AC drive system for a vehicle
First Claim
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1. An AC drive system for a vehicle, the AC drive system comprising:
- an engine;
a gearbox driven by the engine, wherein the gearbox has two or more gear ratios;
an AC alternator driven by the gearbox at variable speeds to generate an AC electric output that varies in both frequency and voltage as the speed of the alternator varies; and
one or more AC traction motors powered directly by the AC electric output from the AC alternator.
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Abstract
An AC drive method and system enables a more efficient and robust energy transfer in vehicles. The system includes an engine and a gearbox driven by the engine, wherein the gearbox has two or more gear ratios, an AC alternator is driven by the gearbox at a variable speed to generate an AC electric current that varies in both frequency and voltage as the speed of the alternator varies, one or more AC traction motors is then powered directly by the AC electric current from the AC alternator.
18 Citations
28 Claims
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1. An AC drive system for a vehicle, the AC drive system comprising:
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an engine; a gearbox driven by the engine, wherein the gearbox has two or more gear ratios; an AC alternator driven by the gearbox at variable speeds to generate an AC electric output that varies in both frequency and voltage as the speed of the alternator varies; and one or more AC traction motors powered directly by the AC electric output from the AC alternator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of AC drive of vehicles such as trucks and locomotives, the method comprising:
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driving an AC alternator at variable speed and variable torque via a multi-speed gearbox to produce an AC electric output that is variable in frequency and voltage as the speed of the alternator varies; and powering AC traction motors with the AC electric output. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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Specification