Control system for an electrically propelled traction vehicle
First Claim
1. A control system for an electrical propulsion system for a wheeled vehicle adapted to haul a payload, the vehicle being equipped with a plurality of adjustable speed electric traction motors mechanically coupled in driving relation to separate wheels on the vehicle, the vehicle having an internal combustion engine and an electric generating means operatively connected to the engine and to the traction motors and providing electric power at its output for energizing the traction motors, the electric generating means being of the type which can vary the voltage and current of the electric power provided at its output responsive to control signals being applied thereto and having a first predetermined operating temperature of a component thereof that correlates to a rating at which continuous operation can occur without substantial risk of damage thereto, and a maximum predetermined operating temperature higher than the first predetermined operating temperature of the component during which continuous operation would create a substantial risk of damage to the electric generating means, said control system comprising:
- processing means including memory means for controlling the operation of the internal combustion engine and the electric generating means;
means for measuring the ambient temperature of the environment in which the vehicle is operating and generating a signal indicative of said measured ambient temperature and applying the same to said processing means;
means for measuring the output voltage of the electric generating means and generating a signal indicative of said measured output voltage and applying the same to said processing means;
means for measuring the output current of the electric generating means and generating a signal indicative of said measured output current and applying the same to said processing means;
said processing means being adapted to generate the control signals and apply the same to the electric generating means to increase the electric power provided at its output above the continuous rating and to generate and apply the control signals to the electric generating means to return the same to the continuous rating responsive to a calculated simulated temperature reaching the maximum predetermined operating temperature of the component of the electric generating means.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A control system for an electrical propulsion system for a large wheeled vehicle adapted to haul a payload, the vehicle having an internal combustion engine and an electric generating means driven by the engine. The control system measures selected parameters and controls the engine and generating means to maximize output, and records historical operating data relating to the vehicle and its systems, and has a 2 digit display that provides information useful in troubleshooting problems.
48 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A control system for an electrical propulsion system for a wheeled vehicle adapted to haul a payload, the vehicle being equipped with a plurality of adjustable speed electric traction motors mechanically coupled in driving relation to separate wheels on the vehicle, the vehicle having an internal combustion engine and an electric generating means operatively connected to the engine and to the traction motors and providing electric power at its output for energizing the traction motors, the electric generating means being of the type which can vary the voltage and current of the electric power provided at its output responsive to control signals being applied thereto and having a first predetermined operating temperature of a component thereof that correlates to a rating at which continuous operation can occur without substantial risk of damage thereto, and a maximum predetermined operating temperature higher than the first predetermined operating temperature of the component during which continuous operation would create a substantial risk of damage to the electric generating means, said control system comprising:
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processing means including memory means for controlling the operation of the internal combustion engine and the electric generating means; means for measuring the ambient temperature of the environment in which the vehicle is operating and generating a signal indicative of said measured ambient temperature and applying the same to said processing means; means for measuring the output voltage of the electric generating means and generating a signal indicative of said measured output voltage and applying the same to said processing means; means for measuring the output current of the electric generating means and generating a signal indicative of said measured output current and applying the same to said processing means; said processing means being adapted to generate the control signals and apply the same to the electric generating means to increase the electric power provided at its output above the continuous rating and to generate and apply the control signals to the electric generating means to return the same to the continuous rating responsive to a calculated simulated temperature reaching the maximum predetermined operating temperature of the component of the electric generating means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An electrical propulsion system for a wheeled vehicle adapted to haul a payload, the vehicle having an internal combustion engine for powering the vehicle, said system comprising:
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a plurality of adjustable speed electric traction motors mechanically coupled in driving relation to separate wheels on the vehicle, an electric alternator operatively connected to the engine and to said traction motors and providing electric power at its output for energizing said traction motors, said electric alternator being of the type which has a rotor and an output and which can be controlled to vary the voltage and current of the electric power provided at its output responsive to control signals being applied thereto and having a first predetermined operating temperature of said rotor thereof that correlates to a rating at which continuous operation can occur without substantial risk of damage thereto, and a maximum predetermined operating temperature higher than said first predetermined operating temperature of said rotor during which continuous operation would create a substantial risk of damage to said electric alternator, processing means including memory means for controlling the operation of the internal combustion engine and said electric alternator; means for measuring the ambient temperature of the environment in which the vehicle is operating and generating a signal indicative of said measured ambient temperature and applying the same to said processing means; means for measuring the output voltage of the electric alternator and generating a signal indicative of said measured output voltage and applying the same to said processing means; means for measuring the output current of said electric alternator and generating a signal indicative of said measured output current and applying the same to said processing means; said processing means being adapted to generate the control signals and apply the same to said electric alternator to increase the electric power provided at its output above the continuous rating and to generate and apply the control signals to said electric alternator to return the same to said continuous rating responsive to a calculated simulated temperature reaching the maximum predetermined operating temperature of said rotor of said electric alternator, said simulated temperature being a function of the measured ambient temperature, the measured output voltage, the measured output current and predetermined physical characteristics of said electric alternator.
