A regenerative torque upper limit is set to a larger value when a rear-wheel distribution ratio is small than when the rear-wheel distribution ratio is large. Accordingly, when a distribution of a drive power to front wheels is large, a regenerative torque of a second rotary machine can be increased such that wheels are less likely to slip at the time of performing of regeneration control when the distribution of the drive power to the front wheels is small in comparison with a case in which the regenerative torque upper limit is set to a constant value similarly to when the distribution of the drive power to the front wheels is small. In this way, it is possible to increase the regenerative torque of the second rotary machine according to the rear-wheel distribution ratio.

An electric machine includes a stator and a rotor energizable by magnetic fields produced by the stator when receiving a stator current to produce relative motion between the rotor and the stator. A controller is configured to send the stator current through the stator at a current angle measured from the closest one of a pole of the rotor, determine a desired operational output of the electric machine, and determine a desired rotor motion corresponding to the desired operational output of the electric machine. The controller is further configured to calculate a vector control modulation applied to the stator that elicits the desired rotor motion, and adjust the current angle of the stator current based on the vector control modulation to cause the rotor to perform the desired rotor motion and achieve the desired operational output of the electric machine.

An abnormality diagnosing device diagnoses a driving abnormality of a single motor driven by a plurality of motor driving devices. The plurality of motor driving devices calculate a plurality of voltage command values based on a speed command, and voltages are applied to a plurality of windings possessed by the motor based on the plurality of calculated voltage command values, thereby driving the motor. The abnormality diagnosing device is equipped with a command value difference calculating unit for calculating a difference between the plurality of voltage command values calculated by the plurality of motor driving devices, and a determination unit for determining the presence of an abnormality, when an absolute value of the difference calculated exceeds a first threshold value continuously for a predetermined time period.

Controlling a door latch of a cooking appliance is provided. A controller monitors motor current of a motor driving a door latch during a locking operation of a door of the cooking appliance. The controller deactivates the motor responsive to the motor current reaching a closed door threshold amount of current. The controller indicates the door being in a closed state responsive to the current draw over time matching a predefined current draw curve.

A motor protection relay including a housing and a printed circuit board disposed within the housing, the printed circuit board including a central processing unit and a wireless communication interface, the wireless communication interface adapted to receive wireless communication signals for configuring operating parameters of the motor protection relay via the central processing unit.

The present disclosure relates to mechanical braking mechanisms used in electric motor applications. The present braking mechanisms may be configured as non-back-drivable mechanical brakes and provide immediate braking of the motors. According to one embodiment, a mechanical brake assembly for an electric motor may include a female disk having a curved groove and an abutment. The mechanical brake assembly further includes a male disk having a projection, the male disk being attached to a rotor of the electric motor. When the electric motor is energized, the projection of the male disk is allowed to rotate uninterrupted with the rotation of the rotor. However, when the electric motor is de-energized, the projection of the male disk travels within the curved groove of the female disk and abuts the abutment of the female disk, thereby stopping the rotation of the rotor of the electric motor.

The present disclosure relates to mechanical braking mechanisms used in electric motor applications. The present braking mechanisms may be configured as non-back-drivable mechanical brakes and provide immediate braking of the motors. According to one embodiment, a mechanical brake assembly for an electric motor may include a female disk having a curved groove and an abutment. The mechanical brake assembly further includes a male disk having a projection, the male disk being attached to a rotor of the electric motor. When the electric motor is energized, the projection of the male disk is allowed to rotate uninterrupted with the rotation of the rotor. However, when the electric motor is de-energized, the projection of the male disk travels within the curved groove of the female disk and abuts the abutment of the female disk, thereby stopping the rotation of the rotor of the electric motor.

An electric vehicle drive unit includes: first and second traveling motors that include first and second rotors, respectively; and a first planetary gear mechanism that includes first to third rotation element, The first rotation element is rotatably coupled to the first rotor. The second rotation element is rotatably coupled to the second rotor via a connection portion. The third rotation element is coupled to an output shaft coupled to a drive wheel side. Rotary axes in the first planetary gear mechanism, the first traveling motor and the second traveling motor are coaxially arranged. The electric vehicle drive unit further includes a clutch that disconnectably connects any two rotation elements among the first to third rotation elements to switch the two rotation elements to a directly coupled state at the time of connection.

An electric vehicle drive unit includes: first and second traveling motors that include first and second rotors, respectively; and a first planetary gear mechanism that includes first to third rotation element, The first rotation element is rotatably coupled to the first rotor. The second rotation element is rotatably coupled to the second rotor via a connection portion. The third rotation element is coupled to an output shaft coupled to a drive wheel side. Rotary axes in the first planetary gear mechanism, the first traveling motor and the second traveling motor are coaxially arranged. The electric vehicle drive unit further includes a clutch that disconnectably connects any two rotation elements among the first to third rotation elements to switch the two rotation elements to a directly coupled state at the time of connection.

Exhaust gases (28) from an engine (16, 16), input to turbo-compounder (20), drive a bladed turbine rotor (48) therein, which drives a generator (56, 56.1, 56.1, 126, 126, 126), the output of which is used to electrically drive an induction motor (104, 104), the rotor (106) of which is mechanically coupled to the engine (16, 16) so as to provide for recovering power to the engine (16, 16). The turbo-compounder (20) also incorporates a wastegate valve (36, 36) to provide for the exhaust gases (28) to bypass the bladed turbine rotor (48). Upon startup the wastegate valve (36, 36) is opened, and the generator may be decoupled from the engine (16, 16). The generator (56, 56.1, 56.1, 126, 126, 126) may be coupled to the engine (16, 16) either by closure of a contactor (110, 110), engagement of an electrically-controlled clutch (124), or by control of either a solid-state switching (125) or control system or an AC excitation signal (130), when the frequency (f.sub.GENERATOR) of the generator (56, 56.1, 56.1, 126, 126, 126) meets or exceeds that (f.sub.MOTOR) of the induction motor (104, 104). Wastegate valve (36, 36) closure provides for the generator (56, 56.1, 56.1, 126, 126, 126) to recover power from the exhaust gases (28).