Michael A Melnyk

US Patent:

46272364, Dec 9, 1986

Filed:

May 29, 1984

Appl. No.:

6/614842

Inventors:

Michael Melnyk - Chester VA

Assignee:

Reynolds Metals Company - Richmond VA

International Classification:

F16D 3102

US Classification:

60435

Abstract:

An apparatus and method for controlling the speed of rotation of a shaft. A sensor senses the speed of rotation and generates a first signal representative of the sensed speed. A controller compares the first signal with a second signal representative of a predetermined speed and generates an error or control signal representative of the comparison. The control signal is fed to the field of an alternator in such manner that the field of the alternator increases as the sensed speed increases over the predetermined speed. The field of the alternator opposes rotation of the alternator shaft. The alternator shaft is operatively associated with the shaft whose speed is being controlled so that the increase in alternator field force results in the application of a braking force on the shaft to thereby reduce its speed of rotation to the desired speed. As the shaft's speed approaches the desired speed, the alternator field force is decreased so as to prevent reduction of the shaft's speed below the desired value.