Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a method including receiving first impact data. The method includes receiving second impact data. The method includes applying a first filter to both the first impact data and the second impact data. The method includes applying a second filter to both the first impact data and the second impact data. Filtering includes time and frequency based discriminating filter to isolate specific signatures that representatively indicate impact signatures generated by the sand on the interrogator. The method includes comparing the first impact data and the second impact data for corresponding signatures. The method includes identifying a corresponding signature in both the first impact data and the second impact data. The method includes determining the corresponding signature meets a threshold criterion. The method includes determining one or more particulate properties based at least in part on the corresponding peak.

Abstract: A battery exchange apparatus (e.g., for a battery exchange station positioned at a wayside location of a vehicle route) includes a receptacle mounted to at least one rail for lateral movement along the rail and for pivotal movement around a working axis generally orthogonal to the rail. The receptacle has an open end for receiving a battery from a direction generally orthogonal to the working axis. The apparatus further includes a recharge connector provided within the receptacle and opposite the open end of the receptacle. The open end of the receptacle includes at least two laterally flared surfaces, which are configured to impose at least one of lateral motion or pivotal motion on the receptacle in order to align the receptacle to the battery that is at least one of laterally or angularly misaligned from a lateral midline of the receptacle.

Abstract: An electric machine that includes a rotor core made of magnetic steel; a stator configured with stationary windings therein; openings disposed within or on the rotor core; and a rotor circuit that is configured to introduce saliency based on an orientation of part of the rotor circuit in relationship to a pole location of the electric machine, where the rotor circuit is made of a conductive, non-magnetic material. A rotor component and various embodiments of electric machines are also disclosed. The present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiment(s), and it is recognized that equivalents, alternatives, and modifications, aside from those expressly stated, are possible and within the scope of the appending claims.

Abstract: A rotor component that comprises a rotor circuit configured for use with either an interior permanent magnet (IPM) machine or a synchronous reluctance machine (SRM) that includes a pole circuit made of a conductive, non-magnetic material and has a midpoint that substantially aligns with a d-axis of the IPM or SRM. An electric machine with a similar rotor component therein or having a loop or ring of a conductive, non-magnetic material that is substantially concentric about a d-axis of the electric machine.

Abstract: A vehicle battery exchange system includes a base, a gripper, a retrieval actuator that retractably and extensibly connects the gripper to the base, and a vehicle alignment feature sensing apparatus that is operatively connected at least with the retrieval actuator and is configured to cause extension of the retrieval actuator to a battery-engaging position of the gripper in response to registration of a vehicle alignment feature to the vehicle alignment feature sensing apparatus, and to cause retraction of the retrieval actuator to a battery-removing position of the gripper in response to latching engagement of the gripper with a battery that is mounted in a vehicle at a pre-defined location relative to the vehicle alignment feature that is in registration to the alignment feature sensing apparatus.

Abstract: A battery exchange apparatus (e.g., for a battery exchange station positioned at a wayside location of a vehicle route) includes a receptacle mounted to at least one rail for lateral movement along the rail and for pivotal movement around a working axis generally orthogonal to the rail. The receptacle has an open end for receiving a battery from a direction generally orthogonal to the working axis. The apparatus further includes a recharge connector provided within the receptacle and opposite the open end of the receptacle. The open end of the receptacle includes at least two laterally flared surfaces, which are configured to impose at least one of lateral motion or pivotal motion on the receptacle in order to align the receptacle to the battery that is at least one of laterally or angularly misaligned from a lateral midline of the receptacle.

Abstract: A system includes a control unit having a processor and a communication interface. The communication interface is configured to communicate with one or more charging stations that are electrically coupled to receive electrical power from a power distribution grid and that are configured to selectively charge one or more energy storage devices connected to the charging stations. The processor is configured to generate first control signals for communication by the communication interface to the one or more charging stations to control transfer of reactive and/or active power from the charging stations to the power distribution grid. The control signals are generated based at least in part on a load cycle profile of one or more electric machines electrically coupled to the power distribution grid.

Abstract: An apparatus for positioning a vehicle includes an alignment sensor that has a field of view and a vehicle alignment system operatively connected to the alignment sensor and to at least one positioning system of the vehicle. Movement of the vehicle varies an appearance of a fiducial surface within the alignment sensor's field of view. The vehicle alignment system is configured to implement a method that includes monitoring the appearance of the fiducial surface to the alignment sensor, comparing the appearance of the fiducial surface to a pre-determined set of benchmark appearances, and operating the at least one positioning system based on a determination by the vehicle alignment system of whether the appearance of the fiducial surface to the alignment sensor satisfies a pre-determined target appearance that corresponds to a desired location and position of the vehicle relative to a fixed location.

Abstract: A vehicle battery exchange system includes a base, a gripper, a retrieval actuator that retractably and extensibly connects the gripper to the base, and a vehicle alignment feature sensing apparatus that is operatively connected at least with the retrieval actuator and is configured to cause extension of the retrieval actuator to a battery-engaging position of the gripper in response to registration of a vehicle alignment feature to the vehicle alignment feature sensing apparatus, and to cause retraction of the retrieval actuator to a battery-removing position of the gripper in response to latching engagement of the gripper with a battery that is mounted in a vehicle at a pre-defined location relative to the vehicle alignment feature that is in registration to the alignment feature sensing apparatus.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention relates to a system. The system includes a vehicle having primary energy storage device for providing the vehicle with a supply of electrical power, a remote opportunity charging device configured to be removably connected to vehicle and configured to selectively charge the primary energy storage device of the vehicle during vehicle operation, and an interface between the vehicle and the remote opportunity charging device. The interface is configured to enable the transfer of electrical power from the remote opportunity charging device to the vehicle.

Abstract: A rotor component that comprises a rotor circuit configured for use with either an interior permanent magnet (IPM) machine or a synchronous reluctance machine (SRM) that includes a pole circuit made of a conductive, non-magnetic material and has a midpoint that substantially aligns with a d-axis of the IPM or SRM. An electric machine with a similar rotor component therein or having a loop or ring of a conductive, non-magnetic material that is substantially concentric about a d-axis of the electric machine.

Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle having an electric drive is provided. The method includes defining a first zone and a second zone. The first zone has an associated first characteristic and the second zone has an associated second characteristic that differs from the first characteristic. The method further includes switching an operating mode of a vehicle from a first operating mode in the first zone to a second operating mode in the second zone in response to the vehicle translating from the first zone to the second zone. Associated vehicles and systems are provided also.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a transmission, an engine coupled to an input side of the transmission, and an electromechanical device coupled to an output side of the transmission. The apparatus also includes a differential coupled to the output side of the electromechanical device and a controller coupled to the electromechanical device. The controller is programmed to receive a travel range estimate and control operation of the electromechanical device based on the travel range estimate.

Abstract: A multi-energy storage device system includes an electric drive coupled to a load, a DC link coupled to the electric drive, and a bi-directional voltage converter having an output channel coupled to the DC link and an input channel. A first energy storage device (ESD) is coupled to the input channel, and a switch is coupled to the DC link and to a second ESD. A system controller causes the switch to couple the second ESD to the DC link for delivering energy stored in the second ESD to the electric drive. The system controller also causes the voltage converter to convert a voltage of the first ESD to a higher voltage and to deliver the higher voltage to the DC link, wherein the higher voltage is greater than the voltage of the second ESD and causes the switch to decouple the second ESD from the DC link.

Abstract: An electric machine that includes a rotor core made of magnetic steel; a stator configured with stationary windings therein; openings disposed within or on the rotor core; and a rotor circuit that is configured to introduce saliency based on an orientation of part of the rotor circuit in relationship to a pole location of the electric machine, where the rotor circuit is made of a conductive, non-magnetic material. A rotor component and various embodiments of electric machines are also disclosed. The present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiment(s), and it is recognized that equivalents, alternatives, and modifications, aside from those expressly stated, are possible and within the scope of the appending claims.

Abstract: A method is provided that includes propelling an electrically driven vehicle at a first, slower speed, and potentially high torque by supplying electricity at a first, lower voltage from an energy storage device to a second electric motor; and includes propelling the vehicle at a second, faster speed, and moderate torque by supplying electricity at a second, higher voltage from an engine-driven generator to a first electric motor. Another method includes propelling an electrically driven vehicle by supplying electricity from an engine-driven generator to a first electric motor; and generating electricity at a second electric motor to charge an energy storage device. Corresponding systems for implementing the method are provided.

Abstract: A multi-energy storage device system includes an electric drive coupled to a load, a DC link coupled to the electric drive, and a bi-directional voltage converter having an output channel coupled to the DC link and an input channel. A first energy storage device (ESD) is coupled to the input channel, and a switch is coupled to the DC link and to a second ESD. A system controller causes the switch to couple the second ESD to the DC link for delivering energy stored in the second ESD to the electric drive. The system controller also causes the voltage converter to convert a voltage of the first ESD to a higher voltage and to deliver the higher voltage to the DC link, wherein the higher voltage is greater than the voltage of the second ESD and causes the switch to decouple the second ESD from the DC link.

Abstract: An electric machine that includes a rotor core made of magnetic steel; a stator configured with stationary windings therein; openings disposed within or on the rotor core; and a rotor circuit that is configured to introduce saliency based on an orientation of part of the rotor circuit in relationship to a pole location of the electric machine, where the rotor circuit is made of a conductive, non-magnetic material. A rotor component and various embodiments of electric machines are also disclosed. The present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiment(s), and it is recognized that equivalents, alternatives, and modifications, aside from those expressly stated, are possible and within the scope of the appending claims.

Abstract: A system includes a retarder in electrical communication through an electric link with an alternator, and a controller that compares a power measurement with an accessory load on a system during a retard event, and can reduce an electrical load on the alternator, or can remove all electrical loads from an engine, when electric power that is generated from the retarder is measured to be greater than an accessory load on the system. The system may include an alternator that provides a motor function to rotate a shaft coupled to an engine that is mechanically coupled to one or more mechanically drivable accessories. The alternator powers the mechanically drivable accessories in place of or in addition to the engine.

Abstract: A battery load leveling system for an electrically powered system in which a battery is subject to intermittent high current loading, the system including a first battery, a second battery, and a load coupled to the batteries. The system includes a passive storage device, a unidirectional conducting apparatus coupled in series electrical circuit with the passive storage device and poled to conduct current from the passive storage device to the load, the series electrical circuit coupled in parallel with the battery such that the passive storage device provides current to the load when the battery terminal voltage is less than voltage on the passive storage device, and a battery switching circuit that connects the first and second batteries in either a lower voltage parallel arrangement or a higher voltage series arrangement.