US 2026/0138464 A1Published application

System and method for autonomous engine and fuel efficiency tuning of a trailer

AssigneeRange Energy Inc.

InventorsAli Javidan, Bryan Booth, Ryan Flatland, Collin MacGregor, Theodore DeGuzman

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

One variation of a system includes a trailer motor configured to install on a trailer and output torque to and regeneratively brake a driven axle; a battery configured to supply electrical energy to the trailer motor receive electrical energy from the trailer motor during regenerative braking; an external communication adapter configured to output signals representing operational data of a tow vehicle pulling the trailer; and a controller. The controller is configured to: estimate an efficiency metric of the tow vehicle and the trailer; store these operational data in a set of objects correlating motor torque outputs and engine speeds with peak efficiencies; calculate a motor torque output for the trailer motor predicted to reduce a difference between the efficiency metric and a peak efficiency of the tow vehicle and the trailer; and trigger the trailer motor to output the motor torque output.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method comprising:

during a first time period:
setting a first motor torque output at a trailer motor, arranged in a drive system of a trailer pulled by a tow vehicle, for a first time window;
accessing a first net energy consumption from a battery of the trailer during the first time window;
accessing a first fuel consumption of a tow vehicle engine of the tow vehicle during the first time window;
estimating a first distance traveled by the tow vehicle and the trailer during the first time window;
calculating a first total energy consumption of the tow vehicle and the trailer during the first time window based on a first combination of:
the first net energy consumption from the battery;
and
the first fuel consumption of the tow vehicle engine;
and
calculating a first efficiency metric of the tow vehicle and the trailer during the first time window based on:
the first distance traveled by the tow vehicle and the trailer;
and
the first total energy consumption of the tow vehicle and the trailer;
during a second time period succeeding the first time period:
setting a second motor torque output, greater than the first motor torque output, at the trailer motor for a second time window;
accessing a second net energy consumption from the battery during the second time window;
accessing a second fuel consumption of the tow vehicle engine during the second time window;
estimating a second distance traveled by the tow vehicle and the trailer during the second time window;
calculating a second total energy consumption of the tow vehicle and the trailer during the second time window based on a second combination of:
the second net energy consumption from the battery of the trailer;
and
the second fuel consumption of the tow vehicle engine;
and
calculating a second efficiency metric of the tow vehicle and the trailer during the second time window based on:
the second distance traveled by the tow vehicle and the trailer;
and
the second total energy consumption of the tow vehicle and the trailer;
and
during a third time period succeeding the second time period:
in response to the second efficiency metric falling below the first efficiency metric, setting a third motor torque output, less than the second motor torque output, at the trailer motor.

28 more elements

A method comprising:

during a first time period:
accessing a first motor torque output by a trailer motor, arranged in a drive system of a trailer pulled by a tow vehicle, for a first time window;
accessing a first engine speed of a tow vehicle engine of the tow vehicle during the first time window;
calculating a first efficiency metric of the tow vehicle and the trailer during the first time window;
accessing a three-dimensional virtual surface relating motor torque outputs at the trailer motor, engine speeds of the tow vehicle engine, and efficiency metrics of the tow vehicle and the trailer;
projecting the three-dimensional virtual surface into a first two-dimensional virtual curve relating motor torque outputs and efficiency metrics at the first engine speed of the tow vehicle engine;
and
in response to the first efficiency metric falling below a first peak efficiency for the tow vehicle and the trailer for the first engine speed:
calculating a first target motor torque output for the first engine speed based on the first two-dimensional virtual curve;
and
in response to the first motor torque output falling below the first target motor torque output:
based on the first two-dimensional virtual curve, calculating a second motor torque output, greater than the first motor torque output, for the trailer motor for a second time window;
and
during a second time period succeeding the first time period:
accessing a second engine speed, different from the first engine speed, of the tow vehicle engine during the second time window;
calculating a second efficiency metric of the tow vehicle and the trailer during the second time window;
projecting the three-dimensional virtual surface into a second two-dimensional virtual curve relating motor torque outputs and efficiency metrics at the second engine speed of the tow vehicle engine;
and
in response to the second efficiency metric falling below a second peak efficiency for the tow vehicle and the trailer during for the second engine speed:
calculating a second target motor torque output for the second engine speed based on the second two-dimensional virtual curve;
and
in response to the second motor torque output exceeding the second target motor torque output:
based on the second two-dimensional virtual curve, calculating a third motor torque, less than the second motor torque output, for the trailer motor for a third time window.

20 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.