Variable-speed-drive system for a grid blower

• US 8,179,084 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2008
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Kumar, Ajith Kuttannair, Worden, Bret, Gupta, Sudhir Kumar, Brown, Theodore Clark
• Primary Examiner(s): Benson, Walter
• Assistant Examiner(s): GLASS, ERICK DAVID
• Application Number:
  US12/132,479
• Publication Number:
  US 20090293760A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,442 Days
• Field of Search: 318/800, 318/366, 318/460, 318/471, 361/695, 361/696, 701/1, 701/19, 701/22
• US Class Current: 318/800
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/02 Dynamic electric resistor braking B60L7/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/10 Dynamic electric regenerative braking B60L7/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B61C 5/02 Arrangement or disposition of intakes and apparatus for supplying, circulating, and filtering air for combustion and engine-cooling purposes

Abstract

A drive system for a grid blower of a vehicle is provided. The system includes: an electrical bus, a grid of resistive elements connected to the electrical bus, the grid of resistive elements configured to thermally dissipate electrical power generated from braking of the vehicle, the electrical power being transmitted on the electrical bus to the grid of resistive elements, an electrical power modulation device configured to modify electrical power received from at least one of the electrical bus and the grid of resistive elements, and a grid blower motor coupled to an output of the electrical power modulation device, wherein a speed of the grid blower motor varies based on the electrical power that has been modified by the electrical power modulation device.

Claims

1. A drive system for a grid blower of a vehicle comprising:

an electrical bus;

a grid of resistive elements connected to the electrical bus, the grid of resistive elements configured to thermally dissipate electrical power generated by a braking operation of the vehicle, the electrical power being transmitted on the electrical bus to the grid of resistive elements;

an electrical power modulation device configured to modify electrical power received from the electrical bus, an input of the electrical power modulation device connected across at least one resistive element of the grid of resistive elements; and

a grid blower motor coupled to an output of the electrical power modulation device, wherein a speed of the grid blower motor varies based on the electrical power that has been modified by the electrical power modulation device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein an input of the electrical power modulation device is connected to taps on the electrical bus.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical power modulation device is configured to modify at least one of a frequency and a voltage of the electrical power received from the electrical bus.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical power modulation device is an inverter and the grid blower motor is an alternating current motor.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical power modulation device is a converter and the grid blower motor is a direct current motor.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller configured to cause the electrical power modulation device to vary electrical power output to control a speed of the grid blower motor based on an operating parameter.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

a second electrical power modulation device configured to modify electrical power received from the electrical bus; and

a second grid blower motor coupled to an output of the second electrical power modulation device, wherein a speed of the second grid blower motor varies based on the electrical power that has been modified by the second electrical power modulation device;

wherein the controller is further configured to cause the electrical power modulation device to output electrical power at a first phase and configured to cause the second electrical power modulation device to output electrical power at a second phase different from the first phase.