1. An apparatus for use in an electrical distribution system comprising in combination:
a. a stationary frame supporting one or more main bus input terminals and one or more of power output terminals in spaced relation to each other such that no electrical connection is made between said main bus input terminals and said power output terminals;
b. a movable frame slidably carried on said stationary frame and supporting one or more main bus input connectors and one or more power output connectors positioned for mating engagement with said main bus input terminal and said power supply output terminal upon selective movement of said movable frame along said stationary frame; and
c. a disconnect mechanism mounted to said movable frame and visible from the exterior of the apparatus, said disconnect mechanism providing selective electrical connection between said main bus input connectors and said power output connectors, said disconnect mechanism being operable from outside said apparatus, wherein said disconnect mechanism selectively operates between an open position and a closed position such that in said open position said main bus input terminal connector is electrically disconnected from said power supply output connector.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said disconnect mechanism electrically connects said power supply output connector to a ground, when said disconnect mechanism is in said open position.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said disconnect mechanism locks said movable frame relative said stationary frame when said disconnect mechanism is in said closed position.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said disconnect mechanism further comprises one or more contactors, each said contactor providing selective electrical connection between a closed conducting position and an open non-conducting position.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said contactor is selectably closeable when said disconnect mechanism is in said closed position.
6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said contactor is not closeable when said disconnect mechanism is in said open position.
7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said contactor electrically connects said main bus input terminal connector and said power supply output connector when said contactor is in its closed position.
8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said contactor is selectively positionable in response to a signal communicated to said contactor.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a control panel communicating said signal to said contactor.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said control panel further comprises communication means for receiving a control signal from said electrical distribution system and said control panel is responsive to said control signal to communicate said signal to said contactor.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said communication means comprise a wire harness attached to said control panel and said electrical distribution system.
12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said communication means comprise a receiver.
13. An apparatus for use in an electrical distribution system comprising in combination:
a. a stationary frame supporting one or more main bus input terminals and one or more of power output terminals in spaced relation to each other such that no electrical connection is made between said main bus input terminals and said power output terminals;
b. a movable frame slidably carried on said stationary frame and supporting one or more main bus input connectors and one or more power output connectors positioned for mating engagement with said main bus input terminal and said power supply output terminal upon selective movement of said movable frame along said stationary frame;
c. a disconnect mechanism mounted to said movable frame and visible from the exterior of the apparatus, said disconnect mechanism providing selective electrical connection between said main bus input connectors and said power output connectors, said disconnect mechanism being operable from outside said apparatus; and
d. a control panel for monitoring an electrical condition of said apparatus.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said control panel further comprises communication means for communicating said electrical condition to said electrical distribution system.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said communication means comprise a wire harness attached between said control panel and said electrical distribution system.
16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said communication means comprise a transmitter.
17. An apparatus for use in an electrical distribution system comprising in combination:
a. a stationary frame supporting one or more main bus input terminals and one or more of power output terminals in spaced relation to each other such that no electrical connection is made between said main bus input terminals and said power output terminals;
b. a movable frame slidably carried on said stationary frame and supporting one or more main bus input connectors and one or more power output connectors positioned for mating engagement with said main bus input terminal and said power supply output terminal upon selective movement of said movable frame along said stationary frame, wherein said movable frame is positionable relative said stationary frame by an actuator operable from external said apparatus; and
c. a disconnect mechanism mounted to said movable frame and visible from the exterior of the apparatus, said disconnect mechanism providing selective electrical connection between said main bus input connectors and said power output connectors, said disconnect mechanism being operable from outside said apparatus.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said actuator comprises a worm screw.
