Electric motor device, electric motor, household appliance, and method for operating an electric motor device

Abstract

The invention relates to an electric motor device (10) comprising: a first circuit branch (12) and a second circuit branch (14) connected in parallel with the first circuit branch (12), the first circuit branch (12) comprising a main winding (16) and the second circuit branch (14) comprising an auxiliary winding (18) and a capacitor (20); and a phase-angle controller (22) connected in series with the main winding (16). The aim of the invention is to provide an electric motor device of this type with improved power control. This is achieved in that the phase-angle controller (22) is connected in parallel with the second circuit branch (14).

Description

[0001] Electric motor device, electric motor, household appliance and method for operating an electric motor device

[0002] The present invention relates to an electric motor device according to the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, the present invention relates to an electric motor and a household appliance comprising the electric motor device or the electric motor. In addition, the present invention relates to a method for operating an electric motor device.

[0003] Asynchronous motor-driven fans for cooker hoods are known in the art. Both winding taps and the use of phase-angle control are known methods for regulating the power of these electric motors. However, winding taps negatively impact efficiency, particularly at low fan speeds. In the low power range of the fans, phase-angle control offers a more efficient method of power regulation compared to winding taps. Electric motor devices with a main winding, an auxiliary winding, and phase-angle control are known in the art, where the phase-angle control is connected in series with the main and auxiliary windings.However, a disadvantage of such an arrangement of the aforementioned components is the generation of unpleasant noises caused by the signal shape in operation with phase control.

[0004] The object of the present invention is to improve the power regulation of an electric motor device.

[0005] This problem is solved according to the invention by an electric motor device with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims.

[0006] According to the invention, an electric motor device is provided with a first circuit winding and a second circuit winding connected in parallel to the first circuit winding. The first circuit winding has a main winding, and the second circuit winding has an auxiliary winding and a capacitor. The electric motor device also has a phase-angle control connected in series with the main winding. The phase-angle control is connected in parallel to the second circuit winding.

[0007] Such a circuit arrangement of the phase-angle control reduces noise during the operation of the electric motor device. The electric motor device according to the invention results in reduced torque ripple, which in turn reduces vibration and structure-borne noise in the device operated by the electric motor device. Compared to power regulation via winding taps, increased efficiency can be achieved even at low power levels, and operation at a lower minimum speed is possible. Furthermore, stepless control of a fan driven by the electric motor device is also possible, for example.

[0008] According to one embodiment, the auxiliary winding can be connected in series with the capacitor. The electric motor device can be configured for use in a household appliance. The household appliance can be a range hood, for example, a downdraft extractor, a cooker hood, or a tabletop extractor, or the like. The first and second circuit phases can be part of an electric motor. The electric motor can be an asynchronous motor. The electric motor device, in particular the electric motor, can be configured to drive a fan or similar device of the household appliance. The household appliance can, for example, be combined with a cooktop to extract cooking fumes or the like from the cooktop using the fan.

[0009] The power output of an electric motor can be regulated by means of phase-angle control. The phase-angle control can include a triac or another switching element deemed suitable by a person skilled in the art. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the electric motor device has only one switching element, namely the triac of the phase-angle control. The phase-angle control can have a first terminal and a second terminal. A main current path through the phase-angle control preferably runs from the first terminal to the second terminal. For power control by means of the phase-angle control, a current flow between the first terminal and the second terminal can be interrupted. By means of the phase-angle control, a current flow through the main winding can be temporarily interrupted, preferably periodically from a zero crossing of a half-wave of a supply voltage curve.After a delay from the zero crossing of each half-cycle of the supply voltage, the phase-angle control can allow current flow between the first and second terminals, preferably until the next zero crossing is reached, with the described process then repeating for each half-cycle. Enabling / blocking the current flow between the first and second terminals can be accomplished by the triac, preferably via a gate terminal of the triac.

[0010] According to a further development of the invention, the first terminal of the phase-angle control can be electrically connected to the first circuit branch, and the second terminal of the phase-angle control can be electrically connected to the second circuit branch. This advantageously allows the electric motor device to be operated with activated phase-angle control without it affecting the second circuit branch. Thus, it is avoided that the auxiliary winding generates a torque triplet when the triac is triggered during operation of the electric motor device with activated phase-angle control. Such a connection of the phase-angle control enables a reduction in mains feedback compared to known phase-angle control systems.Operating an electric motor device with activated phase-angle control can be understood as an operating state of the electric motor device with phase-angle control of the supply voltage. Operating an electric motor device with deactivated phase-angle control can be understood as an operating state of the electric motor device without phase-angle control of the supply voltage.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second circuit stage can be free of a switching element, in particular a triac. This allows for an electric motor device with a particularly simple and therefore cost-effective design and straightforward control. The second circuit stage is preferably free of phase-angle control. In other words, the second circuit stage can be operated independently of phase-angle control and without any phase-angle control connected in parallel to the second circuit stage. Because the second circuit stage is free of phase-angle control, it is possible to avoid the formation of torque ripple by the auxiliary winding when the triac is triggered.

