Power distribution system

• US 20090143922A1
• Filed: 11/30/2007
• Published: 06/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Hubbard, Milton Carter, Juricak, Steven James
• Granted Patent: US 8,068,969 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/30 including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/188 Controlling power parameters of the driveline, e.g. determining the required power
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/415 Wheel loaders
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2246 Control of prime movers, e.g. depending on the hydraulic load of work tools

Abstract

A power distribution system is provided having a power source configured to generate a power output. The power distribution system also has an available power module configured to determine a total available power generated by the power source. In addition, the power distribution system has one or more parasitic power request modules configured to receive a request for power from an associated parasitic device and one or more non-parasitic power request modules configured to receive a request for power from an associated non-parasitic device. The power distribution system further has a power distribution module configured to cause the distribution of power among the parasitic and non-parasitic devices. The power distributed among the non-parasitic devices is the power remaining after the parasitic devices receive their requested power.

Claims

1. A power distribution system, comprising:

a power source configured to generate a power output;

an available power module configured to determine a total available power generated by the power source;

one or more parasitic power request modules configured to receive a request for power from an associated parasitic device;

one or more non-parasitic power request modules configured to receive a request for power from an associated non-parasitic device; and

a power distribution module configured to cause the distribution of power among the parasitic and non-parasitic devices, the power distributed among the non-parasitic devices being the power remaining after the parasitic devices receive their requested power.

2. The power distribution system of claim 1, wherein the power distribution module is configured to calculate a net available power and distribute the net available power among the non-parasitic devices, the net available power being the difference between the total available power generated by the power source and the power distributed among the parasitic devices.

3. The power distribution system of claim 2, wherein the power distribution module is configured to distribute the net available power among all of the non-parasitic devices requesting power when the total power requested by the non-parasitic devices is less than the net available power.

4. The power distribution system of claim 3, wherein the non-parasitic power request modules have an associated priority level.

5. The power distribution system of claim 4, wherein the power distribution module is configured to distribute the net available power among the non-parasitic devices based on the priority levels attached to the requests for power.

6. The power distribution system of claim 5, wherein the priority levels include a top level, an intermediate level, and a bottom level, and the power distribution device is configured to distribute power among all of the non-parasitic devices requesting power that have a top level priority before distributing power among non-parasitic devices requesting power that have an intermediate level priority or a bottom level priority.

7. The power distribution system of claim 1, wherein the parasitic devices include at least a compressor for an air conditioning unit, an axle oil cooler, an alternator, or a transmission pump.

8. The power distribution system of claim 7, wherein the non-parasitic devices include at least non-parasitic elements of a power train or an implement.

9. A method for distributing power, comprising:

calculating a total available power;

receiving one or more parasitic power requests, each request being associated with a parasitic device;

receiving one or more non-parasitic power requests, each request being associated with a non-parasitic device; and

distributing the available power among the parasitic devices; and

distributing, to the non-parasitic devices, the power remaining.

10. The method of claim 9, further including calculating a net available power and distributing the net available power among the non-parasitic devices, the net available power being the difference between the total available power and the power distributed among the parasitic devices.

11. The method of claim 10, further including calculating the total power requested by the non-parasitic devices and distributing the net available power among all of the non-parasitic devices requesting power when the total power requested by the non-parasitic devices is less than the net available power.

12. The method of claim 11, further including assigning a priority level to each non-parasitic power request and distributing the net available power among the non-parasitic devices based on the assigned priority levels.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the priority levels include a top level, an intermediate level, and a bottom level.

14. The method of claim 13, further including distributing the net available power among all of the non-parasitic device requests having a top level priority before distributing power among non-parasitic power requests having an intermediate level priority or a bottom level priority.

15. A machine, comprising:

a power source configured to generate a power output;

one or more traction devices;

an implement;

one or more parasitic devices;

one or more non-parasitic devices; and

a controller including;

an available power module configured to determine a total available power generated by the power source;

one or more parasitic power request modules configured to receive a request for power from an associated parasitic device, wherein each parasitic device is one of at least compressor for an air conditioning unit, an axle oil cooler, an alternator, a transmission pump, or an emissions driven compressor;

one or more non-parasitic power request modules configured to receive a request for power from an associated non-parasitic device wherein each parasitic device is one of at least a non-parasitic element of a power train or an implement; and

a power distribution module configured to distribute or cause the distribution of power among the parasitic and non-parasitic devices, the power distributed among the non-parasitic devices being the power remaining after the parasitic devices receive their requested power.

16. The machine of claim 15, wherein the power distribution module is configured to calculate a net available power and distribute the net available power among the non-parasitic devices, the net available power being the difference between the total available power generated by the power source and the power distributed among the parasitic devices.

17. The machine of claim 16, wherein the power distribution module is configured to distribute the net available power among all of the non-parasitic devices requesting power when the total power requested by the non-parasitic devices is less than the net available power.

18. The machine of claim 17, wherein the non-parasitic power request modules have an associated priority level.

19. The machine of claim 18, wherein the power distribution module is configured to distribute the net available power among the non-parasitic devices based on the priority levels attached to the requests for power.

20. The machine of claim 19, wherein the priority levels include a top level, an intermediate level, and a bottom level.