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The S.E.T. patented, steerable ‘Wheel-Motor’ was Developed
over the past 4 or 5 years
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The permanent magnet synchronous motor is part of the
wheel and provides a high efficiency (97+%), light weight,
compact assembly.
*As
the drive is direct to the rim of the wheel, eliminating
the need for gearboxes and transmissions, the above
efficiency is for tractive effort at the wheel against
electrical output.
*
Since the ‘Wheel-Motor’ is a permanent magnet, synchronous
motor, the speed/rotation can be precisely controlled
by means of the continuously variable frequency supplied
by the inverter/frequency converter down to zero rpm.
This enables the ‘Wheel-Motor’ to act as a service brake
and to regenerate energy when braking and reducing speed.
*As
each ‘Wheel-Motor’ is individually controlled and is
in direct contact with the rail, such items as gearboxes,
drive shafts and transmission systems are not required.
Even the use of a conventional bogie may be unnecessary!
This reduction in weight, together with the very high
efficiency of the ‘Wheel-Motor’, enables a much lighter,
more compact light rail vehicle to be designed, with
consequent savings in capital cost, energy usage and
very importantly considerable reductions in infrastructure
requirements.
*The
‘Wheel-Motor’ may be used in conjunction with the S.E.T.
patented steering system in which the speed of each
independent ‘Wheel-Motor’ can be controlled to enable
the inside wheels to travel at a proportionately slower
speed than the outer wheels, thus considerably reducing
track wear and wheel noise.
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