Vehicle temperature regulation system and method
First Claim
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1. A temperature regulation system for a vehicle, comprising:
- a drive system configured to be coupled to an engine of the vehicle, the drive system being configured to convert power produced by the engine into electrical power for use by at least one traction motor of the vehicle; and
a control unit for controlling the engine and drive system, the control unit being configured to automatically regulate a temperature of a vehicle component in dependence upon a detected reference temperature;
wherein the vehicle component comprises a plurality of power semiconductor switches of one or more power converters of the drive system of the vehicle, the one or more power converters electrically connected to provide the electrical power for use by the at least one traction motor of the vehicle; and
the control unit is configured to automatically regulate the temperature of the power semiconductor switches, responsive to the detected reference temperature being below a predetermined value, by firing the power semiconductor switches in a manner that does not cause the at least one traction motor to move the vehicle to maintain the temperature of the power semiconductor switches within a desired operating range.
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Abstract
A temperature regulation system for a vehicle includes a drive system configured to be coupled to an engine of the vehicle. The drive system is configured to convert power produced by the engine into electrical power for use by at least one traction motor of the vehicle. The system further includes a control unit for controlling the engine and drive system. The control unit is configured to automatically regulate a temperature of a vehicle component in dependence upon a detected reference temperature.
36 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A temperature regulation system for a vehicle, comprising:
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a drive system configured to be coupled to an engine of the vehicle, the drive system being configured to convert power produced by the engine into electrical power for use by at least one traction motor of the vehicle; and a control unit for controlling the engine and drive system, the control unit being configured to automatically regulate a temperature of a vehicle component in dependence upon a detected reference temperature; wherein the vehicle component comprises a plurality of power semiconductor switches of one or more power converters of the drive system of the vehicle, the one or more power converters electrically connected to provide the electrical power for use by the at least one traction motor of the vehicle; and the control unit is configured to automatically regulate the temperature of the power semiconductor switches, responsive to the detected reference temperature being below a predetermined value, by firing the power semiconductor switches in a manner that does not cause the at least one traction motor to move the vehicle to maintain the temperature of the power semiconductor switches within a desired operating range. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for temperature regulation of a vehicle, comprising:
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determining a reference temperature associated with an engine of the vehicle; comparing, by a control unit of the vehicle, the reference temperature with a predetermined minimum operating temperature of the engine; automatically applying, by the control unit, additional load to the engine, above an idle level of the engine, if the reference temperature is below the minimum operating temperature; and regulating the temperature of insulated gate bipolar transistors of a power converter of the vehicle, when the power converter is not being used to provide electrical power to any traction motors of the vehicle, by firing the insulated gate bipolar transistors in a DC sequence; wherein the step of regulating the temperature of the insulated gate bipolar transistors is carried out when a sensed temperature is below a predetermined value, the sensed temperature being different than the reference temperature. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for regulating the temperature of a power generating device, comprising:
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determining a reference temperature associated with a drive system component of the device; comparing, by a control unit of the device, the reference temperature with a predetermined minimum operating temperature associated with the drive system component; and automatically actuating, by the control unit, the drive system component to increase an operating temperature of the component if the reference temperature is below the minimum operating temperature; wherein the drive system component comprises a plurality of power semiconductor switches of one or more power converters of the device, the one or more power converters electrically connected to drive a load; and wherein the step of actuating the drive system component includes firing the power semiconductor switches in a manner that heats the power semiconductor switches without driving the load. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification