Methods and apparatus for web-enabled engine-generator systems

• US 6,668,629 B1
• Filed: 08/01/2000
• Issued: 12/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Leslie, David S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): STEVENS, MAURICE E
• Application Number:
  US09/629,516
• Time in Patent Office: 1,246 Days
• Field of Search: 731/16, 340/825.06, 318/563
• US Class Current: 73/114.01
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/066 characterised by the use of dynamo-electric machines H02J9/08 takes precedence

Abstract

A controller for controlling and monitoring the operation of an engine-generator is disclosed. The controller includes a central processing unit, a power supply, an input/output system, a communication system, an annunciation system and mode control switches. The operational status of the engine-generator is displayed on a liquid crystal display and logged in a data storage system or communicated to an external system using a communications interface. The controller also incorporates a monitoring system.

Claims

1. A method for controlling and monitoring operation of at least one engine-generator using a controller, said method comprising the steps of:

configuring the controller for the specific engine-generator set;

monitoring conditions to control operation of the at least one engine-generator set;

monitoring operational status of the engine-generator; and

storing a status of the engine-generator including a real-time clock to time tag the stored status.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of monitoring operational status of the engine-generator further comprises the step of monitoring the engine-generator for abnormal operating conditions.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of monitoring operational status of the engine-generator further comprises the step of displaying abnormal operating conditions of the engine-generator on a display within the controller.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of monitoring conditions further comprises the step of reading a state of mode control switches used to set operating parameters of the controller.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of monitoring operational status of the engine-generator further comprises the step of communicating serially with the controller.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein said step of communicating serially with the engine-generator further comprises the step of communicating with the engine-generator using an RS-485 based serial communications protocol.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of monitoring operational status of the engine-generator further comprises the step of downloading operational status over a network to a client system.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of monitoring operational status of the engine-generator further comprises the step of uploading operational status over a network to a server.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of storing a status of the engine-generator further comprises the step of storing the engine-generator status within a database within the controller.

10. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of storing a status of the engine-generator further comprises the step of storing the engine-generator status within a database on a server.

11. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of monitoring operational status of the engine-generator further comprises the step of uploading performance parameters to a client system.

12. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of monitoring operational status of the engine-generator further comprises the step of uploading performance parameters to a server.

13. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of configuring the controller further comprises the step of entering parameters from a touch panel located on the controller.

14. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of configuring the controller further comprises the step of entering parameters using mode control switches located on the controller.

15. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of monitoring operational status further comprises the step of monitoring LED indicators and a LCD located on the controller.

16. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of monitoring operational status of the engine-generator set further comprises the step of monitoring power quality of the power generated by the engine-generator set.

17. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of monitoring operational status of the engine-generator set further comprises the step of displaying power quality of the power generated by the engine-generator set on a display within the engine-generator controller.

18. A controller configured to control and monitor operation of at least one engine-generator, said controller comprising:

a central processing unit and memory for processing instructions;

a data acquisition and storage system;

a real-time clock to time tag the stored status;

a communications interface including a wireless communication interface;

an annunciation system; and

a plurality of mode control switches.

19. A controller according to claim 18 wherein said controller is further configured for an engine-generator application by reading a state of said mode control switches.

20. A controller according to claim 18 further configured to monitor the engine-generator for abnormal operating conditions.

21. A controller according to claim 18 further configured to display abnormal operating conditions of said engine-generator on a display within said controller.

22. A controller according to claim 18 wherein the real-time clock time tags the stored status.

23. A controller according to claim 18 further configured to monitor conditions to control the engine-generator.

24. A controller according to claim 18 further configured to monitor operational status of the engine-generator and store a status of the engine-generator.

25. A controller according to claim 18 further configured to communicate serially with an external device.

26. A controller according to claim 25 further configured to communicate with said external device using an ethernet network communications protocol.

27. A controller according to claim 25 further configured to communicate with said external device using an RS-485 based serial communications protocol.

28. A controller according to claim 18 wherein said data acquisition controller comprises circuitry for receiving and sending analog and binary data.

29. A controller according to claim 18 wherein said annunciation system comprises at least one of a graphical liquid crystal display (LCD), a touch screen, and a light emitting diode panel.

30. A controller according to claim 18 further configured to upload operational status of said controller over a network to a client system.

31. A controller according to claim 18 further configured to upload operational status of said controller over a network to a server.

32. A controller according to claim 18 further comprising a database for storing a status for an engine-generator.

33. A controller according to claim 18 further configured to download parameters from a client system.

34. A controller according to claim 18 further configured to download parameters from a server.

35. A controller according to claim 18 further comprising a touch panel configured for entry of performance parameters for the engine-generator.

36. A controller according to claim 18 further configured to read a state of said mode control switches and operate according to a set of performance parameters based upon the read position of said mode control switches.

37. A controller according to claim 18 wherein said wireless communication interface comprises at least one of an infra-red and radio frequency communication interface.

38. A controller according to claim 18 further configured as an engine-generator controller.

39. An engine-generator controller according to claim 38 further configured to monitor power quality of the power generated by an engine-generator set.

40. An engine-generator controller according to claim 38 further configured to display power quality of the power generated by an engine-generator set on a display within said engine-generator controller.

41. A control system for controlling and monitoring operation of at least one engine-generator, said system comprising:

at least one client system comprising a browser;

at least one controller configured with a control program including a real-time clock to time tag the stored status and a database for storage of operating parameters of said at least one engine-generator; and

a network connecting said client system and said controller.

42. A control system according to claim 41 wherein said at least one controller is further configured as a web server and includes associated web pages.

43. A control system according to claim 41 wherein said network is one of a local area network (LAN) and wide area network (WAN).

44. A control system according to claim 43 wherein said WAN is one of an intranet or the Internet.

45. A control system according to claim 41 wherein said network comprises one of wired and wireless communications circuitry.

46. A control system according to claim 45 wherein said wireless communication circuitry comprises one of infra-red and radio frequency communication circuitry.

47. A control system according to claim 41 wherein said client system is configured to connect to said network through at least one of a dial-in connection, cable modem and a high speed ISDN line.

48. A control system according to claim 41 wherein said client system is at least one of a computer, a web-based digital assistant, and a web-based phone.

49. A control system according to claim 41 wherein said control system is configured as an engine-generator control system.

50. A control system for controlling and monitoring operation of at least one engine-generator, said system comprising:

a server;

at least one controller configured with a control program including a real-time clock to time tag the stored status; and

a network connecting said server and said controller, said network including one of wired and wireless communications circuitry.

51. A control system according to claim 50 wherein said server further comprises an E-commerce enabling software agent.

52. A control system according to claim 50 further comprising at least one client system connectable to said network and further comprising a browser.

53. A control system according to claim 52 wherein said server further comprises an enabling server for transmitting data to said client system.

54. A control system according to claim 50 wherein said network is one of a local area network (LAN) and wide area network (WAN).

55. A control system according to claim 54 wherein said WAN is one of an intranet or the Internet.

56. A control system according to claim 54 wherein said client system and said server are configured to connect to said network through at least one of a dial-in connection, cable modem and a high speed ISDN line.

57. A control system according to claim 54 wherein said client system is at least one of a computer, a web-based digital assistant, and a web-based phone.

58. A control system according to claim 53 wherein said wireless communication circuitry comprises one of infra-red and radio frequency communication circuitry.

59. A control system according to claim 50 wherein said server further comprises a database for storage of engine-generator operational parameters and other information related to engine-generators.

60. A control system according to claim 59 wherein said system is configured as an engine-generator control system.

61. A web-enabled engine-generator system comprising:

at least one engine-generator set;

at least one server including a real-time clock;

at least one client system; and

a network connecting said engine-generator set, said server and said client clock is used to time tag a stored status of the generator set system, said network includes a wireless communications interface.

62. A web-enabled engine-generator system according to claim 61 wherein said engine-generator system further comprises a controller configured to interface to said network, providing web-enabled monitoring and control capabilities for said system.

63. A web-enabled engine-generator system according to claim 62 wherein said client system and said engine-generator controller are configured with a web browser.

64. A web-enabled engine-generator system according to claim 62 wherein said client system and said engine-generator controller are configured with at least one of a dial in connection, a cable modem, a switcher, a router, and a high-speed ISDN line.

65. A web-enabled engine-generator system according to claim 62 wherein said controller configured to communicate operating conditions and performance parameters of said engine-generator set to said network.

66. A web-enabled engine-generator system according to claim 65 wherein said wireless communications interface is at least one of infra-red and radio frequency.

67. A web-enabled engine-generator system according to claim 61 wherein said network is at least one of a local area network (LAN) and a wide area network (WAN), said WAN being at least one of an intranet or the Internet.

68. A web-enabled engine-generator system according to claim 61 wherein said client system further comprises at least one of a web-enabled digital assistant and a web-enabled phone.

69. A web-enabled engine-generator system according to claim 61 wherein said system is configured to order consumables, spare parts and services for said engine-generator sets from another system accessible through or connected to said network.