Electric power system for one or more electric cranes

• US 9,987,934 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2015
• Issued: 06/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mi-Jack Products Incorporated (Lanco International, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Mi-Jack Products Incorporated (Lanco International, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schmidt, Harvey E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford
• Assistant Examiner(s): Parries, Dru
• Application Number:
  US14/680,681
• Publication Number:
  US 20160297308A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,155 Days
• Field of Search: 307 9, 307 91
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/20 characterised by converters located in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/14 Balancing the load in a network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/14 for charging batteries from dynamo-electric generators driven at varying speed, e.g. on vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/34 Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/008 Plural converter units for generating at two or more independent and non-parallel outputs, e.g. systems with plural point of load switching regulators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/92 Energy efficient charging or discharging systems for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors specially adapted for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

According to one aspect, an electric power system includes an energy storage device having a first peak power rating and an energy transfer circuit operable to provide electric grid energy to the energy storage device. The energy transfer circuit is further operable to cause electric energy to be supplied from the energy storage device to at least one electric crane having a second peak power rating no greater than the first peak power rating throughout an entire operational load range.

Claims

1. An electric power system for a plurality of electric cranes, comprising:

a single energy storage device having a first peak power rating; and

an energy transfer circuit operable to provide electric grid energy to the energy storage device and further operable to cause the energy storage device to supply an entire electric demand to the plurality of electric cranes that together have a second peak power rating no greater than the first peak power rating.

2. The electric power system of claim 1, wherein the energy transfer circuit is further operable to transfer regenerative power to the energy storage device.

3. The electric power system of claim 1, wherein the energy storage device is disposed on at least one of the plurality of cranes.

4. The electric power system of claim 1, wherein the energy storage device is disposed remote from the plurality of electric cranes.

5. The electric power system of claim 1, in combination with a grid power supply system.

6. The electric power system of claim 1, wherein the energy transfer circuit includes a sensor for sensing energy delivered to the energy storage device and the energy transfer circuit comprises an active front end.

7. The electric power system of claim 1, wherein the energy storage device comprises a battery.

8. The electric power system of claim 1, wherein the energy storage device comprises a capacitor system.

9. The electric power system of claim 1, wherein the energy storage device comprises a combined battery/capacitor system.

10. The electric power system of claim 3, wherein the energy transfer circuit includes an AC/DC converter disposed on at least one of the plurality of cranes for converting grid power into DC power for charging the energy storage device.

11. An electric power system for an electric crane, comprising:

a single energy storage device having a first peak power rating;

the electric crane having a second peak power rating less than the first peak power rating and capable of developing regenerative energy; and

an energy transfer circuit that provides electric grid energy and the regenerative energy to the energy storage device to charge the energy storage device and further provides operating power from the energy storage device exclusively to meet an entire electrical demand for the electric crane throughout an entire operational range of the electric crane.

12. The electric power system of claim 11, wherein the energy storage device is disposed on the electric crane.

13. The electric power system of claim 11, wherein the energy transfer circuit includes a sensor for sensing energy delivered to the energy storage device and the energy transfer circuit comprises an active front end.

14. The electric power system of claim 11, wherein the energy storage device comprises a battery.

15. The electric power system of claim 11, wherein the energy storage device comprises a capacitor system.

16. The electric power system of claim 11, wherein the energy storage device comprises a combined battery/capacitor system.

17. The electric power system of claim 11, wherein the energy transfer circuit includes an AC/DC converter disposed on the electric crane for converting grid power into DC power for charging the energy storage device.

18. An electric power system for a plurality of electric cranes, comprising:

a single energy storage device having a first peak power rating;

the plurality of electric cranes having a combined second peak power rating less than the first peak power rating and each being capable of developing regenerative energy; and

an energy transfer circuit that provides electric grid energy and the regenerative energy to the energy storage device to charge the energy storage device and further providing operating power from the energy storage device to meet an entire electrical demand for the plurality of electric cranes throughout an entire operational range of each electric crane.

19. The electric power system of claim 18, wherein the energy storage device is disposed remote from the plurality of electric cranes.

20. The electric power system of claim 18, wherein the energy storage device comprises a battery.

21. The electric power system of claim 18, wherein the energy storage device comprises a capacitor system.

22. The electric power system of claim 18, wherein the energy storage device comprises a combined battery/capacitor system.