Reconfigurable inverter apparatus for battery-powered vehicle drive

• US 5,291,388 A
• Filed: 04/16/1992
• Issued: 03/01/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
• Original Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation (Paramount Global (f/k/a ViacomCBS Inc.))
• Inventors: Heinrich, Theodore M.
• Primary Examiner(s): STERRETT, JEFFREY L
• Application Number:
  US07/870,644
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 320/57, 363/98, 363/132
• US Class Current: 363/98
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/20 AC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 characterised by AC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/20 characterised by converters located in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/24 Using the vehicle's propulsion converter for charging
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

An inverter apparatus for a battery-powered vehicle drive which is selectively operable in either a normal drive mode or an alternative battery-charging mode. In the drive mode, the inverter functions to invert DC from the vehicle'"'"'s on-board storage batteries to a polyphase AC to power the vehicle drive motor. In the battery-charging mode, the inverter draws charging current from an external energy supply source and supplies it to the battery as a DC charging current. The apparatus is usable with external energy supply sources varying widely in voltage and frequency.

Claims

1. A reconfigurable inverter apparatus usable with a battery-powered vehicle drive and selectively operable either to invert DC from at least one storage battery to supply a polyphase AC electric motor or alternatively to charge said battery from an external energy supply source, said apparatus comprising:

alternative mode switching means for providing selective electrical interconnection to operate said apparatus in a drive mode or an alternative battery-charging mode;

at least three inverter poles, each said pole having a pair of pole switches electrically connected serially between a pair of DC rails to form a node there between defining an AC terminal, each said pole switch having a semiconductor switching element with an antiparallel diode electrically connected thereacross;

at least one capacitor electrically connected across said pair of DC rails;

a first rail of said pair of DC rails electrically connectable to a first terminal of said battery;

a second rail of said pair of DC rails selectively electrically connectable in said drive mode to a second terminal of said battery, said second rail disconnected from said second terminal in said alternative battery charging mode;

source current means responsive to said switching means for use in said alternative battery-charging mode to provide electrical connection of an AC terminal of a first pole of said at least three inverter poles of said external energy supply source;

charging current means for use in said alternative battery-charging mode to provide an electrical conducting path from an AC terminal of a second pole of said at least three inverter poles to said second terminal; and

wherein said switching means comprises the functional equivalent of;

a single-pole, single-throw switch electrically connected between said second rail and a terminal connectable to said second terminal;

a first single-pole, double-throw switch having a first armature contact electrically connected to said first pole, a first normal position contact electrically connectable to a first phase winding of said polyphase AC electric motor, and a first reverse position contact electrically connectable to said external energy supply source;

a second single-pole, double-throw switch having a second armature contact electrically connected to said third pole, a second normal position contact electrically connectable to a second phase winding of said polyphase AC electric motor, and a second reverse position contact electrically connectable to said external energy supply source; and

a third single-pole, double-throw switch having a third armature contact electrically connected to said second pole, a third normal position contact electrically connectable to a third reverse position contact electrically connectable to said terminal of said battery.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said charging current means includes an interposing impedance electrically connected serially in said electrical conducting path.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said charging current means includes an interposing charging diode electrically connected serially in said electrical conducting path, said charging diode reverse-biased with respect to said second terminal.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said semiconductor switching elements are IGBTs.

5. A reconfigurable inverter apparatus usable with a battery-powered vehicle drive and selectively operable either to invert DC from at least one storage battery to supply an AC electric motor having separately excitable dual polyphase windings or alternatively to charge said battery from an external energy supply source, said apparatus comprising:

alternative mode switching means for providing selective electrical interconnection to operate said apparatus in a drive mode or an alternative battery-charging mode;

a first inverter package to supply AC to a first of said dual polyphase windings and a second inverter package to supply AC to a second of said dual polyphase windings;

each said inverter package having at least two inverter poles, each said inverter pole having a pair of pole switches electrically connected serially between a pair of DC rails to form a node there between defining an AC terminal, each said pole switch having a semiconductor switching element with an antiparallel diode electrically connected thereacross;

a first rail of said pair of DC rails electrically connectable to a first terminal of said battery;

a second rail of said pair of DC rails selectively electrically connectable in said drive mode to a second terminal of said battery, said second rail disconnected from said second terminal in said alternative battery charging mode;

at least one capacitor electrically connected across said pair of DC rails;

source current means for use in said alternative battery-charging mode to provide selective electrical connection of an AC terminal of a first pole to said external energy supply source;

charging current means for use in said alternative battery-charging mode to provide an electrical conducting path from an AC terminal of a second pole to said second terminal;

wherein said source current means further provides selective connection in said alternative battery-charging mode of an AC terminal of a third pole to said external energy source; and

wherein said switching means comprises the functional equivalent of;

a single-pole, single-throw switch electrically connected between said second rail and a terminal connectable to said second terminal;

a first single-pole, double-throw switch having a first armature contact electrically connected to said first pole, a first normal position contact electrically connectable to a first phase winding of said polyphase AC electric motor, and a first reverse position contact electrically connectable to said external energy supply source;

a second single-pole, double-throw switch having a second armature contact electrically connected to said third pole, a second normal position contact electrically connectable to a second phase winding of said polyphase AC electric motor, and a second reverse position contact electrically connectable to said external energy supply source.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said first pole is in said first inverter package and said second pole is in said second inverter package.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said charging current means includes an interposing impedance electrically connected serially in said electrical conducting path.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said charging current means includes an interposing charging diode electrically connected serially in said electrical conducting path, said charging diode reverse-biased with respect to said second terminal of said battery.

9. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said semiconductor switching elements are IGBTs.