Apparatus for retarding the increase in braking torque associated with connecting an electrical consumer to a power supply of a drive system in a vehicle

For use with a vehicle having a drive engine, a consumer of electrical power and an energy storage device, an apparatus for retarding an increase in braking torque associated with connecting the consumer to a source of electrical power, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one generator operatively connected to the drive engine for developing a supply current, the at least one generator applying a braking torque to the drive engine, the braking torque being dependent upon the supply current;
• and
• a control system responsive to a control signal received at a first time and requesting activation of the consumer to connect the consumer to the supply current developed by the at least one generator after a delay period to thereby enable the at least one generator to increase both the supply current and the braking torque applied to the drive engine over the delay period rather than abruptly, the control system being adapted to supply at least a portion of the increased current supply developed in the delay period to the energy storage device.

For use with a vehicle having a drive engine and first and second consumers of electrical power, an apparatus for retarding an increase in braking torque associated with connecting the first consumer to a source of electrical power, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one generator operatively connected to the drive engine for developing a supply current, the at least one generator applying a braking torque to the drive engine, the braking torque being substantially in proportion to the supply current;
• and
• a control system operatively coupled to the first and second consumers, the control system being responsive to a control signal received at a first time and requesting activation of the first consumer to connect the first consumer to the supply current developed by the at least one generator after a delay period to thereby enable the at least one generator to increase both the supply current and the braking torque applied to the drive engine over the delay period rather than abruptly, the control system being adapted to supply at least a portion of the increased current supply developed in the delay period to the second consumer.