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Electric system for an electric vehicle

  • US 5,466,998 A
  • Filed: 03/18/1994
  • Issued: 11/14/1995
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An electric system for an electric vehicle, comprising:

  • an AC motor for driving one or more wheels of the vehicle;

    a battery having a DC output;

    power converter means having a DC side operatively coupled to the battery and an AC side operatively coupled to the motor, for converting DC power from the battery to AC power for the motor, and having a regenerative function for rectifying AC power from the motor to DC power to the battery, and comprising an input smoothing capacitor connected to the DC side;

    an initial charging circuit connected between the battery and the input smoothing capacitor, for charging the input smoothing capacitor and for starting the power converter means, and comprising a charging resistor and a charging switch which is switched on for charging the input smoothing capacitor when the power converter means is started;

    a main circuit switch, connected between the battery and the power converter means in parallel to the initial charging circuit, which is switched on when the power converter means converts DC power to AC power and when the power converter means regenerates DC power from the motor to the battery;

    a rheostatic breaking circuit connected to the DC side of the power converter means in parallel to the battery, for braking the electric vehicle when the voltage of the battery exceeds a level above which DC power from the power converter means can not be regenerated to the battery, and comprising a braking resistor for dissipating DC power from the power converter means and a braking switch connected in series to the braking resistor, which is switched on to connect the DC power from the power converter means to the braking resistor,wherein a single resistor serves as charging resistor and as braking resistor.

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