Device and method for surge current protection during the operation of a capacitive load on a three-phase inverter

• US 9,490,691 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2015
• Issued: 11/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Keil, Roger
• Primary Examiner(s): Laxton, Gary L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Moody, Kyle J
• Application Number:
  US14/708,395
• Publication Number:
  US 20150326010A1
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 323/271, 323/272, 323/901, 323/908, 361/93.9, 361/93.1, 363/49, 363/98, 363/132
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/006 to power outlets
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/007 Physical arrangements or structures of drive train converters specially adapted for the propulsion motors of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2072 for drive off
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/28 Trailers
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/40 Working vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/529 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/20 Inrush current reduction, i.e. avoiding high currents when connecting the battery
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/003 relating to inverters
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 9/04 responsive to excess voltage lightning arrestors H01C7/12, H01C8/04, H01G9/18, H01T
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/10 Arrangements incorporating converting means for enabling loads to be operated at will from different kinds of power supplies, e.g. from ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/36 Means for starting or stopping converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/537 using semiconductor devices only, e.g. single switched pulse inverters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/5387 in a bridge configuration
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

A method, device, and system for surge current protection on a circuit including a three-phase inverter and a capacitive load. The inverter can be controlled to connect the capacitive load with different direct current voltage potentials. In a pre-charging mode, the capacitive load is connected with the a first direct current voltage potential via a current-limiting element to limit a start-up current. In a normal operating mode following the pre-charging mode, the inverter is controlled to directly connect the capacitive load with the different direct current voltage potentials.

Claims

1. A power supply module of a tractor for providing electrical energy to a drive module of an implement having a capacitive load, the power supply module comprising:

a three-phase inverter with first, second, and third load outputs, the three-phase inverter having a plurality of switching devices; and

a control device for controlling the switching devices, the control device configured to control the switching devices to connect the first, second, and third load outputs with a first direct current voltage potential or a second direct current voltage potential that differs from the first direct current voltage potential;

wherein, in a pre-charging mode, the control device is configured to control the switching devices to connect the capacitive load with the first direct current voltage potential through a current-limiting element, the current-limiting element being a current-limiting resistor or a current-limiting inductance, and to directly connect the capacitive load to the second direct current voltage potential so that a start-up current between the three-phase inverter and the capacitive load is limited; and

wherein, in a normal operating mode following the pre-charging mode, the control device is configured to control the switching devices to directly connect the capacitive load with the first direct current voltage potential via the second load output and to directly connect the capacitive load with the second direct current voltage potential via the third load output.

2. The power supply module of claim 1, wherein, during normal operating mode, the control device is configured to control the switching devices to at least from time to time short-circuit the current-limiting element.

3. The power supply module of claim 1, wherein the first direct current voltage potential is a positive supply voltage potential and/or the second direct voltage potential is a negative direct current voltage potential of a potential-free direct current circuit for supply of the three-phase inverter.

4. The power supply module of 1, wherein the capacitive load is a storage capacitor for operation of a direct current load.

5. The power supply module of 1, further comprising an electrical plug connection between the power supply module and the capacitive load, wherein the current-limiting element is associated with either the power supply module or with the capacitive load.

7. The power supply module of claim 5, wherein the current-limiting element is included in the power supply module.

6. The power supply module of 5, wherein capacitive load is included in a drive module, wherein the current-limiting element is included in the drive module.

8. A system for current surge protection during the operation of a capacitive load, the system comprising:

a power supply module including

a three-phase inverter with first, second, and third load outputs, the three-phase inverter having a plurality of switching devices, and

a control device for controlling the switching devices, the control device configured to control the switching devices to connect the first, second, and third loads with a first direct current voltage potential or a second direct current voltage potential that differs from the first direct current voltage potential;

a drive module including a capacitive load;

a plug connection for connecting the power supply module with the drive module;

wherein, in a pre-charging mode, the control device is configured to control the switching devices to connect the capacitive load with the first direct current voltage potential through a current-limiting element and to directly connect the capacitive load to the second direct current voltage potential so that a start-up current between the three-phase inverter and the capacitive load is limited; and

wherein, in a normal operating mode following the pre-charging mode, the control device is configured to control the switching devices to directly connect the capacitive load with the first direct current voltage potential via the second load output and to directly connect the capacitive load with the second direct current voltage potential via the third load output.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the current-limiting element is associated with the power supply module.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the current-limiting element is associated with the drive module.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the current-limiting element is a current-limiting resistor or a current-limiting inductance.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the power-supply module is on a tractor and the drive module is on an implement.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the current-limiting element is on the tractor.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the current-limiting element is on the implement.

15. A method for surge current protection during the operation of a capacitive load on a three-phase inverter, the three-phase inverter having first, second, and third load outputs and associated switching devices for connecting the first, second, and third load puts with a first direct current voltage potential or a second direct current voltage potential that differs in comparison with the first direct current voltage potential, the method comprising:

during a pre-charging mode, controlling the switching devices to connect the capacitive load with the first direct current voltage potential through a current-limiting element, the current-limiting element being a current-limiting resistor or a current-limiting inductance, and to directly connect the capacitive load to the second direct current voltage potential so that a start-up current between the three-phase inverter and the capacitive load is limited; and

during a normal operating mode following the pre-charging mode, controlling the switching devices to directly connect the capacitive load with the first direct current voltage potential via the second load output and to directly connect the capacitive load with the second direct current voltage potential via the third load output.