of the phase-A, phase-B, and phase-C switching portions  10   a,    10   b,  and  10   c  with the phase-A, phase-B, and phase-C switching brushes  7   a  and  7   a′,    7   b  and  7   b′,  and  7   c  and  7   c′,  the rotator  3  and the commutator body  6  are continuously rotated.  
       Embodiment 2  
       [0049]    [0049]FIG. 6 is a perspective view for schematically showing the self-excited reluctance motor in which a commutator is disposed on a shaft of the rotator according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is an equivalent circuit diagram of the self-excited reluctance motor of FIG. 6. Throughout the description of this embodiment, the like elements will be given the same reference numerals, while the description of the identical elements will be omitted.  
         [0050]    In FIG. 6, a reference numeral  16  is a commutator body, and reference numerals  17   a,    17   b,  and  17   c  are switching brushes which are connected to phase-A, phase-B, and phase-C stator wires. Reference numeral  18  is an electrode brush.  
         [0051]    As shown in FIG. 6, the commutator according to the present invention is disposed on the shaft  5  of the rotator  3 . A commutator body  16  is made of a cylindric insulating material. A diameter of the commutator body  16  is identical with a diameter of the rotator  3 . The commutator body  16  is rotated together with the rotator  3 .  
         [0052]    An outer circumference of the commutator body  16  is divided into a plurality of bands, for example, two bands. An electrode conductive section  13  is annularly formed along an outer circumference of the lower band, while a plurality of switching portions  12  are formed on an outer circumference of an upper band, electrically corresponding to the electrode conductive portions  13 . In the 3-phase 12/8 pole SRM, there are four (4) points where the stator poles  2  and the rotator poles  4  are aligned with each other. Accordingly, it is preferable that four (4) switching portions  12  are formed on the outer circumference of the commutator body  6  at an angle of 90°. Here, it is also preferable that the width of each switching portion  12  should be less or equal to 15°.  
         [0053]    The electrode conductive portions  13  and switching portions  12  are formed of a conductive material such as a copper, by a molding or any proper method such as coating.  
         [0054]    The electrode conductive portions  13  contact with the electrode brushes  18  which are connected with a positive terminal of an external power supply. The electrode conductive portions  13  are also electrically connected to the switching portions  12  through the conductor formed within the commutator body  16 . Preferably, the electrode conductive portions  13  are integrally formed with the switching portions  12 .  
         [0055]    The switching portions  12  contact with the switching brushes  17   a,    17   b,  and  17   c.  In the 3-phase 12/8 pole SRM, the width of each of the switching brushes  17   a,    17   b,  and  17   c  is less than or equals to 15°. The respective switching brushes  17   a,    17   b,  and  17   c  are installed at an angle of 30°, and are spaced from each other by 15°. For example, a middle point of the phase-A switching brush  17   a,  the rotator shaft  5 , and phase-B switching brush  17  should be at an angle of 30A°, while one side of the phase-A switching brush  17   a  and the other side of the phase-B switching brush  17   b  should be spaced from each other at an angle of 15°. Since the switching portions  12  are formed on the commutator body  16  at every 90°, one side of the phase-A switching brush  17   a  and the other side of the phase-B switching brush  17   b  may be at an angle of 105°. The three switching brushes  17   a,    17   b,  and  17   c  contact with one of the four switching portions  12  in a sequential manner during the rotation of the commutator body  16 , turning on the phase-A, phase-B, and phase-C stator wires, sequentially.  
         [0056]    The operation of the commutator of the SRM according to the present invention will be described below.  
         [0057]    First, electricity is supplied through the electrode brushes  18 . Then, the switching portions  12  contact with one of the switching brushes  17   a,    17   b,  and  17   c,  for example, with the phase-A switching brush  17   a.  As shown in FIG. 7, the phase-A switch SWa is closed while the other phase switches SWb and SWc are opened. Then, electric current flows in the phase-a stator wire, exciting the corresponding stator poles  2 . Accordingly, a torque is generated at the rotator  3 , and the rotator  3  is rotated.  
         [0058]    Together with the rotator  3 , the commutator body  16  is also rotated, and accordingly, the phase-A switching brush  17   a  comes out of contact with the switching portions  12 , while the phase-B switching brush  17   b  enters into a contact with the switching portions  12 . Accordingly, the phase-A switch SWa is switched off, while the phase-B switch SWb is closed. As a result, electric current flows in the phase-B stator wire, exciting the corresponding stator pole  2 . By the excited stator poles  2 , a torque is generated at the rotator  3 , continuously rotating the rotator  3  and the commutator body  16 .  
         [0059]    As the rotator  3  and the commutator body  16  are rotated until the phase-B switching brush  17   b  comes out of the contact with the switching portions  12 , the phase-C switching brush  17   c  contacts with the switching portions  12 . Accordingly, the phase-B switch SWb is switched off, while the phase-C switch SWc is switched on. Accordingly, electric current flows only in the phase-C stator wire, exciting the corresponding stator poles  2 . Again, a torque is generated at the rotator  3  due to the excited stator poles  2 , and the rotator  3  and the commutator body  16  are rotated.  
         [0060]    As described above, in the self-excited reluctance motor according to the present invention, the rotator  3  sequentially contacts with the switching portions  12  of the switching brushes  17   a,    17   b,  and  17   c  by the rotation of the commutator body  16 . Accordingly, in the non-torque generation area, the switches SWa, SWb, and SWc are switched on, sequentially exciting the stator poles  2  of the respective phases. Accordingly, torque is continuously generated at the rotator  3 , and the rotator  3  is continuously rotated.  
         [0061]    Accordingly, without a switching operation of separate circuit element, the rotator  3  can be continuously rotated by the commutator, and the motor can be driven.  
         [0062]    Although the above-described embodiments employ the 3-phase 12/8 pole SRM, the present invention also may be applied to the other types of SRM, such as 2-phase, 4-phase, 6/4 pole, 24/16 pole SRM, etc.  
         [0063]    As stated above, preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown and described. Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, it is understood that the present invention should not be limited to the preferred embodiments but various changes and modifications can be made by one skilled in the art within the spirit and scope of the present invention as hereinafter claimed.