US 7,918,296 B2 · Cooling system for an electric drive machine and method

Abstract

A cooling system (500) for an electric drive system includes a cooling duct (502) extending between a first component and a second component. A motor (336) driven fan (510) creates an airflow within the duct. A first temperature sensor measures a first temperature of the first component and a second temperature sensor measures a second temperature of the second component. An electronic controller (540) receives the first temperature and calculates a first temperature difference between the first temperature and the first temperature limit (802) to generate a first command (836) for the motor (336). A second temperature difference between the second temperature and the second temperature limit (802) generates a second command (836) for the motor (336). The controller (540) then selects the greater of the first command (836) and the second command (836) to yield the maximum command (836), and controls the motor (336) based on the maximum command (836).

Claims20

Dependent claims

A cooling system for cooling one or more components of an electric drive system in a machine, comprising:

a cooling duct extending between a first component and a second component of the machine;
a fan disposed to create an airflow within the cooling duct when the fan is operating;
a motor disposed to rotate the fan;
a first temperature sensor disposed to measure a first temperature of the first component, the first temperature being associated with a first temperature limit;
a second temperature sensor disposed to measure a second temperature of the second component, the second temperature being associated with a second temperature limit;
an electronic controller disposed to control operation of the motor, receive the first temperature, and receive the second temperature, and in response, to calculate a first temperature difference between the first temperature and the first temperature limit and generate a first command for the motor based on the first temperature difference, to calculate a second temperature difference between the second temperature and one of the first temperature limit and the second temperature limit to generate a second command for the motor based on the second temperature difference, to select the greater of the first command and the second command to yield the maximum command, and to control the motor based on the maximum command.

3 more elements

A machine having an electric drive system, the electric drive system including an engine that is connected to a generator, the generator having an electrical output connected to a rectifier, the rectifier connected to an inverter, the inverter connected to an electric drive motor, the machine further comprising:

a cooling duct in fluid communication with a first component and a second component;
a fan motor operating a blower disposed within the cooling duct;
a first temperature sensor disposed to measure a first component temperature and to provide a first component temperature sensing signal;
a second temperature sensor disposed to measure a second component temperature and to provide a second component temperature sensing signal;
and
an electronic controller disposed to receive the first component temperature sensing signal and the second component temperature sensing signal, to calculate a first difference between the first component temperature and a first component temperature limit and generate a first airflow command based on the first difference, to calculate a second difference between the second component temperature and a second component temperature limit and generate a second airflow command based on the second difference, to compare the first airflow command with the second airflow command to yield a maximum desired airflow, and to command the fan motor to operate such that the maximum desired airflow is generated within the cooling duct.

3 more elements

A method of operating a blower disposed in a convective cooling system associated with a first component and a second component of a machine, the cooling system including a cooling duct that directs a cooling flow of air toward the first component and the second component, and a blower operating under the control of a controller to direct a cooling flow of air through the cooling duct, the method comprising:

sensing a first temperature of the first component and providing a first temperature signal indicative of the first temperature;
sensing a second temperature of the second component and providing a second temperature signal indicative of the second temperature;
comparing the first temperature signal to a first temperature limit to yield a first temperature difference;
comparing the second temperature signal to a second temperature limit to yield a second temperature difference;
calculating a first desired airflow based on the first temperature difference;
calculating a second desired airflow based on the second temperature difference;
selecting the greater of the first desired airflow and the second desired airflow to yield a maximum desired airflow;
and
operating the blower to generate a flow of air in the cooling duct that is at least equal to the maximum desired airflow.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Cooling system for an electric drive machine and method

Life of this patent

Cooling system for an electric drive machine and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20