# US 2014/0197644 A1 · Power system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0197644 A1 - Document ID: US20140197644A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/739,374 - Filed: 2013-01-11 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-11 - Assignees: Kohler Co. - Applicants: Kohler Co - Inventors: Timothy W. White; Robert J. Danforth, III; Jeffrey J. Neis - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140197644A1 ## CPC - H02P 9/04: Control effected upon non-electric prime mover and dependent upon electric output value of the generator - F02N 11/0803: {characterised by means for initiating engine start or stop (F02N11/0814 takes precedence)} - H02P 9/008: {wherein the generator is controlled by the requirements of the prime mover} - F02D 29/06: peculiar to engines driving electric generators - F02D 41/22: Safety or indicating devices for abnormal conditions {(in air/fuel ratio feedback systems F02D41/1495, in electric control linkage F02D11/107, in purge control systems F02M25/0809)} - G01M 15/046: {by monitoring revolutions (for detecting misfire G01M15/11)} - G01R 31/343: {in operation} - H02P: CONTROL OR REGULATION OF ELECTRIC MOTORS, ELECTRIC GENERATORS OR DYNAMO-ELECTRIC CONVERTERS; CONTROLLING TRANSFORMERS, REACTORS OR CHOKE COILS - F02N: STARTING OF COMBUSTION ENGINES; STARTING AIDS FOR SUCH ENGINES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F02D: CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES (vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed B60K31/00; conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function, road vehicle drive control systems for purposes other than the control of a single sub-unit B60W) - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) ## Abstract A power system may include a power generation component and a sensor configured to measure a parameter. The power system may also include a controller in communication with the power generation component and the sensor. The controller may be configured to run the power generation component in an exercise mode for a duration. The duration may be based on the measured parameter. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A power system, comprising: a power generation component; a sensor configured to measure a parameter; and a controller in communication with the power generation component and the sensor, the controller configured to run the power generation component in an exercise mode for a duration, the duration based on the measured parameter. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The power system of claim 1, where the controller stops the power generation component from running in the exercise mode when the parameter exceeds a threshold. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The power system of claim 1, where the controller determines the duration based on a look-up table or an algorithm. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The power system of claim 1, where the sensor is an oil temperature sensor; and where the parameter is an oil temperature. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The power system of claim 4, where the oil temperature sensor is a surface mount thermocouple attached to a bottom of an oil pan. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The power system of claim 1, where the power generation component includes an engine and an alternator connected with the engine. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The power system of claim 6, where the engine is run and the alternator is not excited when the power generation component is run in the exercise mode. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The power system of claim 6, where running the power generation component in the exercise mode comprises running the engine for a portion of the duration at a lower speed than a full speed. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The power system of claim 1, where the power generation component does not deliver power a load attached to the power system when the power generation component is run in the exercise mode. ### Claim 10 A method, comprising: operating a generator in an exercise mode; measuring a parameter; determining when the parameter satisfies a condition; and adjusting the operation of the generator in the exercise mode based on the determination. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: monitoring a duration of the operation of the generator in the exercise mode. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: comparing the duration to a minimum duration threshold; and operating the generator in the exercise mode at least until the duration exceeds the minimum duration threshold. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising: comparing the duration to a maximum duration threshold; and stopping the operation of the generator in the exercise mode at the earlier of when the condition is satisfied after the duration exceeds the minimum duration threshold and when the duration exceeds the maximum duration threshold. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: comparing the duration to a maximum duration threshold; and stopping the operation of the generator in the exercise mode no later than when the duration exceeds the maximum duration threshold. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, where the adjusting the operation of the generator comprises changing an operating speed of the generator in the exercise mode when the condition is satisfied. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, where the parameter is an oil temperature; and where the condition is satisfied when the oil temperature is greater than a threshold value. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, where the parameter is an oil pressure; and where the condition is satisfied when the oil pressure is greater than a threshold value. ### Claim 18 A controller comprising: a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing logic for controlling a generator, the logic comprising: instructions for initiating an operation of the generator in an exercise mode; instructions for monitoring a duration of the operation of the generator in the exercise mode; instructions for comparing the duration to a time threshold; instructions for identifying a parameter; instructions for comparing the parameter to a parameter threshold; and instructions for stopping the operation of the generator in the exercise mode based on the comparison of the duration to the time threshold and the comparison of the parameter to the parameter threshold; and a processor configured to execute the logic. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The controller of claim 18, where the time threshold corresponds to a minimum duration threshold; and where the instructions for stopping the operation of the generator in the exercise mode comprise instructions for stopping the operation of the generator after the duration exceeds the time threshold. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The controller of claim 19, where the logic further comprises: instructions for comparing the duration to a maximum duration threshold; and where the instructions for stopping the operation of the generator in the exercise mode further comprise instructions for stopping the operation of the generator at the earlier of when the parameter exceeds the parameter threshold after the duration exceeds the minimum threshold and when the duration exceeds the maximum duration threshold.