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US5418446A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Variable speed constant frequency synchronous electric power generating system and method of using same

Assignee: General Electric Co
•
Filing: 1993-05-10
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Granted: 1995-05-23
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Expires: 2013-05-10
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Abstract

Abstract A variable speed constant frequency synchronous electrical generating system includes a generator rotor with a polyphase field winding whereby the position of the electromagnetic field relative to the rotor structure can be controllably varied. The system includes means to substantially instantaneously determine the angular or rotational position of the generator rotor relative to a reference member rotating at a reference speed; whereby the angular position of the generator electromagnetic field relative to the structure of the generator rotor is maintained essentially the same as the angular position of the reference member, rotating at a reference speed, relative to the generator rotor. As a consequence, the rotational speed of the generator electromagnetic field is essentially the same as the reference rotational speed of the reference member, and is substantially independent of the rotational speed of the generator power input shaft. The system includes means to electronically synthesize a reference rotational speed.

Inventors

  • 👤 William M. Hallidy

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 11:09
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02K; H02K19/00; H02K19/16; H02K19/26; H02K19/28; H02K19/36; H02K19/365; H02K19/38; H02P; H02P9/00; H02P9/42; H02P2101/00; H02P2101/15

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim 192 words
An electrical power generating system comprising: an alternator having a rotor with field coils with a multiplicity of circuits for conducting multiple electric currents to thereby produce a multipolar electromagnetic field whose angular position relative to said rotor is determined by the relative magnitude of said electric currents in each of said multiple circuits, a stator armature having windings that generate alternating current voltages in response to said multipolar electromagnetic field when said multipolar electromagnetic field is rotated in respect to said stator armature windings, and output terminals connected to said stator armature windings; rotatable reference means rotating at a variable reference speed; means for controlling the rotational speed of said rotatable reference means at a variable rotational speed; comparison means for substantially continuously comparing the angular position of said rotatable reference means with the angular position of said rotor; control means for controlling said relative magnitude of said electric currents in each of said multiple circuits of said field coil windings whereby the angular position of said rotor electromagnetic field relative to said rotor is substantially the same as said angular position of said rotatable reference means relative to said rotor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 192 words
An electrical power generating system comprising: an alternator having a rotor with field coils with a multiplicity of circuits for conducting multiple electric currents to thereby produce a multipolar electromagnetic field whose angular position relative to said rotor is determined by the relative magnitude of said electric currents in each of said multiple circuits, a stator armature having windings that generate alternating current voltages in response to said multipolar electromagnetic field when said multipolar electromagnetic field is rotated in respect to said stator armature windings, and output terminals connected to said stator armature windings; rotatable reference means rotating at a variable reference speed; means for controlling the rotational speed of said rotatable reference means at a variable rotational speed; comparison means for substantially continuously comparing the angular position of said rotatable reference means with the angular position of said rotor; control means for controlling said relative magnitude of said electric currents in each of said multiple circuits of said field coil windings whereby the angular position of said rotor electromagnetic field relative to said rotor is substantially the same as said angular position of said rotatable reference means relative to said rotor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 196 words
An electrical power generating system comprising: an alternator having a rotor with field coils with a multiplicity of circuits for conducting multiple electric currents to thereby produce a multipolar electromagnetic field whose angular position relative to said rotor is determined by the relative magnitude of said electric currents in each of said multiple circuits, a stator armature having windings that generate alternating current voltages in response to said multipolar electromagnetic field when said multipolar electromagnetic field is rotated in respect to said stator armature windings, and output terminals connected to said stator armature windings; means for defining a reference angular position as a function of time; means for controlling the angular position as a function of time of said reference angular position; comparison means for substantially continuously comparing the angular position of said reference angular position with the angular position of said rotor; control means for controlling said relative magnitude of said electric currents in each of said multiple circuits of said field coil windings whereby the angular position of said rotor electromagnetic field relative to said rotor is substantially continuously the same as the angular position of said reference angular position relative to said rotor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 196 words
An electrical power generating system comprising: an alternator having a rotor with field coils with a multiplicity of circuits for conducting multiple electric currents to thereby produce a multipolar electromagnetic field whose angular position relative to said rotor is determined by the relative magnitude of said electric currents in each of said multiple circuits, a stator armature having windings that generate alternating current voltages in response to said multipolar electromagnetic field when said multipolar electromagnetic field is rotated in respect to said stator armature windings, and output terminals connected to said stator armature windings; means for defining a reference angular position as a function of time; means for controlling the angular position as a function of time of said reference angular position; comparison means for substantially continuously comparing the angular position of said reference angular position with the angular position of said rotor; control means for controlling said relative magnitude of said electric currents in each of said multiple circuits of said field coil windings whereby the angular position of said rotor electromagnetic field relative to said rotor is substantially continuously the same as the angular position of said reference angular position relative to said rotor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 207 words
