Hybrid electric device

• US 9,787,225 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2014
• Issued: 10/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mtd Products Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Mtd Products Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lucas, Delbert E., Lucas, Justin, Lucas, Ryan Jay, Nuchols, Rick
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss, John G
• Application Number:
  US14/282,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20140252996A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,239 Days
• Field of Search: 56 105, 56 147, 56 167, 318139
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/78 electric
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 69/025 Electric hybrid systems
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 5/045 Means per se for conveying or discharging the dislodged material, e.g. rotary impellers, discharge chutes dislodging apparatus provided therewith E01H5/07, E01H5/08, E01H5/104, E01H5/12
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 5/098 about horizontal or substantially horizontal axises perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the direction of clearing
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 4/00 Arrangements specially adapted for regulating or controlling the speed or torque of electric motors that can be connected to two or more different electric power supplies vector control H02P21/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 7/285 controlling armature supply only

Abstract

A device includes a housing configured with a working element and a motor configured for urging motion of the working element. The device further includes a power control module. The power control module is configurable for being in electrical connection with at least one of the motor, a first power source configuration and a second power source configuration. The first power source configuration is configurable for being electrically connected to a battery assembly having a DC power output. The second power source configuration is configurable for being electrically connected to a power inverter, the power inverter configured for receiving an AC power and further configured for outputting a DC power to the second power source configuration. The power control module includes an automatic power selection configuration for automatically selecting the second power source configuration when the second power source configuration receives DC power from the power inverter.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a housing including a working element;

a motor for driving the working element; and

a power control module, the power control module in electrical connection with the motor, a first power source configuration and/or a second power source configuration, the first power source configuration electrically connected to a battery assembly having a Direct Current (DC) power output, the second power source configuration electrically connected to a power inverter, wherein the power inverter receives an Alternating Current (AC) power and outputs a DC power to the second source configuration,

wherein the motor receives power via the power control module from the first power source configuration and/or the second power source configuration, and

wherein the power control module includes an automatic power selection configuration for automatically selecting the second power source configuration when the second power source configuration receives DC power from the power inverter.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is an electric lawnmower.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the power control module is manually operable via a power selection switch for selecting between the first power source configuration and the second power source configuration.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the automatic power selection configuration is overridable by manual selection via the manually operable power selection switch.

5. The device of in claim 1, wherein the power control module comprises a both configuration, wherein when the both configuration is selected, the motor receives power from both the first power source configuration and the second power source configuration.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the power inverter comprises a step down controller.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the step down controller comprises a voltage rectifier and a pulse width modulator.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the battery assembly outputs a DC output of 60 volts.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the power inverter receives an AC input of 120 volts and outputs a DC output of 60 volts.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the battery assembly includes DC batteries connected in series.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the battery assembly is removable from the device and is chargeable at a location separate from the device.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the battery assembly is chargeable while on board the device and during the operation of the device.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the power control module comprises a boost conserve switch including a conserve mode for supplying a first voltage to the motor when the boost conserve switch is established in the conserve mode and a boost mode for supplying a second voltage to the motor when the boost conserve switch is established in the boost mode, the first voltage being less than the second voltage.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the power control module is operable to control motor speed by supplying the first voltage and/or the second voltage when the boost conserve switch is established in at least one of the conserve mode and the boost mode.

15. The device as claimed in claim 13, wherein motor speed when the first voltage is supplied is below 14,000 feet per minute blade speed, and motor speed when the second voltage is supplied is above 15,000 feet per minute blade speed.