ENGINE-DRIVEN AIR COMPRESSOR/GENERATOR LOAD PRIORITY CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20140158671A1
• Filed: 02/17/2014
• Published: 06/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Fosbinder, Daniel C.
• Granted Patent: US 11,484,959 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/133
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1006 Power supply
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 63/02 for hand-held tools
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 63/04 for electric generators
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 63/048 Portable engine-generator combinations
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 63/06 for pumps

Abstract

A system, in one embodiment, may include a portable unit having an engine, a generator coupled to the engine, a compressor coupled to the engine, and a priority load controller. The controller may be configured to adjust various loads on the engine, the generator, or the compressor, or a combination thereof, in response to a priority control scheme. A computer-implemented method, in another embodiment, may include adjusting power output to various loads on an engine, a welding generator coupled to the engine, or an air compressor coupled to the engine, or a combination thereof, in a portable welding unit in response to a priority control scheme.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

adjusting power output to various loads on an engine, a welding generator coupled to the engine, or an air compressor coupled to the engine, or a combination thereof, in a portable welding unit in response to a priority control scheme, wherein adjusting comprises monitoring the various loads, comparing a total of the various loads with available power, and adjusting a distribution of the available power based on the priority control scheme.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting comprises identifying an overload condition, classifying the overload condition based on the severity of the overload condition, and performing one or more power reduction controls based on the priority control scheme, the overload condition, and the severity of the overload condition.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting comprises identifying current power output to the various loads, identifying desired output for the various loads, identifying priority of the various loads based on the priority control scheme, and decreasing or terminating one or more of the various loads based on the priority and a sensed overload condition.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting comprises reducing the power output to one or more devices if demanded power exceeds the available power, or increasing the power output to one or more devices if demanded power is less than the available power, or reducing engine speed if the available power exceeds demanded power.

5. A system, comprising:

a priority load controller configured to adjust various loads on an engine, a welding generator coupled to the engine, or an air compressor coupled to the engine, or a combination thereof, in a portable welding unit in response to a priority control scheme, wherein the priority load controller is configured to output a control signal to operate a governor in response to the priority control scheme, wherein the governor is configured to regulate speed of the engine.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the priority control scheme comprises a sequence of load changing steps including a change in battery charger power, a change in air compressor power, a change in welding generator power, a change in AC generator power, or a combination thereof

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the priority control scheme comprises a priority of loads including an AC generator power, a welding generator power, an air compressor power, a battery charger power, or a combination thereof.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the priority control scheme comprises a sequence of load reduction steps including a reduction in battery charger power, a reduction in air compressor power, a reduction in welding generator power, a reduction in AC generator power, or a combination thereof.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the priority load controller is configured to adjust the various loads based on feedback comprising an engine speed, an engine output, an engine temperature, an electrical output of the welding generator, an air output of the air compressor, or a combination thereof.

10. The system of claim 5, wherein the priority load controller is configured to output a control signal to operate a power limiting device in response to the priority control scheme.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the power limiting device comprises a relay, a clutch, or a combination thereof.

12. A system, comprising:

a portable unit, comprising;

an engine;

a generator coupled to the engine;

a compressor coupled to the engine; and

a priority load controller configured to adjust various loads on the engine, the generator, or the compressor, or a combination thereof, in response to a priority control scheme, wherein the priority load controller is configured to regulate speed of the engine based on the priority control scheme.

13. The system of claim 12, comprising a control panel coupled to the generator and the compressor, wherein the control panel comprises a welding feature and an air compressor feature.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the portable unit comprises a portable welding unit, the generator comprises a welding generator, the compressor comprises an air compressor, the control panel comprises a pair of welding cable connectors.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the priority load controller is coupled to a governor configured to regulate speed of the engine in response to the priority control scheme.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the priority load controller is configured to regulate an actuator mechanically coupling a mechanical output of the engine with a device based on the priority control scheme.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the actuator comprises a clutch and the device comprises the compressor.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the priority load controller is configured to regulate an actuator electrically coupling an electrical output of the generator with a device based on the priority control scheme.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the actuator comprises a relay.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the electrical output comprises a welding output, a battery charging output, a DC output, an AC output, or a combination thereof.