Method and system for optimizing energy storage in hybrid off-highway vehicle systems and trolley connected OHV systems
First Claim
1. A hybrid energy system for propelling an off-highway vehicle, comprising:
- an engine, said engine rated at a first power capacity, the engine not being mechanically coupleable to drive wheels of the vehicle;
a power converter configured to be driven by said engine for providing primary electric power;
a traction motor system configured for receiving said primary electric power and for propelling the off-highway vehicle in response to said primary electric power, and said traction motor system further including a dynamic braking mode of operation; and
an energy storage medium configured for capturing electrical energy generated by said traction motor system in said dynamic braking mode of operation, said energy storage medium transferring a portion of said captured energy to said traction motor system to augment said primary electric power;
wherein said traction motor system is rated at a second power capacity exceeding said first power capacity.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A hybrid energy system for propelling an off-highway vehicle includes an engine rated at a first power capacity, and a power converter driven by the engine for providing primary electric power. A traction motor system receives the primary electric power, the traction motor system propelling the off-highway vehicle in response to the primary electric power, and the traction motor system further including a dynamic braking mode of operation. An energy storage medium captures electrical energy generated by the traction motor system in the dynamic braking mode of operation, the energy storage medium transferring a portion of the captured energy to the traction motor system to augment the primary electric power, wherein the traction motor system is rated at a second power capacity exceeding the first power capacity.
86 Citations
30 Claims
-
1. A hybrid energy system for propelling an off-highway vehicle, comprising:
-
an engine, said engine rated at a first power capacity, the engine not being mechanically coupleable to drive wheels of the vehicle; a power converter configured to be driven by said engine for providing primary electric power; a traction motor system configured for receiving said primary electric power and for propelling the off-highway vehicle in response to said primary electric power, and said traction motor system further including a dynamic braking mode of operation; and an energy storage medium configured for capturing electrical energy generated by said traction motor system in said dynamic braking mode of operation, said energy storage medium transferring a portion of said captured energy to said traction motor system to augment said primary electric power; wherein said traction motor system is rated at a second power capacity exceeding said first power capacity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A method for operating a hybrid energy system configured for propelling an off-highway vehicle, the method comprising:
-
receiving a traction input command; determining whether a resulting power demand on a traction motor system of the off-highway vehicle exceeds a first power capacity of an engine included in the hybrid energy system, said engine supplying primary electric power to said traction motor system, the engine not being mechanically coupleable to drive wheels of the vehicle; and supplementing said primary electric power with captured electrical energy stored in an energy storage medium whenever said power demand exceeds said first power capacity. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A hybrid energy system for propelling a vehicle powered by both an external electrical power source and an on-board engine, comprising:
-
an external electrical power source; a connector configured for coupling the external electric power to a traction motor system; said traction motor system configured for propelling the vehicle in response to said primary electric power, and said traction motor system further including a dynamic braking mode of operation; an engine on-board the vehicle, said engine rated at a first power capacity, the engine not being mechanically coupleable to drive wheels of the vehicle; a power converter configured to be driven by said engine, said power converter for providing secondary electric power to said traction motor system; and an energy storage medium configured for capturing electrical energy, said energy storage medium further configured for transferring a portion of said captured energy to said traction motor system to augment one of said primary electric power and said secondary electric power; wherein said traction motor system is rated at a second power capacity exceeding said first power capacity. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. A method for operating a hybrid energy system configured for propelling a trolley connected, off-highway vehicle, the method comprising:
-
determining the availability of a trolley line for providing primary electric power to a traction motor system of the trolley connected vehicle; determining whether a power demand on said traction motor system exceeds the capacity of an energy storage medium of the system; activating an engine for providing secondary electric power to said traction motor system if said primary electric power is not available and said power demand on said traction motor system exceeds the capacity of said energy storage medium, the engine not being mechanically coupleable to drive wheels of the vehicle; determining whether a power demand on said traction motor system exceeds the capacity of primary power available from said trolley line if said engine is not activated; determining whether said power demand on said traction motor system exceeds a first power capacity of said engine if said engine is activated to supply secondary electric power to said traction motor system; and supplementing said primary or said secondary electric power with captured electrical energy stored in said energy storage medium. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
-
-
30. An energy system for propelling an off-highway vehicle, comprising:
-
an engine configured to generate electrical power, the engine not being mechanically coupleable to drive wheels of the vehicle; an energy storage medium configured for receiving electrical power from the engine and providing primary electric power; and a traction motor system configured for receiving said primary electric power and for propelling the off-highway vehicle in response to said primary electric power, and said traction motor system further including a dynamic braking mode of operation; wherein said energy storage medium is further configured for capturing electrical energy generated by said traction motor system in said dynamic braking mode of operation.
-
Specification