Patent ID: 7514807

Claim:
A propulsion system, comprising: (a) an engine system comprising: an engine; and an n-phase alternator operable to convert mechanical energy output by the engine into alternating current electrical energy, each phase corresponding to an armature winding; (b) at least one traction motor in electrical communication with the alternator; (c) a plurality of pairs of first and second rectifier diodes to convert the outputted alternating current electrical energy into direct current electrical energy, each of said plurality of pairs of rectifier diodes being connected to a respective n-armature winding of the alternator, each of said first and second rectifier diodes having an input and an output, the output of the first rectifier diode being connected to the input of the second rectifier diode and to the respective n-armature winding of the alternator; and (d) a voltage boost circuit electrically connected with each of the n-armature windings of the alternator to boost an output voltage associated with each armature winding, wherein each armature winding provides an inductance for the voltage boost circuit, the voltage boost circuit comprising: a single switch having an input and an output, the output of the switch being connected to the inputs of the plurality of first rectifier diodes; a plurality of power diodes connected in parallel to the switch, each of said plurality of power diodes having an input and an output, the input of each of said plurality of power diodes being connected to a respective output of the first rectifier diode of the plurality of pairs of rectifier diodes, the output of each of said plurality of power diodes being connected in parallel to input of the switch; and a capacitor connected in parallel to the plurality of pairs of first and second rectifier diodes.