Hybrid vehicle with multiple electric drive systems

• US 8,672,069 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2009
• Issued: 03/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Cherney, Mark J., Vilar, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Hau
• Assistant Examiner(s): EVANS, BRYAN A
• Application Number:
  US12/546,778
• Publication Number:
  US 20110048827A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,666 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.245, 180/65.21, 180/65.22, 180/6.2, 180/6.48, 180/6.5, 180/6.62, 180/24.06, 180/24.07
• US Class Current: 180/65.245
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 7/0007 the motor being electric
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/18 Reluctance machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/42 with use of more than one motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/46 Wheel motors, i.e. motor connected to only one wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/54 Windings for different functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/56 with switched windings
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/02 Dynamic electric resistor braking B60L7/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/41 Construction vehicles, e.g. graders, excavators
• 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

Abstract

A hybrid vehicle comprises an engine, a first traction element, a second traction element, a first electric drive system, and a second electric drive system. The engine is coupled operatively to the first traction element via the first electric drive system and to the second traction element via the second electric drive system.

Claims

1. A hybrid vehicle, comprising:

an engine,

a first traction element and a second traction element,

a first electric drive system and a second electric drive system, the first electric drive system comprising a first electric generator, a first direct current (DC) bus, and a first electric traction motor coupled electrically to the first electric generator via the first DC bus, the second electric drive system comprising a second electric generator, a second DC bus, and a second electric traction motor coupled electrically to the second electric generator via the second DC bus, a majority of power received by the first electric traction motor being provided by the first electric generator and a majority of power received by the second electric traction motor being provided by the second electric generator, the engine coupled operatively to the first electric generator and the second electric generator such that power from the engine is split between the first and second electric generators, the first electric traction motor coupled operatively to the first traction element, the second electric traction motor coupled operatively to the second traction element; and

a third traction element and a fourth traction element, wherein the second electric drive system comprises a third electric traction motor coupled electrically to the second electric generator via the second DC bus and operatively to the third traction element, the first electric drive system comprises a fourth electric traction motor coupled electrically to the first electric generator via the first DC bus and operatively to the fourth traction element, the first and second traction elements are positioned on opposite sides of a central fore-aft axis of the hybrid vehicle and are longitudinally aligned, the third and fourth traction elements are positioned on opposite sides of the central fore-aft axis of the hybrid vehicle and are longitudinally aligned, and the first and third traction elements are positioned on the same side of the central fore-aft axis of the hybrid vehicle in fore-aft relation to one another,

the first electric drive system including a plurality of power electronics modules coupled to the first DC bus and cooperating to monitor and regulate power transfer between the first electric generator and the first and fourth electric traction motors, the plurality of power electronics modules of the first electric drive system including a first generator power electronics module coupled electrically to the first electric generator for routing power generated by the first electric generator to the first DC bus, a first motor power electronics module coupled electrically to the first electric traction motor for routing power between the first DC bus and the first electric traction motor, and a fourth motor power electronics module coupled electrically to the fourth electric traction motor for routing power between the first DC bus and the fourth electric traction motor,

the second electric drive system including a plurality of power electronics modules coupled to the second DC bus and cooperating to monitor and regulate power transfer between the second electric generator and the second and third electric traction motors, the plurality of power electronics modules of the second electric drive system including a second generator power electronics module coupled electrically to the second electric generator for routing power generated by the second electric generator to the second DC bus, a second motor power electronics module coupled electrically to the second electric traction motor for routing power between the second DC bus and the second electric traction motor, and a third motor power electronics module coupled electrically to the third electric traction motor for routing power between the second DC bus and the third electric traction motor,

each of the plurality of power electronics modules of the first electric drive system and the second electric drive system including a processor operative to control the respective power routing and a power converter operative to convert between AC power and DC power.

2. The hybrid vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first and third traction elements are positioned on a first side of the central fore-aft axis of the hybrid vehicle, and the second and fourth elements are positioned on a second side of the fore-aft axis opposite the first side.

3. The hybrid vehicle of claim 2, wherein the first and second traction elements are respectively right and left forward traction elements positioned on opposite sides of the fore-aft axis of the hybrid vehicle, and the third and fourth traction elements are respectively right and left rearward fraction elements positioned on opposite sides of the fore-aft axis and rearward of the right and left forward fraction elements.

4. The hybrid vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first electric drive system comprises a first brake resistor coupled electrically to the first DC bus, and the second electric drive system comprises a second brake resistor coupled electrically to the second DC bus.

5. The hybrid vehicle of claim 4, wherein the processor of the first generator power electronics module is operative to control the dissipation of power from the first DC bus to the first brake resistor, and the processor of the second generator power electronics module is operative to control the dissipation of power from the second DC bus to the second brake resistor.

6. The hybrid vehicle of claim 1, wherein the plurality of power electronics modules of the first electric drive system cooperate to manage bi-directional power flow over the first DC bus, and the plurality of power electronics modules of the second electric drive system cooperate to manage bi-directional power flow over the second DC bus.

