Vehicle auxiliary power unit, assembly, and related methods
First Claim
1. A truck, comprising:
- a personnel compartment;
a main engine and a main battery;
an external auxiliary compartment connected to an exterior portion of the truck; and
an auxiliary power unit assembly positioned in the external auxiliary compartment of the truck, the auxiliary power unit including;
an auxiliary engine,an auxiliary alternator positioned adjacent to and powered by the auxiliary engine, to provide DC electric power, the auxiliary alternator being electrically connected with the main battery to charge the main battery while the main engine is off,an inverter electrically connected to the auxiliary alternator to convert the DC electric power from the auxiliary alternator to AC electric power for powering at least one AC electrical component, andan auxiliary voltage regulator electrically connected to the auxiliary alternator to control voltage and amperage generated by the auxiliary alternator, the auxiliary voltage regulator-configured to sense voltage of the main battery to selectively disable the inverter if the voltage of the main battery drops below a selected level, and to sense RPM of the auxiliary engine during start-up to allow auxiliary engine speed to obtain a minimum selected speed prior to enabling application of an electrical load to the auxiliary alternator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A truck includes an auxiliary power unit having components specifically selected such that they form a stand-alone unit that can fit within an auxiliary compartment of a vehicle and deliver heating, cooling, and additional electric power to the vehicle. Included is an auxiliary engine, an auxiliary alternator, and an auxiliary condenser to provide coolant for a personnel compartment mounted evaporator. An auxiliary voltage regulator provides a ramp-up feature to minimize excessive start-up loads, limits maximum available current from the auxiliary alternator when the auxiliary compressor is engaged, and selectively disables power to electrical components in the event of low vehicle battery voltage. The auxiliary engine includes a radiator system to provide heated fluid for a personnel compartment mounted heat exchanger.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A truck, comprising:
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a personnel compartment; a main engine and a main battery; an external auxiliary compartment connected to an exterior portion of the truck; and an auxiliary power unit assembly positioned in the external auxiliary compartment of the truck, the auxiliary power unit including; an auxiliary engine, an auxiliary alternator positioned adjacent to and powered by the auxiliary engine, to provide DC electric power, the auxiliary alternator being electrically connected with the main battery to charge the main battery while the main engine is off, an inverter electrically connected to the auxiliary alternator to convert the DC electric power from the auxiliary alternator to AC electric power for powering at least one AC electrical component, and an auxiliary voltage regulator electrically connected to the auxiliary alternator to control voltage and amperage generated by the auxiliary alternator, the auxiliary voltage regulator-configured to sense voltage of the main battery to selectively disable the inverter if the voltage of the main battery drops below a selected level, and to sense RPM of the auxiliary engine during start-up to allow auxiliary engine speed to obtain a minimum selected speed prior to enabling application of an electrical load to the auxiliary alternator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A truck comprising:
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a personnel compartment; a main engine and a main battery; a DC block heater electrically connected to the main battery; an external auxiliary compartment connected to an exterior portion of the truck; and an auxiliary power unit assembly positioned in the external auxiliary compartment of the truck, the auxiliary power unit including; an auxiliary engine, an air conditioner compressor driven by the auxiliary engine, an air conditioner condenser mounted to the auxiliary compartment for providing cooling air for the personnel compartment, an auxiliary alternator positioned adjacent to and powered by the auxiliary engine, to provide DC electric power, the auxiliary alternator being electrically connected with the main battery to charge the main battery while the main engine is off, an inverter electrically connected to the auxiliary alternator to convert the DC electric power from the auxiliary alternator to AC electric power for powering at least one AC electrical component, and an auxiliary voltage regulator electrically connected to the auxiliary alternator to control voltage and amperage generated by the auxiliary alternator, the auxiliary voltage regulator configured to sense voltage of the main battery to selectively disable the block heater in the event the voltage of the main battery drops below a first selected level and to selectively disable the inverter if the voltage of the main battery drops below a second selected level, and to sense RPM of the auxiliary engine during start-up to allow auxiliary engine speed to obtain a minimum preselected speed prior to enabling application of an electrical load to the auxiliary alternator. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A method of power regulation of an auxiliary power unit assembly for a truck having a main engine and main battery, the auxiliary power unit being mounted to the truck and having an auxiliary engine and an auxiliary alternator driven by the auxiliary engine, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) operating the auxiliary engine while the main engine is off, thereby generating DC voltage with the auxiliary alternator, sensing engine speed of the auxiliary engine during start-up to allow the engine speed to obtain a minimum selected speed prior to enabling the auxiliary alternator; (b) applying a charging voltage from the auxiliary alternator to the main battery; (c) converting some of the DC voltage to AC voltage and powering an AC electrical component; and (d) ceasing to power the AC electrical component if the main battery voltage drops below a selected minimum. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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Specification