Vehicle mounted electrical generator system

• US 7,057,303 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2005
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• 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:
  US11/262,684
• Publication Number:
  US 20060049638A1
• Time in Patent Office: 218 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1.A, 290/1.C, 290/45, 180/65.2, 180/65.4, 123/331, 123/333
• US Class Current: 290/1.00A
• 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;

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

a mechanical power transfer means engageable to receive mechanical power from said mechanical power input connection means and to transfer said mechanical power to said AC electrical generator,

a device operable to engage and disengage said mechanical power transfer means from said mechanical power input connection means.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said mechanical power transfer means comprises a power takeoff output having a mechanism for releasably engaging said mechanical power transfer means.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein:

said power takeoff output shaft has a driven gear,

said mechanical power transfer means has a driving gear providing a rotatable output from said mechanical power transfer means and displaceable into and out of engagement with said power output shaft driven gear, and

said system has a device for displacing said driving gear into and out of engagement with said driven gear.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said device for displacing said driving gear is a solenoid receiving an electrical input.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said solenoid valve biases said driving gear to a disengaged position in the absence of an electrical signal and to an engaged position in the presence of an electrical signal.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said system further comprises a device interconnecting said solenoid to said prime mover control system for the purpose of said power takeoff output in the event certain operating parameters are detected.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said engaging and disengaging device is interconnected with the control system for said prime mover to control engagement of said AC electrical generator dependent upon inputs from said control system.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said engaging and disengaging device transfers mechanical power to said AC electrical generator when certain operating parameters exist.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said vehicle has a further control system for controlling vehicle parameters and wherein said engaging and disengaging device is also responsive to vehicle control parameters to transfer mechanical power to said AC electrical generator.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said prime mover has an engine control module, and a transmission control module and wherein said engaging and disengaging device is responsive to electrical control signals, said AC electrical generator system comprising a relay device receiving inputs from said engine control module and said transmission control module for enabling operation of said AC electrical generator when certain control parameters exist in said engine control module and said transmission control module.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said engaging and disengaging device disconnects said mechanical power to said AC generator when certain operating parameters are present.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said AC generating system has an output box for providing electrical load connection to said AC generator, which has over-temperature protection.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 further comprising an emergency operation switch to disengage the AC generator from said prime mover.