Control system for starting electrically powered implements

• US 8,738,237 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2008
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Henson, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafi, Muhammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): Malhotra, Sanjeev
• Application Number:
  US12/039,328
• Publication Number:
  US 20090222175A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,280 Days
• Field of Search: 701/22, 701/54, 701/99, 701/101, 701/103, 701/105, 701/108, 701/113, 701/123, 56/6, 56/103, 56/127, 56/137, 562/95, 123/699
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/006 Control or measuring arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/58 electric
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 69/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 1/04 Means for controlling progress of starting sequence in dependence upon time or upon current, speed, or other motor parameter
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 1/58 sequentially

Abstract

A control system is provided for starting electrically powered implements on a vehicle such as a grass mowing machine with electrically powered cutting reels. The electric motors are started at intervals, rather than simultaneously. The intervals between starting each electric motor may be based on pre-defined criteria such as a fixed time constant, voltage, current or speed input from a motor controller for each implement.

Claims

1. A control system for starting rotation of a plurality of electrically powered mowing implements, comprising:

a traction vehicle equipped with an internal combustion engine driving an electrical power generator;

a plurality of electric motors powered by the generator, each electric motor rotating a mowing implement and receiving electric power from the generator through a motor controller;

an electronic controller connected to each motor controller and sequentially providing a starting signal to a next motor controller in a pre-defined sequence until each of the plurality of mowing implements is rotating; and

a timer started with each electric motor, and providing the starting signal to the next motor controller when the timer has a value greater than or equal to a pre-defined time constant.

2. The control system of claim 1 further comprising a voltage input from each motor controller, and providing the starting signal to the next motor controller when the voltage input is greater than or equal to a pre-defined voltage constant.

3. The control system of claim 1 further comprising a current input from each motor controller, and providing the starting signal to the next motor controller when the current input is less than or equal to a pre-defined current constant.

4. The control system of claim 1 further comprising a speed input from each motor controller, and providing the starting signal to the next motor controller when the speed input is greater than or equal to a pre-defined speed constant.