Auxiliary power unit for a motor vehicle
AssigneeKohler Co.
InventorsGalen D. Flanigan, Eric D. Albsmeier
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An auxiliary power unit for a motor vehicle includes an auxiliary engine with an output shaft directly connected to a generator. The generator has a field winding and three output windings. A first output winding produces 120 volts AC that is applied to standard electrical outlets in the vehicle. A second output winding produces a low AC voltage that is converted to 12 volts DC and applied to the battery of the truck, thereby charging the battery and powering the vehicle's electrical system when the primary engine of the vehicle is off. An auxiliary winding in which another AC voltage is produced that is used by a controller to excite the field winding. A novel enclosure for the auxiliary power unit also is described.
Claims22
An auxiliary power unit for a motor vehicle that is powered by a primary engine and that has a battery connected to an electrical system to which the primary engine is connected, said auxiliary power unit comprising:
- an auxiliary engine having an output shaft;
- a generator having a rotor with a field winding wound thereon and coupled to the output shaft, a first output winding in which a first voltage of alternating current is generated for application to electrical outlets in the motor vehicle for powering AC loads, a second output winding in which a second voltage is generated for powering the electrical system, and an auxiliary winding in which a third voltage is generated;
- and
- a controller that senses one of the first voltage, the second voltage and the third voltage and in response thereto controls excitation of the field winding with the third voltage in a manner wherein the third voltage is used exclusively for exciting the field winding.
An auxiliary power unit for a motor vehicle that is powered by a primary engine and that has a battery connected to an electrical system to which the primary engine is connected, said auxiliary power unit comprising:
- a first output connector for connection to electrical outlets in the motor vehicle;
- a second output connector for connection to the electrical system;
- an auxiliary engine having an output shaft;
- and
- an generator having a rotor with a field winding wound thereon, a first output winding in which a first AC voltage is generated and which is connected to the first output connector, a second output winding in which a second AC voltage is generated, and an auxiliary winding in which an excitation voltage is generated;
- a converter connected to the second output winding to receive the second AC voltage, and producing a DC voltage that is applied to the second output connector;
- and
- a controller which includes a voltage regulator that responds to one of the first AC voltage and the second AC voltage by regulating application of the excitation voltage to the field winding to regulate the first AC voltage.
An auxiliary power unit for a motor vehicle that is powered by a primary engine and that has a battery connected to an electrical system to which the primary engine is connected, said auxiliary power unit comprising:
- a first output connector for connection to electrical outlets in the motor vehicle;
- a second output connector for connection to the electrical system;
- an auxiliary engine having an output shaft;
- and
- an alternator having a rotor with a field winding wound thereon, a first output winding in which a first AC voltage is generated and which is connected to the first output connector, a second output winding in which a second AC voltage is generated, and an auxiliary winding in which a third AC voltage is generated;
- a converter connected to the second output winding and converting the second AC voltage into a DC voltage that is applied to the second output connector;
- and
- a controller connected to the auxiliary winding wherein the third AC voltage is only used to produce an excitation voltage for exciting the field winding.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.