Patent ID: 8110948

Claim:
A power conversion apparatus configured to operate in one of a plurality of operational modes, the power conversion apparatus comprising: a first electric machine operable as a motor or as a generator as determined by the operational mode in which the power conversion apparatus is operating; a second electric machine operable as a motor or as a generator as determined by the operational mode in which the power conversion apparatus is operating; a first current source inverter electrically connected to the first electric machine; a second current source inverter electrically connected to the second electric machine; a voltage-to-current source converter electrically connected to the first current source inverter and the second current source inverter; an energy storage device electrically connected to the voltage-to-current source converter; and a controller for determining the operational mode of the apparatus by controlling operation of the first current source inverter, the second current source inverter, and the voltage-to-current source converter.