19. An apparatus for use in an electrical distribution system comprising in combination:
a. a stationary frame supporting one or more main bus input terminals and one or more of power output terminals in spaced relation to each other such that no electrical connection is made between said main bus input terminals and said power output terminals;
b. a movable frame slidably carried on said stationary frame and supporting one or more main bus input connectors and one or more power output connectors positioned for mating engagement with said main bus input terminal and said power supply output terminal upon selective movement of said movable frame along said stationary frame, wherein said movable frame is keyed to said stationary frame such that said movable frame is mountable to said stationary frame only when a set of electrical components mounted to said movable frame are compatible with a set of desired operating parameters for said electrical distribution system; and
c. a disconnect mechanism mounted to said movable frame and visible from the exterior of the apparatus, said disconnect mechanism providing selective electrical connection between said main bus input connectors and said power output connectors, said disconnect mechanism being operable from outside said apparatus.
20. An apparatus for use in an electrical distribution system comprising in combination:
a. a stationary frame supporting one or more main bus input terminals and one or more of power output terminals such that no electrical connection is made between said main bus input terminals and said power output terminals and said main bus input terminals and said power output terminals are supported in a specified spaced relation according to a set of desired operating parameters for said electrical distribution system;
b. a movable frame slidably carried on said stationary frame and supporting one or more main bus input connectors and one or more power output connectors positioned for mating engagement with said main bus input terminal and said power supply output terminal upon selective movement of said movable frame along said stationary frame; and
c. a disconnect mechanism mounted to said movable frame and visible from the exterior of the apparatus, said disconnect mechanism providing selective electrical connection between said main bus input connectors and said power output connectors, said disconnect mechanism being operable from outside said apparatus.
21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said movable frame supports said main bus input connectors and said power output connectors in said specified spaced relation only when said movable frame supports a set of electrical components compatible with said set of desired operating parameters for said electrical distribution system.
22. An apparatus for use in an electrical distribution system comprising: a stationary frame supporting one or more main bus input terminals and one or more of power output terminals in spaced relation to each other; a movable frame slidably mounted to said stationary frame and supporting one or more main bus input connectors and one or more power output connectors positioned for mating engagement with said main bus input terminal and said power supply output terminal upon selective movement of said movable frame into said stationary frame; and a disconnect mechanism mounted to said movable frame and being operable from external said apparatus, said disconnect mechanism providing selective electrical connection between said main bus input connectors and said power output connectors, said selective electrical connection visible from outside said apparatus, and said disconnect mechanism controlling movement of said movable frame relative said stationary frame.
23. A feeder circuit comprising a movable frame supporting one or more main bus input connectors, one or more power output connectors and one or more electrical contactors positioned between and providing selective electrical conduction between each said main bus input connector and each said power output connector, said movable frame carried on a stationary frame adapted for slidably receiving said movable frame, said stationary frame having one or more main bus input terminals and one or more power output terminals aligned for mating engagement with said main bus input connectors and said power output connectors; a disconnect mechanism mounted to said movable frame, said disconnect mechanism selectable between an open position and a closed position and in said closed position, said disconnect mechanism permits electrical conduction between said main bus input connector and said power output connector.
24. A feeder circuit comprising a movable frame supporting one or more main bus input connectors, one or more power output connectors and one or more electrical contactors positioned between and providing selective electrical conduction between each said main bus input connector and each said power output connector said movable frame carried on a stationary frame adapted for slidably receiving said movable frame, said stationary frame having one or more main bus input terminals and one or more power output terminals aligned for mating engagement with said main bus input connectors and said power output connectors; a disconnect mechanism mounted to said movable frame, said disconnect mechanism selectable between an open position and a closed position and in said closed position, said contactor is selectable to a conducting state.
25. A feeder circuit comprising a movable frame supporting one or more main bus input connectors, one or more power output connectors and one or more electrical contactors positioned between and providing selective electrical conduction between each said main bus input connector and each said power output connector, said movable frame carried on a stationary frame adapted for slidably receiving said movable frame, said stationary frame having one or more main bus input terminals and one or more power output terminals aligned for mating engagement with said main bus input connectors and said power output connectors; a disconnect mechanism mounted to said movable frame, said disconnect mechanism selectable between an open position and a closed position, wherein with said disconnect mechanism in said open position said movable frame is repositionable relative said stationary frame.
