Mobile energy management system

• US 6,965,818 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2001
• Issued: 11/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ONAN Corporation (Cummins Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: ONAN Corporation (Cummins Incorporated)
• Inventors: Plahn, Paul H., Lovegren, Keith L., Koenig, David J, Haupt, Brian G., Priem, Dan G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Dalena
• Application Number:
  US09/996,076
• Publication Number:
  US 20030105567A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,448 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 363/35, 363/41, 363/17, 363/55, 363/98, 363/56.02, 320/101, 436/134, 436/167, 322/19, 322/28, 322/36, 322/45, 361/84, 361/90, 361/91.3, 361/79, 361/92, 307/38, 307/39, 307/43, 307/131, 307/130, 307/140, 307/9.1, 323/241, 323/320, 323/322
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/006 of fuel cells with rechargeable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A recreational vehicle includes a chassis having a living space, an electrical system for providing electrical power to the living space, an air conditioner for cooling the living space, a heater for heating the living space, and a plurality of appliances within the living space attached to the electrical system. The recreational vehicle also includes an engine for moving the recreational vehicle, a motor generator for supplying power to the recreational vehicle, a connector for connecting the electrical system of the recreational vehicle to an external power source, and a local area network system electrically connected to the air conditioner, the heater, the plurality of appliances, and the motor generator. The local area network manages the power provided to the to the electrical appliances. A display positioned within the living space shows data related to the air conditioner, the heater, the plurality of appliances, the motor generator and the engine.

Claims

1. A power control system for a recreational vehicle comprising:

a connector adapted for receiving electrical current from a source of shore power, the connector for connecting the recreational vehicle to the source of shore power;

a sensor for automatically determining the amp service level of the shore power input to the recreational vehicle; and

means for setting an electrical system not to exceed the sensed amp service level of the shore power.

2. The power control system of claim 1 wherein the amp service level of the shore power is determined by a phase difference between at least two phases of the shore power.

3. The power control system of claim 2 further comprising a rechargeable power source wherein the amount of current used to recharge the rechargeable power source is automatically adjusted based on the amount of available shore or generator power.

4. The power control system of claim 3 wherein the rechargeable power source includes a battery.

5. The power control system of claim 3 wherein the rechargeable power source includes a capacitor.

6. The power control system of claim 3 wherein the rechargeable power source includes an inverter.

7. The power control system of claim 1, further comprising means for automatically connecting a generator to the electrical system when an electrical load of the electrical system is higher than the sensed amp service level of the shore power.

8. The power control system of claim 1, wherein the power control system is automatically set to the sensed amp service level.

9. A power control system for a recreational vehicle comprising:

a connector adapted for receiving electrical current from a source of shore power, the connector for connecting the recreational vehicle to the source of shore power;

a controller for automatically determining the amp service level of the shore power input to the recreational vehicle and automatically setting an amp limit threshold for an electrical system depending on the sensed amp service level; and

means for automatically connecting a generator to the electrical system when an electrical load of the electrical system is higher than the sensed amp service level of the shore power.

10. The power control system of claim 9 wherein the amp service level of the shore power is determined by a phase difference between at least two phases of the shore power.

11. The power control system of claim 10 further comprising a rechargeable power source wherein the amount of current used to recharge the rechargeable power source is automatically adjusted based on the amount of available shore power or generator power.

12. The power control system of claim 11 wherein the rechargeable power source includes a battery.

13. The power control system of claim 11 wherein the rechargeable power source includes a capacitor.