Regulated output voltage generator-set applied to mobile equipment in the turf industry
AssigneeTextron Innovations Inc.
InventorsCarlos A Bellot, Martin M. Carlson, Kenneth R. Wilson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A turf maintenance vehicle includes an internal combustion engine and an energy converting device that converts mechanical energy from the engine to electric energy. The vehicle also includes at least one subsystem powered by the electric energy from the energy converting device. The vehicle further includes a demand sensor that detects electrical demand from the subsystem. Also, the vehicle includes a controller that changes a speed range of the engine based on the electrical demand, which changes the operating voltage range output from the energy converting device. A method of operation of the vehicle is also disclosed.
Claims21
A turf maintenance vehicle comprising:
- an internal combustion engine;
- an energy converting device operatively coupled to the internal combustion engine to convert mechanical energy from the internal combustion engine to electric energy;
- at least one subsystem powered by the electric energy from the energy converting device;
- a demand sensor that detects an electrical demand of the at least one subsystem, the demand sensor outputting an electrical demand signal correlating to the electrical demand of the at least one subsystem;
- and
- a controller that receives the electrical demand signal and outputs a control signal that changes a speed range of the internal combustion engine based on the electrical demand signal between a first speed range, which causes the energy converting device to produce electric energy within a first operating voltage range, and a second speed range, which causes the energy converting device to produce electric energy within a second operating voltage range.
A method of controlling a turf maintenance vehicle having an internal combustion engine and an energy converting device operatively coupled to the internal combustion engine to convert mechanical energy from the internal combustion engine to electric energy, the method comprising:
- detecting an electrical demand of at least one subsystem of the turf maintenance vehicle;
- changing a speed range of the internal combustion engine based on the electrical demand between a first speed range, which causes the energy converting device to produce electric energy within a first operating voltage range, and a second speed range, which causes the energy converting device to produce electric energy within a second operating voltage range.
A turf maintenance vehicle comprising:
- an internal combustion engine;
- an actuator system operatively coupled to the internal combustion engine to change a speed range of the internal combustion engine;
- an energy converting device operatively coupled to the internal combustion engine to convert mechanical energy from the internal combustion engine to electric energy;
- a ground traction system powered by the electric energy from the energy converting device;
- a turf maintenance implement system powered by the electric energy from the energy converting device;
- a steering system powered by the electric energy from the energy converting device;
- an energy storage system;
- an accessory system powered by the electric energy from the energy converting device;
- a demand sensor that detects an electrical demand of the ground traction system, the turf maintenance implement system, the steering system, the energy storage system, and the accessory system, the demand sensor outputting an electrical demand signal correlating to the electrical demand;
- a controller that receives the electrical demand signal and outputs a control signal to the actuator system to change the speed range of the internal combustion engine based on the electrical demand signal;
- the actuator system decreasing the speed range from a first speed range, which causes the energy converting device to produce electric energy within a first operating voltage range, to a second speed range, which causes the energy converting device to produce electric energy within a second operating voltage range, when the electrical demand is below a predetermined level;
- and
- the actuator system also increasing the speed range from the first speed range to a third speed range, which causes the energy converting device to produce electric energy within a third operating voltage range, when the energy converting device recharges the energy storage system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.