IP Library Granted Patent US 12,656,204
Granted Patent B2
US 12,656,204 · App. 18/491,137 · Granted Jun 16, 2026

Systems and methods for air gap and eccentricity detection for electric motor

Inventors: John S. Agapiou (Rochester Hills, MI); Anmol Aggarwal (Waterford, MI); Sean Robert Wagner (Shelby Township, MI)
Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
G01M1/22G01M1/08G01M1/18G01M1/28
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,656,204
App. No.
18/491,137
Granted
Jun 16, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An eccentricity detection system includes: a vibration eccentricity module configured to determine a vibration eccentricity of the electric motor based on vibration of the electric motor measured during operation of the motor; an inductance eccentricity module configured to determine an inductance eccentricity of the electric motor based on an incremental inductance curve of the electric motor; and a fault module configured to indicate whether the electric motor includes an eccentricity fault based on both (a) the vibration eccentricity of the electric motor and (b) the inductance eccentricity of the electric motor.

Claims (31)

1 . An eccentricity detection system comprising:

a vibration eccentricity module configured to determine a vibration eccentricity of an electric motor based on vibration of the electric motor measured during operation of the electric motor;

an inductance eccentricity module configured to determine an inductance eccentricity of the electric motor based on an incremental inductance curve of the electric motor; and

a fault module configured to selectively indicate that the electric motor includes an eccentricity fault when both (a) the vibration eccentricity of the electric motor is greater than a first predetermined value and (b) the inductance eccentricity of the electric motor is greater than a second predetermined value.

2 . The eccentricity detection system of claim 1 further comprising a voltage eccentricity module configured to determine a voltage eccentricity of the electric motor based on a voltage command for the electric motor,

wherein the fault module is configured to indicate whether the electric motor includes an eccentricity fault further based on the voltage eccentricity.

3 . The eccentricity detection system of claim 2 wherein the fault module is configured to selectively indicate that the electric motor has an eccentricity fault when the voltage eccentricity is greater than a third predetermined value.

4 . The eccentricity detection system of claim 2 wherein the voltage command is a d-axis voltage command.

5 . The eccentricity detection system of claim 2 wherein the voltage command is a q-axis voltage command.

6 . The eccentricity detection system of claim 2 wherein the voltage eccentricity module is configured to determine the voltage eccentricity of the electric motor when the electric motor is operating at a predetermined speed.

7 . The eccentricity detection system of claim 2 wherein the voltage eccentricity module is configured to determine the voltage eccentricity of the electric motor when the electric motor is operating at a predetermined torque.

8 . The eccentricity detection system of claim 1 wherein the vibration eccentricity module is configured to determine the vibration eccentricity of the electric motor when the electric motor is operating at a predetermined speed.

9 . The eccentricity detection system of claim 1 wherein the vibration eccentricity module is configured to determine the vibration eccentricity of the electric motor based on an amplitude of the vibration of the electric motor at a predetermined frequency.

10 . The eccentricity detection system of claim 1 wherein the inductance eccentricity module configured to determine the inductance eccentricity of the electric motor based on a d-axis current of the electric motor at a predetermined point on the incremental inductance curve of the electric motor.

11 . The eccentricity detection system of claim 10 wherein the predetermined point is a peak of the incremental inductance curve.

12 . The eccentricity detection system of claim 11 wherein the peak is a second highest peak of the incremental inductance curve.

13 . The eccentricity detection system of claim 1 wherein the inductance eccentricity module is configured to determine the inductance eccentricity of the electric motor when a d-axis current of the electric motor is set to a predetermined maximum current.

14 . The eccentricity detection system of claim 1 wherein the fault module is configured to indicate that the electric motor includes an eccentricity fault when both (a) the vibration eccentricity of the electric motor is greater than a predetermined value and (b) the inductance eccentricity of the electric motor is less than a second predetermined value.

15 . The eccentricity detection system of claim 1 wherein the fault module is configured to selectively indicate that the electric motor includes an eccentricity fault when the vibration eccentricity of the electric motor is greater than a predetermined value and the inductance eccentricity of the electric motor is greater than a second predetermined value.

16 . The eccentricity detection system of claim 1 wherein the fault module is configured to selectively indicate that the electric motor includes an eccentricity fault when the inductance eccentricity of the electric motor is greater than a predetermined value and the vibration eccentricity of the electric motor is less than a second predetermined value.

17 . The eccentricity detection system of claim 16 wherein the fault module is configured to selectively indicate that the electric motor includes an eccentricity fault when the inductance eccentricity of the electric motor is greater than a predetermined value, the vibration eccentricity of the electric motor is less than a second predetermined value, and an amplitude of vibration at a frequency is less than a third value.

18 . The eccentricity detection system of claim 1 wherein:

the vibration eccentricity is a value within a range between 0 and 100; and

the inductance eccentricity is a value within a range between 0 and 100.

19 . The eccentricity detection system of claim 18 wherein:

the first predetermined value is 75; and

the second predetermined value is 75.

20 . An eccentricity detection method comprising:

determining a vibration eccentricity of an electric motor based on vibration of the electric motor measured during operation of the electric motor;

determining an inductance eccentricity of the electric motor based on an incremental inductance curve of the electric motor; and

selectively indicating that the electric motor includes an eccentricity fault when both (a) the vibration eccentricity of the electric motor is greater than a first predetermined value and (b) the inductance eccentricity of the electric motor.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 20, 2023
From: AGAPIOU, JOHN S.; AGGARWAL, ANMOL; WAGNER, SEAN ROBERT
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 065294/0708 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250130130A1 · Apr 24, 2025
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