Dual-stage drive for switched reluctance electric machines

1. A dual stage drive for a switched reluctance motor (SRM), the SRM having a plurality of phase coils associated therewith, comprising:

a first power source;

a first power bus connected to said first power source to supply power thereto, said first power bus having at least one of the plurality of phase coils connected thereto, said at least one of the plurality of phase coils being powered by said power from said first power bus, said first power source being insulated from discharge energy of said at least one of the plurality of phase coils; and

a second power bus connected to said at least one of the plurality of phase coils to receive said discharge energy, said second power bus having at least one other of the plurality of phase coils connected thereto; and

a second power source connected to said second power bus to supply power thereto, said at least said one other of the plurality of phase coils being powered solely by said power from said second power bus, said second power bus utilizing said discharge energy to provide said power supplied to said second power bus.

2. The dual stage SRM drive of claim 1 , wherein:

said first power source comprises a DC power source; and

said second power source comprises a capacitor, said capacitor utilizing said discharge energy for charging said capacitor to provide said power supplied to said second power bus.

3. The dual stage SRM drive of claim 2 , wherein said second power bus is connected to said at least one of the plurality of phase coils through a freewheeling diode.

4. A dual stage drive for a switched reluctance motor (SRM) having a plurality of phase coils associated therewith, comprising:

a first power source coupled to a first plurality of said phase coils for supplying power thereto, said first power source being insulated from discharge energy of said first plurality of said phase coils; and

a second power source coupled to said first plurality of said phase coils for receiving said discharge energy therefrom, said second power source coupled to a second plurality of said phase coils for supplying power thereto, wherein said second plurality of said phase coils is powered solely by said second power source, said second power source utilizing said discharge energy to provide said power supplied to said second plurality of said phase coils.

5. The dual stage drive of claim 4 , wherein:

said first power source comprises a DC power source; and

said second power source comprises a capacitor, said capacitor utilizing said discharge energy for charging said capacitor to provide said power supplied to said second plurality of said phase coils.

6. The dual stage drive of claim 5 , wherein:

each of said first and second pluralities of said phase coils has a high-side switching transistor and a low-side transistor associated therewith;

said high-side switching transistors associated with said first plurality of said phase coils being coupled to a positive terminal of said DC power source;

said high-side switching transistors associated with said second plurality of said phase coils being coupled to said capacitor; and

said low-side switching transistor associated with both said first and said second pluralities of said phase coils being coupled to a negative terminal of said DC power source.

7. The dual stage drive of claim 6 , wherein:

each of said phase coils has a high-side freewheeling diode and a low-side freewheeling diode associated therewith;

said high-side freewheeling diodes second coupled to said capacitor; and

said low-side freewheeling diodes coupled to said negative terminal of said DC power source.

8. The dual stage drive of claim 4 , wherein each of said phase coils has a single switching transistor and a single freewheeling diode associated therewith.

9. The dual stage drive of claim 8 , wherein said second power source comprises series connected capacitors, said capacitors utilizing said discharge energy for charging said capacitors to provide said power supplied to said second plurality of said phase coils.

10. The dual stage drive of claim 9 , wherein:

energy dissipated through said freewheeling diodes associated with said first plurality of phase coils is used to charge said capacitors;

energy dissipated through said freewheeling diode associated with a first coil of said second plurality of said phase coils is used to charge one of said capacitors; and

energy dissipated through said freewheeling diode associated with a second coil of said second plurality of said phase coils is used to charge an other one of said capacitors.

11. A switched reluctance motor (SRM), comprising:

a rotor assembly having a plurality of salient rotor poles formed on an outer surface thereof;

a stator assembly having a plurality of salient stator poles and a plurality of motor phase coils associated with said stator poles; and

a dual stage drive circuit for energizing said plurality of motor phase coils, said drive circuit further comprising:

a first power source coupled to a first plurality of said motor phase coils for supplying power thereto, said first power source being insulated from discharge energy of said first plurality of said motor phase coils; and

a second power source coupled to said first plurality of said motor phase coils for receiving said discharge energy therefrom, said second power source coupled to a second plurality of said motor phase coils for supplying power thereto, wherein said second plurality of said motor phase coils is powered solely by said second power source, said second power source utilizing said discharge energy to provide said power supplied to said second plurality of said motor phase coils.

12. The SRM of claim 11 , wherein:

said first power source comprises a DC power source; and

said second power source comprises a capacitor, said capacitor utilizing said discharge energy for charging said capacitor to provide said power supplied to said second plurality of said motor phase coils.

13. The SRM of claim 12 , wherein:

each of said first and second pluralities of said motor phase coils has a high-side switching transistor and a low-side transistor associated therewith;

said high-side switching transistors associated with said first plurality of said motor phase coils being coupled to a positive terminal of said DC power source;

said high-side switching transistors associated with said second plurality of said motor phase coils being coupled to said capacitor; and

said low-side switching transistors associated with both said first and said second pluralities of said motor phase coils being coupled to a negative terminal of said DC power source.

14. The SRM of claim 13 , wherein:

each of said motor phase coils has a high-side freewheeling diode and a low-side freewheeling diode associated therewith;

said high-side freewheeling diodes coupled to said capacitor; and

said low-side freewheeling diodes coupled to said negative terminal of said DC power source.

15. The SRM of claim 11 , wherein each of said motor phase coils has a single switching transistor and a single freewheeling diode associated therewith.

16. The SRM of claim 15 , wherein said second power source comprises series connected capacitors, said capacitors utilizing said discharge energy for charging said capacitors to provide said power supplied to said second plurality of said phase coils.

17. The SRM of claim 16 , wherein:

energy dissipated through said freewheeling diodes associated with said first plurality of said motor phase coils is used to charge said capacitors;

energy dissipated through said freewheeling diode associated with a first coil of said second plurality of said motor phase coils is used to charge one of said capacitors; and

energy dissipated through said freewheeling diode associated with a second coil of said second plurality of said motor phase coils is used to charge an other one of said capacitors.