Plural motor train control with sequential or selective starting for speed control

Claim 2

A vehicular propulsion control system having at least two propulsion unity for causing vehicular movement along a predetermined path at a preselected speed relatively free from accelerating and decelerating effects, said system comprising: a. one propulsion unit having a plurality of selectable operating modes, b. at least one other propulsion unit having a plurality of selectable operating modes, c. propulsion control logic means operatively coupled respectively to said propulsion units, said propulsion control logic includes d. vehicular speed command control means, e. vehicular speed measuring means, f. speed comparator means, said speed comparator means coupled respectively to said vehicular speed command control means and said vehicular speed measuring means to thereby provide an output indicative of a change in velocity, g. performance curve selection logic which is controlled by said velocity change output, said propulsion units simultaneously controlled by said propulsion logic means to select a predetermined number of combinations of said modes of operation from said propulsion units, said predetermined number of said combination modes available exceeding the number of modes available for any one of said propulsion units, said selected combination of modes closely approximating the propelling effort required to maintain said preselected vehicular speed free from accelerating and decelerating effects.

Claim 3

The vehicular control system of claim 1 wherein said propulsion units are electric motors.

Claim 4

The vehicular control system of claim 2 wherein said electric motors are DC series-connected motors.

Claim 5

The vehicular control system of claim 3 wherein said plurality of operating modes are equivalent to series-connected electric motor performance curves.

Claim 6

The vehicular controL system of claim 1 wherein each of said propulsion units has equal number of propulsion modes of similar propulsion effort.

Claim 7

The vehicular control system of claim 1 wherein each of said propulsion units is positioned on a separate vehicle.

Claim 8

The vehicular control system of claim 6 wherein said vehicles are connected in tandem relationship.

Claim 9

The vehicular control system of claim 1 wherein said combination of modes available is determined by the following equation:

Claim 10

A vehicular propulsion control system having at least two propulsion units for causing vehicular movement along a predetermined path at a preselected speed relatively free from accelerating and decelerating effects, said system comprising: a. one propulsion unit having a plurality of selectable operating modes, said one propulsion unit being a series-connected DC electric motor, b. at least one other propulsion unit having a plurality of similar selectable operating modes, said one other propulsion unit being a series-connected DC electric motor, c. propulsion control logic means electrically coupled respectively to said propulsion units, said propulsion control logic includes d. vehicular speed command control means, e. vehicular speed measuring means, f. speed comparator means, said speed comparator means coupled respectively to said vehicular speed command control means and said vehicular speed measuring means to thereby provide an output indicative of a change in velocity, g. performance curve selection logic which is controlled by said velocity change, said series-connected DC electric motors of said propulsion units simultaneously controlled by said propulsion control logic means to select a predetermined number of combinations of said modes of operation from said propulsion units, said predetermined number of said combination modes available exceeding the number of modes available for any one of said propulsion units, said selected combination of modes approximating the propelling effort required to maintain said preselected vehicular speed, said selection of said combination mode of operation being a function of the combined effects of acceleration, deceleration and change in velocity whereby said selected combination mode of operation closely approximates said propelling effort required to maintain said vehicular speed free from accelerating and decelerating effects.

Claim 11

A vehicular propulsion control system having at least two propulsion units for causing vehicular movement along a predetermined path at a preselected speed relatively free from accelerating and decelerating effects, said system comprising: a. one propulsion unit having a plurality of selectable operating modes, said one propulsion unit being a series-connected DC electric motor, b. at least one other propulsion unit having a plurality of similar selectable operating modes, said one other propulsion unit being a series-connected DC electric motor, c. propulsion control logic means electrically coupled respectively to said propulsion units, said propulsion control logic includes d. vehicular speed command control means, e. vehicular speed measuring means, f. speed comparator means, said speed comparator means coupled respectively to said vehicular speed command control means and said vehicular speed measuring means to thereby provide an output indicative of a change in velocity, g. performance curve selection logic which is controlled by said velocity change, said series-connected DC electric motors of said propulsion units simultaneously controlled by said propulsion control logic means to select a predetermined number of combinations of said modes of operation from said propulsion units, said predetermined number of said combination modes available exceeding the number of modes available for any one of said propulsion units, said selected combination of modes approximating the propelling effort required to maintain said preselected vehicular speed, said selection of said combination mode of operation being a function of the combined effects of acceleration, deceleration and change in velocity whereby said selected combination mode of operation closely approximates said propelling effort required to maintain said vehicular speed free from accelerating and decelerating effects.

Claim 12

The vehicular control system of claim 9 wherein said plurality of operating modes are equivalent to series-connected electric motor performance curves.

Claim 13

The vehicular control system of claim 9 wherein each of said propulsion units has equal number of propulsion modes of similar propulsion effort.

Claim 14

The vehicular control system of claim 9 wherein each of said propulsion units is positioned in a separate vehicle.

Claim 15

The vehicular control system of claim 12 wherein said vehicles are connected in tandem relationship.

Claim 16

The vehicular control system of claim 9 wherein said combination of modes available is determined by the following equation:

Claim 17

A motor control system having at least two motors for causing a combined motor output to drive a variable load at preset velocity, said system comprising: a. one motor having a plurality of selectable operating modes, b. at least one other motor having a plurality of selectable operating modes, c. motor control logic means operatively coupled respectively to said motor, said motors simultaneously controlled by said motor control logic means in response to a change in velocity to select a predetermined number of combinations of said modes of operation from said motors, said predetermined number of said combination modes available exceeding the number of modes available for any one of said motors, said selected combination of modes closely approximating the effort required to drive said variable load at said relatively constant preset velocity.

Claim 18

A motor control system having at least two motors for causing a combined motor output to drive a variable load at preset velocity, said system comprising: a. one motor having a plurality of selectable operating modes, b. at least one other motor having a plurality of selectable operating modes, c. motor control logic means operatively coupled respectively to said motor, said motors simultaneously controlled by said motor control logic means in response to a change in velocity to select a predetermined number of combinations of said modes of operation from said motors, said predetermined number of said combination modes available exceeding the number of modes available for any one of said motors, said selected combination of modes closely approximating the effort required to drive said variable load at said relatively constant preset velocity.