METODO PARA AUMENTAR A POTENCIA DE TRACAO UTILIZADA POR UM VEICULO DE TRACAO COM RODAS QUANDO DESLOCADO A ALTA VELOCIDADE,E SISTEMA DE PROPULSAO ELETRICA DE UM VEICULO COM RODAS

Method and apparatus for optimizing power delivered by a prime mover-driven electric power alternator to an adjustable speed electric traction motor during high speed operation. The alternator is suitably controlled to deliver constant power if its output voltage does not exceed a first predetermined magnitude corresponding to a "corner point" speed of the motor and to limit the voltage magnitude when motor speed exceeds this corner point, thereby preventing excitation current from exceeding the maximum continuous field current rating of the alternator. As motor speed increases above corner point speed, less power is delivered to the motor, but the power reduction is minimized by increasing the voltage limit above the first predetermined magnitude. The amount of voltage limit increases, up to a predetermined maximum amount, is proportional to the amount load current in the motor decreases below its magnitude when motor speed equals corner point speed. Concurrently with this voltage limit increases, the ratio of motor field current magnitude to load current is reduced, thereby weakening the motor field which enables the motor to run at its maximum allowable speed without exceeding the motor commutation limit whenever the predetermined maximum amount of voltage limit increase is obtained.