Abstract: A rotating machine which includes a stator having a number of field winding slots, a number of field windings disposed in each of the field winding slots, at least two of the field windings have an outer jacket; and a number of conductive wires disposed within and enclosed by the outer jacket such that longitudinal passages are defined between the conductive wires. A pump circulates a coolant into and from the rotating machine through the longitudinal passages. Preferably, the rotating machine includes a housing that has a cavity for acceptance of the stator therein. The housing and stator define and second plenums at first and second ends of the stator. The coolant enters the rotating machine into the first plenum and exits the rotating machine from the second plenum.

Abstract: A rotating machine is provided which includes a stator having a number of field winding slots; a number of field windings disposed in each of the field winding slots, at least two of the field windings have: an outer jacket; and a number of conductive wires disposed within and enclosed by the outer jacket such that longitudinal passages are defined between the conductive wires; and circulation means for circulating a coolant into and from the rotating machine through the longitudinal passages. Preferably, the rotating machine further includes a housing which has a cavity for acceptance of the stator therein. The housing and stator define first and second plenums at first and second ends of the stator. The coolant enters the rotating machine into the first plenum and exits the rotating machine from the second plenum.

Abstract: A method for regeneration of particulate filters or traps in the context of a hybrid electric vehicle includes the step of measuring the back pressure of the filter, and adjusting the engine parameters when the back pressure exceeds a particular value to increase the exhaust temperature, to aid in regeneration. In one mode, the engine speed and engine load are both reset toward particular target values. In another version in which the engine load includes an energy storage device such as a battery, increasing the load includes the step of increasing the battery charge level setpoint. Additionally, for those situations in which the battery cannot accept more charge, a power-dissipating resistor is coupled to an electric source to increase the load. In yet another version, the use of the electrical resistor is made dependent upon the temperature of the filter during regeneration.

Abstract: A motor controller includes: a driver stage operable to provide voltage and current to a plurality of induction motors over a single power bus; and a control unit operable to monitor the current drawn from the driver stage and cause one or more of the induction motors to operate in a regenerative mode to supply current to at least one other of the induction motors when the current drawn from the driver stage exceeds a threshold.

Abstract: An electric motor vehicle includes an electric motor driving a step-down differential, axles, and drive wheels. An operator control produces torque command signals, which are applied to a controller to command application of electric power to the motor in response to the torque commands, to achieve the desired torque. The low friction of the electric drive, in conjunction with the rotational compliance or imperfect stiffness of the axles, may result in low-frequency surges or jerky motion, especially at low speeds. A damping arrangement includes a differencing circuit coupled between the operator control and the controller, for taking the difference between the operator-commanded torque and a damping torque signal. The damping torque signal is produced by differentiating the electric motor speed to produce a motor-acceleration representative signal.

Abstract: An electric vehicle is controlled to conform its operation to that of a conventional internal-combustion-engine powered vehicle. In some embodiments, the charging of the batteries by the auxiliary source of electricity and from dynamic braking is ramped in magnitude when the batteries lie in a state of charge between partial charge and full charge, with the magnitude of the charging being related to the relative state of charge of the battery. The deficiency between traction motor demand and the energy available from the auxiliary electrical source is provided from the batteries in an amount which depends upon the state of the batteries, so that the full amount of the deficiency is provided when the batteries are near full charge, and little or no energy is provided by the batteries when they are near a discharged condition. At charge states of the batteries between near-full-charge and near-full-discharge, the batteries supply an amount of energy which depends monotonically upon the charge state.

Abstract: A controller for a hybrid electric system such as a hybrid electric vehicle includes a load, a battery, and a controllable source of auxiliary electricity. The state of charge (SOC) of the battery is estimated, and an error signal is generated which represents the difference between a desired and actual SOC. The SOC error signal is processed by at least integration, to produce a source signal representing the desired auxiliary source current. A second error signal is generated between the actual current. from the auxiliary source and the desired current from the auxiliary source. The second error signal is processed, at least by integration, to produce a control signal for controlling the auxiliary signal source.

Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle includes a traction motor driven by a traction battery, and a supplemental or secondary electrical source for charging the traction battery. In order to warm the passenger compartment during cold weather, heat is applied from the traction motor and the secondary source. Under some conditions, there may be insufficient heat to adequately warm the passenger compartment. The traction motor efficiency is lowered, so that more heat is generated, to aid in supplying the deficiency. In an embodiment in which the traction motor is an ac motor, the efficiency is lowered by applying a direct current to the motor. In an embodiment in which the ac motor is an induction motor, the efficiency is lowered by increasing the average slip frequency.

Abstract: A controller (400) for a variable-speed induction motor (498) includes field-oriented control (410, 476), which in a feedback (402) arrangement senses motor parameters to form field and torque error signals. The field error signals are processed by a first limited-state PI processor (490a), which individually limits the magnitude of the proportional component of the field voltage to no greater than the bus voltage. The field error signals are also processed by a state-limited integrator (426a) which limits the integral component of the field voltage to the difference between the proportional component and the bus voltage. A first summer (432a) sums the proportional and integral components to make the field voltage command. The torque error signals are processed by a further limited-state PI processor (490b) which individually limits the proportional component of the torque voltage to a value not greater than the available bus voltage, after the first PI processor has been given preference.

Abstract: An electric vehicle is controlled to conform its operation to that of a conventional internal-combustion-engine powered vehicle. In some embodiments, the charging of the batteries by the auxiliary source of electricity and from dynamic braking is ramped in magnitude when the batteries lie in a state of charge between partial charge and full charge, with the magnitude of the charging being related to the relative state of charge of the battery. The deficiency between traction motor demand and the energy available from the auxiliary electrical source is provided from the batteries in an amount which depends upon the state of the batteries, so that the full amount of the deficiency is provided when the batteries are near full charge, and little or no energy is provided by the batteries when they are near a discharged condition. At charge states of the batteries between near-full-charge and near-full-discharge, the batteries supply an amount of energy which depends monotonically upon the charge state.

Abstract: An electric vehicle is controlled to conform its operation to that of a conventional internal-combustion-engine powered vehicle. In some embodiments, the charging of the batteries by the auxiliary source of electricity and from dynamic braking is ramped in magnitude when the batteries lie in a state of charge between partial charge and full charge, with the magnitude of the charging being related to the relative state of charge of the battery. The deficiency between traction motor demand and the energy available from the auxiliary electrical source is provided from the batteries in an amount which depends upon the state of the batteries, so that the full amount of the deficiency is provided when the batteries are near full charge, and little or no energy is provided by the batteries when they are near a discharged condition. At charge states of the batteries between near-full-charge and near-full-discharge, the batteries supply an amount of energy which depends monotonically upon the charge state.

Abstract: An electric vehicle is controlled to conform its operation to that of a conventional internal-combustion-engine powered vehicle. In some embodiments, the charging of the batteries by the auxiliary source of electricity and from dynamic braking is ramped in magnitude when the batteries lie in a state of charge between partial charge and full charge, with the magnitude of the charging being related to the relative state of charge of the battery. The deficiency between traction motor demand and the energy available from the auxiliary electrical source is provided from the batteries in an amount which depends upon the state of the batteries, so that the full amount of the deficiency is provided when the batteries are near full charge, and little or no energy is provided by the batteries when they are near a discharged condition. At charge states of the batteries between near-full-charge and near-full-discharge, the batteries supply an amount of energy which depends monotonically upon the charge state.