US 8,008,800 B2 · Harvester multiple engine energy control system

Abstract

An agricultural vehicle including a plurality of engines, a plurality of loads, a plurality of electrical generators, at least one load sensor, at least one electrical energy storage device, and a controller. The plurality of engines include a first engine and a second engine. The plurality of loads include a first mechanical load, a second mechanical load, a first electrical load, and a second electrical load. The first mechanical load is coupled to the first engine and the second mechanical load is coupled to the second engine. The plurality of electrical generator include a first generator and a second generator. The first generator is coupled to the first engine and the second generator is coupled to the second engine. The first generator is electrically coupled to the first electrical load and the second generator is electrically coupled to the second electrical load. The at least one load sensor is configured to produce a signal representative of power being used by the first engine and the second engine to drive the plurality of loads. The controller is configured to direct energy from the electrical energy storage device to the plurality of loads and/or the plurality of electrical generators dependent upon the signal.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An agricultural vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of engines including a first engine and a second engine;
a plurality of loads including a first mechanical load, a second mechanical load, a first electrical load and a second electrical load, said first mechanical load being coupled to said first engine, said second mechanical load being coupled to said second engine;
a plurality of electrical generators including a first generator and a second generator, said first generator being coupled to said first engine, said second generator being coupled to said second engine, said first generator being electrically coupled to said first electrical load, said second generator being electrically coupled to said second electrical load;
at least one load sensor configured to produce a signal representative of power being used by said first engine and said second engine to drive said plurality of loads;
at least one electrical energy storage device;
and
a controller configured to direct energy from said at least one electrical energy storage device to at least one of said plurality of loads and said plurality of electrical generators dependent upon said signal, said controller being further configured to direct energy to back drive at least one of said first generator and said second generator dependent upon said signal.

4 more elements

A method of controlling load distribution in an agricultural vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

driving a plurality of loads including a first load coupled to a first engine and a second load coupled to a second engine, said first load including a first generator coupled to said first engine, said second load including a second generator coupled to said second engine;
generating a signal by a load sensor representative of at least one of said first load on said first engine, said second load on said second engine;
directing energy from an electrical energy storage device to at least one of said first load, said second load, said first generator and said second generator dependent upon said signal;
and
back driving at least one of said first generator and said second generator dependent upon said signal.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Harvester multiple engine energy control system

Life of this patent

Harvester multiple engine energy control system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20