26. A feeder circuit comprising a movable frame supporting one or more main bus input connectors, one or more power output connectors and one or more electrical contactors positioned between and providing selective electrical conduction between each said main bus input connector and each said power output connector, said movable frame carried on a stationary frame adapted for slidably receiving said movable frame, said stationary frame having one or more main bus input terminals and one or more power output terminals aligned for mating engagement with said main bus input connectors and said power output connectors, a disconnect mechanism mounted to said movable frame, said disconnect mechanism selectable between an open position and a closed position, wherein in said open position said disconnect mechanism connects said power output connector to a ground.
27. A feeder circuit comprising a movable frame supporting one or more main bus input connectors, one or more power output connectors and one or more electrical contactors positioned between and providing selective electrical conduction between each said main bus input connector and each said power output connector, said movable frame carried on a stationary frame adapted for slidably receiving said movable frame, said stationary frame having one or more main bus input terminals and one or more power output terminals aligned for mating engagement with said main bus input connectors and said power output connectors; a disconnect mechanism mounted to said movable frame, said disconnect mechanism selectable between an open position and a closed position, wherein with said disconnect mechanism in said open position, said contactor is not selectable to a conducting state.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method for driving a brushless motor including a first coil and a second coil for two phases, wherein the motor does not include a coil for one of three phases, the method comprising:
connecting a three-phase inverter circuit to the first coil and the second coil; and
applying currents having a phase difference corresponding to an electrical angle of 60 degrees to the first coil and the second coil to generate a circular rotating magnetic field.
2. The brushless motor driving method according to claim 1, wherein the brushless motor is a claw pole three-phase brushless motor.
3. The brushless motor driving method according to claim 2, wherein the first coil and the second coil are formed by eliminating one of the coils for three phases that are delta-connected.
4. The brushless motor according to claim 3, further comprising applying 180-degree square wave voltages having a phase difference of 120 degrees to a common terminal that connects one end of the first coil and one end of the second coil, a first terminal of the first coil that is the other end of the first coil, and a second terminal of the second coil that is the other end of the second coil so that currents flow through the first coil and the second coil at a phase difference corresponding to an electrical angle of 60 degrees.
5. The brushless motor driving method according to claim 3, further comprising applying sine wave voltages having a phase difference of 120 degrees to a common terminal that connects one end of the first coil and one end of the second coil, a first terminal of the first coil that is the other end of the first coil, and a second terminal of the second coil that is the other end of the second coil so that currents flow through the first coil and the second coil at a phase difference corresponding to an electrical angle of 60 degrees.
6. The brushless motor driving method according to claim 5, further comprising:
constantly applying, to the common terminal, a sine wave voltage at a level that is one half the maximum value of the sine wave voltages applied to the first terminal and the second terminal; and
applying sine wave voltages having a phase difference corresponding to an electrical angle of 60 degrees to the first terminal and the second terminal so that two phases of currents having a phase difference corresponding to an electrical angle of 60 degrees flow through the first coil and the second coil.
7. The brushless motor driving method according to claim 3, further comprising:
calculating alternating currents for three phases respectively flowing through three hypothetic terminals when the brushless motor that does not include a coil is converted to an equivalence of a three-phase brushless motor;
calculating, from the alternating currents for three phases, a d-axis actual current value and a q-axis actual current value in a two-axis rotation coordinate system that rotates in synchronization with frequencies of terminal voltages applied to the first coil and the second coil;
calculating a deviation between the d-axis actual current value and a d-axis current command value and a deviation between the q-axis actual current value and a q-axis current command value;
calculating a d-axis voltage command value and a q-axis voltage command value from the two deviations so that currents flow in accordance with the d-axis current command value and the q-axis current command value; and
applying voltages to the common terminal, first terminal, and second terminal in accordance with the d-axis voltage command value and the q-axis voltage command value so that currents of two phases having a phase difference corresponding to an electrical angle of 60 degrees flow through the first coil and the second coil.
