Patent ID: 6486568
Filing Date: 2002-11-26
Classification: B60K,B60L,B60W,Y02T

Abstract:
A power system including an internal combustion engine coupled to drive a main alternator and an auxiliary alternator, the main alternator coupled to power one or more traction motors and the auxiliary alternator coupled to power predetermined electrical equipment, the system comprising:a main power bus generally powered by the main alternator; an auxiliary power bus generally powered by the auxiliary alternator; and a power interface unit electrically coupled to the main power bus to capture and transfer electrical energy into the auxiliary power bus, at least some of the electrical energy being generated during a predetermined mode of operation of the system selected from the group consisting of a regenerative braking mode of operation and a self-load mode of operation, the captured and transferred electrical energy being used to directly power, at least in part, the predetermined electrical equipment coupled to the auxiliary power bus, thus enabling less dissipation of heat in one or more resistor grids operatively coupled during regenerative braking or self-load mode of operation.