Electrical energy capture system with circuitry for blocking flow of undesirable electrical currents therein
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a first electric storage device configured to be disposed onboard a vehicle and conductively coupled to a bus that supplies electric energy stored in the first electric storage device to one or more loads of a vehicle to power the one or more loads;
a first switch configured to be coupled with the first electric storage device and the bus; and
a second switch also configured to be coupled with the first electric storage device and the bus, the first and second switches configured to be connected in parallel with each other between the first electric storage device and the bus;
wherein, in a first charging state, the first switch is configured to be closed while the second switch is configured to be open to allow charging current from the bus to charge the first electric storage device but prevent discharging the electric energy stored in the first electric storage device onto the bus, andwherein, in a first discharging state, the first switch is also configured to be open while the second switch is configured to be closed to allow discharging of the electric energy stored in the first electric storage device onto the bus but prevent the charging current on the bus from charging the first electric storage device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical energy capture system, as may be carried on a hybrid energy, electro-motive, self-powered traction vehicle, is provided. The system may be used for storing electrical power generated on the vehicle and for discharging the stored electrical power for use on the vehicle. The system includes circuitry connected to a plurality of electrical energy storage devices connected in parallel circuit to one another. The circuitry may be configured to establish a respective circuit path for charging and discharging electrical energy from each energy storage device with respect to a DC bus. The circuitry is further configured to block a flow of electrical current from any one of the storage devices to any of the other storage devices, thereby avoiding flow of currents that could otherwise circulate among the electrical energy storage devices due to electrical imbalances that may occur in one or more of the electrical energy storage devices.
21 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a first electric storage device configured to be disposed onboard a vehicle and conductively coupled to a bus that supplies electric energy stored in the first electric storage device to one or more loads of a vehicle to power the one or more loads; a first switch configured to be coupled with the first electric storage device and the bus; and a second switch also configured to be coupled with the first electric storage device and the bus, the first and second switches configured to be connected in parallel with each other between the first electric storage device and the bus; wherein, in a first charging state, the first switch is configured to be closed while the second switch is configured to be open to allow charging current from the bus to charge the first electric storage device but prevent discharging the electric energy stored in the first electric storage device onto the bus, and wherein, in a first discharging state, the first switch is also configured to be open while the second switch is configured to be closed to allow discharging of the electric energy stored in the first electric storage device onto the bus but prevent the charging current on the bus from charging the first electric storage device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system comprising:
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a first switch configured to be conductively coupled with a first electric storage device and a bus disposed onboard a vehicle, the bus configured to supply electric energy stored in the first electric storage device to one or more loads of the vehicle to power the one or more loads; and a second switch also configured to be coupled with the first electric storage device and the bus, the first and second switches configured to be connected in parallel with each other between the first electric storage device and the bus; wherein, in a first charging state, the first switch is configured to be closed while the second switch is open to allow charging current from the bus to charge the first electric storage device but prevent discharging the electric energy stored in the first electric storage device onto the bus, and wherein, in a first discharging state, the first switch is configured to be open while the second switch is closed to allow discharging the electric energy stored in the first electric storage device onto the bus but prevent the charging current from the bus from charging the first electric storage device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system comprising:
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an energy management device configured to be communicatively coupled to a first switch and a second switch of a vehicle that are conductively coupled with a bus and a first electric storage device of the vehicle, the first switch and the second switch disposed in parallel to each other between the first energy storage device and the bus, the bus configured to supply electric energy stored in the first electric storage device to one or more loads of the vehicle to power the one or more loads, wherein the energy management device is configured to control the first and second switches to alternate between a first charging state where charging current from the bus is allowed to charge the first electric storage device but the electric energy stored in the first electric storage device is prevented from discharging onto the bus and a first discharging state where the electric energy stored in the first electric storage device is allowed to discharge onto the bus but the charging current on the bus is prevented from charging the first electric storage device. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification