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A propulsion system for a relatively large land-based vehicle, such as a locomotive or off-highway vehicle, is provided. The system may include a brushless dynamoelectric machine made up of a main alternator having a main rotor and a main stator, and an auxiliary alternator having an auxiliary rotor

A propulsion system for a relatively large land-based vehicle, such as a locomotive or off-highway vehicle, is provided. The system may include a brushless dynamoelectric machine made up of a main alternator having a main rotor and a main stator, and an auxiliary alternator having an auxiliary rotor and an auxiliary stator, wherein the main rotor and the auxiliary rotor are disposed on a shaft for joint rotation with the shaft. The dynamoelectric machine is operable in a power generating mode, and in an engine cranking mode. A power source may be connected to pass current to one or more windings in the auxiliary stator to induce an alternating current flow in one or more windings in the auxiliary rotor. A rectifier may be connected to receive the alternating current flow from the one or more windings in the auxiliary rotor. The rectifier is further connected to supply a rectified current to one or more windings in the main rotor to induce an alternating current flow in one or more windings in the main stator of the machine, wherein the alternating current flow in the one or more windings in the main stator of the machine constitutes the current generated by the dynamoelectric machine during the power generating mode. The power source to be connected during the engine cranking mode may be first and second inverters connected to provide an AC conversion to a DC input from an energy storage device to supply a respective alternating current having some desired characteristics. The one inverter may be connected to the one or more windings in the main stator, and the other inverter may be connected to the one or more windings in the auxiliary stator to produce a torque in the main rotor of the machine. The torque produced at the main rotor of the machine is mechanically coupled to a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine of the propulsion system to start the engine during the engine cranking mode.

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The invention claimed is: 1. A propulsion system for a relatively large land-based vehicle, the system comprising: a brushless dynamoelectric machine comprising a main alternator having a main rotor and a main stator, and an auxiliary alternator having an auxiliary rotor and an auxiliary stator, wh

The invention claimed is: 1. A propulsion system for a relatively large land-based vehicle, the system comprising: a brushless dynamoelectric machine comprising a main alternator having a main rotor and a main stator, and an auxiliary alternator having an auxiliary rotor and an auxiliary stator, wherein the main rotor and the auxiliary rotor are disposed on a shaft for joint rotation with the shaft, wherein said dynamoelectric machine is operable in a power generating mode, and in an engine cranking mode; a power source connected to at least pass current to one or more windings in the auxiliary stator to induce an alternating current flow in one or more windings in the auxiliary rotor; and a rectifier connected to receive the alternating current flow from the one or more windings in the auxiliary rotor, the rectifier further connected to supply a rectified current to one or more windings in the main rotor to induce an alternating current flow in one or more windings in the main stator of the machine, wherein the alternating current flow in the one or more windings in the main stator of the machine constitutes the current generated by said dynamoelectric machine during the power generating mode, wherein the power source during the engine cranking mode comprises a first power source connected to supply a first alternating current signal having a first set of characteristics, wherein the alternating signal from the first power source is connected to the one or more windings in the main stator, the power source during the engine cranking mode further comprising a second power source connected to supply a second alternating current signal having a second set of characteristics different than the set of characteristics of the first alternating signal, wherein the alternating current signal from the second power source is connected to the one or more windings in the auxiliary stator, a combined effect of the alternating current signals from the first and second power sources configured to produce a torque in the main rotor of the machine, wherein the torque being produced at the main rotor of the machine is mechanically coupled to a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine of the propulsion system to start the engine during the engine cranking mode. 2. The propulsion system of claim 1 wherein the power source when connected during the power generating mode to the one or more windings in the auxiliary stator is a power source selected from the group consisting of a DC power source, and a variable frequency power source. 3. The propulsion system of claim 1 wherein the relatively large land-based vehicle comprises a locomotive. 4. The propulsion system of claim 1 wherein the relatively large land-based vehicle comprises an off-highway vehicle. 5. The propulsion system of claim 1 wherein the set of characteristics of the alternating current signal from the first power source comprises a signal frequency that varies proportional to engine speed. 6. The propulsion system of claim 1 wherein the set of characteristics of the alternating current signal from the second power source comprises a signal having a magnitude and/or a frequency selected to obtain a desired level of current flow in the one or more windings in the auxiliary rotor. 7. A relatively large land-based vehicle, comprising: a propulsion system comprising: an internal combustion engine; a brushless dynamoelectric machine mechanically coupled to the internal combustion engine, the brushless dynamoelectric machine comprising a main alternator having a main rotor and a main stator, and an auxiliary alternator having an auxiliary rotor and an auxiliary stator, wherein the main rotor and the auxiliary rotor are disposed on a shaft for joint rotation with the shaft, wherein said dynamoelectric machine is operable in a power generating mode, and in an engine cranking mode; a power source connected to pass current to one or more windings in the auxiliary stator to induce an alternating current flow in one or more windings in the auxiliary rotor; and a rectifier connected to receive the alternating current flow from the one or more windings in the auxiliary rotor, the rectifier further connected to supply a rectified current to one or more windings in the main rotor to induce an alternating current flow in one or more windings in the main stator of the machine, wherein the alternating current flow in the one or more windings in the main stator of the machine constitutes the current generated by said dynamoelectric machine during the power generating mode, wherein the power source during the engine cranking mode comprises a first power source connected to supply a first alternating current signal having a first set of characteristics, wherein the alternating signal from the first power source is connected to the one or more windings in the main stator, the power source during the engine cranking mode further comprising a second power source connected to supply an alternating current signal having a second set of characteristics different than the first set of characteristics, wherein the alternating current signal from the second power source is connected to the one or more windings in the auxiliary stator, a combined effect of the alternating current signals from the first and second power sources configured to produce a torque in the main rotor of the machine, wherein the torque being produced at the main rotor of the machine is mechanically coupled to a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine of the propulsion system to start the engine during the engine cranking mode. 8. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the power source when connected during the power generating mode to the one or more windings in the auxiliary stator is a power source selected from the group consisting of a DC power source, and a variable frequency power source. 9. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the vehicle is selected from the group consisting of a locomotive and an off-highway vehicle. 10. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the set of characteristics of the alternating current signal from the first power source comprises a signal frequency that varies proportional to engine speed. 11. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the set of characteristics of the alternating current signal from the second power source comprises a signal having a magnitude and/or a frequency selected to obtain a desired level of current flow in the one or more windings in the auxiliary rotor. 12. A method for propelling a relatively large land-based vehicle, the method comprising: operating a brushless dynamoelectric machine comprising a main alternator having a main rotor and a main stator, and an auxiliary alternator having an auxiliary rotor and an auxiliary stator, wherein the main rotor and the auxiliary rotor are disposed on a shaft for joint rotation with the shaft, wherein the operating of said dynamoelectric machine comprises operating in a power generating mode, and in an engine cranking mode; connecting a power source to at least pass current to one or more windings in the auxiliary stator to induce an alternating current flow in one or more windings in the auxiliary rotor; rectifying the alternating current flow from the one or more windings in the auxiliary rotor to provide a rectified current; connecting the rectified current to one or more windings in the main rotor to induce an alternating current flow in one or more windings in the main stator of the machine, wherein the alternating current flow in the one or more windings in the main stator of the machine constitutes the current generated by said dynamoelectric machine during the power generating mode; during the engine cranking mode, connecting a first power source to supply an alternating current signal having a first set of characteristics; connecting the alternating current signal from the first power source to the one or more windings in the main stator; during the engine cranking mode, connecting a second power source to supply an alternating current signal having a second set of characteristics different than the first set of characteristics, wherein the first and second power sources constitute the power source during the engine cranking mode; connecting the alternating current signal from the second power source to the one or more windings in the auxiliary winding; and mechanically coupling a torque, being produced at the main rotor of the machine in response to a combined effect of the alternating current signals from the first and second power sources, to a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine of the propulsion system to start the engine during the engine cranking mode. 13. The propulsion system of claim 1 wherein the first power source comprises a first inverter connected to provide an AC conversion to a DC input from an energy storage device to supply the first alternating current signal having the first set of characteristics. 14. The propulsion system of claim 13 wherein the second power source comprises a second inverter connected to provide an AC conversion to a DC input from the energy storage device to supply the second alternating current signal having the second set of characteristics. 15. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the first power source comprises a first inverter connected to provide an AC conversion to a DC input from an energy storage device to supply the first alternating current signal having the first set of characteristics. 16. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the second power source comprises a second inverter connected to provide an AC conversion to a DC input from an energy storage device to supply the second alternating current signal having the second set of characteristics. 17. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of connecting the first power source during the engine cranking mode comprises connecting a first inverter to provide an AC conversion to a DC input from an energy storage device to supply the first alternating current signal having the first set of characteristics. 18. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of connecting the second power source during the engine cranking mode comprises connecting a second inverter to provide an AC conversion to a DC input from the energy storage device to supply the second alternating current signal having the second set of characteristics.