8. The brushless motor driving method according to claim 7, further comprising:
detecting a first-phase current flowing through a first terminal that is one end of the first coil, a second-phase current flowing through a second terminal that is one end of the second coil, and a third-phase current flowing through a common terminal connecting the other end of the first coil and the other end of the second coil; and
calculating the alternating currents for three phases respectively flowing through the three hypothetic terminals based on the first-phase current, the second-phase current, and the third-phase current.
9. The brushless motor driving method according to claim 7, further comprising:
detecting, when a common terminal connects one end of the first coil and one end of the second coil, a first-phase current flowing through a first terminal of the first coil that is the other end of the first coil and a second-phase current flowing through a second terminal of the second coil that is the other end of the second coil; and
calculating the alternating currents for three phases respectively flowing through the three hypothetic terminals based on the first-phase current and the second-phase current.
10. A method for driving a brushless motor in which three phases of coils are connected to a three-phase inverter circuit and supplied with three phases of equilibrium currents and the one of the three phases of coils is disconnected, the method comprising:
applying currents of two phases having a phase difference corresponding to an electrical angle of 60 degrees to the remaining two phases of coils through the three-phase inverter circuit to generate a circular rotating magnetic field.
11. The brushless motor driving method according to claim 10, wherein the brushless motor is a three-phase brushless motor in which the three phases of coils are in a delta connection or Y connection.
12. The brushless motor driving method according to claim 11, further comprising:
applying, when one of the three phases of coils in the delta connection is disconnected, 180-degree wave voltages having a phase difference of 120 degrees to three terminals of the three phases of coils so that currents having a phase difference corresponding to an electrical angle of 60 degrees flow to the remaining two phases of coils.
13. The brushless motor driving method according to claim 11, further comprising:
applying, when one of the three phases of coils in the delta connection is disconnected, sine wave voltages having a phase difference of 120 degrees to a common terminal connecting the two phases of coils that are not disconnected, a terminal connecting the disconnected coil and one of the two phases of coils that are not disconnected, and a terminal connecting the disconnected coil and the other one of the two phases of coils that are not disconnected so that current having a phase difference corresponding to an electrical angle of 60 degrees flows through the two phases of coils that are not disconnected.
14. The brushless motor driving method according to claim 13, further comprising:
constantly applying, to the common terminal, a sine wave voltage at a level that is one half the maximum value of the sine wave voltages applied to the remaining two terminals when one of the three phases of coils in the delta connection is disconnected; and
applying sine wave voltages having a phase difference corresponding to an electrical angle of 60 degrees to the remaining two terminals so that currents having a phase difference corresponding to an electrical angle of 60 degrees flow through the coils that are not disconnected.
15. The brushless motor driving method according to claim 11, wherein the brushless motor is a three-phase brushless motor including three phases of coils in a delta connection, the method further comprising:
calculating alternating currents for three phases respectively flowing through three terminals of the three phases of coils when one of the three phases of coils in the delta connection is disconnected;
obtaining, from the alternating currents for three phases, a d-axis actual current value and a q-axis actual current value in a two-axis rotation coordinate system that rotates in synchronization with frequencies of terminal voltages applied to a first coil and a second coil that are not disconnected;
obtaining a deviation between the d-axis actual current value and a d-axis current command value and a deviation between the q-axis actual current value and a q-axis current command value;
calculating a d-axis voltage command value and a q-axis voltage command value from the two deviations so that currents flow in accordance with the d-axis current command value and the q-axis current command value; and
applying voltages to the first coil and the second coil based on the d-axis voltage command value and the q-axis voltage command value so that two phases of currents having a phase difference corresponding to an electrical angle of 60 degrees flow.
16. The brushless motor driving method according to claim 15, further comprising:
detecting a first-phase current flowing through a first terminal that is one end of the first coil, a second-phase current flowing through a second terminal that is one end of the second coil, and a third-phase current flowing through a common terminal connecting the other end of the first coil and the other end of the second coil; and
calculating the alternating currents for three phases respectively flowing through the three terminals of the three phases of coils based on the first-phase current, the second-phase current, and the third-phase current.
