Abstract:
A washing machine comprising a laundry receptacle, a variable speed induction motor driving the laundry receptacle at a wash speed and as spin speed, a drive for powering the motor, and a wye-delta switch for connecting the drive and the motor in a wye configuration during the wash cycle or a delta configuration during a spin cycle. A controller controls the speed of the motor and the switch.
Abstract:
A horizontal axis washing machine includes a clothing receptacle rotated by a 4 pole rotor. A 36 slot stator having an interior bore with an interior diameter receives the 4 pole rotor in magnetic coupling relation and capable of operating within a flux weakening range of at least 5:1. The stator has a ratio of an interior diameter to a minimum exterior diameter greater than or equal to 0.63:1.
Abstract:
A washing machine comprising a laundry receptacle, a variable speed induction motor driving the laundry receptacle at a wash speed and as spin speed, a drive for powering the motor, and a wye-delta switch for connecting the drive and the motor in a wye configuration during the wash cycle or a delta configuration during a spin cycle. A controller controls the speed of the motor and the switch.
Abstract:
A drying device has been developed having a single electric motor configured to drive a drum and directly drive an air blower. The single electric motor is a non-line frequency electric motor. The drum is coupled to a support frame to enable rotation of the drum relative the support frame. The drum has an interior space for holding a load of articles, such as clothing. The motor includes a controller configured to increase gradually the angular velocity of the drum to provide a “soft start” for the dryer.
Abstract:
An interior permanent magnet machine has non-contiguous, non-magnetic radial slots between the magnets and the cylindrical periphery and the magnets have non-magnetic radial end slots.
Abstract:
A permanent magnet rotor for an electric motor includes longitudinally extending main rotor field and sensor field sections, the sensor field section being substantially shorter than the main rotor field section and being disposed at one end thereof. The sensor field section is magnetized in circumferentially disposed parallel strips of alternating magnetic polarity around the rotor. The main rotor field section has longitudinally extending strips of alternating magnetic polarity which are skewed in a predetermined pattern. The predetermined pattern includes a first portion in which each longitudinally extending strip runs generally at a first predetermined non-zero angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the rotor, a second portion in which each longitudinally extending strip runs generally at a second predetermined non-zero angle with respect that axis, and a third portion in which each longitudinally extending strip runs generally at the first predetermined non-zero angle with respect to the axis. The first and second angles are opposite in sign.
Abstract:
Various embodiments of an electric motor and electronic control for an electric motor are disclosed. An exemplary electric motor comprises a single-phase brushless permanent magnet electric motor. In exemplary embodiments, the electronic motor control is configured to commutate an electric motor at a frequency other than line frequency, perform pulse width modulation, and drive the electric motor with a drive waveform that approximates the counter-electromotive force of the motor.
Abstract:
A horizontal axis washing machine includes a clothing receptacle rotated by a 4 pole rotor. A 36 slot stator having an interior bore with an interior diameter receives the 4 pole rotor in magnetic coupling relation and capable of operating within a flux weakening range of at least 5:1. The stator has a ratio of an interior diameter to a minimum exterior diameter greater than or equal to 0.63:1.
Abstract:
A brushless permanent magnet machine that includes a combination of a fractional stator slot/rotor pole and a winding configuration to reduce cogging during operation of the machine. The stator has a series of teeth (preferably eighteen) which are surrounded by a series of coils. The coils are wound around the teeth and connected to a three-phase power supply in a manner that reduces cogging. The rotor has a series of slots (preferably sixteen). In the first embodiment, the coils are wound around every tooth, and the teeth are divided into sections of three, wherein each section of three teeth is connected to one phase of the power supply. In this embodiment, the fractional stator slot/rotor pole ratio is 18/16. In a second embodiment, the coils are wound around every other tooth, which provides for more space for winding the coils. In this embodiment, the fractional stator slot/rotor pole ratio is 9/16.The permanent magnet machine further includes a design for a rotor lamination which provides sixteen magnet slots and eight slot connecting holes. The slot connecting holes join the magnet slots in pairs, which provide easy access to the magnets inserted in the rotor. The rotor design further provides a series of rotor holes located between the magnet slots which, with the slot connecting holes, provide for insulation of the machine from unwanted magnetic flux.