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15. A control system for an electrical propulsion system for a wheeled vehicle adapted to haul a payload, the vehicle being equipped with a plurality of adjustable speed electric traction motors mechanically coupled in driving relation to separate wheels on the vehicle, the vehicle having an internal combustion engine and an electric generating means operatively connected to the engine and to the traction motors and providing electric power at its output for energizing the traction motors, the electric generating means being of the type which can vary the voltage and current of the electric power provided at its output responsive to control signals being applied thereto, the engine having a predetermined nominal horsepower rating, said control system comprising:
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processing means including memory means for controlling the operation of the internal combustion engine and the electric generating means; means for measuring the operating speed of the engine and generating a signal indicative of said measured speed and applying the same to said processing means; said processing means being adapted to generate the control signals and apply the same to the electric generating means to vary the electric power provided at its output and therefore vary the load being applied on the engine, said processing means being adapted to operate in one of at least two horsepower loading modes, one of said modes being a manual mode whereby the electric power provided at the output of said electric generating means is set to a predetermined value corresponding to the nominal horsepower rating of the engine, the other of said modes being an automatic mode whereby the electric power provided at the output of said electric generating means is set at a predetermined nominal value, said processing means being adapted to generate the control signals and apply the same to the electric generating means to increase the electric power provided at the output thereof above said predetermined nominal value up to a maximum variable level that is determined by said processing means receiving a signal from said measuring means indicative of said measured speed dropping below a predetermined speed. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A control system for an electrical propulsion system for a wheeled vehicle adapted to haul a payload, the vehicle being equipped with a plurality of adjustable speed electric traction motors mechanically coupled in driving relation to separate wheels on the vehicle, the vehicle having an internal combustion engine with a nominal horsepower rating and an electric generating means operatively connected to the engine and to the traction motors and providing electric power at its output for energizing the traction motors, the electric generating means being of the type which can vary the voltage and current of the electric power provided at its output responsive to control signals being applied thereto, the electric generating means having a nominal output power level that loads the engine at its nominal horsepower rating, said control system comprising:
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processing means including memory means for controlling the operation of the internal combustion engine and the electric generating means; means for measuring the operating speed of the engine and generating a signal indicative of said measured speed and applying the same to said processing means; said processing means being adapted to generate the control signals and apply the same to the electric generating means to vary the electric power provided at its output and therefore vary the load being applied on the engine, said processing means being adapted to generate the control signals and apply the same to the electric generating means to increase the electric power provided at the output thereof above said nominal output power level up to a maximum variable level that is determined by said processing means receiving the signal from said measuring means indicative of said measured operating speed of the engine dropping below a predetermined speed. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A method of operating an electrical propulsion system of a wheeled vehicle adapted to haul a payload, the vehicle being equipped with a plurality of adjustable speed electric traction motors mechanically coupled in driving relation to separate wheels on the vehicle, the vehicle having an internal combustion engine with a nominal horsepower rating, and an electric generating means operatively connected to the engine and to the traction motors and providing electric power at its output for energizing the traction motors, the electric generating means being of the type which can vary the voltage and current of the electric power provided at its output responsive to control signals being applied thereto, the system having processing means for controlling the operation of the internal combustion engine and the electric generating means, said processing means being adapted to generate the control signals and apply the same to the electric generating means to vary the electric power provided at its output and therefore vary the load being applied on the engine, and means for measuring the operating speed of the engine and generating a signal indicative of said measured speed and applying the same to said processing means, said method comprising the steps of:
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generating the control signals and applying the same to the electric generating means to increase the load being applied on the engine; generating the control signals and applying the same to the electric generating means to maintain the load being applied on the engine when the measured operating speed of the engine falls below a predetermined value.