17. The brushless motor driving method according to claim 15, further comprising:
detecting, when a common terminal connects one end of the first coil and one end of the second coil, a first-phase current flowing through a first terminal that is the other end of the first coil and a second-phase current flowing through a second terminal that is the other end of the second coil; and
calculating, based on the first-phase current and the second-phase current, the alternating currents for three phases respectively flowing through three hypothetic terminals when the brushless motor in which a coil for one phase is disconnected is converted to an equivalence of a three-phase brushless motor in which a coil for one phase is not disconnected.
18. The brushless motor driving method according to claim 11, further comprising:
applying, when one of the three phases of coils in the Y connection is disconnected, 180-degree square-wave voltages having a phase difference of 120 degrees to a neutral point terminal and to terminals of the two phases of coils that are not disconnected so that currents having a phase difference corresponding to an electrical angle of 60 degrees flow through the coils that are not disconnected.
19. The brushless motor driving method according to claim 11, further comprising:
applying, when one of the three phases of coils in the Y connection is disconnected, sine wave voltages having a phase difference of 120 degrees to a neutral point terminal and to terminals of the two phases of coils that are not disconnected so that currents having a phase difference corresponding to an electrical angle of 60 degrees flow through the coils that are not disconnected.
20. The brushless motor driving method according to claim 19, further comprising:
constantly applying to the neutral point terminal, when one of the three phases of coils in the Y connection is disconnected, a sine wave voltage at a level that is one half the maximum value of the sine wave voltages applied to the terminals of the two phases of coils that are not disconnected; and
applying sine wave voltages having a phase difference corresponding to an electrical angle of 60 degrees to the two phases of coils that are not disconnected so that currents having a phase difference corresponding to an electrical angle of 60 degrees flow through the terminals of the two phases of coils that are not disconnected.
21. The brushless motor driving method according to claim 11, wherein the brushless motor is a three-phase brushless motor including three phases of coils in the Y connection, the method further comprising:
calculating, when one of the three phases of coils in the Y connection is disconnected, alternating currents for three phases respectively flowing through a neutral point terminal and terminals of the two phases of coils that are not disconnected;
obtaining, from the alternating currents for three phases, a d-axis actual current value and a q-axis actual current value in a two-axis rotation coordinate system that rotates in synchronization with frequencies of terminal voltages applied to the two phases of coils that are not disconnected;
obtaining a deviation between the d-axis actual current value and a d-axis current command value and a deviation between the q-axis actual current value and a q-axis current command value;
calculating, from the two deviations, a d-axis voltage command value and a q-axis voltage command value so that currents flow in accordance with the d-axis current voltage command and the q-axis current command value; and
applying voltages to the terminals of the two phases of coils that are not disconnected in accordance with the d-axis voltage command value and the q-axis voltage command value so that currents having a phase difference corresponding to an electrical angle of 60 degrees flow to the two phases of coils that are not disconnected.
22. The brushless motor driving method according to claim 21, further comprising:
detecting a first-phase current, a second-phase current, and a third-phase current flowing respectively through the neutral point terminal and the terminals of the two phases of coils that are not disconnected; and
calculating the alternating currents for three phases respectively flowing through each of the terminals based on the first-phase current, the second-phase current, and the third-phase current.
23. The brushless motor driving method according to claim 21, further comprising:
detecting a first-phase current flowing through a terminal of one of the two phases of coils that are not disconnected and a second-phase current flowing through a terminal of the other one of the two phases of coils that are not disconnected; and
calculating alternating currents for three phases respectively flowing through three hypothetic terminals when the brushless motor in which a coil for one phase is disconnected is converted to an equivalence of a three-phase brushless motor including no disconnected coils based on the first-phase current and the second-phase current.
