Drive-control apparatus for electric drive vehicle

• US 8,104,556 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2006
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Kojima, Shigeru
• Primary Examiner(s): Shriver, II, J. Allen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Triggs, James
• Application Number:
  US12/439,349
• Publication Number:
  US 20090260904A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,861 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.1, 180/165, 180 6527- 65285, 902/906
• US Class Current: 180/65.31
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/003 with means for cooling the electrical propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/28 characterised by the electric energy storing means, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/662 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/80 Time limits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/02 Dynamic electric resistor braking B60L7/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/13 in order to stay within battery power input or output limits; in order to prevent overcharging or battery depletion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/081 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/24 Energy storage means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/20 Ambient conditions, e.g. wind or rain
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0644 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/083 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 1/48 by pole-changing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A drive-control apparatus for an electric-drive vehicle drives and controls a vehicle driven by electric power generated from mechanical power produced by an internal combustion engine (1). In order to cool down an electric power converter (3) without increasing the engine-rotation speed during deceleration of the locomotive using electric braking; the drive-control apparatus includes a braking resistor (10) for dissipating electric power that is generated by a main rotating machine (4) and supplied through the electric power converter (3); a fan motor (7), whose pole number is changeable, supplied with alternating electric power that is generated by an auxiliary generator (6) and has a frequency proportional to a rotation speed of the internal combustion engine (1); a fan (8) for making an air flow in order to cool down the electric power converter (3), being driven by the fan motor (7); a pole-number-changing switch (9) for changing the pole number of the fan motor (7); and a controlling unit for controlling the internal combustion engine (1), the electric power converter (3), the braking resistor (10), and the pole-number-changing switch (9).

Claims

1. A drive-control apparatus for an electric-drive vehicle, that drives and controls a vehicle driven by electric power generated from mechanical power produced by an internal combustion engine, the apparatus including:

an internal combustion engine for producing mechanical power;

a main generator and an auxiliary generator each for generating electricity, being supplied with the mechanical power that the internal combustion engine generates;

a main rotating machine for producing mechanical power so as to drive the vehicle, being supplied with electric power that the main generator generates, and for generating electric power during deceleration of the vehicle;

an electric power converter for performing conversion of the main-generator-generated electric power to supply the main rotating machine therewith, and for receiving electric power generated by the main rotating machine;

a braking resistor for dissipating electric power that is generated by the main rotating machine and supplied through the electric power converter;

a fan motor supplied with alternating electric power that is generated by the auxiliary generator and has a frequency proportional to a rotation speed of the internal combustion engine, the fan motor whose pole number is changeable;

a fan for making an air flow in order to cool down the electric power converter, being driven by the fan motor;

a pole-number-changing switch for changing the pole number of the fan motor; and

a controlling unit for controlling the internal combustion engine, the electric power converter, the braking resistor, and the pole-number-changing switch.

2. A drive-control apparatus for an electric-drive vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the pole-number-changing switch is controlled so as to change the pole number to a smaller number when the main rotating machine is generating electricity.

3. A drive-control apparatus for an electric-drive vehicle, that drives and controls a vehicle driven by electric power generated from mechanical power produced by an internal combustion engine, the apparatus including:

an internal combustion engine for producing mechanical power;

a main generator and an auxiliary generator each for generating electricity, being supplied with the mechanical power that the internal combustion engine generates;

a main rotating machine for producing mechanical power so as to drive the vehicle, being supplied with electric power that the main generator generates;

an electric power converter for performing conversion of the main-generator-generated electric power to supply the main rotating machine therewith;

a fan motor supplied with alternating electric power that is generated by the auxiliary generator and has a frequency proportional to a rotation speed of the internal combustion engine, the fan motor whose pole number is changeable;

a fan for making an air flow in order to cool down the electric power converter, being driven by the fan motor;

a pole-number-changing switch for changing the pole number of the fan motor;

a controlling unit for controlling the internal combustion engine, the electric power converter, and the pole-number-changing switch; and

a position determination unit for locating the position of the vehicle and inputting the position into the controlling unit;

wherein

the pole-number-changing switch is controlled so as to change the pole number to a smaller number when the position obtained by the position determination unit indicates that the vehicle is in a tunnel.

4. A drive-control apparatus for an electric-drive vehicle, that drives and controls a vehicle driven by electric power generated from mechanical power produced by an internal combustion engine, the apparatus including:

an internal combustion engine for producing mechanical power;

a main generator and an auxiliary generator each for generating electricity, being supplied with the mechanical power that the internal combustion engine generates;

a main rotating machine for producing mechanical power so as to drive the vehicle, being supplied with electric power that the main generator generates;

an electric power converter for performing conversion of the main-generator-generated electric power to supply the main rotating machine therewith;

a fan motor supplied with alternating electric power that is generated by the auxiliary generator and has a frequency proportional to a rotation speed of the internal combustion engine, the fan motor whose pole number is changeable;

a fan for making an air flow in order to cool down the electric power converter, being driven by the fan motor;

a pole-number-changing switch for changing the pole number of the fan motor;

a controlling unit for controlling the internal combustion engine, the electric power converter, and the pole-number-changing switch; and

a thermometer for measuring a temperature of the electric power converter so as to input the temperature value into the controlling unit, wherein

the pole-number-changing switch is controlled so as to change the pole number to a smaller number when the temperature value measured by the thermometer is a predetermined value or higher.