Electric powertrain for work machine

Abstract

An electric powertrain includes an engine configured to provide mechanical energy and a generator operably coupled to the engine and configured to convert at least a portion of the mechanical energy into electric energy. The electric powertrain further includes at least one electric motor operably coupled to the generator, a plurality of driving members, and at least one power electronics unit configured to control at least one of the engine and the generator. The at least one electric motor is configured to provide torque for the plurality of driving members.

1 . A machine comprising:
 an engine configured to provide the machine with mechanical energy;   a generator operably coupled to the engine and configured to convert at least a portion of the mechanical energy into electric energy;   first and second electric motors operably coupled to the generator;   a generator controller adapted to control the generator, a first motor controller adapted to control the first electric motor and a second motor controller adapted to control the second electric motor;   a master controller adapted to control all of the generator controller, first motor controller and second motor controller so as to operate the generator, first motor, and second motor in a coordinated manner;   first and second driving members located on either side of the machine; and   first and second ground engaging members configured to propel the machine, the ground engaging members being operably coupled to the driving members, wherein the first and second electric motors are operably coupled to the first and second driving members such that torque is supplied to one of the first and second ground engaging members via one of the first and second electric motors, and torque is supplied to another of the first and second ground engaging members via another of the first and second electric motors.   
     
     
         2 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second driving members include a pair of track driving members, and the first and second ground engaging members include a pair of ground engaging tracks. 
     
     
         3 . The machine of  claim 1 , including at least one power electronics unit configured to control an output of at least one of the first and second electric motors. 
     
     
         4 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second electric motors include at least one of a permanent magnet-type motor, an induction-type motor, and a switched reluctance-type electric motor. 
     
     
         5 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the master controller is configured to control at least one of the engine and the generator in a manner to reduce exhaust emissions from the engine. 
     
     
         6 . The machine of  claim 5 , including a power electronics unit associated with each of the first and second electric motors and wherein the generator and the power electronics units are sealed and liquid cooled. 
     
     
         7 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the generator includes at least one of a permanent magnet-type generator, an induction-type generator, a switched reluctance-type generator, and a hybrid combination generator. 
     
     
         8 . The machine of  claim 1 , including a braking system configured to reduce torque provided to at least one of the driving members. 
     
     
         9 . The machine of  claim 8 , wherein the braking system includes a regenerative braking system configured to convert kinetic energy associated with at least one of the first and second driving members to electric energy for at least one of storage and use in the machine. 
     
     
         10 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second electric motors is a sealed, brushless, liquid-cooled electric motor. 
     
     
         11 . A machine comprising:
 an engine configured to provide the machine with mechanical energy;   a generator operably coupled to the engine and configured to convert at least a portion of the mechanical energy into electric energy;   first and second electric motors operably coupled to the generator via at least one power electronics unit configured for providing energy to the first and second electric motors during propulsion and for receiving energy from the first and second electric motors during braking;   first and second driving members located on either side of the machine; and   first and second ground engaging members configured to propel the machine, the ground engaging members being operably coupled to the driving members, wherein the first and second electric motors are operably coupled to the first and second driving members such that torque is supplied to one of the first and second ground engaging members via one of the first and second electric motors, and torque is supplied to another of the first and second ground engaging members via another of the first and second electric motors.   
     
     
         12 . The machine according to  claim 11 , further including an energy storage facility for receiving energy from the first and second motors via the at least one power electronics unit, storing the received energy, and releasing the stored energy on request. 
     
     
         13 . The machine according to  claim 11 , further including an energy dissipation facility for receiving energy from the first and second motors via the at least one power electronics unit and dissipating the received energy. 
     
     
         14 . The machine according to  claim 11 , wherein the first and second driving members include a pair of track driving members and the first and second ground engaging members include a pair of ground engaging tracks. 
     
     
         15 . The machine according to  claim 11 , wherein the first and second electric motors include at least one of a permanent magnet-type motor, an induction-type motor, and a switched reluctance-type electric motor. 
     
     
         16 . The machine according to  claim 11 , further including a generator controller adapted to control the generator, a first motor controller adapted to control the first electric motor, a second motor controller adapted to control the second electric motor, and a master controller adapted to control all of the generator controller, first motor controller and second motor controller so as to operate the generator, first motor, and second motor in a coordinated manner. 
     
     
         17 . The machine according to  claim 16 , wherein the master controller is configured to control at least one of the engine and the generator in a manner to reduce exhaust emissions from the engine. 
     
     
         18 . The machine according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one power electronics unit includes a power electronics unit associated with each of the first and second electric motors and wherein the generator and the power electronics units are sealed and liquid cooled. 
     
     
         19 . The machine according to  claim 11 , wherein the generator includes at least one of a permanent magnet-type generator, an induction-type generator, a switched reluctance-type generator, and a hybrid combination generator. 
     
     
         20 . The machine according to  claim 11 , including a braking system configured to reduce torque provided to at least one of the driving members.