Electrical energy capture system with circuitry for blocking flow of undesirable electrical currents therein
First Claim
1. A railroad train comprising:
- at least one railway vehicle supported on a plurality of wheels for engaging railroad rail;
a vehicle propulsion system mechanically coupled to at least one of the wheels of the railway vehicle;
a primary electric power generator carried on the railroad train for generating primary electrical power to be supplied to the vehicle propulsion system, said vehicle propulsion system having a motoring mode in which the propulsion system is responsive to electric power supplied to the propulsion system for generating mechanical energy that is applied to said wheel for propelling the railroad train, and said vehicle propulsion system further having a dynamic braking mode in which the propulsion system is responsive to mechanical energy from said wheel during dynamic braking operations of the railroad train for generating dynamic braking electrical power;
an electrical energy capture system carried on the railroad train for storing electrical power generated on the train and for discharging the stored electrical power for use on the train, including selectively using the stored electrical power to propel the railroad train;
a DC bus for electrically connecting the primary electric power generator, the vehicle propulsion system and the electrical energy capture system;
a plurality of electrical energy storage devices coupled in parallel circuit to said DC bus, said plurality of electrical energy storage devices being part of said electrical energy capture system;
circuitry connected to each electrical energy storage device to establish a respective circuit path for charging and discharging electrical energy from each energy storage device with respect to said DC bus, said circuitry configured to block a flow of electrical current from a respective one of said storage devices to any of the other storage devices in said parallel circuit, wherein said circuitry comprises a first diode connected to establish the respective circuit path for charging said electrical energy storage device, said first diode being arranged to block a flow of electrical current from said respective storage device to any of the other storage devices in said parallel circuit, wherein said circuitry further comprises a second diode connected in an inverse parallel circuit with said first diode, said second diode arranged to establish the respective circuit path for discharging said respective electrical energy storage device, said second diode being further arranged to block a flow of electrical current into said respective storage device from any of the other storage devices in said parallel circuit;
a first isolation switch electrically connected in a series circuit to the first diode and a second isolation switch electrically connected in a series circuit to the second diode for selectively connecting a respective one of said electrical energy storage devices to said DC bus, said first and second diodes and said first and second isolation switches are connected in the form of a loop topology, wherein, when the first and the second isolation switches are in an open switching condition, the first and second diodes are electrically disconnected from their respective circuit paths, thereby avoiding a flow of any current through said first and second diodes; and
an energy management system configured to control transmission of electrical power among the primary electric power generator, the vehicle propulsion system, the electric energy capture system, and each of the electrical energy storage devices therein.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical energy capture system, as may be carried on a hybrid energy, electro-motive, self-powered traction vehicle, is provided. The system may be used for storing electrical power generated on the vehicle and for discharging the stored electrical power for use on the vehicle. The system includes circuitry connected to a plurality of electrical energy storage devices connected in parallel circuit to one another. The circuitry may be configured to establish a respective circuit path for charging and discharging electrical energy from each energy storage device with respect to a DC bus. The circuitry is further configured to block a flow of electrical current from any one of the storage devices to any of the other storage devices, thereby avoiding flow of currents that could otherwise circulate among the electrical energy storage devices due to electrical imbalances that may occur in one or more of the electrical energy storage devices.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A railroad train comprising:
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at least one railway vehicle supported on a plurality of wheels for engaging railroad rail; a vehicle propulsion system mechanically coupled to at least one of the wheels of the railway vehicle; a primary electric power generator carried on the railroad train for generating primary electrical power to be supplied to the vehicle propulsion system, said vehicle propulsion system having a motoring mode in which the propulsion system is responsive to electric power supplied to the propulsion system for generating mechanical energy that is applied to said wheel for propelling the railroad train, and said vehicle propulsion system further having a dynamic braking mode in which the propulsion system is responsive to mechanical energy from said wheel during dynamic braking operations of the railroad train for generating dynamic braking electrical power; an electrical energy capture system carried on the railroad train for storing electrical power generated on the train and for discharging the stored electrical power for use on the train, including selectively using the stored electrical power to propel the railroad train; a DC bus for electrically connecting the primary electric power generator, the vehicle propulsion system and the electrical energy capture system; a plurality of electrical energy storage devices coupled in parallel circuit to said DC bus, said plurality of electrical energy storage devices being part of said electrical energy capture system; circuitry connected to each electrical energy storage device to establish a respective circuit path for charging and discharging electrical energy from each energy storage device with respect to said DC bus, said circuitry configured to block a flow of electrical current from a respective one of said storage devices to any of the other storage devices in said parallel circuit, wherein said circuitry comprises a first diode connected to establish the respective circuit path for charging said electrical energy storage device, said first diode being arranged to block a flow of electrical current from said respective storage device to any of the other storage devices in said parallel circuit, wherein said circuitry further comprises a second diode connected in an inverse parallel circuit with said first diode, said second diode arranged to establish the respective circuit path for discharging said respective electrical energy storage device, said second diode being further arranged to block a flow of electrical current into said respective storage device from any of the other storage devices in said parallel circuit; a first isolation switch electrically connected in a series circuit to the first diode and a second isolation switch electrically connected in a series circuit to the second diode for selectively connecting a respective one of said electrical energy storage devices to said DC bus, said first and second diodes and said first and second isolation switches are connected in the form of a loop topology, wherein, when the first and the second isolation switches are in an open switching condition, the first and second diodes are electrically disconnected from their respective circuit paths, thereby avoiding a flow of any current through said first and second diodes; and an energy management system configured to control transmission of electrical power among the primary electric power generator, the vehicle propulsion system, the electric energy capture system, and each of the electrical energy storage devices therein. