US6504275B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electric motor having rotor-embedded sensor
Assignee: Reliance Electric Co
•
Filing: 2001-02-20
•
Granted: 2003-01-07
•
Expires: 2021-02-20
Abstract
Abstract An electromechanical device comprises a stator and a rotor which is capable of rotating relative to the stator. The rotor has a sensor embedded therein. In a preferred embodiment, the sensor is disposed within a plurality of laminations that are stacked one on top of another. For example, one of the plurality of laminations may be a sensor lamination, in which case the sensor is at least partially disposed within a cavity formed in the sensor lamination. Advantageously, the sensor may be used to directly measure rotor-associated operating conditions, such as rotor current (including the magnitude, frequency and phase of the rotor current), rotor fatigue, rotor temperature, rotor airgap, rotor flux and rotor torque. The sensor is especially well-suited for measuring current in the rotor of an induction motor.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas A. Nondahl
- 👤 Perry A. DelVecchio
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 02:27
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02K; H02K11/00; H02K11/30; H02K11/35; H02K11/20; H02K11/27
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 62
Claim 1
Independent Claim
78 words
A rotor having a longitudinal axis, the rotor comprising: a shaft disposed along the longitudinal axis; and a rotor core disposed along the longitudinal axis comprising: a plurality of laminations disposed generally transverse to the longitudinal axis, one or more of the plurality of laminations being a sensor lamination comprising: at least one cavity; at least one embedded sensor at least partially disposed within the cavity; and at least one transmitter at least partially disposed within the cavity.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
78 words
A rotor having a longitudinal axis, the rotor comprising: a shaft disposed along the longitudinal axis; and a rotor core disposed along the longitudinal axis comprising: a plurality of laminations disposed generally transverse to the longitudinal axis, one or more of the plurality of laminations being a sensor lamination comprising: at least one cavity; at least one embedded sensor at least partially disposed within the cavity; and at least one transmitter at least partially disposed within the cavity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The rotor according to claim 1 , where the transmitter transmits by optical means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The rotor according to claim 2 , where the transmitter is a light emitting diode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The rotor according to claim 1 , where the transmitter communicates over radio frequencies.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The rotor according to claim 1 , where the plurality of laminations are disk shaped.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The rotor according to claim 1 , where the plurality of laminations contain a plurality of apertures.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The rotor according to claim 6 , where the plurality of apertures are identically shaped.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The rotor according to claim 7 , where the plurality of apertures are evenly spaced around a perimeter of the plurality of laminations.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The rotor according to claim 8 , where the plurality of apertures are equidistant from the perimeter of the plurality of laminations.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The rotor according to claim 9 , where a plurality of rotor bars are generally disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis through the plurality of apertures.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The rotor according to claim 1 , where the embedded sensor comprises an apparatus for measuring a current.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The rotor according to claim 1 , where the embedded sensor comprises an apparatus for measuring a torque.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The rotor according to claim 1 , where the embedded sensor comprises an apparatus for measuring a velocity.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The rotor according to claim 1 , where the embedded sensor comprises an apparatus for measuring a temperature.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The rotor according to claim 1 , where the embedded sensor comprises an apparatus for measuring an air gap.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The rotor according to claim 1 , where the embedded sensor comprises an apparatus for measuring a voltage.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The rotor according to claim 1 , further comprising a control system.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The rotor according to claim 17 , where the control system is a closed loop feedback system.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The rotor according to claim 17 , where the control system is an open loop system.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
87 words
An electromechanical device having a longitudinal axis, the electromechanical device comprising: a stator; a receiver; a rotor disposed along the longitudinal axis, the rotor comprising: a shaft; a rotor core comprising: a plurality of laminations disposed generally transverse to the longitudinal axis, one or more of the laminations being a sensor lamination comprising: at least one cavity; at least one embedded sensor at least partially disposed within the cavity; and at least one transmitter at least partially disposed within the cavity for transmitting signals to the receiver.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
87 words
An electromechanical device having a longitudinal axis, the electromechanical device comprising: a stator; a receiver; a rotor disposed along the longitudinal axis, the rotor comprising: a shaft; a rotor core comprising: a plurality of laminations disposed generally transverse to the longitudinal axis, one or more of the laminations being a sensor lamination comprising: at least one cavity; at least one embedded sensor at least partially disposed within the cavity; and at least one transmitter at least partially disposed within the cavity for transmitting signals to the receiver.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electromechanical device according to claim 20 , where the receiver is disposed upon the stator.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electromechanical device according to claim 20 , where the transmitter and the receiver communicate optically.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electromechanical device according to claim 22 , where the transmitter is a light emitting diode.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electromechanical device according to claim 22 , where the receiver is an array of photodetectors.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electromechanical device according to claim 20 , where the transmitter and the receiver communicate over radio frequencies.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electromechanical device according to claim 20 , where the plurality of laminations are disk shaped.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electromechanical device according to claim 20 , where the plurality of laminations contain a plurality of apertures.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electromechanical device according to claim 27 , where the plurality of apertures are identically shaped.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
The electromechanical device according to claim 28 , where the plurality of apertures are evenly spaced around a perimeter of the plurality of laminations.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
23 words
The electromechanical device according to claim 29 , where the plurality of apertures are equidistant from the perimeter of the plurality of laminations.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
The electromechanical device according to claim 30 , where a plurality of rotor bars are generally disposed along the longitudinal axis through the plurality of apertures.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electromechanical device according to claim 20 , where the embedded sensor comprises an apparatus for measuring a current.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electromechanical device according to claim 20 , where the embedded sensor comprises an apparatus for measuring a torque.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electromechanical device according to claim 20 , where the embedded sensor comprises an apparatus for measuring a velocity.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electromechanical device according to claim 20 , where the embedded sensor comprises an apparatus for measuring a temperature.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
20 words
The electromechanical device according to claim 20 , where the embedded sensor comprises an apparatus for measuring an air gap.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electromechanical device according to claim 20 , where the embedded sensor comprises an apparatus for measuring a voltage.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
13 words
The electromechanical device according to claim 20 , further comprising a control system.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electromechanical device according to claim 38 , where the control system is a closed loop feedback system.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
17 words
The electromechanical device according to claim 38 , where the control system is an open loop system.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electromechanical device according to claim 20 , where the electromechanical device is an electric motor.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electromechanical device according to claim 41 , where the electric motor is an induction motor.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electromechanical device according to claim 20 , where the electromechanical device is an electric generator.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
119 words
An electric motor having a longitudinal axis, said electric motor comprising: a motor control system; a stator comprising a receiver; and a rotor disposed along the longitudinal axis, said rotor comprising: a shaft; a rotor core comprising: a plurality of disk shaped laminations disposed generally transverse to the longitudinal axis, one or more of the laminations being a sensor lamination comprising: at least one cavity; at least one embedded sensor at least partially disposed within the cavity; and at least one transmitter at least partially disposed within the cavity; and a plurality of apertures contained within the plurality of disk shaped laminations; and a plurality of rotor bars generally disposed along the longitudinal axis through the plurality of apertures.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
119 words
An electric motor having a longitudinal axis, said electric motor comprising: a motor control system; a stator comprising a receiver; and a rotor disposed along the longitudinal axis, said rotor comprising: a shaft; a rotor core comprising: a plurality of disk shaped laminations disposed generally transverse to the longitudinal axis, one or more of the laminations being a sensor lamination comprising: at least one cavity; at least one embedded sensor at least partially disposed within the cavity; and at least one transmitter at least partially disposed within the cavity; and a plurality of apertures contained within the plurality of disk shaped laminations; and a plurality of rotor bars generally disposed along the longitudinal axis through the plurality of apertures.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electric motor according to claim 44 , where the transmitter and the receiver communicate optically.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electric motor according to claim 45 , where the transmitter is a light emitting diode.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electric motor according to claim 45 , where the receiver is an array of photodetectors.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electric motor according to claim 44 , where the transmitter and the receiver communicate over radio frequencies.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electric motor according to claim 44 , where the plurality of apertures are identically shaped.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
26 words
The electric motor according to claim 49 , where the plurality of apertures are evenly spaced around a perimeter of the plurality of disk shaped laminations.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
23 words
The electric motor according to claim 50 , where the plurality of apertures are equidistant from the perimeter of the plurality of laminations.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electric motor according to claim 44 , where the embedded sensor comprises an apparatus for measuring a current.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electric motor according to claim 44 , where the embedded sensor comprises an apparatus for measuring a torque.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electric motor according to claim 44 , where the embedded sensor comprises an apparatus for measuring a velocity.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electric motor according to claim 44 , where the embedded sensor comprises an apparatus for measuring a temperature.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
20 words
The electric motor according to claim 44 , where the embedded sensor comprises an apparatus for measuring an air gap.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electric motor according to claim 44 , where the embedded sensor comprises an apparatus for measuring a voltage.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electric motor according to claim 44 , where the motor control system is a closed loop feedback system.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electric motor according to claim 44 , where the motor control system is an open loop system.
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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) | 2006-01-06 | 2006-07-08 | 2007-01-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-01-06 | 2010-07-08 | 2011-01-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-01-06 | 2014-07-08 | 2015-01-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |