METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING AN ELECTRICAL OUTPUT OF A TURBOGENERATOR

• US 20090224541A1
• Filed: 04/27/2009
• Published: 09/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Stahlhut, Ronnie Dean, Vuk, Carl Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,781,904 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/7
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/26 Transition between different drive modes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/13 using AC generators and AC motors
• 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: 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: H02J 7/143 with multiple generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/00 Arrangements for controlling electric generators for the purpose of obtaining a desired output Ward-Leonard arrangements H02P7/34; vector control H02P21/00; feeding a network by two or more generators H02J; for charging batteries H02J7/14
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/48 Arrangements for obtaining a constant output value at varying speed of the generator, e.g. on vehicle H02P9/04 - H02P9/46 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors

Abstract

The entire right, title and interest in and to this application and all subject matter disclosed and/or claimed therein, including any and all divisions, continuations, reissues, etc., thereof are, effective as of the date of execution of this application, assigned, transferred, sold and set over by the applicant(s) named herein to Deere & Company, a Delaware corporation having offices at Moline, Ill. 61265, U.S.A., together with all rights to file, and to claim priorities in connection with, corresponding patent applications in any and all foreign countries in the name of Deere & Company or otherwise.

Claims

1. A method for managing an electrical output of a turbogenerator having a turbine in communication with exhaust associated with an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:

detecting revolutions per unit time associated with the turbogenerator;

outputting electrical energy from a turbogenerator output through a current bus in a first mode where the detected turbogenerator revolutions per unit time meet or exceed a minimum threshold; and

outputting electrical power from a generator output of a secondary generator, distinct from the turbogenerator and mechanically driven by the internal combustion engine, to the current bus in a second mode where the detected turbogenerator revolutions per unit time are less than the minimum threshold.

2-7. -7. (canceled)

8. A system for managing an electrical output of a turbogenerator having a turbine in communication with exhaust associated with an internal combustion engine, the system comprising:

a first sensor for detecting revolutions per unit time associated with a shaft or a rotor of a turbogenerator;

a current bus;

the turbogenerator for outputting electrical energy from a turbogenerator output to feed the current bus in a first mode where the detected turbogenerator revolutions per unit time meet or exceed a minimum threshold;

and

a secondary generator, distinct from the turbogenerator and mechanically driven by the internal combustion engine, for outputting electrical power from a generator output to the current bus in a second mode where the detected turbogenerator revolutions per unit time are less than the minimum threshold.

9-18. -18. (canceled)

19. A system for managing an electrical output of a turbogenerator having a turbine in communication with exhaust associated with an internal combustion engine, the system comprising:

a first sensor for detecting an electrical output level associated with the turbogenerator;

the turbogenerator for outputting electrical energy from a turbogenerator output to feed a current bus in a first mode where the detected electrical output level during an evaluation time window meets or exceeds a minimum threshold;

and

a secondary generator, distinct from the turbogenerator and mechanically driven by the internal combustion engine, for outputting electrical power from a generator output to the current bus in a second mode where the detected electrical output level is less than the minimum threshold.

20. (canceled)

21. A system comprising:

an internal combustion engine;

a turbogenerator having a turbine in communication with exhaust associated with the internal combustion engine, wherein the turbine is mechanically coupled to a primary generator or alternator for generating electrical energy output;

a secondary generator or alternator mechanically driven by the internal combustion engine;

a sensor for inferring a rotational speed of a rotational member of the turbogenerator;

a mode controller coupled to the sensor;

a current bus for receiving power i) from the turbogenerator output in a first mode controlled by the mode controller if the sensor senses a condition above a threshold, and ii) in a second mode controlled by the mode controller if the sensor senses a condition below the threshold from the secondary generator.