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Hybrid energy off highway vehicle electric power storage system and method

  • US 20060005737A1
  • Filed: 07/13/2005
  • Published: 01/12/2006
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2001
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. In a computerized system for operating a hybrid energy, electro-motive, self-powered railroad train, said railroad train comprising:

  • at least one railway vehicle supported on a plurality of wheels for engaging railroad rails;

    a vehicle propulsion system mechanically coupled to at least one of the wheels of the railway train;

    a primary electric power generator carried on the railroad train for generating primary electrical power to be supplied to the vehicle propulsion system, said vehicle propulsion system having a motoring mode in which the propulsion system is responsive to electric power supplied to the propulsion system for generating mechanical energy that is applied to said wheel for propelling the railroad train, and said vehicle propulsion system further having a dynamic braking mode in which the propulsion system is responsive to mechanical energy from said wheel during dynamic braking operations of the railroad train for generating dynamic braking electrical power;

    an electrical energy capture system carried on the railroad train for storing electrical power generated on the train and for discharging the stored electrical power to propel the railroad train;

    a DC bus for electrically connecting the primary electric power generator, the vehicle propulsion system and the electrical energy capture system;

    a plurality of dynamic braking resistance grid circuits electrically connected to the vehicle propulsion system for dissipating excess electrical power on the railroad train, with each grid circuit including at least one dynamic braking resistance grid and being connected to the DC bus;

    a plurality of grid switching devices in the dynamic braking grids circuits, with at least one grid switching device for each dynamic braking grid circuit for controlling the flow of electrical power to the respective resistance grid;

    said computerized system comprising a processor executing computer executable instructions, the improvement comprising computer executable instructions including;

    transmission instructions for controlling the transmission of electrical power among the primary electric power generator, the vehicle propulsion system, the electrical energy capture system, and each of the plurality of dynamic braking resistance grid circuits during motoring, operating and braking the travel of the railroad train; and

    dissipating instructions for controlling during braking the travel of the railroad train the operation of each of the plurality of grid switching devices in the dynamic braking resistance grid circuits to controlling the flow of electrical power to the respective resistance grid.

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