Patent ID: 8188692
Filing Date: 2012-05-29
Classification: B60K,B60L,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A propulsion system, comprising: a first propulsion vehicle unit comprising: a first tractive bank having at least one traction motor, the traction motor receiving electrical power from an electrical power source to provide tractive effort to propel the system; a second propulsion vehicle unit comprising: a second tractive bank having at least one traction motor; a contactor electrically coupling the first propulsion vehicle unit and the second propulsion vehicle unit, the contactor reversibly supplying electrical power from the electrical power source to the second tractive bank; and an electrical power modulation device coupled between the first tractive bank and the second tractive bank, the electrical power modulation device having an electrical current threshold that causes the electrical power modulation device to transition to an open state to reduce or prevent transfer of electrical power between the first propulsion unit and the second propulsion unit in response to an electrical current at the electrical power modulation device being above the electrical current threshold.