Generators and vehicles having auxiliary power generation systems
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vehicle of comprising:
- a frame extending along a longitudinal axis from a front end to a rear end, the frame also extending laterally between a left side and a right side, the frame comprising a floor structure, the floor structure at least partially defining an occupant compartment;
a left front wheel rotatably coupled to the left side adjacent to the front end;
a right front wheel rotatably coupled to the right side adjacent to the front end;
a left rear wheel rotatably coupled to the left side adjacent to the rear end;
a right rear wheel rotatably coupled to the right side adjacent to the rear end;
a utility bed coupled with the frame at a longitudinal position rearward of the driver seat and the passenger seat;
a driver seat and a passenger seat, each being coupled with the frame alongside one another at a common longitudinal position relative to the frame within the occupant compartment, and with a first one of the driver seat and the passenger seat disposed adjacent to the left side, and with a second one of the driver seat and the passenger seat disposed adjacent to the right side;
a steering wheel disposed within the occupant compartment and coupled with each of the left front wheel and the right front wheel, and configured to facilitate steering of the left front wheel and the right front wheel by a driver seated in the driver seat;
an internal combustion engine coupled to the frame, and selectively drivingly coupled with at least one of the left front wheel, the right front wheel, the left rear wheel, and the right rear wheel to facilitate propulsion of the vehicle along a ground surface;
a generator coupled with the internal combustion engine and configured to produce generated electrical power in response to operation of the internal combustion engine, the generator comprising a rotor, a stator, and a clutch configured to selectively disengage the rotor;
a power receptacle;
an operator control device; and
a controller coupled with each of the generator, the power receptacle, and the operator control device;
wherein;
the controller is configured to receive the generated electrical power from the generator and to be controlled by the operator control device to provide conditioned electrical power to the power receptacle, the conditioned electrical power comprising alternating current of between about 100 volts and about 500 volts and having a frequency of between about 40 hertz and about 70 hertz;
the frame further comprises a roll cage;
the roll cage cooperates with the floor structure to define the occupant compartment;
the utility bed is coupled with the frame at a longitudinal position rearward of the driver seat and the passenger seat;
the utility bedcomprises a cargo support surface configured to support cargo; and
at least a portion of the engine is disposed beneath the driver seat and the passenger seat and at a lateral position relative to the frame generally midway between the left side and the right side;
the rotor has a rotational axis;
the rotational axis is parallel with the longitudinal axis;
at least a portion of the generator is disposed beneath the cargo support surface; and
the generator is disposed at a lateral position relative to the frame generally midway between the left side and the right side.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle includes a generator coupled with an internal combustion engine and configured to produce generated electrical power in response to operation of the internal combustion engine. The generator includes a rotor, a stator, and a clutch configured to selectively disengage the rotor. The vehicle also includes a controller coupled with the generator, a power receptacle, and an operator control device. Generators are also provided.
89 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A vehicle of comprising:
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a frame extending along a longitudinal axis from a front end to a rear end, the frame also extending laterally between a left side and a right side, the frame comprising a floor structure, the floor structure at least partially defining an occupant compartment; a left front wheel rotatably coupled to the left side adjacent to the front end; a right front wheel rotatably coupled to the right side adjacent to the front end; a left rear wheel rotatably coupled to the left side adjacent to the rear end; a right rear wheel rotatably coupled to the right side adjacent to the rear end; a utility bed coupled with the frame at a longitudinal position rearward of the driver seat and the passenger seat; a driver seat and a passenger seat, each being coupled with the frame alongside one another at a common longitudinal position relative to the frame within the occupant compartment, and with a first one of the driver seat and the passenger seat disposed adjacent to the left side, and with a second one of the driver seat and the passenger seat disposed adjacent to the right side; a steering wheel disposed within the occupant compartment and coupled with each of the left front wheel and the right front wheel, and configured to facilitate steering of the left front wheel and the right front wheel by a driver seated in the driver seat; an internal combustion engine coupled to the frame, and selectively drivingly coupled with at least one of the left front wheel, the right front wheel, the left rear wheel, and the right rear wheel to facilitate propulsion of the vehicle along a ground surface; a generator coupled with the internal combustion engine and configured to produce generated electrical power in response to operation of the internal combustion engine, the generator comprising a rotor, a stator, and a clutch configured to selectively disengage the rotor; a power receptacle; an operator control device; and a controller coupled with each of the generator, the power receptacle, and the operator control device;
