James R Skinner

US Patent:

7193388, Mar 20, 2007

Filed:

Feb 2, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/346027

Inventors:

James L. Skinner - Collinsville IL, US
Charles E. B. Green - Fenton MO, US

Assignee:

Emerson Electric Co. - St. Louis MO

International Classification:

H02P 11/00

US Classification:

318811, 318810, 318807

Abstract:

A multi phase motor includes a switching array for interconnecting a power source to each phase. A current sensor senses current supplied from the power source via the switching array to the winding and a controller generates offset PWM signals for controlling the switching array to supply power to each of the phases of the winding. The offset timing allows the individual phase currents to be determined from a single current sensor.

US Patent:

8358098, Jan 22, 2013

Filed:

Aug 9, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/852553

Inventors:

James L. Skinner - Collinsville IL, US
Charles E. Green - Fenton MO, US

Assignee:

Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc. - Sidney OH

International Classification:

G05F 1/70

US Classification:

318729, 318438, 318809, 363 16, 363 27, 363 80, 363 89, 363 97, 307 98, 323207, 323222, 323282

Abstract:

A first rectifier diode is electrically connected between a first input terminal where an alternating current (AC) power is received and a first output terminal where a direct current (DC) power is output. A second rectifier diode is electrically connected between the first input terminal and a second output terminal. The first and second rectifier diodes rectify first and second portions of the AC power into the DC power, respectively. When switching of a plurality of power factor correction (PFC) switches is enabled, the plurality of PFC switches increases a voltage of the DC power to greater than a peak voltage of the AC power. An inductor is electrically connected between a second input terminal and two of the plurality of PFC switches. When the switching is disabled, first and second bypass diodes provide a current path past the plurality of PFC switches and the inductor.

US Patent:

8508166, Aug 13, 2013

Filed:

Aug 9, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/852557

Inventors:

Joseph G. Marcinkiewicz - St. Peters MO, US
James L. Skinner - Collinsville IL, US
Charles E. Green - Fenton MO, US
John P. Powers - St. Louis MO, US

Assignee:

Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc. - Sidney OH

International Classification:

G05F 1/70

US Classification:

318438, 318729

Abstract:

A controller includes a voltage determination module, a bus voltage command module, and a power factor correction (PFC) control module. The voltage determination module determines a desired direct current (DC) bus voltage for a DC bus electrically connected between a PFC module and an inverter power module that drives a compressor motor. The voltage determination module determines the desired DC bus voltage based on at least one of torque of the compressor motor, speed of the compressor motor, output power of the inverter power module, and drive input power. The bus voltage command module determines a commanded bus voltage based on the desired DC bus voltage. The PFC control module controls the PFC module to create a voltage on the DC bus that is based on the commanded bus voltage.

US Patent:

8546984, Oct 1, 2013

Filed:

Nov 3, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/938720

Inventors:

Raymond D. Heilman - Florissant MO, US
James P. Meagher - Indianapolis IN, US
Jeffrey S. Sherman - Creve Coeur MO, US
James L. Skinner - Collinsville IL, US
John G. Schrader - St. Louis MO, US

Assignee:

Nidec Motor Corporation - St. Louis MO

International Classification:

H02K 5/22
H02K 5/04
H05K 5/06
H05K 5/03
F04B 49/00
F04B 53/00
H02B 1/26

US Classification:

310 68R, 310 89, 349 58, 417 63, 41742314, 361658, 36167901, 174 505

Abstract:

A pump motor assembly operable to provide driving power to a fluid pump includes a rotor, a stator, a case housing the rotor and the stator, and a control assembly mounted to the case and operable to control motor operation. The control assembly includes an information display and a cover overlying the display, with a window section in general alignment with the display. The control assembly also includes a filler plate underlying the window section to prevent any air gap along an underside thereof, allowing the display to be visible while reducing the risk of condensation buildup. The control assembly further includes a low voltage housing with the display disposed in a first compartment defined thereby, and a high voltage housing with a high voltage component disposed in a second compartment defined thereby. The low voltage housing includes a thermal and fluid barrier that substantially fluidly separates the first and second compartments to reduce the risk of liquid electrical conduction therebetween and to reduce heat transfer into the low voltage housing.

