Patents Assigned to AC Propulsion, Inc.
  • Patent number: 9443786
    Abstract: A packaging and cooling apparatus for power semiconductor devices comprising a printed circuit board and a semiconductor module. The semiconductor module having a manifold element and a semiconductor element consisting of power semiconductor devices, thermally conductive plates, and serpentine fin elements. The power semiconductor devices and serpentine fin elements are bonded to the thermally conductive plates on opposing sides to form plate assemblies. The plate assemblies are installed in the windows of the manifold element forming the semiconductor module, which allows for heat removal from each of the power semiconductor devices. The terminals of the semiconductor module are received in the holes of the circuit board, and soldered to traces. The packaging and cooling apparatus may be potted with a resin to prevent leakage of coolant or sealing may be achieved by use of clamped o-rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: AC Propulsion, Inc.
    Inventors: Wally E. Rippel, Paul F. Carosa, George R. Woody, Lon C. Cooper, David L. Bogdanchik
  • Patent number: 8970075
    Abstract: A liquid-cooled, radial air gap electric motor includes a stator, a rotor, a rotor shaft, two end bells, a housing, a coolant manifold system, and a coolant sump. The rotor includes a plurality of axially directed slots located near its periphery. The coolant manifold system directs a first portion of liquid coolant to flow past some portion of the stator and a second portion of liquid coolant to flow through the rotor slots. Some or all of the liquid coolant is received by the coolant sump from which the coolant may be recirculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: AC Propulsion, Inc.
    Inventors: Wally E. Rippel, Christopher C. Moore, Paul F. Carosa
  • Publication number: 20150035393
    Abstract: A liquid-cooled, radial air gap electric motor includes a stator, a rotor, a rotor shaft, two end bells, a housing, a coolant manifold system, and a coolant sump. The rotor includes a plurality of axially directed slots located near its periphery. The coolant manifold system directs a first portion of liquid coolant to flow past some portion of the stator and a second portion of liquid coolant to flow through the rotor slots. Some or all of the liquid coolant is received by the coolant sump from which the coolant may be recirculated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: AC PROPULSION, INC.
    Inventors: Walley E. Rippel, Christopher C. Moore, Paul F. Carosa
  • Publication number: 20140042841
    Abstract: A liquid-cooled, radial air gap electric motor includes a stator, a rotor, a rotor shaft, two end bells, a housing, a coolant manifold system, and a coolant sump. The rotor includes a plurality of axially directed slots located near its periphery. The coolant manifold system directs a first portion of liquid coolant to flow past some portion of the stator and a second portion of liquid coolant to flow through the rotor slots. Some or all of the liquid coolant is received by the coolant sump from which the coolant may be recirculated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: AC PROPULSION, INC.
    Inventors: Wally E. Rippel, Christopher C. Moore, Paul F. Carosa
  • Patent number: 8415904
    Abstract: An integrated motor drive and battery recharge apparatus includes a battery, an electric motor having N separate motor windings each having a first and a second leg, a contactor having a plurality M of poles, each pole having a first side and a second side, the inverter having 2N switching poles and a capacitor each coupled in parallel with the battery, and PWM control circuitry configured to control the state of each switching pole. Each leg of each motor winding is coupled to a phase node of a corresponding inverter switching pole, at least two of the motor winding legs (or taps thereof) are coupled to the corresponding first sides of the contactor poles, a power source/sink is coupled to the corresponding second sides of the contactor poles, and in one aspect a capacitor is coupled between each pair of contactor poles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: AC Propulsion, Inc.
    Inventor: Wally E. Rippel
  • Patent number: 8164433
    Abstract: Cell voltages within a battery pack and a voltage delivered to a load or drive system, along with a current delivered to the system, are monitored and used to detect a possible abnormal condition of a wiring harness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: AC Propulsion, Inc.
    Inventor: David William Sivertsen
  • Publication number: 20110316461
    Abstract: An integrated motor drive and battery recharge apparatus includes a battery, an electric motor having N separate motor windings each having a first and a second leg, a contactor having a plurality M of poles, each pole having a first side and a second side, the inverter having 2N switching poles and a capacitor each coupled in parallel with the battery, and PWM control circuitry configured to control the state of each switching pole. Each leg of each motor winding is coupled to a phase node of a corresponding inverter switching pole, at least two of the motor winding legs (or taps thereof) are coupled to the corresponding first sides of the contactor poles, a power source/sink is coupled to the corresponding second sides of the contactor poles, and in one aspect a capacitor is coupled between each pair of contactor poles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: AC PROPULSION, INC.
    Inventor: Wally E. Rippel
  • Publication number: 20100265051
    Abstract: Cell voltages within a battery pack and a voltage delivered to a load or drive system, along with a current delivered to the system, are monitored and used to detect a possible abnormal condition of a wiring harness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: AC PROPULSION, INC.
    Inventor: David William Sivertsen
  • Patent number: 7782014
    Abstract: A method and system for managing a plurality of batteries and useable by way of example with a partially or completely electrically powered vehicle (EV) includes a plurality of monitor modules each coupled to at least one of the plurality of batteries and configured to monitor the voltage and temperature thereof, a master controller, and a non-conductive fiber optic network coupling the plurality of monitor modules to one another and to the master controller. The master controller commands the transmission of battery voltage and temperature information from the plurality of monitor modules over the network, receives battery voltage and temperature information from the monitor modules over the network, and perform calculations based on the received information to determine if any of the plurality of batteries require balancing measures, and based thereon, commands the corresponding monitor modules to implement balancing measures over the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: AC Propulsion, Inc.
    Inventor: David Sivertsen
  • Patent number: 6112575
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to provide a very compact and low power measurement of vehicular (automobile) exhaust emissions with results similar to those obtained with traditional CVS dynamometer lab emissions equipment. The sample dilution necessary for the analysis is performed by a computer controlled PWM valve as a function of measure exhaust mass flow, with the result that a "mini CVS" is accurately performed on a small fraction of the total exhaust flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: AC Propulsion, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan G. Cocconi
  • Patent number: 6018224
    Abstract: A feedback circuit prevents clipping of the inverter drive signals for a polyphase induction motor. The circuit senses the electromotive force (e.m.f.) of the motor and regulates the slip frequency as a function of the difference between the sensed motor e.m.f. and the DC power supply voltage. When the motor e.m.f. approaches the supply voltage, a voltage controlled oscillator adjusts the slip frequency to reduce the motor e.m.f. and thereby ensure that the motor drive waveforms are not distorted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: AC Propulsion, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan G. Cocconi