7. The hybrid vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a fifth traction element, a sixth fraction element, a seventh traction element, and an eighth traction element, the first electric drive system comprises a fifth electric traction motor coupled operatively to the fifth traction element and a sixth electric traction motor coupled operatively to the sixth traction element, the second electric drive system comprises a seventh electric traction motor coupled operatively to the seventh traction element and an eighth electric traction motor coupled operatively to the eighth fraction element, the first electric bus is coupled electrically to the first electric generator and the first, fourth, fifth, and sixth electric traction motors therebetween, and the second electric bus is coupled electrically to the second electric generator and the second, third, seventh, and eighth electric traction motors therebetween.

8. The hybrid vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first traction element is driven only by the first electric traction motor, and the second traction element is driven only by the second electric traction motor.

9. A hybrid vehicle, comprising:

an engine having an output,

a gearbox having an input, a first output, and a second output,

a rotational mechanical connection coupled to the engine output and to the gearbox input such that the engine output and the gearbox input are configured to rotate together,

a cooling fan coupled to and driven by the engine,

a first traction element and a second traction element,

a first electric drive system and a second electric drive system, the first electric drive system comprising a first electric generator, a first direct current (DC) bus, a first brake resistor coupled electrically to the first DC bus, and a first electric traction motor coupled electrically to the first electric generator via the first DC bus, the second electric drive system comprising a second electric generator, a second DC bus, a second brake resistor coupled electrically to the second DC bus, and a second electric traction motor coupled electrically to the second electric generator via the second DC bus, the engine coupled operatively to the first electric generator and the second electric generator such that power from the engine is split between the first and second electric generators, the first and second generators having a substantially same load capacity, the first electric traction motor coupled operatively to the first traction element, the second electric traction motor coupled operatively to the second traction element; and

a third traction element and a fourth traction element, wherein the second electric drive system comprises a third electric traction motor coupled electrically to the second electric generator via the second DC bus and operatively to the third traction element, the first electric drive system comprises a fourth electric traction motor coupled electrically to the first electric generator via the first DC bus and operatively to the fourth traction element, the first, second, third, and fourth electric fraction motors having a substantially same load capacity, the first and third traction elements are positioned on a first side of a central fore-aft axis of the hybrid vehicle, and the second and fourth traction elements are positioned on a second side of the central fore-aft axis opposite the first side, wherein the first and second traction elements are positioned relative to the central fore-aft axis at the same axial point as one another, and the third and fourth traction elements are positioned relative to the central fore-aft axis at the same axial point as one another,

the gearbox being operative to provide an increase in speed from the engine to each of the first and second electric generators,

the first electric drive system including a plurality of power electronics modules coupled to the first DC bus and cooperating to monitor and regulate power transfer between the first electric generator and the first and fourth electric traction motors, the plurality of power electronics modules of the first electric drive system including a first generator power electronics module coupled electrically to the first electric generator for routing power generated by the first electric generator to the first DC bus, a first motor power electronics module coupled electrically to the first electric traction motor for routing power between the first DC bus and the first electric traction motor, and a fourth motor power electronics module coupled electrically to the fourth electric traction motor for routing power between the first DC bus and the fourth electric traction motor,

the second electric drive system including a plurality of power electronics modules coupled to the second DC bus and cooperating to monitor and regulate power transfer between the second electric generator and the second and third electric traction motors, the plurality of power electronics modules of the second electric drive system including a second generator power electronics module coupled electrically to the second electric generator for routing power generated by the second electric generator to the second DC bus, a second motor power electronics module coupled electrically to the second electric traction motor for routing power between the second DC bus and the second electric traction motor, and a third motor power electronics module coupled electrically to the third electric traction motor for routing power between the second DC bus and the third electric traction motor,

each of the plurality of power electronics modules of the first electric drive system and of the second electric drive system including a processor operative to control the respective power routing and a power converter controlled by the processor, each power converter including a plurality of insulated gate bipolar junction transistors operative to convert between AC power and DC power, at least one of the plurality of power electronics modules of the first electric drive system being operative to control the dissipation of power from the first DC bus to the first brake resistor, at least one of the plurality of power electronics modules of the second electric drive system being operative to control the dissipation of power from the second DC bus to the second brake resistor, each of the first, second, third, and fourth motor power electronics modules being operative to control a power load to the respective first, second, third, and fourth electric traction motor.

10. The hybrid vehicle of claim 9, wherein a speed range of the engine includes engine speeds ranging from a zero speed to a maximum speed, and wherein the first and second electric generators are operative to provide a substantially same current output over the speed range of the engine.

11. The hybrid vehicle of claim 9, wherein a speed range of the engine includes engine speeds ranging from a zero speed to a maximum speed, and wherein the first and second electric generators have a substantially same efficiency rating over the speed range of the engine.

12. The hybrid vehicle of claim 9, wherein the first and second electric generators are each operative to initiate the generation of electric power at a substantially same speed of the engine.

13. The hybrid vehicle of claim 9, wherein the first and second traction elements are respectively right and left forward traction elements positioned on opposite sides of the fore-aft axis of the hybrid vehicle, and the third and fourth traction elements are respectively right and left rearward traction elements positioned on opposite sides of the fore-aft axis and rearward of the right and left forward traction elements.

14. A hybrid vehicle, comprising:

an engine having an output,

a gearbox having an input, a first output, and a second output,

a rotational mechanical connection coupled to the engine output and to the gearbox input such that the engine output and the gearbox input are configured to rotate together,

a first traction element and a second traction element, and

a first electric drive system and a second electric drive system, the first electric drive system comprising a first electric generator coupled to the first output of the gearbox and a first electric traction motor coupled electrically to the first electric generator via a first power path extending from the first electric generator to the first electric fraction motor, the second electric drive system comprising a second electric generator coupled to the second output of the gearbox and a second electric traction motor coupled electrically to the second electric generator via a second power path extending from the second electric generator to the second electric traction motor, the first power path including a first electric bus and the second power path including a second electric bus, the first and second power paths being separate from one another, the engine coupled operatively to the first electric generator and the second electric generator via the rotational mechanical connection and the gearbox such that power from the engine is split between the first and second electric generators, the first electric traction motor coupled operatively to the first fraction element, the second electric traction motor coupled operatively to the second traction element; and

a third traction element and a fourth traction element, wherein the second electric drive system comprises a third electric traction motor coupled electrically to the second electric generator via the second power path and operatively to the third traction element, the first electric drive system comprises a fourth electric traction motor coupled electrically to the first electric generator via the first power path and operatively to the fourth traction element, the first and second traction elements are positioned on opposite sides of a central fore-aft axis of the hybrid vehicle and are longitudinally aligned, the third and fourth traction elements are positioned on opposite sides of the central fore-aft axis of the hybrid vehicle and are longitudinally aligned, the first and third traction elements are positioned on a first side of the central fore-aft axis of the hybrid vehicle in fore-aft relation to one another, and the second and fourth traction elements are positioned on a second side of the fore-aft axis opposite the first side,

the first electric drive system including a plurality of power electronics modules coupled to the first electric bus and cooperating to monitor and regulate power transfer between the first electric generator and the first and fourth electric traction motors, the plurality of power electronics modules of the first electric drive system including a first generator power electronics module coupled electrically to the first electric generator for routing power generated by the first electric generator to the first electric bus, a first motor power electronics module coupled electrically to the first electric fraction motor for routing power between the first electric bus and the first electric traction motor, and a fourth motor power electronics module coupled electrically to the fourth electric traction motor for routing power between the first electric bus and the fourth electric traction motor,

the second electric drive system including a plurality of power electronics modules coupled to the second electric bus and cooperating to monitor and regulate power transfer between the second electric generator and the second and third electric traction motors, the plurality of power electronics modules of the second electric drive system including a second generator power electronics module coupled electrically to the second electric generator for routing power generated by the second electric generator to the second electric bus, a second motor power electronics module coupled electrically to the second electric fraction motor for routing power between the second electric bus and the second electric traction motor, and a third motor power electronics module coupled electrically to the third electric traction motor for routing power between the second electric bus and the third electric traction motor,

each of the plurality of power electronics modules of the first electric drive system and the second electric drive system including a processor operative to control the respective power routing and a power converter operative to convert between AC power and DC power.

15. The hybrid vehicle of claim 14, wherein the first motor power electronics module is configured to control a load provided by the first electric generator to the first electric traction motor and the second motor power electronics module is configured to control a load provided by the second electric generator to the second electric traction motor.

16. The hybrid vehicle of claim 14, wherein the first generator power electronics module and the first and fourth motor power electronics modules cooperate to control a voltage level on the first electric bus and the second generator power electronics module and the second and third motor power electronics modules cooperate to control a voltage level on the second electric bus, and the voltage level of the first and second electric buses are substantially the same.

17. The hybrid vehicle of claim 14, wherein the first and second traction elements are respectively right and left forward traction elements positioned on opposite sides of the fore-aft axis of the hybrid vehicle, and the third and fourth traction elements are respectively right and left rearward traction elements positioned on opposite sides of the fore-aft axis and rearward of the right and left forward traction elements.

18. The hybrid vehicle of claim 14, wherein the first electric drive system includes a first brake resistor coupled electrically to the first electric bus, the second electric drive system comprises a second brake resistor coupled electrically to the second electric bus, the processor of the first generator power electronics module is operative to control the dissipation of power from the first electric bus to the first brake resistor, and the processor of the second generator power electronics module is operative to control the dissipation of power from the second electric bus to the second brake resistor.