US3560818A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reluctance motor power circuit using dual energy sources
Assignee: Ford Motor Co
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Filing: 1969-02-03
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Granted: 1971-02-02
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Expires: 1989-02-03
Abstract
Abstract Power is supplied to pairs of motor windings having varying inductances during motor operation from two batteries connected in series. Conventional SCRs and diodes shape winding current to achieve highly efficient motor operation, provide full and partial motoring and regenerative braking, and return winding current to the batteries at the ends of the motoring cycle to improve efficiency. One battery supplies operating current to one motor winding and the residual current from that winding is returned to the second battery, which supplies operating current to the second winding. Residual current from the second winding is returned to the first battery.
Inventors
- 👤 Carmelo J Amato
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 23:46
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02K; H02K19/00; H02K19/02; H02K19/10; H02K19/103; H02K29/00; H02K29/06; H02P; H02P25/00; H02P25/02; H02P25/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
In a reluctance motor having a pair of motor windings, said motor windings having varying inductances during motor operation, a power circuit comprising: two DC sources of electrical energy connected in series; and individual power circuits connecting said windings to said DC sources, each of said power circuits including: a main solid state switching device having its power terminals in series with its motor winding across one of said DC sources; a freewheeling solid state switching device in parallel with said motor winding and connected to conduct current through said motor winding in the same direction as the current established in said winding by said main switching device; and rectifying means connected in series with said motor winding and the other DC source, said rectifying means being reversed biased by said other DC source, said rectifying means being capable of becoming forward biased by the self-inductance of its series connected motor winding to apply energy from the motor winding to said other DC source.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
164 words
In a reluctance motor having a pair of motor windings, said motor windings having varying inductances during motor operation, a power circuit comprising: two DC sources of electrical energy connected in series; and individual power circuits connecting said windings to said DC sources, each of said power circuits including: a main solid state switching device having its power terminals in series with its motor winding across one of said DC sources; a freewheeling solid state switching device in parallel with said motor winding and connected to conduct current through said motor winding in the same direction as the current established in said winding by said main switching device; and rectifying means connected in series with said motor winding and the other DC source, said rectifying means being reversed biased by said other DC source, said rectifying means being capable of becoming forward biased by the self-inductance of its series connected motor winding to apply energy from the motor winding to said other DC source.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The reluctance motor of claim 1 in which said switching devices are thyristors and in which each power circuit includes: a commutating capacitor in series with a commutating thyristor, said commutating capacitor and commutating thyristor being in parallel with said main switching device; and means for reversing the charge on said commutating capacitor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The reluctance motor of claim 2 in which the sources of electrical energy are approximately equal in voltage and energy characteristics.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The reluctance motor of claim 3 comprising means for discharging the commutating capacitors through the motor windings to reinforce the winding currents.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The reluctance motor of claim 4 in which each means for discharging the capacitors through the motor windings comprises: means for reversing the charge across the capacitor; and a solid-state switching device in series with said capacitor and motor winding and in parallel with said main solid-state switching device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
103 words
A process for producing current in a pair of windings of a variable reluctance motor with a pair of electrical energy sources comprising: coupling one energy source across one winding to produce motoring current in said winding; coupling said winding to the second energy source by a rectifying means that is reverse biased by the first energy source and forward biased by the voltage of the self-inductance of said winding; freewheeling currents through said windings after said currents have been reinforced; and returning current to the second energy source when the voltage of the self-inductance of said winding forward biases said rectifying means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
103 words
A process for producing current in a pair of windings of a variable reluctance motor with a pair of electrical energy sources comprising: coupling one energy source across one winding to produce motoring current in said winding; coupling said winding to the second energy source by a rectifying means that is reverse biased by the first energy source and forward biased by the voltage of the self-inductance of said winding; freewheeling currents through said windings after said currents have been reinforced; and returning current to the second energy source when the voltage of the self-inductance of said winding forward biases said rectifying means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
83 words
The process of claim 6 comprising: coupling the second energy source across the second winding to produce motoring current in said second winding; coupling said second winding to the first energy source by a second rectifying means that is reverse biased by the first energy source and forward biased by the voltage of the self-inductance of the second winding; and returning current to the first energy source when the voltage of the self-inductance of the second winding forward biases said second rectifying means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process of claim 7 comprising charging capacitors from said energy sources, reversing the charges on said capacitors, and reinforcing the currents in said windings by discharging said capacitors through said motor windings.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The process of claim 8 comprising triggering thyristors connected in series with said motor windings to produce motoring current in said windings and commutating said thyristors at the beginning of said reinforcing steps by discharging said capacitors.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process of claim 6 comprising charging capacitors from said energy sources, reversing the charges on said capacitors, and reinforcing the currents in said windings by discharging said capacitors through said motor windings.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The process of claim 6 comprising triggering thyristors connected in series with said motor windings to produce motoring current in said windings and commutating said thyristors at the beginning of said reinforcing steps by discharging said capacitors.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-01 | 1974-08-03 | 1975-02-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-01 | 1978-08-03 | 1979-02-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-01 | 1982-08-03 | 1983-02-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |