Method and system for auxiliary power generation

• US 10,239,534 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2016
• Issued: 03/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blackburn Energy
• Original Assignee: Blackburn Energy
• Inventors: Amigo, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Condra, Darlene P
• Application Number:
  US15/320,117
• Publication Number:
  US 20170137028A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/22 characterised by arrangement, location, or type of main drive shafting, e.g. cardan shaft
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/24 Arrangements of mountings for shafting
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/28 characterised by arrangement, location, or type of power take-off
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/4808 Electric machine connected or connectable to gearbox output shaft
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/4816 Electric machine connected or connectable to gearbox internal shaft
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/4833 Step up or reduction gearing driving generator, e.g. to operate generator in most efficient speed range
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 25/06 from the transmission power take-off transmissions having power-take-off B60K17/28
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/40 characterised by the assembly or relative disposition of components
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/15 with additional electric power supply with capacitors charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/40; with batteries charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/61
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/10 Dynamic electric regenerative braking B60L7/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/20 Braking by supplying regenerated power to the prime mover of vehicles comprising engine-driven generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/00 Conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function for propulsion of purely electrically-propelled vehicles with power supplied within the vehicle B60L50/00 - B60L58/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/14 in conjunction with braking regeneration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0604 Throttle position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0638 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0657 Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/242 : for electrical energy
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/105 : Longitudinal acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 : Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/15 : Road slope, i.e. the inclination of a road segment in the longitudinal direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/20 : Road profile, i.e. the change in elevation or curvature of a plurality of continuous road segments
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 : of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/083 : Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/085 : Torque change rate
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/242 : for electrical energy
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18127 : Regenerative braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/188 : Controlling power parameters of the driveline, e.g. determining the required power
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/1888 : Control of power take off [PTO]
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/04 : the motors being associated with current generators
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/06 : and with ignition apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 15/08 : the gearing being of friction type
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

An auxiliary power system for a motor vehicle includes a power generator that generates electricity to charge one or more auxiliary power system batteries. The motor vehicle includes an engine and drive train that distributes power from the engine to the drive wheels. The drive train can include a transmission, a drive shaft and a differential that connects the engine to the drive wheels. The power generator can be connected to the drive train (e.g., the transmission, the drive shaft or the differential) to draw power to generate electricity as well as to apply braking loads on the drive wheels to increase the ability to stop the motor vehicle.

Claims

1. An auxiliary power system for a motor vehicle comprising:

an engine connected to a transmission and a drive shaft connecting the transmission to a differential whereby rotational power of the engine is transmitted to rotate one or more drive wheels;

a frame supporting the engine;

the drive shaft including a support bearing and a drive element disposed between the transmission and the differential and coupled to the power generator to transfer rotational power from the drive shaft to the power generator, the power generator being electrically connected to one or more batteries and producing electrical energy to charge the one or more batteries;

wherein the support bearing includes an inner race coupled to the drive shaft and the drive element is attached to the inner race of the support bearing to transfer rotation power from the drive shaft to the power generator, and

wherein the support bearing includes an outer race coupled to the frame by a support housing and the outer race of the support bearing is supported by a support bushing within the support housing.

2. The auxiliary power system according to claim 1 wherein the drive element includes a drive pulley and a drive belt.

3. The auxiliary power system according to claim 1 wherein the drive element includes a drive gear and a pinion drive shaft.

4. The auxiliary power system according to claim 1 further comprising

a controller connected to the power generator and controlling at least one mode of operation of the power generator.

5. The auxiliary power system according to claim 4 wherein the controller is connected to one or more sensors and the controller is configured to control the power generator as a function of at least one of the one or more sensors.

6. The auxiliary power system according to claim 5 wherein the controller is connected to an accelerometer and receives acceleration data from the accelerometer;

and wherein the controller controls the power generator to generate power when the accelerometer data indicates that the accelerometer has an inclination angle greater than a predefined threshold.

7. The auxiliary power system according to claim 6 wherein the controller controls the power generator to stop generating power when the accelerometer data indicates that the accelerometer has an inclination angle less than a predefined threshold.

8. The auxiliary power system according to claim 5 wherein the controller is connected to an accelerator pedal position sensor and receives accelerator position data from the accelerator pedal position sensor;

and wherein the controller controls the power generator to generate power when the accelerator position data indicates that the accelerator pedal is depressed.

9. The auxiliary power system according to claim 8 wherein the controller controls the power generator to stop generating power when the accelerator position data indicates that the accelerator pedal is pressed.

10. The auxiliary power system according to claim 4 wherein the controller is connected to an engine control unit (ECU) of a motor vehicle and receives ECU data from the ECU;

and wherein the controller controls the power generator to generate power when the ECU data indicates that the motor vehicle is operating in a high efficiency mode.

11. The auxiliary power system according to claim 10 wherein the controller controls the power generator to stop generating power when the ECU data indicates that the motor vehicle is operating in a low efficiency mode.

12. The auxiliary power system according to claim 4 wherein the controller is connected to a global positioning system (GPS) of a motor vehicle and receives GPS data from the GPS;

and wherein the controller controls the power generator to generate power when the GPS data indicates that the motor vehicle is moving down an incline.

13. The auxiliary power system according to claim 12 wherein the controller controls the power generator to stop generating power when the GPS data indicates that the motor vehicle is moving up an incline.