Methods and apparatus for operating engine driven vehicles
OwnerMichael Lewis Jones, James Edward O'Bryan +1inventors
InventorsMichael Lewis Jones, James Edward O'Bryan, Lokesh Ramanna
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for controlling electrical energy in an engine-driven vehicle are provided. The vehicle includes a battery, a propulsive engine, and a starter-generator assembly coupled to the engine of the vehicle. The method includes supplying an electrical current from the battery to a starting winding of the starter-generator, supplying an electrical current to the battery from a generating winding of the starter-generator, and controlling the voltage of the starter-generator using a unitary, voltage regulator integrated with the starter-generator.
Claims20
A method of controlling electrical energy in an engine-driven vehicle, the vehicle including a battery, a propulsive engine, and a starter-generator assembly comprising a starter-generator coupled to the engine, said method comprising:
- supplying an electrical current from the battery to a starting winding of the starter-generator;
- supplying an electrical current to the battery from a generating winding of the starter-generator;
- and
- controlling the voltage of the starter-generator using a unitary, voltage regulator integrated with the starter-generator.
A unitary, integrated starter-generator/voltage regulator assembly for an engine-driven vehicle, said starter-generator/voltage regulator assembly comprising:
- a starter-generator configured to couple to the engine and configured to generate electrical energy when the engine operates and to provide torque to the engine to start the engine when the engine is stopped;
- and
- a voltage regulator electrically coupled to said starter-generator to control a voltage output of said starter-generator, said voltage regulator coupled to said starter-generator forming a part thereof.
An engine-driven vehicle comprising:
- a propulsive engine;
- a starter-generator assembly coupled to said engine, said starter-generator assembly comprising a starter-generator and a unitary, integral voltage regulator configured to control a voltage output of a generator portion of said starter-generator;
- and
- a battery configured to supply electrical energy to said starter-generator when said starter-generator assembly is operating as a starter and to receive electrical energy from said starter-generator when said starter-generator assembly is operating as a generator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.