Drive system for a vehicle, method for operating the drive system, and vehicle comprising drive system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11952018-B2
Application number	US-202017124603-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 17, 2020
Priority date	Dec 19, 2019
Publication date	Apr 9, 2024
Grant date	Apr 9, 2024

Abstract

A drive system for a vehicle includes a plurality of electric traction motors, each mechanically coupled to at least one drive wheel to generate traction. At least one traction power converter is connected on an AC voltage side to at least one electric traction motor to supply the electric traction motor with electric power. A traction control unit for controlling at least one traction power converter is provided and is designed to control the at least one traction power converter while the vehicle is moving based on electrical output alternating quantities of the at least one traction power converter. A rotational movement of the at least one drive wheel of the vehicle during standstill of the vehicle is not detected by a separate detection unit based on the output alternating quantities.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A drive system for a vehicle, the drive system comprising:
a plurality of electric traction motors, each of the electric traction motors being mechanically coupled to at least one drive wheel to generate traction;
at least one traction power converter, the at least one traction power converter being connected on an AC voltage side to at least one of the plurality of electric traction motors to supply the at least one electric traction motor with electric power;
a traction control unit for a closed-loop and/or an open-loop control of the at least one traction power converter, wherein the traction control unit being designed to control, by the closed-loop and/or the open-loop control, the at least one traction power converter while the vehicle is moving, based on electrical output alternating quantities of the at least one traction power converter,
wherein the traction control unit being designed to detect a rotational movement of at least one drive wheel of the vehicle while the vehicle is driving, in the process of detecting a rotational movement:
based on a change in the electrical output alternating quantities of the at least one traction power converter, and/or
based on at least one quantity that is influenced by an electrical state and/or a magnetic state of the at least one electric traction motor or at least one of the plurality of electric traction motors, wherein the state being dependent on a movement and/or position of a rotor of the at least one electric traction motor, and

wherein the traction control unit being designed, during a state of standstill of the vehicle,
to detect a rotational movement of at least one wheel of the vehicle based on an evaluation of signals of at least one detection unit, without the at least one detection unit detecting any electrical output alternating quantities of the at least one traction power converter or any quantity that is influenced by an electrical state and/or a magnetic state of the at least one electric traction motor or of at least one of the electric traction motors, the state being dependent on a movement and/or position of a rotor of the electric traction motor, and/or
to detect a rotational movement of at least one drive wheel of the vehicle based on a change in the electrical output alternating quantities of the at least one traction power converter.

2. The drive system according to claim 1 , wherein the traction control unit is furthermore designed to control the at least one traction power converter, during the standstill of the vehicle, in such a way that at least one, but no more than two of the plurality of electric traction motors are supplied with electric power.

3. The drive system according to claim 1 , wherein the traction control unit is furthermore designed to control the at least one traction power converter, during the standstill of the vehicle, in such a way that no more than one of the plurality of electric traction motors is supplied with electric power.

4. The drive system according to claim 1 , wherein the traction control unit is designed not to use signals of the detection unit for the closed-loop and/or open-loop control of at least one traction power converter while the vehicle is driving.

5. The drive system according to claim 1 , wherein the detection unit is a rotary encoder, an acceleration sensor, a resolver, or a gravitational force sensor.

6. A vehicle comprising the drive system according to claim 1 , wherein the drive system is operated using the method according to claim 1 .

7. A method for operating the drive system according to claim 1 , the method in a first operating mode comprising:
supplying the at least one electric traction motor, or the plurality of electric traction motors, with electric power to generate traction, the rotational speed, the velocity, the torque and/or the position of the rotor of the electric traction motor, or of at least one of the electric traction motors, being controlled, while the vehicle is moving, based on
electrical output alternating quantities of the at least one traction power converter, by closed-loop and/or open-loop control, and/or
at least one quantity that is influenced by an electrical state and/or a magnetic state of the electric traction motor or at least one of the electric traction motors, the state being dependent on a movement and/or position of a rotor of the electric traction motor(s),
the method in an at least second operating mode, during a standstill state of the vehicle, comprising:
detecting a rotational movement of at least one wheel of the vehicle, by evaluating signals of at least one detection unit suitable for detecting a rotational movement of a wheel, the at least one detection unit not detecting any electrical output alternating quantity of the at least one traction power converter and not detecting any quantity that is influenced by an electrical state and/or a magnetic state of the electric traction motor or of at least one of the electric traction motors, the state being dependent on a movement and/or position of a rotor of the electric traction motor, and/or
detecting a rotational movement of at least one drive wheel of the vehicle based on a change in the electrical output alternating quantities of the at least one traction power converter.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein no more than two of the plurality of electric traction motors are supplied with electric power, without generating traction in the process.

9. The method according to claim 7 , wherein no more than one of the plurality of electric traction motors is supplied with electric power, without generating traction in the process.

10. The method according to claim 7 , wherein signals of the detection unit are not used for the closed-loop and/or open-loop control of at least one traction power converter while the vehicle is driving.

11. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the detection unit is a rotary encoder, an acceleration sensor, a resolver, or a gravitational force sensor.

Assignees

• Bombardier Transp Gmbh

Inventors

• Wirth Christian
• Vogelsberger Markus

Classifications

• B61C3/00 Primary

  Electric locomotives or railcars (characterised by power transmission B61C9/00; electrical features B60L; H02) · CPC title

• H02P6/04

  Arrangements for controlling or regulating the speed or torque of more than one motor (H02P6/10 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H02P6/16

  Circuit arrangements for detecting position · CPC title

• B60L15/007 Primary

  Physical arrangements or structures of drive train converters specially adapted for the propulsion motors of electric vehicles · CPC title

• B60L9/16 Primary

  using AC induction motors · CPC title