Smart voltage dip simulator apparatus and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12072382-B2
Application number	US-202217652737-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 28, 2022
Priority date	Feb 28, 2022
Publication date	Aug 27, 2024
Grant date	Aug 27, 2024

Abstract

A smart voltage dip simulator apparatus and method are configured to test a motor starter ride through circuit. The simulator apparatus includes a power supply, an output switch, a test switch, a test lamp, a time selector, and a programmable logic controller. The power supply provides an output voltage to the motor starter when an output switch is actuated. A test of the motor starter is executed and a duration of the test is controlled by a selected time setting. The controller includes code therein configured to apply a predetermined dip to reduce the applied input voltage to the power supply and to generate the output voltage applied to the motor starter for the selected duration of the test. A method is performed to operate the simulator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A test apparatus configured to test a motor starter, comprising:
a power supply configured to receive an applied input voltage and to provide an output voltage;
an output switch configured to operatively connect the power supply to the motor starter and to apply the output voltage to the motor starter when the output switch is actuated;
a test switch having an OFF setting and an ON setting, wherein a test of the motor starter is executed when the test switch is in the ON setting;
a test lamp configured to illuminate while the test is executed;
a time selector including a knob or switch configured to set a user-selected time setting from among a plurality of time settings, wherein a duration of the test is controlled by the user-selected time setting from among the plurality of time settings; and
a programmable logic controller (PLC) connected to the knob or switch of the time selector, and including code therein configured to receive the user-selected time setting from the knob or switch, and to apply a predetermined dip to reduce the applied input voltage to the power supply and having code therein configured to generate the output voltage applied to the motor starter for the selected duration of the test.

2. The test apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a voltage dip selector including a plurality of dip settings, wherein the predetermined dip is controlled by a selected dip setting from among the plurality of dip settings.

3. The test apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
an output voltage jack configured to electrically couple the power supply to the motor starter through the output switch.

4. The test apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a display configured to continuously display the applied input voltage and the provided output voltage.

5. The test apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a power jack configured to connect the power supply to the output switch,
wherein the power supply is an external power supply.

6. The test apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the power supply is a battery.

7. The test apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a portable housing configured to retain therein the power supply, the output switch, the test switch, the test lamp, the time selector, and the PLC.

8. A portable test apparatus configured to test a motor starter, comprising:
a power supply configured to receive an input voltage and to provide an output voltage;
an output switch configured to operatively connect the power supply to the motor starter and to apply the output voltage to the motor starter when the output switch is actuated;
a test switch having an OFF setting and an ON setting, wherein a test of the motor starter is executed when the test switch is in the ON setting;
a test lamp configured to illuminate while the test is executed;
a time selector including a plurality of time settings, wherein a duration of the test is controlled by a selected time setting from among the plurality of time settings;
a programmable logic controller (PLC) including code therein configured to apply a predetermined dip to reduce the applied input voltage to the power supply and having code therein configured to generate the output voltage applied to the motor starter for the selected duration of the test; and
a portable housing configured to retain therein the power supply, the output switch, the test switch, the test lamp, the time selector, and the PLC.

9. The portable test apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising:
a voltage dip selector including a plurality of dip settings, wherein the predetermined dip is controlled by a selected dip setting from among the plurality of dip settings.

10. The portable test apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the time selector includes a knob or switch configured to set the user-selected time setting from among the plurality of time settings, and
wherein the PLC is connected to the knob or switch of the time selector and configured to receive the user-selected time setting from the knob or switch.

11. The portable test apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising:
a display configured to continuously display the applied input voltage and the provided output voltage.

12. The portable test apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising:
a power jack configured to connect the power supply to the output switch,
wherein the power supply is an external power supply.

13. The portable test apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the power supply is a battery.

14. The portable test apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising:
a handle coupled to the housing.

15. A method configured to test a motor starter, comprising:
providing a time selector including a knob or switch configured to set a user-selected time setting from among a plurality of time settings;
receiving an input voltage from a power supply;
providing an output voltage from the power supply;
operatively connecting an output switch to the motor starter;
actuating the output switch to electrically couple the power supply to the motor starter;
selecting the user-selected time setting from among the plurality of time settings using the knob or switch of the time selector;
receiving the user-selected time setting from the knob or switch at a programmable logic controller (PLC) including code therein configured to generate the output voltage; and
setting a duration of the test from the user-selected time setting;
applying a predetermined dip to reduce the applied input voltage to the power supply using the PLC connected to the knob or switch of the time selector;
setting a test switch to an ON setting;
applying the output voltage to the motor starter for the selected duration of the test to execute a test of the motor starter; and
illuminating a test lamp while the test is executed.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
controlling the predetermined dip using a dip setting selected from among the plurality of dip settings using a voltage dip selector.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
electrically coupling the power supply to the motor starter through the output switch using an output voltage jack.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
continuously displaying the applied input voltage and the provided output voltage using a display.

19. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
connecting the power supply to the output switch using a power jack,
wherein the power supply is an external power supply.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the power supply is a battery.

Assignees

• Saudi Arabian Oil Co

Inventors

• Al Zahrani Gharmallah A
• Kubaish Nabil H
• San Antonio Nico Martin

Classifications

• F02N2200/046

  Energy or power necessary for starting · CPC title

• F02N2200/04

  said parameters being related to the starter motor · CPC title

• G01M15/02 Primary

  Details or accessories of testing apparatus · CPC title

• G01R31/40

  Testing power supplies (testing photovoltaic devices H02S50/10) · CPC title

• G01R31/34

  Testing dynamo-electric machines · CPC title