A DC-Type Hybrid Step Motor for Large Power Applications

The design, construction, and operation of experimental models of a dc-type hybrid step motor are discussed. This form of hybrid motor consists of a variable-reluctance step motor, the rotor of which is appropriately wound as a multipole dc motor. A computer-aided design procedure is discussed that is used to obtain the optimum parameters of the dc portion of the hybrid motor. The results obtained with two experimental models of this type of hybrid motor are presented. Both prototypes show a marked improvement in the running torque characteristics due to the dc windings. Torque-speed curves indicate load torques of 400 oz-in available at speeds up to several thousand revolutions per minute with one of the proto-types. This type of hybrid motor may be controlled in one of three different ways: a pure step motor, a pure dc motor, or a dc-aided step motor. The relative advantages, disadvantages, and application of each control mode are discussed. Several control strategies-open and closed loop-are presented for speed control as well as point-to-point type control of position. The practical feedback feasibility of this concept for high-power applications in the integral horsepower range is discussed.