US6757597B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
A/C bus assembly for electronic traction vehicle
Assignee: Oshkosh Truck Corp
•
Filing: 2001-01-31
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Granted: 2004-06-29
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Expires: 2021-01-31
Abstract
Abstract An electronic traction vehicle comprising a principal power unit, a power storage unit mounted on a vehicle platform. A plurality of wheels are rotably mounted on the vehicle platform with an electric motor coupled to at least one wheel. A drive controller is coupled to the electric motor and a vehicle controller having an input and output terminal is coupled to the drive controller. A data bus network is coupled to the drive controller and the vehicle controller. An A/C bus assembly is coupled to the principal power unit, the power storage unit and the electric motor through the drive controller. Another embodiment of the electronic traction vehicle provides at least four electric motors and four drive controllers coupled to four wheels and the data bus network and A/C power bus assembly. Another embodiment of the electronic traction vehicle provides the components of the vehicle as moduled including an auxiliary module removably connected to the data bus network, and the A/C bus assembly.
Inventors
- 👤 Christopher K. Yakes
- 👤 Jon J. Morrow
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 07:29
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60L; B60L15/00; B60L15/02; B60L15/06; B60L50/00; B60L50/50; B60L50/60; B60L50/61; B60L58/00; B60L58/30; B60L58/32; B60L58/33; B60L2200/00; B60L2200/26; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/60; Y02T10/62; Y02T10/64; Y02T10/70; Y02T10/7072; Y02T90/00; Y02T90/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
An electronic traction vehicle comprising: a vehicle platform; a principal power unit mounted on the vehicle platform, wherein the principal power unit is not a battery; a power storage unit mounted on the vehicle platform; a plurality of wheels rotatably mounted on the vehicle platform; an AC electric motor coupled to at least one wheel; a drive controller coupled to the AC electric motor; a vehicle controller having an input and an output terminal, the vehicle controller coupled to the drive controller and a data bus network; and, an AC bus assembly to couple the principal power unit, the power storage unit, and the AC electric motor through the drive controller.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
An electronic traction vehicle comprising: a vehicle platform; a principal power unit mounted on the vehicle platform, wherein the principal power unit is not a battery; a power storage unit mounted on the vehicle platform; a plurality of wheels rotatably mounted on the vehicle platform; an AC electric motor coupled to at least one wheel; a drive controller coupled to the AC electric motor; a vehicle controller having an input and an output terminal, the vehicle controller coupled to the drive controller and a data bus network; and, an AC bus assembly to couple the principal power unit, the power storage unit, and the AC electric motor through the drive controller.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle controller is coupled to one of the principal power unit and the power storage unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The vehicle of claim 1 , including another AC electric motor and drive controller coupled to another wheel and coupled to the data bus network and the AC bus assembly.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein at least four AC electric motors and four drive controllers are coupled to four wheels and coupled to the data bus network and AC bus assembly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein at least eight AC electric motors and eight drive controllers are coupled to eight wheels and coupled to the data bus network and AC bus assembly.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The vehicle of claim 1 , including a differential assembly coupled to the AC electric motor for driving at least two wheels.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The vehicle of claim 4 or 5 , including at least two differential assemblies, with each differential assembly coupled to the AC electric motor for driving at least two wheels.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the principal power unit, the power storage unit, the electric motor, the drive controller, and the vehicle controller are modules removably mounted on the vehicle platform and removably connected to the data bus network and the AC bus assembly.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The vehicle of claim 8 , including an auxiliary module removably connected to the data bus network and the AC bus assembly.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The vehicle of claim 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , or 6 wherein the AC bus assembly is configured to provide at least 50/60 Hz, 480 VAC, three-phase power.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle controller is configured to control the AC electric motor through the drive controller to brake the vehicle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the AC electric motor is configured to regenerate power back to one of the principal power unit and the power storage unit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The vehicle of claim 1 , including an energy dissipation unit coupled to the AC bus assembly and the data bus network.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the AC bus assembly is configured to provide at least 50/60 Hz, 480 VAC, three-phase power.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
118 words
An AC bus assembly for interconnecting removable modules of an electronic traction vehicle, the modules including a principal power unit that is not a battery, a power storage unit, an AC electric motor coupled to at least one wheel of the vehicle, a drive controller coupled to the electric motor, an energy dissipation unit, and a vehicle controller having a user interface, the AC bus assembly comprising: a first conductor having a first end and a second end; and a second conductor having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of each conductor is coupled to the principle power unit and the second end of each conductor is connected to one of the modules.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
118 words
An AC bus assembly for interconnecting removable modules of an electronic traction vehicle, the modules including a principal power unit that is not a battery, a power storage unit, an AC electric motor coupled to at least one wheel of the vehicle, a drive controller coupled to the electric motor, an energy dissipation unit, and a vehicle controller having a user interface, the AC bus assembly comprising: a first conductor having a first end and a second end; and a second conductor having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of each conductor is coupled to the principle power unit and the second end of each conductor is connected to one of the modules.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
