IP Library Granted Patent US 11,890,968
Granted Patent B2
US 11,890,968 · App. 17/197,517 · Granted Feb 6, 2024

Power system and associated system

Inventors: Ajith Kuttannair Kumar (Erie, PA); Govardhan Ganireddy (Roanoke, VA); Shahid Ali (Bangalore, IN); Prashanth Manikumar Chennamsetty (Bangalore, IN)
Assignee: TRANSPORTATION IP HOLDINGS, LLC
B60L9/16B60L15/002B60L15/32B61C3/00B60L2200/26B60L2210/40B60L2240/527B60L2240/529H02J3/01H02J2310/48
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,890,968
App. No.
17/197,517
Granted
Feb 6, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A power system is disclosed. The power system includes a first power generating unit. The first power generating unit includes a first power converting subunit and a first control unit coupled to the first power converting subunit, where the first control unit is configured to regulate a voltage of the first power generating unit. The power system further includes a second power generating unit coupled to the first power generating unit and a load, where the second power generating unit includes a second power converting subunit and a second control unit coupled to the second power converting subunit, wherein the second control unit is configured to control a current of the second power generating unit to share a quantity of electrical output current flowing through the load among the first and second power generating units.

Claims (27)

1. A power unit comprising:

a power converting subunit configured to receive a current from a second power unit, the power converting subunit configured to be operably coupled with the second power unit and a load;

a filter comprising one or more inductors and a first capacitor, the filter operably coupled with the power converting subunit;

a sensor configured to measure a phase of a voltage of the power unit and a phase of a voltage of the second power unit received by the power unit, wherein the phase of the voltage of the power unit is not communicated to the second power unit and the phase of the voltage of the second power unit is not communicated to the power unit; and

a control unit operably coupled with the power converting subunit, the control unit configured to control operation of the power converting subunit based on the current received from the second power unit and a voltage received from the first capacitor, the control unit configured to control a current of the power unit to share a quantity of electrical output current flowing to the load with the second power unit without the control unit communicating between the power unit and the second power unit,

wherein the control unit is configured to change an operation of the power converting subunit to change an amount of electric output current generated by the power converting subunit based on an amount of electrical output current received from the second power unit.

2. The power unit of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to control the current of the power unit based on a quantity of electrical output current measured by the sensor.

3. The power unit of claim 1 , wherein the filter is configured to synchronize the phase of the voltage of the power unit with the phase of the voltage of the second power unit.

4. The power unit of claim 1 , wherein the filter comprises two inductors, the two inductors corresponding to alternating current phases.

5. The power unit of claim 4 , further comprising a converter breaker operably coupled with the two inductors and the first capacitor, the converter breaker configured to close responsive to a phase of a voltage of the power unit synchronizing with a phase of a voltage of the second power unit.

6. The power unit of claim 1 , wherein the power unit is a first vehicle system, and the second power unit is a second vehicle system operably coupled with the first vehicle system.

7. The power unit of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to control the current of the power unit to equally share the quantity of electrical output current flowing through the load among the power unit and the second power unit.

8. The power unit of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to control the current of the power unit to unequally share the quantity of electrical output current flowing through the load among the power unit and the second power unit.

9. A power unit comprising:

a power converting subunit configured to receive a current from a second power unit, the power converting subunit configured to be operably coupled to the second power unit and a load;

a filter comprising one or more inductors and a first capacitor, the filter operably coupled with the power converting subunit;

a sensor configured to measure a phase of a voltage of the power unit and a phase of a voltage of the second power unit received by the power unit, wherein the phase of the voltage of the power unit is not communicated to the second power unit and the phase of the voltage of the second power unit is not communicated to the power unit; and

a control unit operably coupled with the power converting subunit, the control unit configured to operate in different modes of operation, wherein:

in a first mode of operation, the control unit is configured to regulate a voltage of the power converting subunit; and

in a second mode of operation, the control unit is configured to control operation of the power converting subunit based on the current received from the second power unit and a voltage received from the first capacitor, the control unit configured to control a current of the power unit to share a quantity of electrical output current flowing to the load with the second power unit without the control unit communicating between the power unit and the second power unit, wherein the control unit is configured to change an operation of the power converting subunit to change an amount of electric output current generated by the power converting subunit based on an amount of electrical output current received from the second power unit.

10. The power unit of claim 9 , wherein the power unit is a first vehicle system, and the second power unit is a second vehicle system operably coupled with the first vehicle system.

11. The power unit of claim 10 , wherein the power unit is configured to operate as a lead vehicle of a vehicle system responsive to the control unit operating in the first mode of operation, and the power unit is configured to operate as a remote vehicle of the vehicle system responsive to the control unit operating in the second mode of operation.

12. The power unit of claim 9 , wherein the control unit is configured to control the current of the power unit based on a quantity of electrical output current measured by the sensor.

13. The power unit of claim 9 , wherein the filter including at least two inductors, the two inductors corresponding to alternating current phases.

14. The power unit of claim 13 , further comprising a converter breaker operably coupled with the two inductors and the first capacitor, the converter breaker configured to close responsive to a phase of a voltage of the power unit synchronizing with a phase of a voltage of the second power unit.

15. The power unit of claim 9 , wherein the control unit is configured to control the current of the power unit to equally share the quantity of electrical output current flowing through the load among the power unit and the second power unit.

16. The power unit of claim 9 , wherein the control unit is configured to control the current of the power unit to unequally share the quantity of electrical output current flowing through the load among the power unit and the second power unit.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 10, 2021
From: KUMAR, AJITH KUTTANNAIR; GANIREDDY, GOVARDHAN; ALI, SHAHID; CHENNAMSETTY, PRASHANTH MANIKUMAR
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Reel/Frame 055549/0710 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 10, 2021
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
To: GE GLOBAL SOURCING LLC
Reel/Frame 055549/0845 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 10, 2021
From: GE GLOBAL SOURCING LLC
To: TRANSPORTATION IP HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 055556/0362 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 15643537 · Jul 7, 2017
Related Publication 20210188097A1 · Jun 24, 2021