Method & apparatus for managing alternator loads on engines
First Claim
1. The method of managing loads on an engine equipped with an alternator-type battery charging system that includes a voltage regulator adapted to shut down the alternator electrical generation functions by turning off electrical current to the alternator field windings when a threshold battery voltage level is reached comprising the steps of:
- sensing the load condition of the engine;
causing the alternator to decrease or shut down its electrical generation when the engine is under a heavy load, even though the battery is not charged to the threshold level normally set for the voltage regulator to decrease or shut down the alternator electrical generation; and
establishing an alternative minimum battery voltage threshold, below which it is undesirable to allow the battery to discharge, sensing the voltage level of the battery, and re-exciting the alternator field circuit when the battery discharges to or below said alternative minimum battery voltage threshold, even when the engine is still under heavy load.
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Abstract
The improved engine load management system of the present invention includes an apparatus that will de-excite the field coils of an alternator that is driven by an internal combustion engine when the battery that the alternator charges is above a required minimum voltage and when the engine is operating under high load conditions such as acceleration or climbing. When the battery charge falls below the required minimum, the apparatus excites the alternator field coils and permits the alternator to charge the battery despite a high engine load condition. When the battery charge is above the minimum required voltage, but below the voltage at which charging is discontinued, and the engine is under high load, the alternator field coils are energized and de-energized in a cycle that reduces alternator drag on the engine, but permits limited battery charging to occur. The limited charging rate is greater as the battery voltage is lower, and the change from lesser battery charging to greater battery charging is linear and inversely related to the charge of the battery. When the engine is operating at normal load conditions, such as cruise, battery charging is accomplished on demand under normal circumstances. Deferring battery charging by limiting alternator field coil excitation, reducing alternator drag on the engine during heavy load conditions (an inherently inefficient operating regime for internal combustion engines) increases fuel economy and decreases atmospheric pollutants from automobiles equipped with the apparatus of the current invention.
44 Citations
35 Claims
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1. The method of managing loads on an engine equipped with an alternator-type battery charging system that includes a voltage regulator adapted to shut down the alternator electrical generation functions by turning off electrical current to the alternator field windings when a threshold battery voltage level is reached comprising the steps of:
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sensing the load condition of the engine; causing the alternator to decrease or shut down its electrical generation when the engine is under a heavy load, even though the battery is not charged to the threshold level normally set for the voltage regulator to decrease or shut down the alternator electrical generation; and establishing an alternative minimum battery voltage threshold, below which it is undesirable to allow the battery to discharge, sensing the voltage level of the battery, and re-exciting the alternator field circuit when the battery discharges to or below said alternative minimum battery voltage threshold, even when the engine is still under heavy load. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. The method of managing loads on an engine equipped with an alternator-type battery charging system that includes a voltage regulator adapted to shut down the alternator electrical generation functions by turning off electrical current to the alternator field windings when a threshold battery voltage level is reached, comprising the steps of:
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sensing the load condition of the engine; causing the alternator to decrease or shut down its electrical generation when the engine is under a heavy load, even though the battery is not charged to the threshold level normally set for the voltage regulator to decrease or shut down the alternator electrical generation; producing a boosted apparent voltage that is higher than the actual battery voltage, and feeding said boosted apparent voltage to the voltage regulator instead of the actual battery voltage when the engine is heavily loaded to induce the voltage regulator to decrease electrical generation by the alternator when the voltage regulator would normally allow more electrical generation by the alternator. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. Engine load management apparatus for disabling and enabling an alternator charging system in response to engine loading and unloading in a vehicle that has an engine-powered alternator with field windings, a battery, and a voltage regulator for limiting or shutting down the generation of electricity by the alternator when the battery voltage reaches a predetermined normal maximum charge level, comprising:
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engine load sensor means for sensing load condition of the engine; alternator disabling means connected to said engine load sensor means; and said alternator disabling means including a variable switch signal generator means for generating switching signals to open and close said field windings in response to engine load conditions. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. Engine load management apparatus for disabling and enabling an alternator charging system in response to engine loading and unloading in a vehicle that has an engine-powered alternator with field windings, a battery, and a voltage regulator for limiting or shutting down the generation of electricity by the alternator when the battery voltage reaches a predetermined normal maximum charge level, comprising:
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engine load sensor means for sensing load condition of the engine; alternator disabling means connected to said engine load sensor means; and said alternator disabling means includes boost voltage generator means for producing a boosted apparent voltage that is higher than the actual voltage for inducing the voltage regulator to decrease electrical generation by the alternator when there is a load on the engine and the actual battery voltage is less than the normal maximum charge level. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification