System and method for controlling electrically driven accessories

• US 10,086,703 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2015
• Issued: 10/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Kuttenkuler, Jason Daniel, Young, Henry Todd, Mellinger, Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US14/972,739
• Publication Number:
  US 20160185224A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,020 Days
• Field of Search: 307 101
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/007 Physical arrangements or structures of drive train converters specially adapted for the propulsion motors of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/10 DC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/527 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/13 using AC generators and AC motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/15 with additional electric power supply with capacitors charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/40; with batteries charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/61
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 27/06 using dc to ac converters or inverters H02P27/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A vehicle includes a power source, a controller, a converter configured to receive a first voltage from the power source and to convert the first voltage to a second voltage, an auxiliary inverter system electrically coupled to an output of the converter and to an accessory having an electric motor, the auxiliary inverter system configured to convert the second voltage received from the converter for powering the electric motor, and a first communication link between the controller and the auxiliary inverter system. The auxiliary inverter system is further configured, responsive to interruption of the first communication link, to control a speed of the electric motor based on a level of the second voltage.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a power source;

a controller configured to receive information regarding a mode of operation of the vehicle;

a converter configured to receive a first voltage from the power source and to convert the first voltage to a second voltage;

an accessory having an electric motor;

an auxiliary inverter system electrically coupled to an output of the converter and to the accessory having the electric motor, the auxiliary inverter system configured to convert the second voltage received from the converter for powering the electric motor; and

a first communication link between the controller and the auxiliary inverter system, the first communication link allowing the controller to command the auxiliary inverter system to control a speed of the electric motor in the state commensurate with the mode of operation of the vehicle;

wherein the auxiliary inverter system is further configured, responsive to interruption of the first communication link, to control a speed of the electric motor based on a level of the second voltage received from the converter to maintain operation of the accessory.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one traction inverter electrically coupled to the power source;

at least one traction motor electrically coupled to the traction inverter; and

wherein the controller controls the power source as well as the auxiliary inverter system.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the converter is a DC/DC converter.

4. The vehicle of claim 3 wherein the DC/DC converter includes primary and secondary H-bridge circuits electrically connected to a transformer.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the accessory is a blower.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the auxiliary inverter system includes a plurality of auxiliary inverters.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising an energy storage device electrically coupled to the converter.

8. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the power source is an alternator.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

a second communication link between the controller and the converter;

wherein the second voltage is indicative of the mode of operation of the vehicle; and

wherein if one of the communication links is interrupted, the accessory will continue to operate at a level commensurate with the mode of operation of the vehicle based on the second voltage.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 wherein the communication links utilize an Ethernet protocol.

11. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the first voltage ranges from about 500V to about 2200V.

12. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the second voltage ranges from about 580V to about 860V.

13. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the mode of operation of the vehicle is either motoring, idling or retarding.

14. A system comprising:

a controller configured to receive information regarding an operational mode of a machine;

an accessory configured to operate in a state that is commensurate with the operational mode of the machine, the accessory receiving power from a power source;

at least one communication link between the controller and accessory, the link commanding the accessory to operate in a state commensurate with the operational mode of the machine; and

wherein if the at least one communication link is interrupted, the accessory can select and operate at a state commensurate with an operational mode of the machine based on a level of power received from the power source.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the machine is a vehicle.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the accessory is a blower.

17. The system of claim 14 further comprising an energy storage device electrically coupled to the converter.

18. The system of claim 14 wherein the power source is an alternator.

19. The system of claim 14 wherein the operational mode of the machine is motoring, idling or retarding.

20. The system of claim 14 wherein the communication links utilize an Ethernet

protocol.

21. A system comprising:

a controller;

a converter configured to receive a first voltage from a power source and step down the first voltage to a lower, secondary voltage, the secondary voltage being indicative of an operational mode of a machine;

at least one auxiliary inverter electrically coupled to the converter and to an accessory having an electric motor, the auxiliary inverter receiving the secondary voltage;

a first communication link between the controller and the auxiliary inverter;

a second communication link between the controller and the converter; and

wherein if one of the communication links is interrupted, the accessory will continue to operate at a level commensurate with the operational mode of the machine based on the secondary voltage.

22. The system of claim 21 further comprising:

at least one traction inverter electrically coupled to the power source;

at least one traction motor electrically coupled to the traction inverter; and

wherein the controller controls the power source as well as the auxiliary inverter.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein the converter is a DC/DC converter.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the DC/DC converter includes primary and secondary H-bridge circuits electrically connected to a transformer.

25. The system of claim 21 wherein the system includes a plurality of auxiliary inverters.

26. The system of claim 21 wherein the power source is an alternator.

27. The system of claim 21 wherein the first voltage ranges from about 500V to about 2200V.

28. The system of claim 21 wherein the secondary voltage ranges from about 580V to about 860V.

29. The system of claim 21 wherein machine is an OHV and the mode of the OHV is either motoring, idling or retarding.

30. A method comprising:

selecting a secondary voltage provided by a converter based on an operational mode of a machine, the machine including at least one accessory having an electric motor;

providing the secondary voltage to an auxiliary inverter electrically coupled to the accessory; and

operating the accessory at a level commensurate with the operational mode of the machine in the event that a communication link between the controller and the auxiliary inverter is interrupted or a communication link between the controller and the converter is interrupted.