Method and system for configuring a transport refrigeration unit battery charger for use in a transport refrigeration system

• US 10,236,692 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2018
• Issued: 03/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thermo King Corporation (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: Thermo King Corporation (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Muralidhar, Ashok, Nelson, Matthew S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pacheco, Alexis B
• Application Number:
  US15/945,157
• Publication Number:
  US 20180241222A1
• Time in Patent Office: 349 Days
• Field of Search: 320134, 320136, 320103, 320137, 320162, 320104, 320106, 320107, 320108, 320112, 307 101, 307104, 307 91
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/3232 particularly adapted for load transporting vehicles B60H1/3226 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/46 for ICE-powered road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0071 with a programmable schedule

Abstract

A system and method for configuring a transport refrigeration unit (TRU) battery charger in a transport refrigeration system (TRS) is provided. The method includes receiving battery topology data indicating a battery topology of a TRU battery equipped in the TRS. The method also includes determining specific parameters for configuring a battery charging algorithm based on the battery topology data. Also, the method includes the TRU battery charger configuring the battery charging algorithm based on the specific parameters.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a transport refrigeration system (TRS) to charge a TRU battery equipped in the TRS, the method comprising:

a TRS controller controlling operation of a refrigerant circuit of the TRU;

the TRS controller at least one of receiving and accessing battery topology data from a user, the battery topology data indicating a battery topology of the TRU battery equipped in the TRS;

the TRS controller storing the battery topology data in a TRS controller memory portion of the TRS controller;

determining specific parameters for configuring a battery charging algorithm for charging the TRU battery based on the battery topology data;

configuring the battery charging algorithm based on the specific parameters; and

charging the TRU battery according to the battery charging algorithm configured based on the specific parameters.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the TRS controller at least one of receiving and accessing the battery topology data from the user via a commercial grade communication link.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the commercial grade communication link is a wireless communication link.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the commercial grade communication link is a wired communication link.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

a telematics unit of the TRS at least one of receiving and accessing the battery topology data from the user via the commercial grade communication link,

wherein the TRS controller at least one of receiving and accessing the battery topology data from the telematics unit via a rugged industrial grade communication link.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

the TRS controller communicating with a user device outside of the TRU via the commercial grade communication link,

wherein the TRS controller at least one of receiving and accessing the battery topology data from the user device via the commercial grade communication link.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the TRS controller at least one of receiving and accessing the battery topology data from the user via a human machine interface of the TRS.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the TRS controller sending the battery topology data to a TRU battery charger of the TRS via a rugged industrial grade communication link,

wherein the TRU battery charger determines the specific parameters for configuring the battery charging algorithm for charging the TRU battery based on the battery topology data, the battery charging algorithm being stored in a TRU battery charger memory portion of the TRU battery charger,

wherein the TRU battery charger configures the battery charging algorithm stored in the TRU battery charger memory portion based on the specific parameters, and

wherein the TRU battery charger charges the TRU battery according to the battery charging algorithm configured based on the specific parameters.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the TRS controller is electrically connected to both the TRU battery charger and the TRU battery, and

wherein the TRU battery charger charging the TRU battery includes the TRU battery charger providing an electrical current to TRS controller and the TRS controller providing the electrical current to the TRU battery so as to charge the TRU battery according to the battery charging algorithm configured based on the specific parameters.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the battery charging algorithm includes a plurality of charging modes, and

wherein configuring the battery charging algorithm based on the specific parameters includes modifying a percentage of time that the TRU battery is charged in at least one of the plurality of charging modes.

11. A transport refrigeration system (TRS) for a refrigerated transport unit (TRU), comprising:

a refrigeration circuit including a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, and a thermal expansion device;

a TRU battery configured to provide power to one or more components of the TRS; and

a TRS controller including a TRS controller memory portion, the TRS controller configured to;

control the refrigeration circuit,

at least one of receive and access battery topology data from a user indicating a battery topology of the TRU battery, and

store the battery topology data in the TRS controller memory portion;

wherein the TRS is configured to;

determine specific parameters for configuring a battery charging algorithm for charging the TRU battery based on the battery topology data,

configure the battery charging algorithm based on the specific parameters, and

charge the TRU battery according to the battery charging algorithm configured based on the specific parameters.

12. The TRS of claim 11, further comprising:

a commercial grade communication link for communicating with one or more devices outside of the TRU,

wherein the TRS controller is configured to at least one of receive and access the battery topology data from the user via the commercial grade communication link.

13. The TRS of claim 12, wherein the commercial grade communication link is a wireless communication link.

14. The TRS of claim 12, wherein the commercial grade communication link is a wired communication link.

15. The TRS of claim 12, further comprising:

a telematics unit configured to at least one of receive and access the battery topology from the user via the commercial grade communication link,

wherein the TRS controller is configured to at least one of receive and access the battery topology data from the telematics unit via a rugged industrial grade communication link.

16. The TRS of claim 11, further comprising:

a human machine interface configured to receive the battery topology data from the user,

wherein the TRS controller is configured to at least one of receive and access the battery topology data via the human machine interface.

17. The TRS of claim 11, further comprising:

a TRU battery charger including a TRU battery charger memory portion and a processor, the battery charging algorithm being stored in the TRU battery charger memory portion, and the TRU battery charger configured to receive the TRU battery topology data from the TRS controller via a rugged industrial grade communication link,

wherein the TRU battery charger of the TRS determines the specific parameters for configuring the battery charging algorithm for charging the TRU battery based on the battery topology data, configures the battery charging algorithm stored in the TRU battery charger memory portion based on the battery topology data, and charges the TRU battery according to the battery charging algorithm configured based on the specific parameters.

18. The TRS of claim 17, wherein the TRS controller is electrically connected to the TRU battery and the TRU battery charger, and

wherein the TRU battery charger provides an electrical current to the TRS controller, and the TRS controller provides the electrical current to the TRU battery to charge the TRU battery according to the battery charging algorithm configured based on the specific parameters.

19. The TRS of claim 11, wherein the charging algorithm includes a plurality of charging modes, and

wherein the configuring of the battery charging algorithm based on the specific parameters modifies a percentage of time the TRU battery charger charges the TRU battery in at least one of the plurality of charging modes.