An electrical power generating system comprising: an alternator having a rotor with field coils with a multiplicity of circuits for conducting multiple electric currents to thereby produce a multipolar electromagnetic field whose angular position relative to said rotor is determined by the relative magnitude of said electric currents in each of said multiple circuits, a stator armature having windings that generate alternating current voltages in response to said multipolar electromagnetic field when said multipolar electromagnetic field is rotated in respect to said stator armature windings, and output terminals connected to said Stator armature windings; means defining a reference angular position as a function of the electrical angle as a function of time of an alternating current voltage; means for controlling the angular position as a function of time of said reference angular position; comparison means for substantially continuously comparing the angular position of said reference angular position with the angular position of said rotor; control means for controlling said relative magnitude of said electric currents in each of said multiple circuits of said field coil windings whereby the angular position of said rotor electromagnetic field relative to said rotor is substantially continuously the same as the angular position of said reference angular position relative to said rotor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 207 words
An electrical power generating system comprising: an alternator having a rotor with field coils with a multiplicity of circuits for conducting multiple electric currents to thereby produce a multipolar electromagnetic field whose angular position relative to said rotor is determined by the relative magnitude of said electric currents in each of said multiple circuits, a stator armature having windings that generate alternating current voltages in response to said multipolar electromagnetic field when said multipolar electromagnetic field is rotated in respect to said stator armature windings, and output terminals connected to said Stator armature windings; means defining a reference angular position as a function of the electrical angle as a function of time of an alternating current voltage; means for controlling the angular position as a function of time of said reference angular position; comparison means for substantially continuously comparing the angular position of said reference angular position with the angular position of said rotor; control means for controlling said relative magnitude of said electric currents in each of said multiple circuits of said field coil windings whereby the angular position of said rotor electromagnetic field relative to said rotor is substantially continuously the same as the angular position of said reference angular position relative to said rotor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 195 words
An electrical power generating method using: an alternator having a rotor with field coils with a multiplicity of circuits for conducting multiple electric currents to thereby produce a multipolar electromagnetic field whose angular position relative to said rotor is determined by the relative magnitude of said electric currents in each of said multiple circuits, a stator armature having windings that generate alternating current voltages in response to said multipolar electromagnetic field when said multipolar electromagnetic field is rotated in respect to said stator armature windings, and output terminals connected to said stator armature windings; rotatable reference means rotating at a fixed or controllably variable reference speed; means for controlling the rotational speed of said rotatable reference means at a variable rotational speed; comparison means for substantially continuously comparing the angular position of said rotatable reference means with the angular position of said rotor; control means for controlling said relative magnitude of said electric currents in each of said multiple circuits of said field coil windings whereby the angular position of said rotor electromagnetic field relative to said rotor is substantially the same as said angular position of said rotatable reference means relative to said rotor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 195 words
An electrical power generating method using: an alternator having a rotor with field coils with a multiplicity of circuits for conducting multiple electric currents to thereby produce a multipolar electromagnetic field whose angular position relative to said rotor is determined by the relative magnitude of said electric currents in each of said multiple circuits, a stator armature having windings that generate alternating current voltages in response to said multipolar electromagnetic field when said multipolar electromagnetic field is rotated in respect to said stator armature windings, and output terminals connected to said stator armature windings; rotatable reference means rotating at a fixed or controllably variable reference speed; means for controlling the rotational speed of said rotatable reference means at a variable rotational speed; comparison means for substantially continuously comparing the angular position of said rotatable reference means with the angular position of said rotor; control means for controlling said relative magnitude of said electric currents in each of said multiple circuits of said field coil windings whereby the angular position of said rotor electromagnetic field relative to said rotor is substantially the same as said angular position of said rotatable reference means relative to said rotor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 196 words
An electrical power generating method using: an alternator having a rotor with field coils with a multiplicity of circuits for conducting multiple electric currents to thereby produce a multipolar electromagnetic field whose angular position relative to said rotor is determined by the relative magnitude of said electric currents in each of said multiple circuits, a stator armature having windings that generate alternating current voltages in response to said multipolar electromagnetic field when said multipolar electromagnetic field is rotated in respect to said stator armature windings, and output terminals connected to said stator armature windings; means for defining a reference angular position as a function of time; means for controlling the angular position as a function of time of said reference angular position; comparison means for substantially continuously comparing the angular position of said reference angular position with the angular position of said rotor; control means for controlling said relative magnitude of said electric currents in each of said multiple circuits of said field coil windings whereby the angular position of said rotor electromagnetic field relative to said rotor is substantially continuously the same as the angular position of said reference angular position relative to said rotor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 196 words
