Vehicle propulsion motor control apparatus

Claim 1

In control apparatus for a plurality of direct current motors operative with a voltage source and an effort request signal for determining one of a power mode of operation and a brake mode of operation for said motors, with each of said motors having an armature and a field, the combination of: circuit means having first and second terminals and a first circuit including the armature and field of a first motor and a second circuit including the armature and the field of a second motor connected between said first and second terminals, said circuit means having third and fourth terminals and a third circuit including the first motor armature and the second motor field and a fourth circuit including the first motor field and the second motor armature connected between said third and fourth terminals, first switch means connected with said voltage source and controlling the current through said first and second circuits to establish said power mode, and second switch means connected to control the current through said third and fourth circuits to establish the brake mode, with the first switch means including a power diode connected to be conductive in a first direction and provided to conduct power mode current through the first and second motor armatures in said first direction, and with the second switch means including a brake diode connected to be conductive in a second direction and provided to conduct brake mode current through the first and second motor armatures in said second direction.