High-availability multicurrent power supply system for the traction unit of a railway locomotive
US5629591A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 12, 1994 |
| Grant date | May 13, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 12, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T10/72
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A system for powering a multicurrent locomotive having 2N motors where N is greater than or equal to 2, the system comprising 2N pairs of voltage converters respectively associated with the 2N motors, each motor M.sub.i being powered by means of an inverter connected to the terminals of a parallel capacitor. When the locomotive is powered with AC, then each of the pairs forms a 4-quadrant converter in which the two portions are implemented by the secondary winding of a transformer whose primary winding is connected directly to the terminals of the AC power supply. When the locomotive is powered with DC, the switches serve to use the voltage converters either as voltage-lowering choppers or as voltage-raising choppers. The power supply system is designed in such a manner that in the event of a converter or an inverter failing, it suffices to isolate the failed element to conserve the functions that remain. Availability is thus considerably improved since even in the event of a failure, tractive effort is conserved from at least three motors.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.