Energy system for heavy equipment
First Claim
1. An energy system for heavy equipment having an actuator for operating a tool, the energy system comprising:
- a bus for providing electricity to the actuator as a function of operation of the tool;
an engine for providing a power output;
a generator coupled to the engine and configured to provide electricity to the bus;
an energy storage device configured to receive electricity from the bus for storage of energy, and further configured to provide electricity to the bus to supplement the electricity provided by the generator; and
a controller configured to change the power output of the engine as a function of electrical demand on the bus,wherein, in response to a change in the electrical demand, the controller is configured to change the power output of the engine at a rate that is less than a maximum capability of the engine, andwherein the controller is configured to optimize the rate of change in power output of the engine with respect to fuel economy, minimal wear, reduced emissions, or a combination thereof.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An energy system for heavy equipment having an actuator for operating a tool includes a bus, an engine, a generator, an energy storage device, and a controller. The bus is for providing electricity to the actuator as a function of operation of the tool. The engine is for providing a power output and the generator is coupled to the engine and configured to provide electricity to the bus. The energy storage device is configured to receive electricity from the bus for storage of energy, and is further configured to provide electricity to the bus to supplement the electricity provided by the generator. The controller is configured to change the power output of the engine as a function of electrical demand on the bus. In response to a change in the electrical demand, the controller is configured to change the power output of the engine at a rate that is less than a maximum capability of the engine.
119 Citations
27 Claims
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1. An energy system for heavy equipment having an actuator for operating a tool, the energy system comprising:
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a bus for providing electricity to the actuator as a function of operation of the tool; an engine for providing a power output; a generator coupled to the engine and configured to provide electricity to the bus; an energy storage device configured to receive electricity from the bus for storage of energy, and further configured to provide electricity to the bus to supplement the electricity provided by the generator; and a controller configured to change the power output of the engine as a function of electrical demand on the bus, wherein, in response to a change in the electrical demand, the controller is configured to change the power output of the engine at a rate that is less than a maximum capability of the engine, and wherein the controller is configured to optimize the rate of change in power output of the engine with respect to fuel economy, minimal wear, reduced emissions, or a combination thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An energy system for heavy equipment having an actuator for operating a tool, the energy system comprising:
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a bus for providing electricity to the actuator as a function of operation of the tool; an engine for providing a power output; a generator coupled to the engine and configured to provide electricity to the bus; an ultra-capacitor configured to receive electricity from the bus for storage of energy, and further configured to provide electricity to the bus to supplement the electricity provided by the generator; and a controller configured to change the power output of the engine as a function of electrical demand on the bus, wherein, in response to a change in the electrical demand, the controller is configured to optimize the rate of change in power output of the engine with respect to fuel economy. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of controlling an energy system for heavy equipment, comprising:
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providing electrical power to a bus from a generator driven by an engine for powering an actuator operating a tool of the heavy equipment; providing electrical power to the bus from an energy storage device in response to an increased electrical demand on the bus; and increasing the power output of the engine driving the generator at a rate less than a maximum capability of the engine, and correspondingly decreasing the power provided to the bus from the energy storage device. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An energy system for heavy equipment having an actuator for operating a tool, the energy system comprising:
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a bus for providing electricity to the actuator as a function of operation of the tool; an engine for providing a power output; a generator coupled to the engine and configured to provide electricity to the bus; an energy storage device configured to receive electricity from the bus for storage of energy, and further configured to provide electricity to the bus to supplement the electricity provided by the generator; and a controller configured to change the power output of the engine as a function of electrical demand on the bus, wherein, in response to a change in the electrical demand, the controller is configured to change the power output of the engine at a rate that is less than a maximum capability of the engine, and wherein the energy system is designed for use with the heavy equipment operating in a substantially repetitive work cycle, and wherein the engine is designed to operate with an optimal power output that corresponds to or is less than an average demand on the bus during the substantially repetitive work cycle. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification