Using a DC or AC generator as a starter with fault detection
First Claim
1. A power generation and starting system for a utility vehicle, said system comprising:
- a battery source structured and operable to store electrical energy;
a logic/driver module operably coupled to said battery source, said logic/driver module structured and operable to output electrical energy to a drive system of the utility vehicle;
an internal combustion engine structured and operable to output a mechanical driving force; and
a generator operably coupled to said internal combustion engine and electrically coupled to said logic/driver module, said generator being structured and operable as a generator in response to said mechanical driving force of said internal combustion engine, thereby outputting electrical energy to said logic/driver module, said generator further being structured and operable to as an electric motor in response to input of electrical energy from said logic/driver module to drive said internal combustion engine during a starting sequence of said internal combustion engine, whereinthe logic/driver module is further structured and operable to detect potential operational failures of the internal combustion engine by monitoring a current draw of said generator during the starting sequence and terminating the starting sequence in response to detecting the current draw of said generator is outside a predetermined range, the current draw of said generator being outside of the predetermine range;
in an instance in which the current draw of said generator is less than a minimum value of the predetermined range of current draw, a current draw less than the minimum value being indicative of a potential operational failure of the internal combustion engine, andin an instance in which the current draw of said generator is greater than a maximum value of the predetermined range of current draw, a current draw greater than the maximum value being indicative of a potential operational failure of the internal combustion engine.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A power generation and starting device for a utility vehicle having a battery source capable of storing electrical energy, a logic/driver module operably coupled to the battery source and capable of outputting power to a drive system of the utility vehicle, an internal combustion engine capable of outputting a mechanical driving force, and a generator system operably coupled to the internal combustion engine and electrically coupled to the logic/driver module. The generator system is capable of operating as a generator in response to the mechanical driving force of the internal combustion engine, thereby outputting electrical energy to the logic/driver module. The generator is further capable of operating as an electric motor in response to input of electrical energy from the logic/driver module to drive the internal combustion engine during startup of the internal combustion engine.
-
Citations
12 Claims
-
1. A power generation and starting system for a utility vehicle, said system comprising:
-
a battery source structured and operable to store electrical energy; a logic/driver module operably coupled to said battery source, said logic/driver module structured and operable to output electrical energy to a drive system of the utility vehicle; an internal combustion engine structured and operable to output a mechanical driving force; and a generator operably coupled to said internal combustion engine and electrically coupled to said logic/driver module, said generator being structured and operable as a generator in response to said mechanical driving force of said internal combustion engine, thereby outputting electrical energy to said logic/driver module, said generator further being structured and operable to as an electric motor in response to input of electrical energy from said logic/driver module to drive said internal combustion engine during a starting sequence of said internal combustion engine, wherein the logic/driver module is further structured and operable to detect potential operational failures of the internal combustion engine by monitoring a current draw of said generator during the starting sequence and terminating the starting sequence in response to detecting the current draw of said generator is outside a predetermined range, the current draw of said generator being outside of the predetermine range; in an instance in which the current draw of said generator is less than a minimum value of the predetermined range of current draw, a current draw less than the minimum value being indicative of a potential operational failure of the internal combustion engine, and in an instance in which the current draw of said generator is greater than a maximum value of the predetermined range of current draw, a current draw greater than the maximum value being indicative of a potential operational failure of the internal combustion engine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12)
-
-
10. A method for starting an internal combustion engine of a utility vehicle, the utility vehicle comprising a battery source, the internal combustion engine, a generator mechanically coupled to the internal combustion engine, and a logic/drive module electrically and communicatively coupled to the battery source, the internal combustion engine and the generator, said method comprising:
-
initiating a starting sequence of the internal combustion engine by providing electrical energy from the battery source to the generator, via the logic/driver module, such that the generator rotates the internal combustion engine; monitoring the current draw of the generator during the starting sequence, via the logic/driver module; monitoring the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine during the starting sequence, via the logic/driver module; and detecting potential operational failures of the internal combustion engine and terminating the starting sequence, via the logic/drive module, in response to detecting the current draw of the generator is outside a predetermined range, wherein the current draw is detected to be outside the predetermined range; in an instance in which it is detected that the current draw of the generator is less than a minimum current draw value of the predetermined range, a current draw less than the minimum value being indicative of a potential operational failure of the internal combustion engine; and in an instance in which it is detected that the current draw of the generator is greater than a maximum current draw value of the predetermined range, a current draw greater than the maximum value being indicative of a potential operational failure of the internal combustion engine.
-
Specification