Uninterruptable power supply

Claim 2

An uninterruptable power supply for normal operation under power supplied by a utility, and without interruption upon failure of the utility, comprising: a main motor connectable to the utility; an AC induction motor capable of generating an output current as an induction generator; a mechanical load; said main motor, said AC induction motor, and said mechanical load mechanically coupled together for rotation; battery means to supply DC current; current conversion means operatively electrically connected between said AC induction motor and said battery means to receive said output current from said AC induction motor and convert said output current to direct current so as to charge said battery means during normal operation, and to receive said DC current from said battery means and convert said battery current to AC motor driving current of a predetermined frequency to power said induction motor during a failure of the utility.

Claim 3

The uninterruptable power supply of claim 1, wherein said main motor is a synchronous motor.

Claim 4

The uninterruptable power supply of claim 1, wherein said main motor, said AC induction motor, and said mechanical load are coaxially coupled.

Claim 5

The uninterruptable power supply of claim 1, wherein said induction motor is smaller than said main motor.

Claim 6

The uninterruptable power supply of claim 1, wherein said induction motor is approximately half the size of said main motor.

Claim 7

The uninterruptable power supply of claim 1, where said current conversion means is an inverter capable of converting DC current to AC motor driving current and converting said output current to direct current.

Claim 8

The uninterruptable power supply of claim 1, and further comprising control means operatively connectable to the utility power supply to detect utility failure and to increase said frequency of said motor driving current from said current conversion means upon such a utility failure to cause said battery means to power said induction motor.

Claim 9

The uninterruptable power supply of claim 7, and further comprising: control means operatively electrically connected to said current conversion means to increase said frequency of said current conversion means, to detect utility power failure and to control operation of said AC induction motor, said main motor, and said mechanical load.

Claim 10

The uninterruptable power supply of claim 1, and further comprising: control means operatively electrically connected to said current conversion means to increase said frequency of said current conversion means upon utility failure to cause said battery means to power said induction motor, to detect a utility power failure, and to control operation of said AC induction motor, said main motor, and said mechanical load.

Claim 11

The uninterruptable power supply of claim 9, wherein said induction motor is approximately half the size of said main motor.

Claim 12

The uninterruptable power supply of claim 1, wherein said mechanical load is a generator.

Claim 15

The method of providing uninterruptable power to a load as described in claim 12, and further comprising: detecting when utility power has failed and in response thereto switching off utility power to the main motor once operation of the utility power has switched to battery power.

Claim 16

The method of providing uninterruptable power to a load as described in claim 12, and further comprising: detecting that power from the utility has become available after utility failure; synchronizing the frequency of the induction motor to the main motor; connecting the main motor to utility power when frequency synchronization is present between main motor and induction motor; and using the induction motor to charge the battery through the current conversion means.

Claim 17

The method of providing uninterruptable power to a load as described in claim 12, and further comprising: increasing the frequency of the current from the conversion means to the induction motor to operate the mechanical load at normal utility line frequency upon failure of the utility.

Claim 18

The method of providing uninterruptable power to a load as described in claim 14, and further comprising: reducing the frequency of current from the current conversion means to the induction motor so that the induction motor functions as an induction generator.

Claim 19

An uninterruptable power supply for normal operation under power supplied by a utility, and without interruption upon failure of the utility, comprising: a main motor connectable to the utility; an AC induction motor capable of generating an output current as an induction generator; a mechanical load; said main motor, said AC induction motor, and said mechanical load being mechanically coupled together for rotation, the AC induction motor being operatively positioned therebetween said main motor and said mechanical load; battery means to supply DC current; current conversion means operatively electrically connected between said AC induction motor and said battery means to receive said output current from said AC induction motor and convert said output current to direct current so as to charge said battery means during normal operation when said AC induction motor is rotated by said main motor, and to receive said DC current from said battery means and convert said battery current to AC motor driving current of a predetermined frequency to power said induction motor during a failure of the utility, the AC induction motor being continuously energized by the current conversion means.

Claim 20

An uninterruptable power supply for normal operation under power supplied by a utility, and without interruption upon failure of the utility, comprising: a main motor connectable to the utility; an AC induction motor capable of generating an output current as an induction generator; a mechanical load; said main motor, said AC induction motor, and said mechanical load being mechanically coupled together for rotation, the AC induction motor being operatively positioned therebetween said main motor and said mechanical load; battery means to supply DC current; current conversion means operatively electrically connected between said AC induction motor and said battery means to receive said output current from said AC induction motor and convert said output current to direct current so as to charge said battery means during normal operation when said AC induction motor is rotated by said main motor, and to receive said DC current from said battery means and convert said battery current to AC motor driving current of a predetermined frequency to power said induction motor during a failure of the utility, the AC induction motor being continuously energized by the current conversion means.