All-terrain vehicle assembly with bed outlet and method for powering the same
AssigneeHonda Motor Co., Ltd.
InventorKevin C. Stockmeier
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus and method of powering an outlet in a bed of an all-terrain vehicle. The all-terrain vehicle can include an engine coupled to an electric generator. The method can include activating a generator mode of the engine, generating power by utilizing the electric generator of the all-terrain vehicle coupled to the engine, supplying the power to an inverter, that can convert the power to AC power, and supplying the AC power to the outlet in the bed of the all-terrain vehicle. A controller can discontinue power to at least one accessory when power is supplied to the outlet. The electric generator can be mounted to an air conditioning compressor mount structure of the vehicle.
Claims20
A method of powering an outlet in a bed of an all-terrain vehicle, the method comprising:
- providing an engine including an air conditioner compressor mount structure;
- connecting an electric generator to the air conditioner compressor mount structure;
- activating a generator mode of the engine;
- generating power by utilizing the electric generator of the all-terrain vehicle that is coupled to the engine via the air conditioner compressor mount structure;
- supplying the power to an inverter, the inverter converting the power to AC power;
- supplying the AC power to the outlet in the bed of the all-terrain vehicle;
- and
- disabling power output to the inverter when the generator mode is deactivated.
An all-terrain vehicle, comprising:
- a frame assembly including a plurality of frame members connected together to extend around a passenger space, the frame assembly including a bed assembly disposed to a rear of the passenger space;
- a plurality of wheels attached to the frame assembly;
- an engine mounted to the frame assembly adjacent the passenger space, the engine having a first mode and a second mode;
- an electric generator motor coupled to the engine;
- an inverter electrically connected to the electric generator motor;
- an outlet electrically connected to the inverter and disposed in the bed assembly;
- and
- a controller electrically connected to the electric generator motor and configured to
- supply power generated by the electric generator motor to the inverter, the inverter converting the power to AC power, and supply the AC power to the outlet when the controller detects the engine is in the first mode, and
- disable power output to the inverter when the controller detects the engine is in the second mode.
A power supply system for an all-terrain vehicle having an outlet in a bed of the all-terrain vehicle, the power supply system comprising:
- an engine configured to mount to the all-terrain vehicle, the engine having a first mode and a second mode;
- an electric generator motor mounted to a frame and adjacent to the engine;
- an inverter electrically connected to the electric generator motor, the outlet electrically connected to the inverter;
- and
- a controller electrically connected to the electric generator motor and configured to,
- supply power generated by the electric generator motor to the inverter, the inverter converting the power to AC power, and supply the AC power to the outlet while discontinuing power to at least one accessory when the controller detects the engine is in the first mode, and
- disable power output to the inverter when the controller detects the engine is in the second mode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.