Medium voltage switched reluctance motors used in traction applications

• US 20060170389A1
• Filed: 01/31/2005
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Adra, Rodwan T.
• Application Number:
  US11/045,317
• Publication Number:
  US 20060170389A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 318/701
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/20 for control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/40 Working vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/18 Reluctance machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/28 Four wheel or all wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0061 relating to electrical machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/13 using AC generators and AC motors
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 19/103 Motors having windings on the stator and a variable reluctance soft-iron rotor without windings
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 25/08 Reluctance motors
• 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 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

A work machine having an electric propulsion system includes at least one traction device and one or more medium voltage switched reluctance traction motors operating at a voltage level between 1,000 volts and 6,000 volts. The motors provide driving power to the at least one traction device.

Claims

1. A work machine having an electric propulsion system, comprising:

at least one traction device; and

one or more medium voltage switched reluctance traction motors each directly connected to a direct-current (DC) voltage level between 1,000 volts and 6,000 volts and operating at the DC voltage level to provide driving power to the at least one traction device;

2. The work machine according to claim 1, further including:

at least one axle coupled between the medium voltage switched reluctance motors and the traction device to transfer driving power from the motors to the traction device; and

a power source for providing electrical power to the medium voltage switched reluctance traction motors.

3. The work machine according to claim 2, further including:

a chassis,

wherein the at least one axle is associated with two medium voltage switched reluctance traction motors mounted on the chassis in a back-to-back mounting configuration.

4. The work machine according to claim 2, wherein each of the one or more medium voltage switched reluctance traction motors generates between 400 and 600 horsepower.

5. The work machine according to claim 2, wherein each of the one or more medium voltage switched reluctance traction motors generates more than 600 horsepower.

6. The work machine according to claim 2, wherein each of the one or more medium voltage switched reluctance traction motors includes approximately six inches of end turns.

7. The work machine according to claim 2, wherein each of the one or more medium voltage switched reluctance traction motors includes 12 to 18 electrical coils.

8. The work machine according to claim 2, wherein the power source is a fuel cell generator.

9. The work machine according to claim 2, wherein the power source is a diesel engine.

10. The work machine according to claim 2, further including:

a controller configured to control the one or more medium voltage switched reluctance traction motors and the power source.

11. A medium voltage switched reluctance traction motor for use on a work machine, comprising:

a stator inside the medium voltage switched reluctance traction motor with 12 to 18 salient poles;

12 to 18 electrical coils respectively wound on the 12 to 18 salient poles of the stator;

a rotor with a plurality of poles; and

a power converter configured to directly supply a direct-current (DC) voltage of between 1,000 and 6,000 volts to the electrical coils for operating the medium voltage switched reluctance traction motor.

12. The motor according to claim 11, wherein the electrical coils are connected together by about six inches of end turns.

13. The work machine according to claim 11, wherein the electrical coils are configured to operate between 1,000 and 6,000 volts and to generate between 400 and 600 horsepower.

14. The work machine according to claim 11, wherein the electrical coils are configured to operate between 1,000 and 6,000 volts and to generate more than 600 horsepower.

15-20. -20. (canceled)