BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM

• US 20140239879A1
• Filed: 02/22/2013
• Published: 08/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Electro-Motive Diesel Incorporated (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Electro-Motive Diesel Incorporated (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Inventors: Madsen, John Ernst Nielsen
• Application Number:
  US13/774,061
• Publication Number:
  US 20140239879A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/104
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/16 for vehicles comprising converters between the power source and the motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60M 7/003 for vehicles using stored power (e.g. charging stations)
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034
• 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 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A charging system for a traction battery is disclosed. The charging system includes a power grid, a stationary battery, a first controlled power supply, a second controlled power supply, and a switching unit. The first controlled power supply is configured to provide electrical power from the power grid to the stationary battery, at a first controlled rate. The second controlled power supply is configured to provide electrical power from the stationary battery to a traction battery, at a second controlled rate, higher than the first controlled rate.

Claims

1. A charging system for a traction battery, the charging system comprising:

a power grid;

a stationary battery;

a first controlled power supply configured to provide electrical power from the power grid to the stationary battery;

a second controlled power supply configured to provide electrical power from the stationary battery to the traction battery; and

a switching unit configured to form one of;

a first closed circuit for charging the stationary battery, at a first controlled rate, through the power grid, wherein the first closed circuit comprises the stationary battery, the first controlled power supply, and the power grid; and

a second closed circuit for charging the traction battery, at a second controlled rate, from the stationary battery, wherein the second closed circuit comprises the stationary battery, the second controlled power supply, and the traction battery.

2. The charging system of claim 1, wherein the second controlled rate is greater than the first controlled rate.

3. The charging system of claim 1, wherein the second closed circuit further includes the power grid to charge the traction battery at a third controlled rate.

4. The charging system of claim 3, wherein the third controlled rate is greater than the first controlled rate.

5. The charging system of claim 1, wherein the first controlled power supply includes a power conversion unit and a first direct current power supply.

6. The charging system of claim 1, wherein the second controlled power supply includes at least one of a voltage converter, and a voltage regulator.

7. The charging system of claim 6, wherein the second controlled power supply further includes a second controlled rectifier and a second direct current power supply.

8. The charging system of claim 1 further includes a charging controller communicably coupled with the switching unit, wherein the charging controller is configured to issue a command to the switching unit for switching from the first closed circuit to the second closed circuit or from the second closed circuit to the first closed circuit.

9. A method for charging a traction battery, the method comprising:

charging a stationary battery at a first controlled rate from a power grid using a first controlled power supply;

connecting the stationary battery to the traction battery; and

charging the traction battery at a second controlled rate from the stationary battery using a second controlled power supply.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprises selectively disconnecting the stationary battery from the power grid.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the second controlled rate is greater than the first controlled rate.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein charging the traction battery further includes charging the traction battery at a third controlled rate from the stationary battery and the power grid.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the third controlled rate is greater than the first controlled rate.

14. The method of claim 9 further includes receiving a command from a charging controller to:

switch from a first closed circuit configured to charge the stationary battery from the power grid to a second closed circuit configured to charge the traction battery from the stationary battery; and

switch from the second closed circuit to the first closed circuit.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the second closed circuit is further configured to charge the traction battery simultaneously from the stationary battery and the power grid.

16. A locomotive comprising:

a traction battery;

a power connection unit for coupling the traction battery to a charging station, wherein the charging station includes a power grid and a stationary battery; and

a control unit configured to;

monitor a remaining energy in the traction battery, and a location of the locomotive with respect to the charging station;

communicate a signal to the charging station to disconnect a first closed circuit, wherein the first closed circuit is configured to charge the stationary battery at a first controlled rate from the power grid, and wherein the signal is indicative of a charging requirement of the traction battery; and

actuate the power connection unit to engage the stationary battery to establish a second closed circuit, wherein the second closed circuit is configured to charge the traction battery at a second controlled rate from the stationary battery.

17. The locomotive of claim 16, wherein the second controlled rate is greater than the first controlled rate.

18. The locomotive of claim 16, wherein the second closed circuit is configured to charge the traction battery at a third controlled rate simultaneously from the stationary battery and the power grid.

19. The locomotive of claim 18, wherein the third controlled rate is greater than the first controlled rate.

20. The locomotive of claim 16, wherein the power connection unit includes a pantograph and a contact shoe.