Hybrid power supplies
AssigneeBriggs & Stratton Corporation
InventorsMelissa Schnur Erickson, Andrew John Joestgen, Bryce Metcalf, Andre Molinaro, Michael D. Pitcel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hybrid power supply includes an engine configured to rotate a crankshaft, a generator including a rotor and a stator, the rotor coupled to and configured to rotate with the crankshaft to generate alternating-current power, a generator controller including a converter configured to convert the alternating current power to direct current power, and a battery pack electrically connected to the generator controller. The generator controller and the battery pack are configured to be electrically connected to a power bus of an equipment to allow direct current power to travel between the equipment and the hybrid power supply.
Claims16
A hybrid power supply comprising:
- an engine configured to rotate a crankshaft;
- an electronic control unit (ECU) configured to control operation of the engine;
- a generator comprising a rotor and a stator, the rotor coupled to and configured to rotate with the crankshaft to generate alternating current power;
- a generator controller comprising a converter configured to convert the alternating current power to direct current power;
- and
- a battery pack electrically connected to the generator controller,
- wherein the generator controller and the battery pack are configured to be electrically connected to a power bus of an equipment to allow direct current power to travel between the equipment and the hybrid power supply,
- wherein the ECU is configured to maintain the engine in a deactivated state or to maintain the generator is in a zero power-production state when a voltage of the battery pack exceeds a predetermined maximum voltage, wherein the predetermined maximum voltage is less than a maximum rated voltage of the battery pack.
Outdoor power equipment comprising:
- a power bus configured to electrically connect to a battery via one or more battery terminals;
- a first motor electrically connected to the power bus and configured to be driven by direct current power from the battery;
- and
- a hybrid power supply comprising:
- an engine configured to rotate a crankshaft;
- an electronic control unit (ECU) configured to control activation of the engine;
- a generator configured to convert the rotation of the crankshaft to alternating current power, the generator comprising a converter configured to convert the alternating current power to direct current power;
- a user interface;
- an equipment ECU configured to receive an indication of a selection of an operating mode from the user interface, wherein the ECU is configured to receive the indication of the selection of the operating mode from the equipment ECU, wherein the operating mode includes one of a quiet mode, a power mode, or a fuel efficiency mode;
- and
- a battery pack electrically connected to the converter;
- wherein the converter and the battery pack are electrically connected to the power bus to allow direct current power to travel between the hybrid power supply and the power bus.
A hybrid power supply comprising:
- an engine configured to rotate a crankshaft;
- an electronic control unit (ECU) configured to control operation of the engine;
- a generator comprising a rotor and a stator, the rotor coupled to and configured to rotate with the crankshaft to generate alternating current power;
- a generator controller comprising a converter configured to convert the alternating current power to direct current power;
- a battery pack electrically connected to the generator controller, wherein the generator controller and the battery pack are configured to be electrically connected to a power bus of an equipment to allow direct current power to travel between the equipment and the hybrid power supply;
- and
- a battery management system configured to measure a voltage or state of charge associated with the battery pack, wherein the ECU is configured to:
- receive the measured voltage or state of charge from the battery management system;
- and
- control one or more of a speed of the engine or a generation percentage of the generator based on a rate of change of the measured voltage or a rate of change of the measured state of charge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.