Vehicle mounted electrical generator system

• US 6,979,913 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2004
• Issued: 12/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Contour Hardening Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Contour Hardening Incorporated
• Inventors: Storm, John M., Pugh, Nathan D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ponomarenko, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US10/783,266
• Publication Number:
  US 20050184528A1
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 290/17, 290/40.C, 290/45, 180/65.2, 180/69.6, 180/6.44, 123/179.1, 123/331
• US Class Current: 290/17
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 25/06 from the transmission power take-off transmissions having power-take-off B60K17/28
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0627 Fuel flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0644 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18054 at stand still, e.g. engine in idling state hill holding B60W30/18118
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/184 Preventing damage resulting from overload or excessive wear of the driveline

Abstract

A vehicle mounted AC generator system having an AC generator mounted outside the engine/transmission compartment and connected by drive shaft with universal joints and a belt driven RPM ratio device. The ratio is set to provide accurate AC generator RPM at a preselected engine RPM. The AC generator is mechanically engageable when certain conditions are met and is disconnected when other conditions are present, including an operator emergency stop switch.

Claims

1. A vehicle mounted AC electrical generator system comprising:

a prime mover controlled by a control system to a predetermined RPM,

an AC electrical generator positioned in said vehicle and having a mechanical power input connection for driving said AC electrical generator to produce electricity,

a transfer device receiving mechanical power from said prime mover and transferring said mechanical power to said AC electrical generator mechanical power input connection, said transfer device having a means for matching the RPM of the prime mover to the operational RPM of said AC electrical generator.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said transfer device increases the RPM from said prime mover to said AC electrical generator.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said prime mover operates at preselected RPM and over operational RPM range as dictated by said control system, and

wherein said prime mover rotates the transfer device when said prime mover is at said preselected RPM.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the control system for said prime mover has an electronic control module.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said prime mover has a power takeoff unit (PTO) and said transfer device connects between said PTO and the mechanical power input connection of said AC electrical generator.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said transfer device comprises:

a connection between the rotary output of said PTO and a point adjacent said AC electrical generator, and

a means for establishing a predetermined RPM ratio between said rotatable output RPM and the input RPM of said AC electrical generator.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said means for establishing RPM ratio increases the RPM of said PTO output.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said AC generator operates at 3600 RPM.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said AC generator operates at 3,000 RPM.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said electronic control system supplies fuel to said prime mover at a rate and condition to vary the power output of said prime mover, whereby said operational RPM of said AC electrical.