US 12,410,801 B2
Variable frequency drive (VFD) controllers with engine failover and systems including the same
Brett Allen Davis, Roswell, GA (US)
Assigned to Cattron North America, Inc., Warren, OH (US)
Filed by Cattron North America, Inc., Warren, OH (US)
Filed on May 31, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/204,071.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/347,791, filed on Jun. 1, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0392602 A1, Dec. 7, 2023
Int. Cl. F04D 15/00 (2006.01); F04D 13/02 (2006.01); F04D 13/06 (2006.01); F04D 13/12 (2006.01); F04D 15/02 (2006.01)
CPC F04D 15/0077 (2013.01) [F04D 13/02 (2013.01); F04D 13/06 (2013.01); F04D 13/12 (2013.01); F04D 15/0281 (2013.01); F04D 15/029 (2013.01); F05D 2270/05 (2013.01); F05D 2270/091 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
a first pump;
a second pump;
a motor configured to be operable for driving the first pump;
a variable frequency drive (VFD) configured to be operable for controlling a speed of the motor;
an engine configured to be operable for driving the second pump; and
a controller configured to be operable for controlling the variable frequency drive and for controlling the engine, the controller further configured to monitor VFD communications;
wherein:
the variable frequency drive is configured to allow the controller to monitor or access the amount of power being consumed by the motor and the motor's RPM; and
the controller is configured to failover from the motor to the engine when the amount of power consumed by the motor reaches or exceeds a predetermined maximum threshold and the motor's RPM reaches or falls below a predetermined minimum threshold.