Blower system and method

A vehicle comprising:

• a traction motor;
• a transfer switch;
• a first inverter coupled to a first input of the transfer switch;
• a second inverter coupled to a second input of the transfer switch;
• an auxiliary component blower;
• a first alternating current blower motor configured to power the auxiliary component blower, the first alternating current blower motor coupled to a first output of the transfer switch;
• a traction motor blower configured to cool the traction motor;
• a second alternating current blower motor configured to power the traction motor blower, the second alternating current blower motor coupled to a second output of the transfer switch;
• a grid having plural resistive elements for dissipating electrical power during a dynamic braking operation of the traction motor;
• a grid blower, wherein grid blower is configured to cool the grid;
• a third alternating current blower motor configured to power the grid blower, the third alternating current blower motor coupled to a third output of the transfer switch;
• and
• a controller, the controller configured to cause the transfer switch to connect the first inverter with the first alternating current blower motor and connect the second inverter with the second alternating current blower motor at a first mode of operation, to connect the first inverter with the first alternating current blower motor and connect the second inverter with the third alternating current blower motor at a second mode of operation, and to connect the first inverter with the third alternating current blower motor and connect the second inverter with the second alternating current blower motor at a third mode of operation.

A method comprising:

• with a controller having a processor, detecting a mode of operation of a vehicle system;
• responsive to detecting that the mode of operation is a motoring mode of operation of the vehicle system, with the controller, controlling a transfer switch to connect an auxiliary blower inverter with an auxiliary blower motor of the vehicle system and to connect a traction motor blower inverter with a traction motor blower motor of the vehicle system;
• responsive to detecting that the mode of operation is a dynamic braking mode of operation of the vehicle system, with the controller, controlling the transfer switch to connect the auxiliary blower inverter with a grid blower motor of the vehicle system and to connect the traction motor blower inverter with the traction motor blower motor;
• and
• responsive to detecting that the mode of operation is a third mode of operation of the vehicle system, with the controller, controlling the transfer switch to connect the auxiliary blower inverter with the auxiliary blower motor and to connect the traction motor blower inverter with the grid blower motor.