CONTROL SYSTEM FOR STARTING ELECTRICALLY POWERED IMPLEMENTS

• US 20090222175A1
• Filed: 02/28/2008
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Henson, Robert A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,738,237 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/006 Control or measuring arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/58 electric
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 69/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 1/04 Means for controlling progress of starting sequence in dependence upon time or upon current, speed, or other motor parameter
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 1/58 sequentially

Abstract

A control system is provided for starting electrically powered implements on a vehicle such as a grass mowing machine with electrically powered cutting reels. The electric motors are started at intervals, rather than simultaneously. The intervals between starting each electric motor may be based on pre-defined criteria such as a fixed time constant, voltage, current or speed input from a motor controller for each implement.

Claims

1. A control system for starting electrically powered implements, comprising:

a traction vehicle equipped with an internal combustion engine driving an electrical power generator;

a plurality of electric motors powered by the generator, each electric motor connected to an implement and to the generator through a motor controller; and

an electronic controller connected to each motor controller and providing a starting signal to a next motor controller in a pre-defined sequence.

2. The control system of claim 1 further comprising a timer started with each electric motor, and providing the starting signal to the next motor controller when the timer has a value greater than or equal to a pre-defined time constant.

3. The control system of claim 1 further comprising a voltage input from each motor controller, and providing the starting signal to the next motor controller when the voltage input is greater than or equal to a pre-defined voltage constant.

4. The control system of claim 1 further comprising a current input from each motor controller, and providing the starting signal to the next motor controller when the current input is less than or equal to a pre-defined current constant.

5. The control system of claim 1 further comprising a speed input from each motor controller, and providing the starting signal to the next motor controller when the speed input is greater than or equal to a pre-defined speed constant.

6. A control system for starting electrically powered implements carried by a vehicle, comprising:

an electronic controller connected to a plurality of motor controllers, each of the motor controllers associated with an electric motor powering an implement;

the electronic controller providing a starting signal to only one of the motor controllers at a time, reading an input, and determining if the input satisfies a pre-defined criteria before providing a starting signal to a next motor controller.

7. The control system of claim 6 further comprising a timer that is started when the starting signal is provided to a motor controller, and wherein the pre-defined criteria is a time constant.

8. The control system of claim 6 further comprising reading a voltage from the motor controller receiving the starting signal, and wherein the pre-defined criteria is a voltage constant.

9. The control system of claim 6 further comprising reading a current from the motor controller receiving the starting signal, and wherein the pre-defined criteria is a current constant.

10. The control system of claim 6 further comprising reading a speed from the motor controller receiving the starting signal, and wherein the pre-defined criteria is a speed constant.

11. The control system of claim 6 wherein the implements are cutting reels.

12. A control system of claim 6 wherein the vehicle is a grass mowing machine having an internal combustion engine mechanically driving a generator connected to the motor controllers.

13. A control system for starting a plurality of electrically powered implements on a vehicle, comprising:

an electronic controller providing a starting signal to a first motor controller for a first implement, reading an input from the first motor controller, providing a starting signal to a second motor controller for a second implement if the input from the first motor controller is greater than or equal to a pre-defined constant, reading an input from the second motor controller, and providing a starting signal to a third motor controller for a third implement if the input from the second motor controller is greater than or equal to the pre-defined constant.

14. The control system of claim 13 wherein the pre-defined constant is a time constant.

15. The control system of claim 13 wherein the pre-defined constant is a voltage constant.

16. The control system of claim 13 wherein the pre-defined constant is a current constant.

17. The control system of claim 13 wherein the pre-defined constant is a speed constant.

18. The control system of claim 13 wherein the electrically powered implements are cutting reels.