Electric powered systems for paving machines
First Claim
1. A paving machine for performing work at a work site, the paving machine comprising:
- an operator station;
a power source having an output shaft;
a generator operatively connected to the output shaft of the power source to drive the generator and produce alternating current (AC) power;
a power converter operatively connected to the generator to transfer AC power between the generator and the power converter, and to output direct current (DC) power;
a plurality of electric motors with each being operatively connected to the power converter to receive DC power therefrom;
a plurality of mechanical components with each being operatively connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of electric motors; and
a controller operatively connected to the operator station and the power converter,wherein the controller is configured to detect command signals from the operator station to actuate the plurality of mechanical components,wherein the controller is configured to cause the power converter to distribute power from the generator to the plurality of electric motors in response to detecting the command signals to actuate the plurality of mechanical components, andwherein the controller is configured to detect a first command signal from the operator station to actuate a first one of the plurality of mechanical components, to cause the power converter to distribute power from the generator to a first one of the plurality of electric motors corresponding to the first one of the plurality of mechanical components in response to detecting the first command signal from the operator station, to detect a second command signal from the operator station to actuate a second one of the plurality of mechanical components, to compare a total power requirement for operating the first and second ones of the plurality of mechanical components to a generated power amount by the generator, and to cause the power converter to decrease a first output power to the first one of the plurality of electric motors and to output a second output power to a second one of the plurality of electric motors corresponding to the second one of the plurality of mechanical components in response to determining that the total power requirement is greater than the generated power amount.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A paving machine having electric powered systems in lieu of hydraulic systems for performing work at a work site may include an integrated generator operatively connected to a power source of the paving machine, such as an engine, to produce AC power. A power converter may receive the AC power and output DC power to electric motors, with each electric motor being operatively connected to a corresponding one of a plurality of mechanical components. The power converter may distribute power from the generator to the plurality of electric motors in response to commands to actuate the plurality of mechanical components input at an operator station. The electric powered systems may include propulsion devices, material conveyors, augers and the like.
-
Citations
4 Claims
-
1. A paving machine for performing work at a work site, the paving machine comprising:
-
an operator station; a power source having an output shaft; a generator operatively connected to the output shaft of the power source to drive the generator and produce alternating current (AC) power; a power converter operatively connected to the generator to transfer AC power between the generator and the power converter, and to output direct current (DC) power; a plurality of electric motors with each being operatively connected to the power converter to receive DC power therefrom; a plurality of mechanical components with each being operatively connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of electric motors; and a controller operatively connected to the operator station and the power converter, wherein the controller is configured to detect command signals from the operator station to actuate the plurality of mechanical components, wherein the controller is configured to cause the power converter to distribute power from the generator to the plurality of electric motors in response to detecting the command signals to actuate the plurality of mechanical components, and wherein the controller is configured to detect a first command signal from the operator station to actuate a first one of the plurality of mechanical components, to cause the power converter to distribute power from the generator to a first one of the plurality of electric motors corresponding to the first one of the plurality of mechanical components in response to detecting the first command signal from the operator station, to detect a second command signal from the operator station to actuate a second one of the plurality of mechanical components, to compare a total power requirement for operating the first and second ones of the plurality of mechanical components to a generated power amount by the generator, and to cause the power converter to decrease a first output power to the first one of the plurality of electric motors and to output a second output power to a second one of the plurality of electric motors corresponding to the second one of the plurality of mechanical components in response to determining that the total power requirement is greater than the generated power amount. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
Specification