US 11,705,719 B1
Fast disconnects for generator systems
Abhay V. Munshi, Lake in the Hills, IL (US); Mark J. Nauman, Winnebago, IL (US); Paul J. Peterson, Rockford, IL (US); and Kamaraj Thangavelu, Rockford, IL (US)
Assigned to Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation, Charlotte, NC (US)
Filed by Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation, Charlotte, NC (US)
Filed on May 10, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/741,397.
Int. Cl. H02H 7/06 (2006.01); H02P 9/10 (2006.01)
CPC H02H 7/065 (2013.01) [H02P 9/107 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
a generator control relay configured to electrically connect a generator and an exciter switch drive to drive an exciter switch;
a first processor operatively connected to control a state of the generator control relay to control the electrical connection between a generator and the exciter switch drive;
an exciter drive configured to generate excitation current for field windings of a generator system based on a state of the exciter switch; and
a second processor operatively connected to control the exciter drive and to communicate with the first processor during a fault event to place the generator control relay in an open state, disconnecting the generator from the exciter switch drive to prevent generation of excitation current,
wherein the first processor includes an interrupt input port and wherein the second processor is operatively connected to the first processor at the interrupt input port for one way communication from the second processor to the first processor, wherein the first processor and the second processor are operatively connected for two way communication over a Controlled Area Network (CAN), wherein the second processor is configured to sense the fault event and communicate a fault event signal to the first processor through the interrupt input port.