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US 12,587,114 B2Granted
Electrical sub-assembly and associated method of operation
AssigneeAdvanced Electric Machines Group Limited
InventorJames Widmer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Electrical sub-assembly and associated method of operation There is provided an electrical sub-assembly having first and second motors, the second motor being a reluctance motor. Each of the first and second motors has a respective rotor drivingly connected to the other and is independently operable to generate torque either alone or in combination with one another. The torque generated by each of the first and second motors may be transmittable to a drivetrain of a vehicle. As such, the electrical sub-assembly may have particular application in a hybrid or electric vehicle.
Claims20
An electrical sub-assembly comprising:
- a first motor;
- and
- a second motor;
- wherein the first motor and the second motor are independently operable to generate a torque of the electrical sub-assembly;
- wherein in a first operating mode, the first motor is configured to generate the torque and the second motor does not contribute to the torque;
- wherein in a second operating mode, the second motor is configured to generate the torque and the first motor does not contribute to the torque;
- wherein in a third operating mode, the first motor and the second motor are configured to cooperatively generate the torque;
- wherein the first motor and the second motor are substantially the same as one another;
- wherein each of the first motor and the second motor is a switched reluctance motor having a respective rotor drivingly connected to the other;
- wherein a mechanical angle of one of the respective rotors is offset from a mechanical angle of the other of the respective rotors;
- wherein the respective rotors are drivingly connected to one another by a drive shaft for transmitting the torque;
- and
- wherein a range of speed of the first motor and the second motor that achieves operation at or near a peak efficiency of the electrical subassembly in the third operating mode is substantially the same as a range of speed of the first motor that achieves operation at or near a peak efficiency of the electrical sub-assembly in the first operating mode and substantially the same as a range of speed of the second motor that achieves operation at or near a peak efficiency of the electrical sub-assembly in the second operating mode.
10 more elements
A method of operating an electrical sub-assembly comprising:
- operating a first motor and a second motor, each of the first motor and the second motor being a switched reluctance motor having a respective rotor drivingly connected to the other, to generate torque in a first operating mode, wherein the first motor generates the torque and the second motor does not contribute to the torque, a second operating mode, wherein the second motor generates the torque and the first motor does not contribute to the torque, or a third operating mode, wherein the first motor and the second motor cooperatively generate the torque;
- selecting the first operating mode, the second operating mode, or the third operating mode;
- generating the torque via the selected operating mode;
- wherein the first and second motors are substantially the same as one another;
- wherein a mechanical angle of one of the respective rotors is offset from a mechanical angle of the other of the respective rotors;
- wherein the respective rotors are drivingly connected to one another by a drive shaft for transmitting the torque;
- and
- wherein a range of speed of the first motor and the second motor that achieves operation at or near a peak efficiency of the electrical subassembly in the third operating mode is substantially the same as a range of speed of the first motor that achieves operation at or near a peak efficiency of the electrical sub-assembly in the first operating mode and substantially the same as a range of speed of the second motor that achieves operation at or near a peak efficiency of the electrical sub-assembly in the second operating mode.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.