ELECTRIC VEHICLE FLUID PREHEATER
First Claim
1. An electric vehicle powertrain comprising:
- a battery configured to couple with an external power source;
a power plant including at least one three-phase electric motor, the electric motor including a stator having a plurality of electrical windings and a rotor having a magnetic field orientation, the rotor configured to rotate relative to the stator;
a power controller configured to receive electrical energy from the battery and to provide electrical energy to the at least one electric motor in a controlled manner; and
wherein the power controller is configured to determine the position of the rotor relative to the stator, to determine a DC current for each of the three motor phases such that the electromagnetic field of the stator mirrors the magnetic field orientation of the rotor; and
to provide the determined DC currents to the electric motor.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electric vehicle powertrain includes a battery configured to couple with an external power source, a power plant including at least one three-phase electric motor, and a power controller configured to receive electrical energy from the battery and to controllably provide electrical energy to the at least one electric motor. The electric motor includes a stator having a plurality of electrical windings and a rotor having a magnetic field orientation, with the rotor being configured to rotate relative to the stator. The power controller is configured to warm an engine fluid by determining the position of the rotor relative to the stator; determining a DC current for each of the three motor phases such that the electromagnetic field of the stator mirrors the magnetic field orientation of the rotor; and by providing the determined DC currents to the electric motor to resistively heat the fluid.
19 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electric vehicle powertrain comprising:
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a battery configured to couple with an external power source; a power plant including at least one three-phase electric motor, the electric motor including a stator having a plurality of electrical windings and a rotor having a magnetic field orientation, the rotor configured to rotate relative to the stator; a power controller configured to receive electrical energy from the battery and to provide electrical energy to the at least one electric motor in a controlled manner; and wherein the power controller is configured to determine the position of the rotor relative to the stator, to determine a DC current for each of the three motor phases such that the electromagnetic field of the stator mirrors the magnetic field orientation of the rotor; and
to provide the determined DC currents to the electric motor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of pre-warming an engine fluid comprising:
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determining the angular position of a rotor relative to a stator, the rotor and stator belonging to a three-phase electric traction motor of an electric vehicle powertrain; determining a DC current for each of the three electrical phases of the three-phase electric traction motor such that the magnetic field of the stator mirrors the magnetic field of the rotor; and providing each determined DC current to the respective phase of the electric traction motor; pumping the engine fluid into thermal communication with the three-phase electric traction motor. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of pre-warming an engine fluid comprising:
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receiving an activation request; comparing a state of charge of a battery to a charging threshold; energizing a three-phase electric traction motor with a DC current in response to the activation request, if the state of charge of the battery exceeds the charging threshold; transferring thermal energy from the three-phase electric traction motor to the engine fluid. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification