Switching ground tether circuit
First Claim
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1. A ground tether circuit for a power circuit including a power source and at least one load and at least one rectifier, said ground tether circuit comprising:
- an adjustable voltage converter connected to said at least one rectifier, said adjustable voltage converter including;
(a) a positive power switch with a first freewheeling path connected between a positive DC link and a center point;
(b) a negative power switch with a second freewheeling path connected between a negative DC link and said center point;
(c) an inductor connected between said center point and system ground;
(d) a current sensing device connected between said inductor and the system ground; and
(e) a controller controlling operation of said positive power switch and said negative power switch, said controller being connected to said positive power switch, said negative power switch and said current sensing device.
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Abstract
A ground tether circuit is provided for a power circuit that includes a power source, at least one load and at least one rectifier. The ground tether circuit includes an adjustable voltage converter connected to the rectifier. The adjustable voltage converter includes a positive power switch, a negative power switch, an inductor, a current sensing device and a controller.
29 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A ground tether circuit for a power circuit including a power source and at least one load and at least one rectifier, said ground tether circuit comprising:
an adjustable voltage converter connected to said at least one rectifier, said adjustable voltage converter including; (a) a positive power switch with a first freewheeling path connected between a positive DC link and a center point; (b) a negative power switch with a second freewheeling path connected between a negative DC link and said center point; (c) an inductor connected between said center point and system ground; (d) a current sensing device connected between said inductor and the system ground; and (e) a controller controlling operation of said positive power switch and said negative power switch, said controller being connected to said positive power switch, said negative power switch and said current sensing device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A ground tether circuit connected to a power system including multiple power sources comprising at least one AC power source and/or DC power source, at least one AC to DC converter connected between each of said AC power source and a common DC link connecting to all of the power sources and/or loads directly or through converters and said ground tether circuit comprising:
an adjustable voltage converter, said adjustable voltage converter including; (a) a positive power switch with a first freewheeling path connected between a positive DC link and a center point; (b) a negative power switch with a second freewheeling path connected between a negative DC link and said center point; (c) an inductor connected between said center point and system ground; (d) a current sensing device connected between said inductor and the system ground; and (e) a controller controlling operation of said positive power switch and said negative power switch, said controller being connected to said positive power switch, said negative power switch and said current sensing device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A locomotive comprising:
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a body; a DC traction system carried on said body; a power source for said traction system, said power source including at least one engine generator set; at least one auxiliary load; a bus connecting said power source, said traction system and said at least one auxiliary load; and a ground tether circuit in the form of an adjustable voltage converter including; (a) a positive power switch with a first freewheeling path connected between a positive DC link and a center point; (b) a negative power switch with a second freewheeling path connected between a negative DC link and said center point; (c) an inductor connected between said center point and system ground; (d) a current sensing device connected between said inductor and the system ground; and (e) a controller controlling operation of said positive power switch and said negative power switch, said controller being connected to said positive power switch, said negative power switch and said current sensing device.
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22. A locomotive, comprising:
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a body; an AC traction system carried on said body; a power source including at least one engine generator set; at least one auxiliary load; a bus connecting said power source, said traction system and said at least one auxiliary load; and a ground tether circuit including a rectifier and an adjustable voltage converter connected to said rectifier, said adjustable voltage converter including; (a) a positive power switch with a first freewheeling path connected between a positive DC link and a center point; (b) a negative power switch with a second freewheeling path connected between a negative DC link and said center point; (c) an inductor connected between said center point and system ground; (d) a current sensing device connected between said inductor and the system ground; and (e) a controller controlling operation of said positive power switch and said negative power switch, said controller being connected to said positive power switch, said negative power switch and said current sensing device.
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Specification