US Patent:

54204925, May 30, 1995

Filed:

Jan 14, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/004411

Inventors:

Pradeep K. Sood - St. Louis MO
james L. Skinner - Florissant MO
Douglas M. Petty - Clayton MO

Assignee:

Emerson Electric Co. - St. Louis MO

International Classification:

H02P 540
H02P 126

US Classification:

318809

Abstract:

A dynamoelectric machine, for example, a brushless permanent magnet motor (M) has a plurality of stator windings (S) and a rotor (T) which rotates with respect to the windings. Apparatus (10) is provided for controlling winding commutation with respect to the rotor. A DC bus (14) supplies current to the windings. The current waveshape has characteristics which are a function of the commutation angle with respect to the windings. Current magnitude and waveshape are sensed by a sensing unit (22) and the sensed waveshape is sampled to obtain commutation information. An inverter (20) successively energizes and de-energizes the respective stator windings. A controller (26) obtains samples of the waveshape, and processes the information obtained by the sampling to control winding commutation. The controller controls the inverter operation to provide a commutation angle which optimizes motor performance and efficiency for a particular set of motor operating conditions. To do this, the processor evaluates slope and amplitude information from the sampled DC bus current waveshape, determines if the waveshape corresponds to a desired waveshape representing a desired commutation angle, and adjusts the commutation frequency produced by the inverter, if necessary, to obtain the desired waveshape.

US Patent:

20210144843, May 13, 2021

Filed:

Nov 11, 2020

Appl. No.:

17/095103

Inventors:

- St. Louis MO, US
James L. Skinner - Collinsville IL, US

Assignee:

Nidec Motor Corporation - St. Louis MO

International Classification:

H05K 1/02
H01T 1/14
H02H 9/06

Abstract:

A spacing-assured gas discharge tube assembly is installed on a printed circuit board, which may be part of a motor controller. The discharge tube assembly includes a tube body and an electrostatic spacing shield disposed at least partially around the tube body. The shield is configured to prevent close physical proximity of adjacent structures having electrostatic fields that may alter the breakdown voltage of the tube body.

US Patent:

20170019039, Jan 19, 2017

Filed:

Jun 30, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/199376

Inventors:

- St. Louis MO, US
James L. Skinner - Collinsville IL, US

Assignee:

Nidec Motor Corporation - St. Louis MO

International Classification:

H02P 3/18
H02P 6/08

Abstract:

A system and method for limiting the vibration of an electric motor so as to avoid situations in which extreme vibration may result in damage to the motor or other equipment. A motor control subsystem runs the motor in accordance with a command specifying a speed or torque. A vibration sensor, such as a three-axis accelerometer, senses a vibration of the electric motor, or, alternatively, software indirectly detects the vibration based on phase or torque ripple. Such vibration may be caused by, e.g., a broken fan blade or an accumulation of snow or ice. A control element receives data regarding the vibration, determines whether the vibration exceeds a pre-determined limit, and if so, takes action to reduce the vibration of the electric motor below the pre-determined limit. Such action may involve slowing or stopping the motor, thereby avoiding damage, increasing reliability, and reducing cost.

US Patent:

20160172848, Jun 16, 2016

Filed:

Feb 24, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/051962

Inventors:

- St. Louis MO, US
James L. Skinner - Collinsville IL, US

International Classification:

H02H 9/04

Abstract:

A surge protector for an electrical component configured to withstand higher voltages without breakdown and without substantially raising maximum voltage during high voltage surges. The surge protector may have a first varistor, a gas discharge tube (GDT), and a resistor. The GDT may be non-conductive below a trigger voltage and is conductive above the trigger voltage. The first varistor and the GDT may be connected in series between a live line and a ground line and/or a second line and the ground line, and the resistor may extend across a spark gap of the GDT. The electrical component may include the live line, the second line, the ground line, the surge protector, and a load electrically-coupled with the live line, the second line, and the ground line.