US 11,855,563 B2
Motor controllers and methods for controlling drive circuit bypass signals
Luis D. Morales, Fort Wayne, IN (US); Zachary Joseph Stauffer, Fort Wayne, IN (US); and Paul Bryan Snipes, Tipp City, OH (US)
Assigned to Regal Beloit America, Inc., Beloit, WI (US)
Filed by Regal Beloit America, Inc., Beloit, WI (US)
Filed on Apr. 16, 2018, as Appl. No. 15/954,027.
Prior Publication US 2019/0319569 A1, Oct. 17, 2019
Int. Cl. H02P 23/00 (2016.01); H02P 25/18 (2006.01)
CPC H02P 25/188 (2013.01) 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A motor controller for controlling a motor, said motor controller comprising:
a drive circuit configured to generate variable frequency power based on input power received from a power source;
a drive contactor coupled between an output of said drive circuit and the motor, said drive contactor configured to couple said drive circuit to the motor when a drive enable signal is received from an external controller; and
an auxiliary contactor through which a line power enable signal is routed, said auxiliary contactor coupled between the external controller and a line contactor, said auxiliary contactor configured to decouple the external controller from the line contactor when said auxiliary contactor detects a presence of the drive enable signal, wherein said auxiliary contactor decoupling is configured to prevent the line power enable signal from reaching the line contactor simultaneously with the drive enable signal reaching said drive contactor, and wherein the line contactor is configured to couple the motor directly to the power source when the line power enable signal is received by the line contactor, wherein said auxiliary contactor is configured to prevent the line power enable signal from closing the line contactor and applying line power to the motor while said drive circuit is coupled to the motor to prevent damage to said drive circuit caused by simultaneous application of the line power and the variable frequency power to the motor, and wherein said drive contactor comprises a coil that, when energized by receiving the drive enable signal, causes said auxiliary contactor to open to decouple the line power enable signal from the line contactor.