The AC bus assembly of claim 15 , including a third conductor having a first end and a second end, with the first end coupled to the principle power unit and the second end coupled to one of the modules.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
54 words
The AC bus assembly of claim 16 , including a fourth conductor having a first end and a second end, with the first end coupled to the principle power unit and the second end coupled to a ground terminal mounted on the vehicle, wherein the fourth conductor provides a neutral for interconnecting the modules.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The AC bus assembly of claim 16 , including a junction wherein another module is connected to each of the conductors.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The AC bus assembly of claim 16 , including a plurality of junctions wherein a plurality of modules are connected to each of the conductors.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The AC bus assembly of claim 19 , wherein at least four of the modules are each an AC electric motor coupled to a wheel.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The AC bus assembly of claim 19 , wherein at least eight of the modules are each an AC electric motor coupled to a wheel.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
The AC bus assembly of claim 19 , wherein one of the modules is an auxiliary module.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The AC bus assembly of claim 16 or 20 , wherein the AC bus is configured to provide at least 50/60 Hz, 480 VAC, three-phase power.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
The AC bus assembly of claim 15 , including a data bus network coupled to each module.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
150 words
An vehicle comprising: a vehicle support structure; a plurality of wheels rotatably supported by the vehicle structure, wherein at least two of the wheels are steerable; a principal power unit supported by the structure, wherein the principal power unit is not a battery; at least one AC electric motor coupled to at least one of the wheels; an electric AC power bus including at least two phase conductors, wherein the phase conductors are coupled to the principal power unit; a power storage unit coupled to the AC power bus; a vehicle controller coupled to the electric motor and the AC power bus; a data bus coupled to the vehicle controller; and a motor drive controller unit coupled to the electric motor and to the data bus to communicate signals to the vehicle controller such that one of the speed and torque of the motor are controlled based upon the signals.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
150 words
An vehicle comprising: a vehicle support structure; a plurality of wheels rotatably supported by the vehicle structure, wherein at least two of the wheels are steerable; a principal power unit supported by the structure, wherein the principal power unit is not a battery; at least one AC electric motor coupled to at least one of the wheels; an electric AC power bus including at least two phase conductors, wherein the phase conductors are coupled to the principal power unit; a power storage unit coupled to the AC power bus; a vehicle controller coupled to the electric motor and the AC power bus; a data bus coupled to the vehicle controller; and a motor drive controller unit coupled to the electric motor and to the data bus to communicate signals to the vehicle controller such that one of the speed and torque of the motor are controlled based upon the signals.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The vehicle of claim 25 , including an energy dissipation unit coupled to the AC power bus and the data bus.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
28 words
The vehicle of claim 26 , further comprising a plurality of suspension assemblies, wherein each assembly independently suspends one of the wheels relative to the vehicle support structure.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
38 words
The vehicle of claim 26 , further comprising a differential assembly for coupling the AC electric motor to at least two of the wheels such that the average speed of the wheels is proportional to the motor speed.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
19 words
The vehicle of claim 26 , wherein the AC electric motor is coupled to only one of the wheels.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
16 words
The vehicle of claim 26 , wherein the plurality of wheels includes at least six wheels.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
28 words
The vehicle of claim 30 , further comprising a plurality of suspension assemblies, wherein each assembly independently suspends one of the wheels relative to the vehicle support structure.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
77 words
The vehicle of claim 31 , further comprising: at least two additional AC electric motors and two additional respective drive controllers for coupling the two additional motors to the power bus, wherein the controllers are coupled to the data bus; at least three differential assemblies, wherein each differential assembly couples at least two of the wheels to a respective AC electric motor such that the average speed of the respective wheels is proportional to the motor speed.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
52 words
The vehicle of claim 31 , further comprising at least five additional AC electric motors and five additional respective drive controllers for coupling the two additional motors to the power bus, wherein each of the motors is coupled to a respective wheel, wherein the drive controllers are coupled to the data bus.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
15 words
The vehicle of claim 33 , wherein the motors are suspended with their respective wheels.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
24 words
The vehicle of claim 33 , further comprising a plurality of wheel end reduction assembles for coupling the wheels to their respective differential assemblies.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
23 words
The vehicle of claim 33 , further comprising a plurality of wheel end reduction assembles for coupling the wheels to their respective motors.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
32 words
The vehicle of claim 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , or 36 , wherein the AC power bus is configured to at least provide 50/60 Hz, 480 VAC, three-phase power.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
21 words
The vehicle of claim 26 , wherein the vehicle controller is configured to control the electric motor to brake the vehicle.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
29 words
The vehicle of claim 26 , wherein the AC electric motor is configured to regenerate power back to one of the principal power unit and the power storage unit.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-06-29 | 2007-12-29 | 2008-06-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-06-29 | 2011-12-29 | 2012-06-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-06-29 | 2015-12-29 | 2016-06-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |