Patent ID: 7185591
Filing Date: 2007-03-06
Classification: B60K,B60L,B60W,B60Y,E21F,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A retrofit system for combining with a propulsion circuit of an existing Off Highway Vehicle to enable the propulsion circuit to operate as a hybrid energy Off Highway Vehicle propulsion circuit, said existing propulsion circuit having a power converter driven by an engine providing primary electric power, a traction bus coupled to the power converter for carrying the primary electric power, at least one traction motor receiving the primary electric power, said traction motor having a motoring mode of operation and a power dissipation mode of operation, wherein said traction motor rotates at least one wheel of the vehicle for propelling an Off Highway Vehicle in response to electric power received at the traction motor during the motoring mode, and wherein said traction motor generates dynamic braking electrical power which is returned to the traction bus and dissipated when the traction motor is operating in its power dissipation mode, an electrical resistance system for dissipating electric power generated in the traction motor during the power dissipation mode, said electrical resistance system including at least two resistor grid circuits, said at least two resistor grids each having one or more strings of resistors, the retrofit system comprising: an electrical energy storage system electrically connected to the traction bus and replacing one of the one or more strings of resistors of one of the at least two resistor grid circuits, said energy storage system including an energy storage device for capturing electrical energy generated by the traction motor in the power dissipation mode, whereby generated electrical power that would have been dissipated in the replaced one or more string of resistors is captured by the electrical energy storage system.