Vehicle control apparatus

• US 6,028,403 A
• Filed: 10/13/1998
• Issued: 02/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Fukatsu, Toshinari
• Primary Examiner(s): Ro, Bentsu
• Assistant Examiner(s): Leykin, Rita
• Application Number:
  US09/170,928
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• Field of Search: 318/34, 318/38, 318/40, 318/51, 318/53, 318/63, 318/87, 318/88, 318/493
• US Class Current: 318/88
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/52 characterised by DC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

The present invention provides a downsized vehicle control apparatus which is capable of controlling two DC separately excited motors. An armature of a first motor, an armature of a second motor and an armature chopper element for controlling the drive of the motors which is common to both of those motors are connected in series between the ends of a battery, and a drive circuit turns on/off the common armature chopper element for controlling the drive of the motors and a plurality of field chopper elements for the respective first and second motors to control the armature currents and the field currents in the first and second motors, respectively, thereby driving both of the motors with the desired rotational frequency or torque. The drive circuit controls the on/off operation of an armature chopper element for controlling regenerative braking which is connected in parallel to the series circuit consisting of the armature of the first motor and the armature of the second motor at the time of the regenerative braking to control a current flowing in the armatures of the first and second motors.

Claims

1. A vehicle control apparatus for a vehicle which is driven using first and second separately excited DC motors, comprising:

a battery;

a first field current control circuit section connected between both ends of said battery and having a plurality of field chopper elements connected to the field winding of a first motor and a first field current detector connected in series to the field winding of the first motor;

a second field current control circuit section connected between both ends of said battery and having a plurality of field chopper elements connected to the field winding of a second motor and a second field current detector connected in series to the field winding of the second motor;

an armature current control circuit section connected between both ends of said battery having an armature for the first motor, an armature for the second motor, an armature current detector, a first armature chopper element for controlling the drive of the motors which is common to the first and second motors and a second armature chopper element for controlling regenerative braking which is connected in parallel to the series circuit consisting of the armature of the first motor the armature of the second motor and the armature current detector; and

a drive circuit for controlling currents flowing in the field windings and armatures for the first and second motors by controlling the on/off operation of the respective field chopper elements of the first and second field current control circuit sections and the first armature chopper element on the basis of the detection signals inputted from said armature current detector and said first and second field current detectors, said drive circuit controlling the on/off operation of the second armature chopper element at the time of the regenerative braking to control a current flowing in the armatures of the first and second motors.

2. The vehicle control apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second motors are configured to drive and regeneratively brake first and second wheels of the vehicle, the wheels having a common axis of rotation.

3. The vehicle control apparatus of claim 2 wherein the field current control circuit section, armature current control circuit section and drive circuit are configured to independently control the driving and regenerative braking of the first and second wheels.

4. A vehicle control apparatus for a vehicle which is driven using first and second separately excited DC motors, comprising:

a battery;

a first field current control circuit section connected between both ends of said battery and having a plurality of field chopper elements connected to the field winding of a first motor and a first field current detector connected in series to the field winding of the first motor;

a second field current control circuit section connected between both ends of said battery and having a plurality of field chopper elements connected to the field winding of a second motor and a second field current detector connected in series to the field winding of the second motor;

an armature current control circuit section connected between both ends of said battery having an armature for the first motor, an armature for the second motor, an armature voltage detector, a first armature chopper element for controlling the drive of the motors which is common to the first and second motors and a second armature chopper element for controlling regenerative braking which is connected in parallel to the series circuit consisting of the armature of the first motor, the armature of the second motor and the armature voltage detector; and

a drive circuit for controlling currents flowing in the field windings and armatures for the first and second motors by controlling the on/off operation of the respective field chopper elements of the first and second field current control circuit sections and the first armature chopper element on the basis of the detection signals inputted from said armature voltage detector and said first and second field current detectors, said drive circuit controlling the on/off operation of the second armature chopper element at the time of the regenerative braking to control a current flowing in the armatures of the first and second motors.

5. A vehicle control apparatus for a vehicle which is driven using first and second separately excited DC motors, each having an armature and a field winding, comprising:

a first field current control circuit section connectable across a DC excitation source and having a plurality of controlled field chopper elements connected to the field winding of the first motor and a first field current detector;

a second field current control circuit section connectable across the DC excitation source and having a plurality of controlled field chopper elements connected to the field winding of a second motor and a second field current detector;

an armature current control circuit section connectable across the DC excitation source and including the armatures of the first and second motors connected in series, an armature current detector, a first armature chopper element for controlling the current through the armature of the motors and a second armature chopper element for controlling regenerative braking which is connected in parallel to the series circuit consisting of the armature of the first motor, the armature of the second motor and the armature current detector; and

a drive circuit for controlling currents flowing in the field windings and armatures of the first and second motors by controlling the on/off operation of the respective field chopper elements of the first and second field current control circuit sections and the first armature chopper element on the basis of the detection signals inputted from said armature current detector and said first and second field current detectors, said drive circuit controlling the on/off operation of the second armature chopper element at the time of the regenerative braking to control a current flowing in the armatures of the first and second motors.