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An off-highway vehicle comprising:
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a plurality of wheels for supporting and propelling the off-highway (OHV) vehicle; a vehicle propulsion system mechanically coupled to at least one of the wheels of the OHV vehicle; a primary electric power generator carried on the OHV vehicle for generating primary electrical power to be supplied to the vehicle propulsion system, said vehicle propulsion system having a motoring mode in which the propulsion system is responsive to electric power supplied to the propulsion system for generating mechanical energy that is applied to said wheel for propelling the vehicle, and said vehicle propulsion system further having a dynamic braking mode in which the propulsion system is responsive to mechanical energy from said wheel during dynamic braking operations of the OHV vehicle for generating dynamic braking electrical power; an electrical energy capture system carried on the vehicle for storing electrical power generated on the OHV vehicle and for discharging the stored electrical power for use on the vehicle, including selectively using the stored electric power to propel the vehicle; a DC bus for electrically connecting the primary electric power generator, vehicle propulsion system and electrical energy capture system; a plurality of electrical energy storage devices coupled in parallel circuit to said DC bus, said plurality of electrical energy storage devices being part of said electrical energy capture system; circuitry connected to each electrical energy storage device to establish a respective circuit path for charging and discharging electrical energy from each energy storage device with respect to said DC bus, said circuitry configured to block a flow of electrical current from a respective one of said storage devices to any of the other storage devices in said parallel circuit, wherein said circuitry comprises a first diode connected to establish the respective circuit path for charging said electrical energy storage device, said first diode being arranged to block a flow of electrical current from said respective storage device to any of the other storage devices in said parallel circuit, wherein said circuitry further comprises a second diode connected in an inverse parallel circuit with said first diode, said second diode arranged to establish the respective circuit path for discharging said respective electrical energy storage device, said second diode being further arranged to block a flow of electrical current into said respective storage device from any of the other storage devices in said parallel circuit; a first isolation switch electrically connected in a series circuit to the first diode and a second isolation switch electrically connected in a series circuit to the second diode for selectively connecting a respective one of said electrical energy storage devices to said DC bus, said first and second diodes and said first and second isolation switches are connected in the form of a loop topology, wherein, when the first and the second isolation switches are in an open switching condition, the first and second diodes are electrically disconnected from their respective circuit paths, thereby avoiding a flow of any current through said first and second diodes; and an energy management system configured to control transmission of electrical power among the primary electric power generator, the vehicle propulsion system, the electric energy capture system, and each of the electrical energy storage devices therein. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. An electrical energy capture system carried on a traction vehicle for storing electrical power generated on the vehicle and for discharging the stored electrical power for use on the vehicle, including selectively using the stored electrical power to propel the traction vehicle, said traction vehicle including a DC bus for electrically connecting a primary electric power generator, a vehicle propulsion system and the electrical energy capture system, said system comprising:
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a plurality of electrical energy storage devices coupled in parallel circuit to said DC bus; circuitry connected to each electrical energy storage device to establish a respective circuit path for charging and discharging electrical energy from each energy storage device with respect to said DC bus, said circuitry configured to block a flow of electrical current from a respective one of said storage devices to any of the other storage devices in said parallel circuit during the charging and discharging of said respective energy storage device, wherein said circuitry comprises a first diode connected to establish the respective circuit path for charging said electrical energy storage device, said first diode being arranged to block a flow of electrical current from said respective storage device to any of the other storage devices in said parallel circuit, wherein said circuitry further comprises a second diode connected in an inverse parallel circuit with said first diode, said second diode arranged to establish the respective circuit path for discharging said respective electrical energy storage device, said second diode being further arranged to block a flow of electrical current from into said respective storage device from any of the other storage devices in said parallel circuit; and a first isolation switch electrically connected in a series circuit to the first diode and a second isolation switch electrically connected in a series circuit to the second diode for selectively connecting a respective one of said electrical energy storage devices to said DC bus, said first and second diodes and said first and second isolation switches are connected in the form of a loop topology, wherein, when the first and the second isolation switches are in an open switching condition, the first and second diodes are electrically disconnected from their respective circuit paths, thereby avoiding a flow of any current through said first and second diodes. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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Specification