24. A circuit for driving a brushless motor including a first coil and a second coil for two phases, wherein the motor does not include a coil for one of three phases, the circuit comprising:
a three-phase inverter circuit connected to a common terminal connecting one end of the first coil and one end of the second coil, a first terminal that is the other end of the first coil, and a second terminal that is the other end of the second coil, wherein the three-phase inverter circuit connects the common terminal, the first terminal, and the second terminal with a phase difference of 120 degrees to a positive terminal of a direct current power supply during a period corresponding to 180 degrees and continuously or intermittently connects the common terminal, the first terminal, and the second terminal with a phase difference of 120 degrees to a negative terminal of the direct current power supply during a period corresponding to the remaining 180 degrees to energize the first coil and the second coil and supply currents having a phase difference corresponding to an electrical angle of 60 degrees to the first coil and the second coil; and
a control circuit that generates a control signal for controlling the three-phase inverter circuit and outputs the control signal to the three-phase inverter circuit.
25. A method for detecting a rotational position of a brushless motor including a first coil and a second coil for two phases, wherein the motor does not include a coil for one of three phases, the method comprising:
connecting a three-phase inverter circuit to a common terminal connecting one end of the first coil and one end of the second coil, a first terminal that is the other end of the first coil, and a second terminal that is the other end of the second coil;
connecting the common terminal, the first terminal, and the second terminal with a phase difference of 120 degrees to a positive terminal of a direct current power supply during a period corresponding to 180 degrees and continuously or intermittently connecting the common terminal, the first terminal, and the second terminal with a phase difference of 120 degrees to a negative terminal of the direct current power supply during a period corresponding to the remaining 180 degrees to energize the common terminal, the first terminal and the second terminal and to supply currents having a phase difference corresponding to an electrical angle of 60 degrees to the first coil and the second coil;
releasing, during a period in which the coils are energized so that a potential at one of the first terminal and the second terminal is the same as the common terminal, the one of the first terminal and the second terminal that has the same potential as the common terminal; and
estimating an electrical angle based on a change in the potential at the released terminal.
26. The method for detecting a rotational position of a brushless motor according to claim 25, further comprising:
estimating, during a period in which the coils are energized so that potentials at the first terminal and the second terminal differ from that at the common terminal, the electrical angle based on an energizing timing estimated in another period in which the coils are energized.
27. A circuit for detecting a rotational position of a brushless motor including a first coil and a second coil for two phases, wherein the brushless motor does not include a coil for one of three phases, and the brushless motor includes a common terminal connecting one end of the first coil and one end of the second coil, a first terminal that is the other end of the first coil, a second terminal that is the other end of the second coil, and a three-phase inverter circuit connected to the common terminal, the first terminal, and the second terminal, and the three-phase inverter circuit connects the common terminal, the first terminal, and the second terminal with a phase difference of 120 degrees to a positive terminal of a direct current power supply during a period corresponding to 180 degrees and continuously or intermittently connects the common terminal, the first terminal, and the second terminal with a phase difference of 120 degrees to a negative terminal of the direct current power supply during a period corresponding to the remaining 180 degrees to energize the common terminal, the first terminal and the second terminal and to supply currents having a phase difference corresponding to an electrical angle of 60 degrees to the first coil and the second coil,
the circuit comprising:
a control circuit that outputs a control signal for releasing, during a period in which the coils are energized so that a potential at one of the first terminal and the second terminal is the same as the common terminal, the one of the first terminal and the second terminal that has the same potential as the common terminal to the three-phase inverter circuit;
a potential difference detection circuit that detects a potential difference between the first terminal and the common terminal or a potential difference between the second terminal and the common terminal when the first terminal or the second terminal is released; and
an estimation circuit that estimates an electrical angle when the potential difference detected by the potential difference detection circuit reaches a predetermined potential difference.
28. The circuit for detecting a rotational position of a brushless motor according to claim 27, further comprising:
a timer circuit that measures time from when the first terminal or the second terminal is released to when the potential difference detection circuit detects the predetermined potential difference,
wherein the estimation circuit estimates the electrical angle of the rotor based on the time measured by the timer circuit during a period in which the coils are energized with the potentials at the first terminal and the second terminal differing from that at the common terminal.