An electrical power generating method using: an alternator having a rotor with field coils with a multiplicity of circuits for conducting multiple electric currents to thereby produce a multipolar electromagnetic field whose angular position relative to said rotor is determined by the relative magnitude of said electric currents in each of said multiple circuits, a stator armature having windings that generate alternating current voltages in response to said multipolar electromagnetic field when said multipolar electromagnetic field is rotated in respect to said stator armature windings, and output terminals connected to said stator armature windings; means for defining a reference angular position as a function of time; means for controlling the angular position as a function of time of said reference angular position; comparison means for substantially continuously comparing the angular position of said reference angular position with the angular position of said rotor; control means for controlling said relative magnitude of said electric currents in each of said multiple circuits of said field coil windings whereby the angular position of said rotor electromagnetic field relative to said rotor is substantially continuously the same as the angular position of said reference angular position relative to said rotor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 207 words
An electrical power generating method using: an alternator having a rotor with field coils with a multiplicity of circuits for conducting multiple electric currents to thereby produce a multipolar electromagnetic field whose angular position relative to said rotor is determined by the relative magnitude of said electric currents in each of said multiple circuits, a stator armature having windings that generate alternating current voltages in response to said multipolar electromagnetic field when said multipolar electromagnetic field is rotated in respect to said stator armature windings, and output terminals connected to said stator armature windings; means defining a reference angular position as a function of the electrical angle as a function of time of an alternating current voltage; means for controlling the angular position as a function of time of said reference angular position; comparison means for substantially continuously comparing the angular position of said reference angular position with the angular position of said rotor; control means for controlling said relative magnitude of said electric currents in each of said multiple circuits of said field coil windings whereby the angular position of said rotor electromagnetic field relative to said rotor is substantially continuously the same as the angular position of said reference angular position relative to said rotor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 207 words
An electrical power generating method using: an alternator having a rotor with field coils with a multiplicity of circuits for conducting multiple electric currents to thereby produce a multipolar electromagnetic field whose angular position relative to said rotor is determined by the relative magnitude of said electric currents in each of said multiple circuits, a stator armature having windings that generate alternating current voltages in response to said multipolar electromagnetic field when said multipolar electromagnetic field is rotated in respect to said stator armature windings, and output terminals connected to said stator armature windings; means defining a reference angular position as a function of the electrical angle as a function of time of an alternating current voltage; means for controlling the angular position as a function of time of said reference angular position; comparison means for substantially continuously comparing the angular position of said reference angular position with the angular position of said rotor; control means for controlling said relative magnitude of said electric currents in each of said multiple circuits of said field coil windings whereby the angular position of said rotor electromagnetic field relative to said rotor is substantially continuously the same as the angular position of said reference angular position relative to said rotor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 16 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said reference means includes rotating variable coupling transformer means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 14 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said reference means includes synchro resolver means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 15 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said reference means includes shaft position encoder means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 20 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said means for controlling the rotational speed includes a servo motor drive system.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 16 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said control means includes rotating variable coupling transformer means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 14 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said control means includes power amplifying means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 15 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said control means includes flux vector control means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 16 words
A system according to claim 2, wherein said reference means includes rotating variable coupling transformer means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 14 words
A system according to claim 2, wherein said reference means includes synchro resolver means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 15 words
A system according to claim 2, wherein said reference means includes shaft position encoder means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 20 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said means for controlling the rotational speed includes a servo motor drive system.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 16 words
A system according to claim 2, wherein said control means includes rotating variable coupling transformer means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 14 words
A system according to claim 2, wherein said control means includes power amplifying means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 15 words
A system according to claim 3, wherein said control means includes flux vector control means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 16 words
A system according to claim 3, wherein said reference means includes rotating variable coupling transformer means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 14 words
A system according to claim 3, wherein said reference means includes synchro resolver means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 15 words
A system according to claim 3, wherein said reference means includes shaft position encoder means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 16 words
A system according to claim 3, wherein said control means includes rotating variable coupling transformer means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 14 words
A system according to claim 3, wherein said control means includes power amplifying means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 15 words
A system according to claim 3, wherein said control means includes flux vector control means.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1998-05-22 1998-11-21 1999-05-23 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2002-05-22 2002-11-21 2003-05-23 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2006-05-22 2006-11-21 2007-05-23 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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