Electric drivetrain thermal protection system
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsWilliam James Tate, Robert Paul Bertsch, Bruce H. Hein, Thuong Dao Anh Le
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Abstract
An electric drivetrain for a mobile machine is disclosed. The electric drivetrain has at least one power consuming device, a sensor associated with the at least one power consuming device, and a controller in communication with the power consuming device and the sensor. The sensor is configured to generate a signal indicative of a temperature of the power consuming device. The controller is configured to limit a power consumption level of the at least one power consuming device to an amount corresponding to a value of the signal.
Claims16
An electric drivetrain, comprising:
- at least one power consuming device;
- at least one power producing device;
- a sensor associated with the at least one power consuming device to generate a signal indicative of a temperature of the at least one power consuming device;
- a second sensor associated with the at least one power producing device to generate a second signal indicative of a temperature of the at least one power producing device;
- and
- a controller in communication with the at least one power consuming device, the sensor, and the second sensor, the controller being configured to:
- normalize the value of the signal;
- normalize the value of the second signal;
- and
- limit a power consumption level of the at least one power consuming device to an amount corresponding to the highest of the normalized value of the signal and the normalized value of the second signal.
A method of operating a drivetrain, comprising:
- producing an electrical power output;
- consuming the electrical power output to produce a mechanical output;
- sensing a temperature associated with the mechanical output production;
- generating a signal indicative of the temperature;
- utilizing a mechanical input to produce the electrical power output;
- sensing a second temperature associated with the production of the electrical power output;
- generating a second signal indicative of the second temperature;
- normalizing the value of the signal;
- normalizing the value of the second signal;
- and
- limiting a consumption of power to an amount corresponding to the highest of the normalized value of the signal and the normalized value of the second signal, wherein limiting includes limiting an output command directed to an electrical motor.
A mobile machine, comprising:
- an engine;
- a generator mechanically driven by the engine to generate electrical power;
- at least one traction device;
- at least one motor configured to consume the electrical power and drive the at least one traction device;
- at least one heat sink associated with at least one of the at least one motor and the generator to absorb heat from the at least one of the at least one motor and the generator;
- a first sensor associated with the generator to generate a first signal indicative of the generator temperature;
- a second sensor associated with the at least one motor to generate a second signal indicative of the temperature of the at least one motor;
- a third sensor associated with the at least one heat sink to generate a signal indicative of the temperature of the at least one heat sink;
- and
- a controller in communication with the at least one motor, first sensor, second sensor, and third sensor, the controller being configured to:
- normalize the value of the first signal;
- normalize the value of the second signal;
- determine a limitation on the power consumption level of the at least one motor corresponding to the highest of the normalized values;
- determine a limitation on the power consumption level of the at least one motor corresponding to the third signal;
- and
- limit a power consumption level of the at least one power consuming device an amount corresponding to the greater of the determined limitations.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.