Integrated electric power take-off system

• US 20040084229A1
• Filed: 10/31/2002
• Published: 05/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: McCullough, Simon H., Nagashima, James M., Stancu, Constantin
• Granted Patent: US 7,100,717 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/12 Induction machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/54 Windings for different functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/13 using AC generators and AC motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/24 Using the vehicle's propulsion converter for charging
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/04 Control effected upon non-electric prime mover and dependent upon electric output value of the generator
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

The preferred embodiments of the present invention utilize the internal combustion engine of a hybrid vehicle, coupled with an energy storage device and series of inverters to provide electrical power generation capability for an electric power take-off (EPTO) system. Additional embodiments of the present invention utilize an existing on-board AC induction motor to provide filtering capability for the generated AC power.

Claims

1. An electric power take-off system comprising:

a first electrical machine;

a first inverter coupled to said first electrical machine;

a second inverter coupled to said first inverter;

a second electrical machine coupled to said second inverter, said second electrical machine comprising;

a first internal switch;

a second internal switch;

a first internal winding;

a second internal winding; and

a third internal winding, wherein said first internal winding and said second internal winding are selectively connected or disconnected by said first internal switch and wherein said second internal winding and said third internal winding are selectively connected or disconnected by said second internal switch;

an energy storage device coupled to said first inverter and said second inverter;

an inverter controller coupled to and controlling said first inverter and said second inverter;

a power filter coupled to said second inverter, said power filter comprising;

a plurality of inductors coupled to said second inverter; and

a plurality of capacitors coupled to said plurality of inductors; and

a power distribution mechanism coupled to said power filter.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first electrical machine and said first inverter and said second inverter and said second electrical machine and said energy storage device and said inverter controller comprise a transmission for a hybrid vehicle.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first electrical machine comprises an AC induction motor.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second electrical machine comprises an AC induction motor.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first electrical machine comprises an AC induction motor and wherein said second electrical machine comprises an AC induction motor.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said energy storage device comprises a battery pack.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a prime mover coupled to said first electrical machine.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an external load coupled to said power distribution mechanism.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said external load comprises a single-phase load.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said external load comprises a three-phase balanced load.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said second inverter comprises a four-legged inverter and said external load comprises a three-phase unbalanced load.

12. An electric power take-off system for a hybrid electric vehicle, the system comprising:

a transmission, said transmission comprising;

a first AC induction motor;

a first inverter coupled to said first electrical machine;

a second inverter coupled to said first inverter;

an inverter controller coupled to and controlling said first inverter and said second inverter;

a second AC induction motor coupled to said second inverter, said second AC induction motor comprising;

a first internal winding;

a second internal winding; and

a third internal winding; and

a battery pack coupled to said first inverter and said second inverter;

a power filter coupled to said second AC induction motor, said power filter comprising;

said second AC induction motor;

a first switch, said first switch selectively connecting or disconnecting said first internal winding and said second internal winding;

a second switch, said second switch selectively connecting or disconnecting said second internal winding and said third internal winding; and

at least one capacitor coupled to said first switch and said second switch;

a power distribution mechanism coupled to said power filter; and

an external load coupled to said power distribution mechanism.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a prime mover coupled to said first electrical machine.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said external load comprises a single-phase load.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said external load comprises a three-phase balanced load.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said second inverter comprises a four-legged inverter and said external load comprises a three-phase unbalanced load.

17. A method of providing AC power to a load, said method comprising the steps of:

connecting a hybrid vehicle transmission to a power filter, said transmission comprising;

a first AC induction motor;

a first inverter coupled to said first electrical machine;

a second inverter coupled to said first inverter;

a second AC induction motor coupled to said second inverter, said second AC induction motor comprising;

a first internal winding;

a second internal winding; and

a third internal winding;

an energy storage device coupled to said first inverter and said second inverter; and

an inverter controller coupled to and controlling said first inverter and said second inverter;

connecting said power filter to said load, said power filter comprising;

said second AC induction motor;

a first switch, said first switch selectively connecting or disconnecting said first internal winding and said second internal winding;

a second switch, said second switch selectively connecting or disconnecting said second internal winding and said third internal winding; and

at least one capacitor coupled to said first switch and said second switch; and

a power distribution mechanism coupled to said power filter and to said load.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said load comprises a single-phase load.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein said load comprises a three-phase balanced load.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein said second inverter comprises a four-legged inverter and said load comprises a three-phase unbalanced load.