Detection of loss of cooling air to traction motors
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Accused Products
Abstract
A thermal protection apparatus for an AC traction motor including a stator, a rotor, a blower fan and an inverter includes a method and apparatus for predicting the motor temperature assuming that the blower is operational. The method and apparatus also determines an estimated motor temperature by measuring the motor resistance or the rotor slip. The estimated motor temperatures compared to the predicted motor temperature to determine the condition of the motor cooling system.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1-16. -16. (canceled)
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17. A method for determining the health of a cooling system on a vehicle driven by at least one electric traction motor coupled to a wheel for the vehicle, with the cooling system directing cooling air past the traction motor, the method comprising:
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monitoring the temperature and pressure of the air available to the cooling system for cooling the traction motor;
monitoring operating parameters of the traction motor;
estimating motor heat losses generated by the operation of the motor based on the motor operating parameters, and motor cooling by operation of the cooling system based on the temperature and pressure of the air available to the cooling system;
establishing an estimated motor temperature based on the estimated heat losses and cooling;
monitoring electrical power input parameters to the electric traction motor, including voltage and current;
determining the electrical resistance of the motor winding;
calculating a motor temperature indicative of the actual motor temperature based on the electrical resistance of the motor winding;
comparing the calculated actual motor temperature and the estimated motor temperature; and
determining if the calculated actual motor temperature exceeds the estimated motor temperature by more than a predetermined amount. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An apparatus for determining the health of a cooling system on a vehicle driven by at least one electric traction motor coupled to a wheel for the vehicle, with the cooling system directing cooling air past the traction motor, the apparatus comprising:
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at least one ambient sensor for monitoring the temperature and pressure of the air available to the cooling system for cooling the traction motor;
at least one motor sensor for monitoring operating parameters of the traction motor;
a processing unit operative in response to the at least one ambient sensor for estimating motor heat losses generated by the operation of the motor, operative in response to the at least one motor sensor for estimating motor cooling by operation of the cooling system, and for establishing an estimated motor temperature based on the estimated heat losses and the cooling;
a processing unit for determining the electrical resistance of the motor winding and for calculating a motor temperature indicative of the actual motor temperature based on the electrical resistance;
a circuit for determining whether the calculated actual motor temperature exceeds the estimated motor temperature by more than a predetermined amount. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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32. An article of manufacture comprising:
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a computer product comprising a computer-usable medium having a computer-readable code therein for determining the health of a cooling system on a vehicle driven by at least one electric traction motor coupled to a wheel for the vehicle, with the cooling system directing cooling air past the traction motor, the method comprising;
a computer-readable program code module for monitoring the temperature and pressure of the air available to the cooling system for cooling the traction motor;
a computer-readable program code module for monitoring operating parameters of the traction motor;
a computer-readable program code module for estimating motor heat losses generated by the operation of the motor based on the motor operating parameters, and motor cooling by operation of the cooling system based on the temperature and pressure of the air available to the cooling system;
a computer-readable program code module for establishing an estimated motor temperature based on the estimated heat losses and cooling;
a computer-readable program code module for monitoring electrical power input parameters to the electric traction motor, including voltage and current;
a computer-readable program code module for determining the electrical resistance of the motor winding;
a computer-readable program code module for calculating a motor temperature indicative of the actual motor temperature based on the electrical resistance of the motor winding;
a computer-readable program code module for comparing the calculated actual motor temperature and the estimated motor temperature; and
a computer-readable program code module for determining if the calculated actual motor temperature exceeds the estimated motor temperature by more than a predetermined amount.
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Specification