wherein;the controller is configured to receive the generated electrical power from the generator and to be controlled by the operator control device to provide conditioned electrical power to the power receptacle, the conditioned electrical power comprising alternating current of between about 100 volts and about 500 volts and having a frequency of between about 40 hertz and about 70 hertz; the frame further comprises a roll cage; the roll cage cooperates with the floor structure to define the occupant compartment;
the utility bed is coupled with the frame at a longitudinal position rearward of the driver seat and the passenger seat;
the utility bedcomprises a cargo support surface configured to support cargo; and at least a portion of the engine is disposed beneath the driver seat and the passenger seat and at a lateral position relative to the frame generally midway between the left side and the right side; the rotor has a rotational axis; the rotational axis is parallel with the longitudinal axis; at least a portion of the generator is disposed beneath the cargo support surface; and the generator is disposed at a lateral position relative to the frame generally midway between the left side and the right side. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A vehicle comprising:
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a frame extending along a longitudinal axis from a front end to a rear end, the frame also extending laterally between a left side and a right side, the frame comprising a floor structure, the floor structure at least partially defining an occupant compartment; a left front wheel rotatably coupled to the left side adjacent to the front end; a right front wheel rotatably coupled to the right side adjacent to the front end; a left rear wheel rotatably coupled to the left side adjacent to the rear end; a right rear wheel rotatably coupled to the right side adjacent to the rear end; a driver seat and a passenger seat, each being coupled with the frame alongside one another at a common longitudinal position relative to the frame within the occupant compartment, and with a first one of the driver seat and the passenger seat disposed adjacent to the left side, and with a second one of the driver seat and the passenger seat disposed adjacent to the right side; a steering wheel disposed within the occupant compartment and coupled with each of the left front wheel and the right front wheel, and configured to facilitate steering of the left front wheel and the right front wheel by a driver seated in the driver seat; an internal combustion engine coupled to the frame, and selectively drivingly coupled with at least one of the left front wheel, the right front wheel, the left rear wheel, and the right rear wheel to facilitate propulsion of the vehicle along a ground surface; a generator coupled with the internal combustion engine and configured to produce generated electrical power in response to operation of the internal combustion engine, the generator comprising a rotor, a stator, and a clutch configured to selectively disengage the rotor; a power receptacle; an operator control device; and a controller coupled with each of the generator, the power receptacle, and the operator control device;
wherein;the controller is configured to receive the generated electrical power from the generator and to be controlled by the operator control device to provide conditioned electrical power to the power receptacle, the conditioned electrical power comprising alternating current of between about 100 volts and about 500 volts and having a frequency of between about 40 hertz and about 70 hertz; the internal combustion engine comprises an engine block and a power take off; the generator further comprises a shaft, a housing, and a first bearing; the shaft extends between a first end and a second end; the housing comprises an end plate and a side wall structure; the first bearing couples the first end of the shaft with the end plate; the housing is bolted to the engine block such that the second end of the shaft is coupled with the power take off; the rotor is rotatable relative to the housing and defines a rotor bore; the stator is fixed relative to the housing and defines a stator bore; the shaft extends through each of the rotor bore and the stator bore; at least one of the rotor and the stator is disposed adjacent to the second end of the shaft; the clutch comprises an electromagnetic clutch and is disposed adjacent to the first end of the shaft; and the clutch is coupled with each of the shaft and the rotor, and is configured to selectively engage the shaft with the rotor. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A vehicle comprising:
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an internal combustion engine comprising an engine block and a power take off, the internal combustion engine facilitating propulsion of the vehicle along a ground surface; a generator coupled with the internal combustion engine and configured to produce generated electrical power in response to operation of the internal combustion engine, the generator comprising a shaft, a housing, a rotor, a stator, and a clutch configured to selectively disengage the rotor; a power receptacle; and a controller coupled with each of the generator and the power receptacle;
wherein;the controller is configured to receive the generated electrical power from the generator and to facilitate provision of conditioned electrical power to the power receptacle; the housing is bolted to the engine block such that one end of the shaft is coupled with the power take off; the rotor is rotatable relative to the housing and defines a rotor bore; the stator is fixed relative to the housing and defines a stator bore; the shaft extends through each of the rotor bore and the stator bore; the clutch comprises an electromagnetic clutch and is disposed adjacent to another end of the shaft; and the clutch is coupled with each of the shaft and the rotor, and is configured to selectively engage the shaft with the rotor.
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Specification