Braking regeneration energy shunt system
First Claim
1. A braking regeneration energy shunt system for a turf maintenance vehicle comprising:
- a power bus;
a traction motor coupled to the power bus, the traction motor developing a back electromotive force that can be directed into the power bus as regeneration energy;
an energy storage device coupled to the power bus, the energy storage device selectively providing electric current to the power bus and selectively receiving electric current from the power bus;
a resistor array having a plurality of resistors, the resistor array selectively dissipating regeneration energy into heat;
a control module monitoring at least one of a voltage of the power bus and a state of charge of the energy storage device, the control module selectively directing regeneration energy created by the traction motor into the resistor array for dissipation as heat based on at least one of the voltage of the power bus and the state of charge of the energy storage device;
wherein the control module ascertains the number of resistors needed to dissipate the regeneration energy directed to the resistor array and directs the regeneration energy simultaneously to the ascertained number of resistors.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A regeneration energy shunt system utilizes a module to monitor the power bus voltage and can divert excess regeneration energy to a resistor array to dissipate the excess regeneration energy. The module can monitor the state of charge of an energy storage device to ascertain when excess regeneration energy condition exists. The resistor array can include a plurality of resistors. The module can ascertain the number of resistors needed dissipate the excess regeneration energy and selectively direct the excess regeneration energy to the required number of resistors. The module can dynamically switch which resistors are used to dissipate the excess regeneration energy and can thereby even out the loading across the resistors. The module can ascertain a state of health of the individual resistors and remove unhealthy resistors from service, report the state of health of the resistors, and initiate changes in operation based thereon.
23 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A braking regeneration energy shunt system for a turf maintenance vehicle comprising:
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a power bus; a traction motor coupled to the power bus, the traction motor developing a back electromotive force that can be directed into the power bus as regeneration energy; an energy storage device coupled to the power bus, the energy storage device selectively providing electric current to the power bus and selectively receiving electric current from the power bus; a resistor array having a plurality of resistors, the resistor array selectively dissipating regeneration energy into heat; a control module monitoring at least one of a voltage of the power bus and a state of charge of the energy storage device, the control module selectively directing regeneration energy created by the traction motor into the resistor array for dissipation as heat based on at least one of the voltage of the power bus and the state of charge of the energy storage device; wherein the control module ascertains the number of resistors needed to dissipate the regeneration energy directed to the resistor array and directs the regeneration energy simultaneously to the ascertained number of resistors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A turf maintenance vehicle comprising:
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an energy storage device; a power bus coupled to the energy storage device and receiving electrical energy therefrom; at least one driven wheel; at least one electric motor coupled to the power bus and operable to drive the at least one driven wheel, the at least one electric motor creating regeneration energy during deceleration, the regeneration energy operable to provide energy to the energy storage device; a resistor array having a plurality of resistors, the resistor array selectively dissipating regeneration energy directed thereto into heat; and a control module monitoring at least one of a voltage of the power bus and a state of charge of the energy storage device, the control module selectively directing the regeneration energy created by the at least one motor into the resistor array for dissipation as heat based on at least one of the voltage of the power bus and the state of charge of the energy storage device; wherein the control module ascertains the number of resistors needed to dissipate the regeneration energy directed to the resistor array and directs the regeneration energy simultaneously to the ascertained number of resistors. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of dissipating regeneration energy created in a turf maintenance vehicle having a power bus, an energy storage device, and a resistor array having a plurality of resistors, the method comprising:
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monitoring a voltage of the power bus; monitoring a state of charge of the energy storage device; creating regeneration energy during deceleration of the turf maintenance vehicle; selectively routing the regeneration energy to the energy storage device when the state of charge is less than a predetermined value; selectively routing the regeneration energy to the resistor array when the state of charge is greater than the predetermined value; dissipating the regeneration energy with at least two of the resistors in the resistor array when the regeneration energy is routed to the resistor array; determining the number of resistors needed to dissipate the regeneration energy directed to the resistor array; and directing the regeneration energy simultaneously to the ascertained number of resistors. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification