Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130239913 | Thermal Management System, Vehicle, and Associated Method - A system is provided that includes an engine coupled to an alternator; a radiator fan motor in electrical communication with the alternator, and that is mechanically decoupled from the engine; an energy storage device in electrical communication with the alternator and the radiator fan motor; and one or more traction motors in electrical communication with the energy storage device, the radiator fan motor, or both. Electricity provided through dynamic braking can power the radiator fan motor upon generation of the electricity, or it can be stored in the energy storage device for use later in powering the radiator fan motor. | 09-19-2013 |
20130248262 | HOIST SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system includes a motor coupled to an energy source and coupled to a hoist pump. During one mode of use or operation, the motor cars receive electricity from the energy source and provide mechanical power to the hoist pump. A method includes directing a motor to mechanically couple to the hoist pump, and directing electrical power to flow from an energy source to the motor, and thereby to control the speed of hoist activity. | 09-26-2013 |
20130261832 | Thermal Management System, Vehicle and Associated Method - A system includes a cooling system having a cooling fluid for cooling an engine and a radiator fan motor; a dynamic braking system configured to supply electrical energy to the fan motor during a braking event; and a controller that is operable to direct the electrical energy from the dynamic braking system to the fan motor to cool the coolant to a predetermined minimum threshold temperature. A method includes switching a vehicle thermal management system from a first mode of operation in which the coolant is maintained at a steady operating temperature to a second mode of operation in which the coolant is cooled to a minimum threshold temperature. | 10-03-2013 |
20130301326 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THERMAL CYCLING - A method for reducing thermal cycling of a semiconductor power switch includes obtaining a value indicative of a junction temperature of the power switch. The method also includes selecting one of several pre-determined gate drive voltages, based on the obtained value, and providing the selected gate drive voltage to a gate of the power switch. This reduces thermal cycling of a power switch relative to the thermal cycling that would be present during operation at a single gate temperature. | 11-14-2013 |
20130301755 | CONVERTER COMMUNICATION METHOD AND APPARATUS - A communication method includes detecting at a gate drive unit a change of state of a command signal that is received via a command link of the gate drive unit and initiating, responsive to the change of state of the command signal, a blanking period in which the gate drive unit will process as incoming data any further changes of state of the command signal. The method also includes receiving incoming data at the gate drive unit, by processing modulations of the command signal, within the blanking period. | 11-14-2013 |
20130308344 | POWER CONVERTER AND METHOD - A power converter apparatus includes a primary bridge having a plurality of diagonally opposed primary power elements, and a secondary bridge having a plurality of diagonally opposed secondary power elements. The primary and secondary bridges are electrically coupled by a transformer. At least one control unit is configured to phase-shift switch the primary and secondary power elements, such that one or more of the primary and secondary power elements are switched off under near-zero current conditions to reduce voltage and current stresses and commutation losses within the power converter. | 11-21-2013 |
20140023894 | ENERGY STORAGE DEVICE AND METHOD - An energy storage device that includes a housing, which includes at least one end panel that includes at least one aperture therethrough. The device further includes a battery cell housed in the housing. The battery cell includes mutually opposed first and second faces joined at their edges. The device also includes a heat sink adjacent to the battery cell and in thermal contact with the first face of the battery cell. The heat sink defines at least one cooling medium passage extending parallel to the face of the adjacent battery cell. The cooling medium passage opens onto the at least one aperture formed through the at least one end panel of the housing. | 01-23-2014 |
20140077611 | CAPACITOR BANK, LAMINATED BUS, AND POWER SUPPLY APPARATUS - A capacitor bank includes a laminated bus bar having a high potential conductive layer and a low potential conductive layer disposed in close proximity at opposing surfaces of an intervening insulation layer. The bank also includes a plurality of bus capacitors electrically connected to the laminated bus bar. The laminated bus bar and the bus capacitors having a combined inductance sufficiently low such that the bus capacitors are electrically connected effectively in parallel with the laminated bus bar. | 03-20-2014 |
20140078782 | POWER CONVERTER CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD - A power converter control system includes primary bridge controller that is configured to actuate a first plurality of gate drive units that switch a first plurality of power elements in a primary bridge of a power converter. The control system further includes a secondary bridge controller separate from the primary bridge controller that is configured to actuate a second plurality of gate drive units to switch a second plurality of power elements in a secondary bridge of the power converter | 03-20-2014 |
20140124170 | INTEGRATED COOLING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENGINE-POWERED UNIT - The present invention relates to an integrated cooling system for a vehicle. The system includes an engine cooling loop having a first fluid configured for circulation through an engine of the vehicle and a power electronics cooling loop having a second fluid configured for circulation through at least one power electronics component of the vehicle. The engine cooling loop is fluidly isolated from, and in thermal communication with, the power electronics cooling loop. | 05-08-2014 |
20140156175 | DRIVER ALERT AND DE-RATE CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD - A driver alert and de-rate control system for a vehicle includes a sensor configured to monitor an engine operating condition, and a control unit in communication with the sensor. The control unit is configured to estimate a time until automatic de-rate of the engine based on the engine operating condition and to modify a performance parameter of the vehicle in dependence upon the estimated time until automatic de-rate. | 06-05-2014 |
20140184113 | BRAKING AND AUXILIARY POWER CONVERTER - An integrated power converter includes first and second auxiliary switch modules, and one or more braking switch modules. The first auxiliary switch module is mounted at a first location of a laminated bus bar, and connects a first auxiliary lead with a first power layer and a second power layer of the bus bar. The second auxiliary switch module is mounted at a second location of the bus bar, and connects a second auxiliary lead with the first and second power layers. The braking switch modules are mounted at additional locations of the bus bar, adjacent to the first and second locations. Each braking switch module connects a braking lead with one of the power layers of the bus bar, and with a dual diode module or with the other power layer of the bus bar. | 07-03-2014 |
20140185328 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR AVOIDING TRANSFORMER SATURATION - A controller for a power converter includes one or more controller modules operably linked to a transformer core of the power converter, to primary bridge switches of the power converter, and to secondary bridge switches of the power converter, wherein the one or more controller modules are configured to avoid saturation of the transformer core by modulating pulse widths of first electrical pulses sent to the primary bridge switches, based at least on measurements of DC components of current through primary and secondary windings adjacent the transformer core, and by modulating pulse widths of second electrical pulses sent to the secondary bridge switches, based at least on measurements of DC components of current through the primary and secondary windings. | 07-03-2014 |
20140191745 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MITIGATING PERTURBATIONS IN A POWER CONVERTER - A power converter includes a plurality of switches that interconnect first and second input terminals of the power converter with first and second output terminals of the power converter. The switches are switched to convert power from the input terminals to the output terminals. During the switching, voltage spikes are mitigated by a first RLC branch connected from the first input terminal to the first output terminal and by a second RLC branch connected from the second input terminal to the second output terminal. | 07-10-2014 |
20140354042 | FAILURE PROTECTION FOR A POWER DELIVERY SYSTEM - A power delivery system includes a bus bar and a housing coupled to the bus bar. A semiconductor power device is enclosed within the housing. The housing comprises an outlet configured to direct failure material of the power semiconductor device away from any remaining components connected to the bus bar. In another aspect, the power delivery system additionally or alternatively comprises two bus bars. A first of the two bus bars has a first landing, a riser, and a second landing, which is parallel to the first landing and in effect spatially offset from the first landing. A second of the two bus bars is attached to the second landing of the first bus bar, such that the second bus bar is parallel to but offset from the first landing of the bus bar. | 12-04-2014 |
20150053173 | VEHICLE TEMPERATURE REGULATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - 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. | 02-26-2015 |
20150081150 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A VEHICLE - A control system for a vehicle comprises a control unit configured to be electrically coupled to a drive system of the vehicle. The drive system includes at least one traction motor for providing motive power to the vehicle. The control unit is configured to control a torque output of the traction motor to hold zero speed or near zero speed of the vehicle on a grade without knowing information, in at least one mode of operation, about the grade and/or a load of the vehicle, and without a service brake of the vehicle being activated. | 03-19-2015 |