US6825640B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Generator arrangements
Assignee: Rolls Royce PLC
•
Filing: 2002-11-18
•
Granted: 2004-11-30
•
Expires: 2022-11-18
Abstract
Abstract A permanent magnet fault tolerant generator 32 is driven by a variable speed shaft 34 to create AC power at terminals 36, converted at 40 to DC power before being applied to a load 38. The converter 40 is a bi-directional device which rectifies AC to DC and also acts as an inverter to synthesize AC from the DC. This synthesized AC waveform is imposed on the terminals 36 to maintain a constant magnitude generator output voltage, regardless of the speed of the shaft 34, and thus regardless of the EMF of the generator. This results in reactive currents flowing between the generator 32 and the converter 40, but allows the generator design have a reduced current rating, resulting in improved generator size and weight.
Inventors
- 👤 Jason E Hill
- 👤 Steven J Mountain
- 👤 Alan J Mitcham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 18:46
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02P; H02P9/00; H02P9/48; H02P9/14; H02P9/26; H02P9/30; H02P9/302; H02P9/305; H02P2101/00; H02P2101/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
75 words
An aerospace generator arrangement operable to provide DC power from a rotating member, the arrangement having a permanent magnet generator driven, in use, by the rotating member to provide AC power at the output terminals of the generator, converter means operable to convert the AC output to provide DC power at substantially constant voltage, and control means which, in use, maintain constant magnitude AC voltage at the generator output terminals, regardless of the generator EMF.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
75 words
An aerospace generator arrangement operable to provide DC power from a rotating member, the arrangement having a permanent magnet generator driven, in use, by the rotating member to provide AC power at the output terminals of the generator, converter means operable to convert the AC output to provide DC power at substantially constant voltage, and control means which, in use, maintain constant magnitude AC voltage at the generator output terminals, regardless of the generator EMF.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
An arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the generator is fault tolerant.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
An arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the control means comprise a voltage synthesiser arrangement operable to impose a synthesised voltage waveform on the generator output terminals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
An arrangement according to claim 3 , wherein the voltage synthesiser is a pulse width modulation-type synthesiser device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
An arrangement according to claim 3 , wherein the voltage synthesiser creates the synthesised voltage waveform from the DC power.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
An arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the rotating member is driven from an engine.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
An arrangement according to claim 6 , wherein the rotating member is driven from a compressor shaft of a gas turbine engine.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
An arrangement according to claim 7 , wherein the shaft is the low pressure shaft of a multi-shaft gas turbine engine.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
73 words
An aerospace generator arrangement operable to provide power for use within an aircraft, the arrangement comprising an aero engine which drives a permanent magnet generator to provide AC power at the output terminals of the generator, converter means operable to convert the AC output to provide DC power at substantially constant voltage, and control means which, in use, maintain constant magnitude AC voltage at the generator output terminals, regardless of the generator EMF.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
73 words
An aerospace generator arrangement operable to provide power for use within an aircraft, the arrangement comprising an aero engine which drives a permanent magnet generator to provide AC power at the output terminals of the generator, converter means operable to convert the AC output to provide DC power at substantially constant voltage, and control means which, in use, maintain constant magnitude AC voltage at the generator output terminals, regardless of the generator EMF.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
An arrangement according to claim 9 , wherein the generator is fault tolerant.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
An arrangement according to claim 9 , wherein the aero engine has at least one rotary shaft connecting a turbine and a compressor, the generator being driven by or from the said shaft.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
An arrangement according to claim 11 , wherein the engine has more than one shaft, and the driving shaft is the low pressure shaft.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
An arrangement according to claim 9 , wherein the control means comprise a voltage synthesiser arrangement operable to impose a synthesised voltage wave form on the generator output terminals.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
An arrangement according to claim 13 , wherein the voltage synthesiser is a pulse width modulation-type synthesiser device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
An arrangement according to claim 13 , wherein the voltage synthesiser is operable to create the synthesised voltage waveform from the DC power.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
An aircraft incorporating a generator arrangement as set out in claim 1 .
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB2117143A
Cited
US5225712A
Cited
US5387859A
Cited
US5384527A
Cited
US5594322A
Cited
US5705902A
Cited
US5825113A
Cited
US6049195A
Cited
US6239583B1
Cited
US6346797B1
Cited
US6661206B2
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-11-30 | 2008-05-31 | 2008-11-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-11-30 | 2012-05-31 | 2012-11-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-11-30 | 2016-05-31 | 2016-11-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |