Power system that operates in an exercise mode based on measured parameters

• US 9,109,565 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2013
• Issued: 08/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kohler Company
• Original Assignee: Kohler Company
• Inventors: White, Timothy W., Danforth, Robert J. III, Neis, Jeffrey J.
• Primary Examiner(s): TA, THO DAC
• Application Number:
  US13/739,374
• Publication Number:
  US 20140197644A1
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1.A, 290/40.R
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 29/06 peculiar to engines driving electric generators
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/22 Safety or indicating devices for abnormal conditions in air/fuel ratio feedback systems F02D41/1495, in electric control linkage F02D11/107, in purge control systems F02M25/0809
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0803 characterised by means for initiating engine start or stop F02N11/0814 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/046 by monitoring revolutions for detecting misfire G01M15/11
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/343 in operation
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/008 wherein the generator is controlled by the requirements of the prime mover
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/04 Control effected upon non-electric prime mover and dependent upon electric output value of the generator

Abstract

A power system may include a power generation component and a sensor configured to measure a parameter. The power system may also include a controller in communication with the power generation component and the sensor. The controller may be configured to run the power generation component in an exercise mode for a duration. The duration may be based on the measured parameter.

Claims

1. A power system, comprising:

a power generation component;

a sensor configured to measure a parameter; and

a controller in communication with the power generation component and the sensor, the controller configured to run the power generation component in an exercise mode where the power generation component is not supplying power for a duration, the controller determining the duration to run the power generation component in the exercise mode without supplying power based on the measured parameter.

2. The power system of claim 1, where the controller stops the power generation component from running in the exercise mode when the parameter exceeds a threshold.

3. The power system of claim 1, where the controller determines the duration based on a look-up table or an algorithm.

4. The power system of claim 1, where the power generation component does not deliver power a load attached to the power system when the power generation component is run in the exercise mode.

5. The power system of claim 1, where the sensor is an oil temperature sensor;

and where the parameter is an oil temperature.

6. The power system of claim 5, where the oil temperature sensor is a surface mount thermocouple attached to a bottom of an oil pan.

7. The power system of claim 1, where the power generation component includes an engine and an alternator connected with the engine.

8. The power system of claim 7, where the engine is run and the alternator is not excited when the power generation component is run in the exercise mode.

9. The power system of claim 7, where running the power generation component in the exercise mode comprises running the engine for a portion of the duration at a lower speed than a full speed.

10. A method, comprising:

using a controller to operate a generator in an exercise mode when the generator is not supplying power for a duration;

measuring a parameter;

determining when the parameter satisfies a condition;

adjusting the operation of the generator in the exercise mode based on the determination;

monitoring the duration of the operation of the generator in the exercise mode;

comparing the duration to a maximum duration threshold; and

stopping the operation of the generator in the exercise mode no later than when the duration exceeds the maximum duration threshold.

11. The method of claim 10, where the adjusting the operation of the generator comprises changing an operating speed of the generator in the exercise mode when the condition is satisfied.

12. The method of claim 10, where the parameter is an oil temperature;

and where the condition is satisfied when the oil temperature is greater than a threshold value.

13. The method of claim 10, where the parameter is an oil pressure;

and where the condition is satisfied when the oil pressure is greater than a threshold value.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

comparing the duration to a minimum duration threshold; and

operating the generator in the exercise mode at least until the duration exceeds the minimum duration threshold.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

comparing the duration to a maximum duration threshold; and

stopping the operation of the generator in the exercise mode at the earlier of when the condition is satisfied after the duration exceeds the minimum duration threshold and when the duration exceeds the maximum duration threshold.

16. A controller comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing logic for controlling a generator, the logic comprising;

instructions for initiating an operation of the generator in an exercise mode;

instructions for monitoring a duration of the operation of the generator in the exercise mode;

instructions for comparing the duration to a time threshold;

instructions for identifying a parameter;

instructions for comparing the parameter to a parameter threshold; and

instructions for stopping the operation of the generator in the exercise mode based on the comparison of the duration to the time threshold and the comparison of the parameter to the parameter threshold; and

a processor configured to execute the logic.

17. The controller of claim 16, where the time threshold corresponds to a minimum duration threshold;

and

where the instructions for stopping the operation of the generator in the exercise mode comprise instructions for stopping the operation of the generator after the duration exceeds the time threshold.

18. The controller of claim 17, where the logic further comprises:

instructions for comparing the duration to a maximum duration threshold; and

where the instructions for stopping the operation of the generator in the exercise mode further comprise instructions for stopping the operation of the generator at the earlier of when the parameter exceeds the parameter threshold after the duration exceeds the minimum threshold and when the duration exceeds the maximum duration threshold.