[0012] Within the scope of the invention, it can be provided that, in an operating state with phase-angle control, a sinusoidal torque can be generated over time by means of the auxiliary winding. This sinusoidal torque can reduce torque ripple in the main winding, for example, when the triac is triggered. In an operating state of the electric motor device with activated phase-angle control, the auxiliary winding can be supplied with a sinusoidal operating current. Even in an operating state of the electric motor device with deactivated phase-angle control, the auxiliary winding can be supplied with a sinusoidal operating current. In other words, the activated phase-angle control cannot affect the auxiliary winding, and the auxiliary winding can be supplied with a sinusoidal operating current independently of the phase-angle control. This can reduce noise generation caused by phase-angle control.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, the electric motor device can include the aforementioned electric motor, which comprises the first and second circuit phases. This advantageously provides a particularly quiet electric motor. Consequently, a particularly pleasant user experience can be achieved. The electric motor can be designed as a capacitor motor. The electric motor can have a stator, in which the main winding and the auxiliary winding are part of the stator. The capacitor in the second circuit phase can be electrically connected to a supply voltage during operation and configured to generate a phase shift between the main winding and the auxiliary winding. The phase shift generated by the capacitor between the main winding and the auxiliary winding creates a rotating magnetic field to drive the rotor of the electric motor.The rotor can be located inside the stator. The rotor could be designed, for example, as a squirrel-cage rotor or a wound rotor.

[0014] Furthermore, the invention relates to the electric motor of the electric motor device according to the invention. It can be provided that the first circuit branch has a first external conductor connection and the second circuit branch has a second external conductor connection. The electric motor can be connected to the phase-angle control via the first external conductor connection and the second external conductor connection in such a way that the electric motor can be operated with particularly low noise.

[0015] The first terminal of the phase-angle control can be electrically connected to the first line terminal, and the second terminal of the phase-angle control can be electrically connected to the second line terminal. The first line terminal can be located between the phase-angle control and the main winding, while the second line terminal can be located between the phase-angle control and the capacitor. The first and second line terminals allow the phase-angle control to operate without affecting the second circuit phase. This advantageously prevents the auxiliary winding in the second circuit phase from generating torque ripple when the triac is triggered in an operating state with the phase-angle control activated.

[0016] Furthermore, the invention relates to a household appliance, in particular a cooker hood, with the electric motor device or electric motor according to the invention. Thus, a household appliance can be provided which exhibits particularly low noise levels during operation and can therefore improve the user experience.

[0017] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating an electric motor device, in particular of the type described above. According to the method according to the invention, the phase-angle control is operated in series with the main winding and in parallel with the second circuit strand.

[0018] The devices and methods disclosed herein are not to be limited to the application and embodiment described above. In particular, they may, to achieve a functionality described herein, comprise a different number of individual elements, components, units, and process steps than those specified herein. Furthermore, values ​​within the specified limits of the value ranges stated herein are also to be considered disclosed and freely usable.

[0019] It is specifically pointed out that all features and properties described in relation to a device, as well as methods, are transferable analogously to processes and usable within the scope of the invention and are considered to be jointly disclosed. The same applies in reverse. This means that structural, i.e., device-related, features mentioned in relation to processes can also be considered, claimed, and likewise included in the disclosure within the scope of the device claims.

[0020] The present invention is described below by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures. The drawing, the description, and the claims contain numerous features in combination. A person skilled in the art will expediently consider the features individually and use them meaningfully in combination within the scope of the claims.

[0021] If more than one instance of a particular object exists, only one of them may be identified with a reference symbol in the figures and description. The description of this instance can then be applied to the other instances of the object. If objects are named using numerical terms, such as first, second, third object, etc., these serve to identify and / or classify objects. Thus, for example, a first object and a third object, but not a second object, may be included. However, numerical terms could also indicate a number and / or sequence of objects.

[0022] They show:

[0023] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a household appliance in a perspective view.

[0024] Fig. 2 shows a circuit diagram of an electric motor device of the household appliance from Figure 1, and

[0025] Fig. 3 shows a schematic sequence of a method for operating the electric motor device.

[0026] Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a household appliance 34. The household appliance 34 is designed as a range hood. Alternatively, the household appliance 34 can also be designed as a table and / or downdraft fan or as another household appliance 34 that appears suitable to the expert. The household appliance 34 has a housing 50. The housing 50 has two exhaust air inlet openings 52 through which exhaust air from the environment of the household appliance 34 can be introduced into the housing 50.

[0027] The household appliance 34 has a fan (not shown here) and an electric motor device 10. Figure 2 shows a circuit diagram of the electric motor device 10 for power regulation. The electric motor device 10 has an electric motor 28. The electric motor 28 is configured to drive the fan. The household appliance 34 can, for example, be combined with a cooktop to extract cooking fumes or the like from the cooktop using the fan. The fan is configured to generate an airflow through which exhaust air, such as cooking fumes, can be drawn from the vicinity of the household appliance 34 into the housing 50 via the air inlet openings 52. The household appliance 34 can have grease filters and / or odor filters (not shown here). The grease filters and / or odor filters are designed to filter exhaust air, such as steam and / or cooking fumes or the like, extracted by the household appliance 34.The grease filters and / or odor filters are arranged in the housing 50 within a flow path generated by the fan. The grease filters and / or odor filters can be positioned upstream and / or downstream of the fan. The fan and the electric motor assembly 10 can be housed together in a single housing unit. Alternatively, the fan can be an integral part of the electric motor assembly 10.

[0028] The electric motor device 10 has a first circuit strand 12 and a second circuit strand 14. The first circuit strand 12 and the second circuit strand 14 are part of the electric motor 28. The second circuit strand 14 is connected in parallel to the first circuit strand 12.

[0029] The electric motor 28 is designed as a capacitor-start motor. The first circuit winding 12 has a main winding 16. The second circuit winding 14 has an auxiliary winding 18 and a capacitor 20. The main winding 16 and the auxiliary winding 18 form part of a stator of the electric motor 28. The auxiliary winding 18 is connected in series with the capacitor 20. In the operating state, the capacitor 20 in the second circuit winding 14 is electrically connected to a supply voltage and is configured to generate a phase shift between the main winding 16 and the auxiliary winding 18. This phase shift, generated by the capacitor 20, creates a rotating magnetic field to drive a rotor (not shown) of the electric motor 28. The rotor is located inside the stator and inductively coupled to it. The rotor is designed as a squirrel-cage rotor or a wound rotor.Alternatively, the rotor can be arranged around the stat and designed as an external rotor.

[0030] The electric motor device 10 has a phase-angle control 22. The power of the electric motor 28 can be regulated by means of the phase-angle control 22. The phase-angle control 22 includes a triac. The phase-angle control 22 is connected in parallel to the second circuit branch 14.

[0031] A first terminal 24 of the phase-angle control 22 is electrically connected to the first circuit branch 12, and a second terminal 26 of the phase-angle control 22 is electrically connected to the second circuit branch 14. A main current path through the phase-angle control 22 runs from the first terminal 24 to the second terminal 26. The phase-angle control 22 is configured to interrupt the current flow between the first terminal 24 and the second terminal 26 for power control purposes. The phase-angle control 22 interrupts the current flow through the main winding 16 periodically and intermittently, starting at a zero crossing of a half-wave of a supply voltage curve.After a delay period following the zero crossing of each half-cycle of the supply voltage, the phase-angle control 22 allows current to flow between the first terminal 24 and the second terminal 26 until the next zero crossing of the supply voltage is reached, with the described process then repeating for each half-cycle. The triac enables / blocks the current flow between the first terminal 24 and the second terminal 26 via a gate terminal of the triac.

[0032] The second circuit branch 14 is free of a switching element, in particular free of a triac. The second circuit branch 14 is free of a phase-angle control. In other words, the second circuit branch can be operated independently of a phase-angle control and without regard to the phase-angle control 22 connected in parallel to the second circuit branch 14. In an operating state of the electric motor device 10 with phase-angle control, i.e., with the phase-angle control 22 activated, a sinusoidal torque can be generated by means of the auxiliary winding 18. The sinusoidal torque opposes a torque triplet of the main winding 16, for example, when the triac is triggered. In an operating state of the electric motor device 10 with the phase-angle control 22 activated, the auxiliary winding 18 carries a sinusoidal operating current.Even when the electric motor device 10 is operating with the phase-angle control 22 deactivated, the auxiliary winding 18 is sinusoidally supplied with an operating current. In other words, the activated phase-angle control 22 cannot affect the auxiliary winding 18, and the auxiliary winding 18 can be sinusoidally supplied with an operating current independently of the phase-angle control 22.