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21. A method of operating an electrical propulsion system for a wheeled vehicle which is adapted to haul a payload, the vehicle being equipped with a plurality of adjustable speed electric traction motors mechanically coupled in driving relation to separate wheels on the vehicle, the vehicle having a diesel engine with a nominal horsepower rating, and an electric alternator operatively connected to the engine and to the traction motors and providing electric power at its output for energizing the traction motors, the electric alternator being of the type which can vary the voltage and current of the electric power provided at its output responsive to control signals being applied thereto, the system having processing means for controlling the operation of the diesel engine and the electric alternator, said processing means being adapted to generate the control signals and apply the same to the electric alternator to vary the electric power provided at its output and therefore vary the load being applied on the engine, and means for measuring the operating speed of the engine and generating a signal indicative of said measured speed and applying the same to said processing means, said method comprising the steps of:
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generating the control signals and applying the same to the electric alternator to operate the alternator at a predetermined alternator output that causes the engine to operate near its nominal horsepower rating; measuring the operating speed of the engine and generating the control signals and applying the same to the electric alternator to increase the load being applied to the engine until the measured operating speed of the engine falls below a predetermined value; and
,generating the control signals and applying the same to the electric alternator to operate the alternator at an alternator output level that causes the engine to operate at least at said predetermined value of operating speed.
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22. A control system for an electrical propulsion system for a wheeled vehicle adapted to haul a payload, the vehicle being equipped with a plurality of adjustable speed electric traction motors mechanically coupled in driving relation to separate wheels on the vehicle, the vehicle having an internal combustion engine and an electric generating means operatively connected to the engine and to the traction motors and providing electric power at its output for energizing the traction motors, the electric generating means being of the type which can vary the voltage and current of the electric power provided at its output responsive to control signals being applied thereto and having a first predetermined operating temperature of a component thereof that correlates to a rating at which continuous operation can occur without substantial risk of damage thereto, and a maximum predetermined operating temperature higher than the first predetermined operating temperature of the component during which continuous operation would create a substantial risk of damage to the electric generating means, said control system comprising:
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processing means including memory means for controlling the operation of the internal combustion engine and the electric generating means, said processing means including time and calendar means for providing time and date stamps for selective signals that are received by said processing means; means for measuring preselected electrical parameters of the electric generating means and generating electrical signals respectively indicative of said measured electrical parameters and applying the same to said processing means; means for measuring preselected mechanical and operating parameters of the engine and generating electrical signals respectively indicative of said measured mechanical and operating parameters and applying the same to said processing means; means for measuring preselected mechanical and operating parameters of the vehicle and generating electrical signals respectively indicative of said measured mechanical and operating parameters and applying the same to said processing means; said processing means being adapted to receive said electrical signals from each of said measuring means and write selective historical data in said memory means relating to the history of operation of the vehicle, the electric generating means and the engine. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A control system for an electrical propulsion system for a wheeled vehicle adapted to haul a payload, the vehicle being equipped with a plurality of adjustable speed electric traction motors mechanically coupled in driving relation to separate wheels on the vehicle, the vehicle having an internal combustion engine and an electric generating means operatively connected to the engine and to the traction motors and providing electric power at its output for energizing the traction motors, said control system comprising:
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processing means including memory means for controlling the operation of the internal combustion engine and the electric generating means, said processing means including time and calendar means for providing time and date stamps for selective signals that are received by said processing means, and to determine preselected fault conditions in response to receiving signals indicative of preselected mechanical and electrical parameters that are outside of predetermined limits; means for measuring preselected electrical parameters of the electric generating means and generating electrical signals respectively indicative of said measured electrical parameters and applying the same to said processing means; means for measuring preselected mechanical and operating parameters of the engine and generating electrical signals respectively indicative of said measured mechanical and operating parameters and applying the same to said processing means; means for measuring preselected mechanical and operating parameters of the vehicle and generating electrical signals respectively indicative of said measured mechanical and operating parameters and applying the same to said processing means; override switch means operatively connected to said processing means, and adapted to override a fault condition responsive to actuation thereof in the absence of an inhibiting condition being established by said processing means; said processing means being adapted to receive said electrical signals from each of said measuring means and determine a fault condition and write data indicative of said fault condition in said memory means, said processing means stopping the vehicle in response to the fault condition being determined. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification