Auxiliary power unit for a diesel powered transport vehicle
First Claim
1. An auxiliary power unit (APU) for a transport vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- an enclosure for housing and supporting the auxiliary power unit on the transport vehicle;
an air-cooled engine having an output shaft and enclosed within the enclosure with and directly driving an air-cooled, brushless generator having an armature shalt wherein the air-cooled engine utilizes fuel supply, exhaust and electrical systems of the transport vehicle engine and the generator provides direct, simultaneous AC and DC voltage outputs; and
first and second air duct systems within the enclosure for separately conveying cooling air into and through the air-cooled engine and the generator respectively, to exit through first and second respective air outlet ducts from the enclosure, wherein cooling inlet air is drawn into the first and second air duct systems by respective direct drive fan means integrated respectively in the air-cooled engine and in the generator;
wherein the enclosure comprises a frame and a plurality of rigid panels secured to the frame, wherein at least a first one of the plurality of rigid panels includes at least a first opening into a first inlet duct to the air-cooled engine;
at least a second one of the plurality of rigid panels includes at least a second opening into a second inlet duct to the generator; and
at least a third one of the plurality of rigid panels includes at least a first air outlet opening from a first outlet duct from the air-cooled engine and at least a second air outlet opening from a second outlet duct from the generator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
There is disclosed an auxiliary power unit (APU) for a transport vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine. An enclosure houses and supports the APU on the transport vehicle. An air-cooled engine within the enclosure directly drives an air-cooled, brushless generator. The generator provides direct, simultaneous AC and DC voltage outputs without requiring an inverter circuit or a converter circuit. Air duct systems within the enclosure separately convey cooling air into, through and out of the air-cooled engine and generator. The cooling air, drawn into the air duct systems by respective direct drive fan means integrated in the air-cooled engine and generator, exits through respective air outlet ducts from the enclosure.
In another embodiment, a system is disclosed comprising a compact, AC operated auxiliary heating and air conditioning unit operable in the cabin of a transport vehicle and powered by the APU described above. The system includes control means coupled to the auxiliary heating and air conditioning unit and the APU, and harness means for coupling the auxiliary heating and air conditioning unit, the APU, and the control means together.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. An auxiliary power unit (APU) for a transport vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine, comprising:
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an enclosure for housing and supporting the auxiliary power unit on the transport vehicle; an air-cooled engine having an output shaft and enclosed within the enclosure with and directly driving an air-cooled, brushless generator having an armature shalt wherein the air-cooled engine utilizes fuel supply, exhaust and electrical systems of the transport vehicle engine and the generator provides direct, simultaneous AC and DC voltage outputs; and first and second air duct systems within the enclosure for separately conveying cooling air into and through the air-cooled engine and the generator respectively, to exit through first and second respective air outlet ducts from the enclosure, wherein cooling inlet air is drawn into the first and second air duct systems by respective direct drive fan means integrated respectively in the air-cooled engine and in the generator; wherein the enclosure comprises a frame and a plurality of rigid panels secured to the frame, wherein at least a first one of the plurality of rigid panels includes at least a first opening into a first inlet duct to the air-cooled engine;
at least a second one of the plurality of rigid panels includes at least a second opening into a second inlet duct to the generator; and
at least a third one of the plurality of rigid panels includes at least a first air outlet opening from a first outlet duct from the air-cooled engine and at least a second air outlet opening from a second outlet duct from the generator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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12. A high efficiency auxiliary power unit, for a transport vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine and having a fuel system, an engine exhaust system and a battery powered electrical system, comprising:
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an air-cooled engine configured for operation using the fuel supply and the engine exhaust system of the transport vehicle, and having an integral, forced-air cooling system; an air-cooled, brushless generator directly coupled to an output shaft of the air-cooled engine and providing simultaneous high voltage AC and low voltage DC outputs and having an integral, forced-air cooling system; an enclosure surrounding the air-cooled engine and the air-cooled brushless generator, for protection and mechanical support; and a system of first and second air ducts within the enclosure to separately convey cooling air into and through the aft-cooled engine and the brushless generator respectively, to exit through first and second respective air outlets from the enclosure, wherein cooling inlet air is drawn into the first and second air ducts by respective direct drive fan means integrated respectively in the air-cooled engine and in the brushless generator; wherein the enclosure comprises a frame and a plurality of rigid panels secured to the frame, wherein at least a first one of the plurality of rigid panels includes at least a first opening into the first air duct to the air-cooled engine, at least a second one of the plurality of rigid panels includes at least a second opening into the second airduct to the brushless generator; and
at least a third one of the plurality of rigid panels includes at least a first air outlet opening into the first outlet duct from the air-cooled engine and at least a second outlet opening into the second outlet duct from the brushless generator. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification