System and method for adjusting the exercise schedule of a generator

• US 9,754,227 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2012
• Issued: 09/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kohler Company
• Original Assignee: Kohler Company
• Inventors: Greenwald, Eric, Sember, Andrew John, Chiu, Harrison C., Pierringer, Jayson
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnes-Bullock, Crystal J
• Application Number:
  US13/455,466
• Publication Number:
  US 20130285623A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,959 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/343 in operation
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/02 Electric testing or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

Some embodiments relate to an example system for adjusting an exercise schedule of a generator. The system includes the generator and a controller that exercises the generator according to the exercise schedule. The controller modifies the exercise schedule based on generator use. In some of the example embodiments described herein, the controller is a generator controller. Other embodiments relate to a method for adjusting an exercise schedule of a generator. The method includes exercising the generator according to the exercise schedule, and modifying the exercise schedule based on generator use.

Claims

1. A system for adjusting an exercise schedule of a generator, the system comprising:

a generator;

a controller that exercises the generator according to the exercise schedule at regular intervals at predetermined times, wherein the controller modifies the exercise schedule to exercise the generator at the same regular intervals at different predetermined times based on generator use, wherein the controller modifies the exercise schedule based on a duration of generator use, wherein the exercises in the exercise schedule is scheduled further out in the future the longer the generator is used.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller modifies the exercise schedule based on engine temperature.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller modifies the exercise schedule based on an age of the generator.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller modifies the exercise schedule based on projected future generator use.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the controller skips a scheduled exercise based on the projected future generator use, and schedules an exercise when the projected future generator use does not occur.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a server that is connected to controller via a network, wherein the controller and the server exchange data such that at least one of the server and the controller modify the exercise schedule.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is a generator controller.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller schedules a duration of an exercise when the controller modifies the exercise.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller modifies the exercise schedule based on ambient temperature.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller modifies the exercise schedule based on ambient noise.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller modifies the exercise schedule based on existence of daylight.

12. A system for adjusting an exercise schedule of a generator, the system comprising:

a generator;

a controller that exercises the generator according to the exercise schedule, the exercise schedule configured to exercise the generator at regular intervals at predetermined times, wherein the controller modifies the frequency of exercises in the exercise schedule based on an age of the generator or the duration of the exercises in the exercise schedule.

13. A system for adjusting an exercise schedule of a generator, the system comprising:

a generator;

a controller that exercises the generator according to the exercise schedule at regular intervals at predetermined times, wherein the controller modifies the exercise schedule to exercise the generator at the same regular intervals at different predetermined times when a user selectively changes a scheduled exercise, wherein the controller modifies the exercise schedule based on projected future generator use, wherein the controller skips a schedule exercise based on the projected future generator use, and schedules an exercise when the projected future generator use does not occur.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the controller modifies the exercise schedule when a user skips a scheduled exercise.

15. A method for adjusting an exercise schedule of a generator, the method comprising:

exercising the generator according to the exercise schedule at regular intervals at predetermined times; and

modifying the exercise schedule to exercise the generator at the same regular intervals at different predetermined times based on generator use, wherein modifying the exercise schedule based on projected future generator use includes skipping a scheduled exercise based on the projected future generator use and scheduling an exercise when the projected future generator use does not occur.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein modifying the exercise schedule based on generator use includes changing the exercise schedule based on generator use.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein modifying the exercise schedule based on generator use includes skipping a scheduled exercise based on generator use.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein modifying the exercise schedule based on generator use includes modifying the exercise schedule based on engine temperature.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein modifying the exercise schedule based on generator use includes modifying the exercise schedule based on a duration of the generator use.

20. The method of claim 15, modifying the exercise schedule based on generator use includes modifying the exercise schedule based on an age of the generator.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein modifying the exercise schedule based on generator use includes modifying the exercise schedule based on projected future generator use.

22. The method of claim 15, further comprising using a network to exchange data between a controller and a server such that at least one of the server and the controller modify the exercise schedule.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein using a network to exchange data between a controller and a server includes using a network to exchange data between a generator controller and a server.

24. The method of claim 15, wherein modifying the exercise schedule based on generator use includes scheduling a duration of exercises in the modified exercise schedule.

25. A method for adjusting fixed exercise schedule of a generator, the method comprising:

exercising the generator according to the fixed exercise schedule at regular intervals at predetermined times; and

modifying the fixed exercise schedule to exercise the generator at the same regular intervals at different predetermined times based on hazardous materials being present in an environment where the generator is located.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein modifying the fixed exercise schedule based on an external condition includes modifying the fixed exercise schedule based on ambient temperature.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein modifying the fixed exercise schedule based on an external condition includes modifying the fixed exercise schedule based on ambient noise.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein modifying the fixed exercise schedule based on an external condition includes modifying the fixed exercise schedule based on ambient light.