Patent ID: 9551300
Date: 2017-01-24
CPC Classifications: B60K,B60L,B60W,F02B,F02D,F02M,Y02T

Claim:
1. A temperature regulation system for a vehicle, comprising: a drive system configured to be coupled to an engine of the vehicle, the drive system being configured to convert power produced by the engine into electrical power for use by at least one traction motor of the vehicle; and a control unit for controlling the engine and drive system, the control unit being configured to automatically regulate a temperature of a vehicle component in dependence upon a detected reference temperature; wherein the vehicle component comprises a plurality of power semiconductor switches of one or more power converters of the drive system of the vehicle, the one or more power converters electrically connected to provide the electrical power for use by the at least one traction motor of the vehicle; and the control unit is configured to automatically regulate the temperature of the power semiconductor switches, responsive to the detected reference temperature being below a predetermined value, by firing the power semiconductor switches in a manner that does not cause the at least one traction motor to move the vehicle to maintain the temperature of the power semiconductor switches within a desired operating range.