Mixing machine with vfd based diagnostics

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018242594-A1
Application number	US-201815906349-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 27, 2018
Priority date	Feb 28, 2017
Publication date	Aug 30, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A mixing machine includes a head extending over a bowl receiving location, a rotatable output shaft for receiving a mixer tool, and a gear system for effecting rotation of the rotatable output shaft about its axis and orbiting of the shaft axis about another axis. An electric motor includes an output operatively connected to drive the gear system. A variable frequency drive is connected to deliver 3-phase power to the electric motor to achieve variable speed and torque. The variable frequency drive includes a plurality of embedded sensors, including embedded current sensors and embedded voltage sensors. A diagnostic control is configured and operable to analyze outputs from the embedded sensors and produce an alert indication upon identification of a characteristic indicative of at least one of input power brownout, input power surge, machine short circuit, motor phase insulation arch, motor phase to ground arch or motor loss of phase.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A mixing machine, comprising:
a head extending over a bowl receiving location, the head including a downwardly extending rotatable output shaft for receiving a mixer tool, the head including a gear system therewithin for effecting rotation of the rotatable output shaft about its axis and orbiting of the shaft axis about another axis; an electric motor having an output operatively connected to drive the gear system; a variable frequency drive connected to deliver 3-phase power to the electric motor to achieve variable speed and torque, wherein the variable frequency drive includes a plurality of embedded sensors, including embedded current sensors and embedded voltage sensors; and a diagnostic control operable to analyze outputs from the embedded sensors and produce an alert indication upon identification of a characteristic indicative of at least one of input power brownout, input power surge, machine short circuit, motor phase insulation arch, motor phase to ground arch or motor loss of phase.

2 . The mixing machine of claim 1 wherein the diagnostic control is configured to deliver the alert indication to one or more of (i) and on-board user interface of the mixing machine or (ii) a remote device or system.

3 . The mixing machine of claim 2 wherein the remote device or system is one of a remote operator device or system or a remote service technician device or system.

4 . The mixing machine of claim 2 wherein the mixing machine includes a wired or wireless communication connection for delivering the alert indication to the remote device or system.

5 . The mixing machine of claim 1 wherein the diagnostic control is embedded within the variable frequency drive.

6 . The mixing machine of claim 1 wherein the variable frequency drive is connected to deliver data from the embedded sensors to an on-board mixing machine controller that is connected with the variable frequency drive, and the diagnostic control is incorporated into the mixing machine controller.

7 . The mixing machine of claim 1 wherein the variable frequency drive is connected to an on-board mixing machine controller, and the diagnostic control is in part incorporated into the mixing machine controller and in part embedded within the variable frequency drive.

8 . The mixing machine of claim 1 wherein the diagnostic control is operable to analyze outputs from the embedded sensors and to produce distinct alert indications upon identification of a respective characteristic indicative of each of input power brownout, input power surge, machine short circuit, motor phase insulation arch, motor phase to ground arch or motor loss of phase.

9 . A mixing machine, comprising:
a head extending over a bowl receiving location, the head including a downwardly extending rotatable output shaft for receiving a mixer tool, the head including a planetary system therewithin for effecting rotation of the rotatable output shaft about its axis and orbiting of the shaft axis about another axis; an electric motor having an output operatively connected to drive the gear system; a variable frequency drive connected to deliver 3-phase power to the electric motor to achieve variable speed and torque, wherein the variable frequency drive includes a plurality of embedded sensors, including embedded current sensors and embedded voltage sensors; and a diagnostic control operable to analyze outputs from the embedded sensors and produce:
a first alert indication upon identification of a characteristic indicative of an input power brownout;
a second alert indication upon identification of a characteristic indicative of an input power surge;
a third alert indication upon identification of a characteristic indicative of a machine short circuit;
a fourth alert indication upon identification of a characteristic indicative of a motor phase insulation arch;
a fifth alert indication upon identification of a characteristic indicative of a motor phase to ground arch; and
a sixth alert indication upon identification of a characteristic indicative of a motor loss of phase.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Huerta-Ochoa Ruben T

Classifications

• H02P29/024 Primary

  Detecting a fault condition, e.g. short circuit, locked rotor, open circuit or loss of load · CPC title

• H02P29/0241 Primary

  the fault being an overvoltage · CPC title

• A21C1/145 Primary

  Controlling; Testing; Measuring (A21C1/1425 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G08B21/185

  Electrical failure alarms · CPC title

• A21C1/02

  with vertically-mounted tools; Machines for whipping or beating · CPC title