[0033] The first circuit branch 12 has a first phase conductor connection 30, and the second circuit branch 14 has a second phase conductor connection 32. The first terminal 24 of the phase-angle control 22 is electrically connected to the first phase conductor connection 30, and the second terminal 26 of the phase-angle control 22 is electrically connected to the second phase conductor connection 32. The phase-angle control 22 is arranged circuit-wise between a phase conductor 44 of the electric motor device 10 and the main winding 16. The first phase conductor connection 30 is electrically connected to the phase conductor 44 of the electric motor device 10 via the phase-angle control 22. The second phase conductor connection 32 is also electrically connected to the phase conductor 44. The first circuit branch 12 and the second circuit branch 14 are electrically connected to a neutral conductor 46 of the electric motor device 10.

[0034] Figure 3 shows a schematic sequence of a method for operating the electric motor device 10 for power regulation. In a process step 36, the electric motor device 10 is operated at maximum power, i.e., without phase-angle control by means of the phase-angle control 22.

[0035] In a further process step 38, the target power of the fan is reduced either by user input or automatically. The target power can be entered, for example, via an input unit 48 of the household appliance 34. The input unit 48 has, for example, at least one button, keypad, rotary dial, switch, touchscreen, or the like for user input. The input unit 48 is located on the housing 50. Alternatively, the input unit 48 can also be designed as a remote control, as part of a smartphone, or the like, which can communicate with the household appliance 34 via data transmission, for example, via a communication unit of the household appliance 34. Wireless communication between the household appliance 34 and the input unit 48 via the communication unit can be achieved, for example, via Bluetooth, WLAN, NFC, or the like.

[0036] In an additional process step 40, the target power entered in process step 38 is set via the phase-angle control 22 by appropriately activating the phase-angle control 22, so that the main winding 18 is operated with a supply voltage with phase-angle control. The phase-angle control 22 is connected in parallel to the second circuit string 14.

[0037] Reference sign

[0038] 10 Electric motor device

[0039] 12 first circuit

[0040] 14 second circuit

[0041] 16 Main winding

[0042] 18 Auxiliary winding

[0043] 20 Capacitor

[0044] 22 Phase angle control

[0045] 24 first connection

[0046] 26 second connection

[0047] 28 Electric motor

[0048] 30 first external conductor connection

[0049] 32 second external conductor connection

[0050] 34 household appliances

[0051] 36th process step

[0052] 38th process step

[0053] 40th process step

[0054] 44 external conductors

[0055] 46 Neutral conductor

[0056] 48 Input unit

[0057] 50 cases

[0058] 52 Exhaust air inlet opening

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS 1. Electric motor device (10) with a first circuit string (12) and a second circuit string (14) connected in parallel to the first circuit string (12), wherein the first circuit string (12) has a main winding (16) and the second circuit string (14) has an auxiliary winding (18) and a capacitor (20), and with a phase angle control (22) connected in series to the main winding (16), characterized in that the phase angle control (22) is connected in parallel to the second circuit string (14).

2. Electric motor device (10) according to claim 1 , characterized in that a first connection (24) of the phase angle control (22) is electrically connected to the first circuit string (12) and a second connection (26) of the phase angle control (22) is electrically connected to the second circuit string (14).

3. Electric motor device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the second circuit string (14) is free of a switching element, in particular a triac.

4. Electric motor device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in an operating state with phase control, a sinusoidal torque can be generated over time by means of the auxiliary winding (18).

5. Electric motor device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by an electric motor (28) comprising the first circuit string (12) and the second circuit string (14).

6. Electric motor (28) of an electric motor device (10) according to claim 5.

7. Electric motor (28) according to claim 6, characterized in that the first circuit strand (12) has a first external conductor connection (30) and the second circuit strand (14) has a second external conductor connection (32).

8. Electric motor (28) according to claim 7, characterized in that a first connection (24) of the phase angle control (22) is electrically connected to the first outer conductor connection (30) and a second connection (26) of the phase angle control (22) is electrically connected to the second outer conductor connection (32).

9. Household appliance (34), in particular extractor hood, with an electric motor device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 5 or an electric motor (28) according to one of claims 6 to 8.

10. Method for operating an electric motor device (10), in particular according to one of claims 1 to 5, with a first circuit string (12) and a second circuit string (14) connected in parallel to the first circuit string (12), wherein the first circuit string (12) has a main winding (16) and the second circuit string (14) has an auxiliary winding (18) and a capacitor (20), characterized in that a phase angle control (22) is operated in series with the main winding (16) and in parallel to the second circuit string (14).

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