Using AC Induction Motor As A Generator In A Utility Vehicle

• US 20150158391A1
• Filed: 12/09/2013
• Published: 06/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Textron Innovations Incorporated (Textron Inc)
• Original Assignee: Textron Inc
• Inventors: HARPER, Joseph Lowell, IYASERE, Erhun
• Granted Patent: US 9,272,628 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/268 Electric drive motor starts the engine, i.e. used as starter motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/40 Working vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/13 using AC generators and AC motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 characterised by AC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/14 for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/16 for vehicles comprising converters between the power source and the motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/081 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/087 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/246 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors

Abstract

A power generation device for a utility vehicle having a battery source capable of storing electrical energy and selectively outputting electrical energy and selectively receiving electrical energy, a logic/driver module operably coupled to the battery source and capable of outputting power to a drive system of the utility vehicle, an internal combustion engine capable of outputting a mechanical driving force in response to a control input from the logic/driver module, and an AC induction motor operably coupled to the internal combustion engine via a coupler and electrically coupled to the logic/driver module. The AC induction motor is capable of operating as a generator in response to the mechanical driving force of the internal combustion engine, thereby outputting electrical energy to the logic/driver module, and further is capable of operating as an electric motor in response to input of electrical energy from the logic/driver module.

Claims

1. A power generation device for a utility vehicle, said power generation device comprising:

a battery source capable of storing electrical energy, said battery source selectively outputting electrical energy and selectively receiving electrical energy;

a logic/driver module operably coupled to said battery source, said logic/driver module capable of outputting power to a drive system of the utility vehicle;

an internal combustion engine capable of outputting a mechanical driving force, said internal combustion engine being responsive to a control input from said logic/driver module; and

an AC induction motor operably coupled to said internal combustion engine via a coupler and electrically coupled to said logic/driver module, said AC induction motor being capable of operating as a generator in response to said mechanical driving force of said internal combustion engine, thereby outputting electrical energy to said logic/driver module, and further being capable of operating as an electric motor in response to input of electrical energy from said logic/driver module.

2. The power generation device according to claim 1 wherein said AC induction motor is capable of operating as an electric motor in response to input of electrical energy from said logic/driver module and applying a driving force to said internal combustion engine.

3. The power generation device according to claim 1 wherein said logic/driver module comprises a sensor monitoring temperature of said AC induction motor.

4. The power generation device according to claim 1 wherein said logic/driver module comprises a sensor monitoring revolutions per unit of time of said AC induction motor.

5. The power generation device according to claim 1 wherein said logic/driver module comprises a sensor monitoring temperature of said battery source.

6. The power generation device according to claim 1 wherein said AC induction motor is capable operating as a generator in response to said driving force of said internal combustion engine, thereby outputting electrical energy as a regulated electrical voltage to said logic/driver module.

7. The power generation device according to claim 1 wherein said AC induction motor is capable of operating as a generator in response to said driving force of said internal combustion engine, thereby outputting a regulated electrical voltage to said logic/driver module irrespective of a varying revolutions per unit of time of said AC induction motor.

8. The power generation device according to claim 8 wherein said logic/driver module is capable of adjusting a slip angle of said AC induction motor to maintain said regulated electrical voltage.

9. A power generation device for a utility vehicle, said power generation device comprising:

a battery source capable of storing electrical energy, said battery source selectively outputting electrical energy and selectively receiving electrical energy;

a logic/driver module operably coupled to said battery source;

a motive drive system operably coupled to said logic/driver module, said motive drive system capable of receiving electrical energy from said logic/driver module for providing a motive force to the utility vehicle;

a power regeneration system operably coupled to said logic/driver module, said power generation system capable of generating electrical energy in response to kinetic energy of the utility vehicle and capable of outputting electrical energy to said logic/driver module;

an internal combustion engine capable of outputting a mechanical driving force, said internal combustion engine being responsive to a control input from said logic/driver module; and

an AC induction motor operably coupled to said internal combustion engine via a coupler and electrically coupled to said logic/driver module, said AC induction motor being capable of operating as a generator in response to said mechanical driving force of said internal combustion engine, thereby outputting electrical energy to said logic/driver module, and further being capable of operating as an electric motor driving said internal combustion engine in response to input of electrical energy from said logic/driver module wherein said logic/driver module is capable of receiving power from at least one of the power regeneration system of the utility vehicle, said battery source, and said AC induction motor, said logic/driver module further capable of outputting power to the motive drive system of the utility vehicle.

10. The power generation device according to claim 9 wherein said logic/driver module comprises a sensor monitoring temperature of said AC induction motor.

11. The power generation device according to claim 9 wherein said logic/driver module comprises a sensor monitoring revolutions per unit of time of said AC induction motor.

12. The power generation device according to claim 9 wherein said logic/driver module comprises a sensor monitoring temperature of said battery source.

13. The power generation device according to claim 9 wherein said AC induction motor is capable of being operated as a generator in response to said mechanical driving force of said internal combustion engine, thereby outputting electrical energy as a regulated electrical voltage to said logic/driver module.

14. The power generation device according to claim 9 wherein said AC induction motor is capable of being operated as a generator in response to said mechanical driving force of said internal combustion engine, thereby outputting electrical energy as a regulated electrical voltage to said logic/driver module irrespective of a varying revolutions per unit of time of said AC induction motor.

15. The power generation device according to claim 13 wherein said logic/driver module is capable of adjusting a slip angle of said AC induction motor to maintain said regulated electrical voltage.