Integrated electric power take-off system

• US 7,100,717 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2002
• Issued: 09/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Mc Cullough, Simon H., Nagashima, James M., Stancu, Constantin
• Primary Examiner(s): RESTIFO, JEFFREY J
• Application Number:
  US10/285,169
• Publication Number:
  US 20040084229A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,405 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.1, 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.4, 180/65.8, 318/801, 318/722
• US Class Current: 180/65.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/12 Induction machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/54 Windings for different functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/13 using AC generators and AC motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/24 Using the vehicle's propulsion converter for charging
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/04 Control effected upon non-electric prime mover and dependent upon electric output value of the generator
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• 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 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

The preferred embodiments of the present invention utilize the internal combustion engine of a hybrid vehicle, coupled with an energy storage device and series of inverters to provide electrical power generation capability for an electric power take-off (EPTO) system. Additional embodiments of the present invention utilize an existing on-board AC induction motor to provide filtering capability for the generated AC power.

Claims

1. An electric power take-off system comprising:

a first electrical machine;

a first inverter coupled to said first electrical machine;

a second inverter coupled to said first inverter;

a second electrical machine coupled to said second inverter, said second electrical machine comprising;

a first internal switch;

a second internal switch;

a first internal winding having a first end coupled to said second inverter;

a second internal winding having a second end coupled to said second inverter; and

a third internal winding having a third end coupled to said second inverter, wherein said first internal winding and said second internal winding are selectively connected or disconnected by said first internal switch and wherein said second internal winding and said third internal winding are selectively connected or disconnected by said second internal switch;

an energy storage device coupled to said first inverter and said second inverter;

an inverter controller coupled to and controlling said first inverter and said second inverter;

a power filter coupled to said second inverter and to said first and second end, and said third end, said power filter comprising;

a plurality of inductors coupled to said second inverter; and

a plurality of capacitors coupled to said plurality of inductors; and

a power distribution mechanism coupled to said power filter.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first electrical machine and said first inverter and said second inverter and said second electrical machine and said energy storage device and said inverter controller comprise a transmission for a hybrid vehicle.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second electrical machine comprises an AC induction motor.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said energy storage device comprises a battery pack.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a prime mover coupled to said first electrical machine.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an external load coupled to said power distribution mechanism.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said external load comprises a single-phase load.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said external load comprises a three-phase balanced load.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said second inverter comprises a four-legged inverter and said external load comprises a three-phase unbalanced load.

10. An electric power take-off system comprising:

a generator configured to transform mechanical energy from an internal combustion engine into AC electrical energy;

a first power inverter coupled said generator, said first power inverter being configured to transform AC electrical energy from said generator into DC electrical energy;

an energy storage device coupled to said first power inverter, said energy storage device being configured to store DC electrical energy from said first power inverter;

a second power inverter coupled to said first power inverter and to said energy storage device, said second power inverter being configured to transform DC electrical energy from said energy storage device into AC electrical energy;

an AC induction motor configured to transform DC electrical energy into AC electrical energy, said AC induction motor comprising a plurality of windings, each having a respective common end coupled to an internal switch arrangement, and each having a respective output end coupled to said second power inverter, said internal switch arrangement being controllable to disconnect said AC induction motor for an electric power take-off mode.

11. An electric power take-off system comprising:

a first electrical machine;

a first inverter coupled to said first electrical machine;

a second inverter coupled to said first inverter, said second inverter having output nodes;

a second electrical machine coupled to said second inverter, said second electrical machine comprising;

a plurality of windings, each having a common end and an output end, said output ends being coupled to said output nodes of said second inverter; and

an internal switch arrangement coupled to said common ends of said plurality of windings, said internal switch arrangement being configured to disconnect said common ends from each other for an electric power take-off mode;

an energy storage device coupled to said first inverter and said second inverter; and

a power filter coupled to said output nodes of said second inverter, and to said output ends of said plurality of windings.