Modular generator control and external power unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10534340-B2
Application number	US-201514713856-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 15, 2015
Priority date	May 15, 2015
Publication date	Jan 14, 2020
Grant date	Jan 14, 2020

Abstract

A method and system for use with an electric power system includes a monitoring unit to monitor at least one power characteristic, a generator control unit to control at least one generator characteristic, a ground interface unit to receive a ground power input, and a device configuration interface to select at least one of a generator control mode and an external power monitor mode, wherein the device configuration interface selectively engages at least one of the monitoring unit, the generator control unit, and the ground interface unit in response to at least one of the generator control mode and the external power monitor mode.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A multifunction control system for use with an electric power system, comprising:
an output for providing first and second power to an aircraft;
a monitoring unit disposed in parallel with the output to monitor at least one power characteristic;
a generator control unit to control at least one generator characteristic and to supply the first power to the monitoring unit and to the output;
a ground interface unit to receive a ground power input and to supply the second power to the monitoring unit and to the output;
a device configuration interface to select at least one of a generator control mode and an external power monitor mode, wherein:
the device configuration interface selectively engages the monitoring unit and the generator control unit when the generator control mode is selected and while the generator control mode remains selected, and
the device configuration interface selectively engages the monitoring unit and the ground interface unit when the external power monitor mode is selected and while the external power monitor mode remains selected;
a first contactor relay electrically interposed between the generator control unit and the output to engage the generator control unit when the generator control mode is selected; and
a second contactor relay electrically interposed between the ground interface unit and the output to engage the ground interface unit when the external power monitor mode is selected, wherein:
the generator control unit supplies the first power to the output and the monitoring unit via the first contactor relay, and
the ground interface unit supplies the second power to the output and the monitoring unit via the second contactor relay.

2. The multifunction control system of claim 1 , the device configuration interface comprising a pin strap interface to select at least one of the generator control mode and the external power monitor mode.

3. The multifunction control system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one generator characteristic includes at least one of a generator excitation characteristic, and a generator control characteristic.

4. The multifunction control system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one power characteristic includes an amperage characteristic.

5. The multifunction control system of claim 1 , the ground interface unit comprising a pin E-F interlock to selectively receive an AC ground power input.

6. The multifunction control system of claim 1 , the ground interface unit comprising a DC overvoltage protection unit to receive the ground power input.

7. The multifunction control system of claim 1 , wherein the generator control mode includes at least one of a main generator control mode and an auxiliary generator control mode.

8. The multifunction control system of claim 1 , wherein the device configuration interface indicates a system status and a selection of the at least one of the generator control mode and the external power monitor mode.

9. A method for controlling an electric power system, the method comprising:
providing first and second power to an aircraft from an output;
disposing a monitoring unit to monitor at least one power characteristic in parallel with the output;
supplying the first power from a generator control unit to control at least one generator characteristic to the monitoring unit and to the output via a first contactor relay electrically interposed between the generator control unit and the output;
supply the second power from a ground interface unit to receive a ground power input to the monitoring unit and to the output via a second contactor relay electrically interposed between the ground interface unit and the output;
selecting at least one of a generator control mode and an external power monitor mode via a device configuration interface;
selectively engaging the generator control unit to control at least one generator characteristic and the monitoring unit to monitor at least one power characteristic in response to the generator control mode being selected and while the generator control mode remains selected; and
selectively engaging the ground interface unit to receive a ground power input and the monitoring unit to monitor the at least one power characteristic in response to the external power monitor mode being selected and while the external power monitor mode remains selected.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the at least one generator characteristic includes at least one of a generator excitation characteristic, and a generator control characteristic.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the at least one power characteristic includes an amperage characteristic.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the generator control mode includes at least one of a main generator control mode and an auxiliary generator control mode.

13. A multifunction control system for use with an electric power system, comprising:
an output for providing first and second power to an aircraft;
first and second contactor relays respectively disposed upstream from the output;
a monitoring unit disposed in parallel with the output to monitor at least one power characteristic;
a generator control unit to which main and auxiliary generators are coupled to control at least one generator characteristic and to supply the first power to the monitoring unit and to the output via the first contactor relay;
a ground interface unit to receive a ground power input from an alternating current (AC) source and a direct current (DC) source via a pin interlock and a DC overvoltage protection unit, respectively, and to supply the second power to the monitoring unit and to the output via the second contactor relay; and
a device configuration interface to select a generator control mode or an external power monitor mode, wherein:
the device configuration interface selectively engages the monitoring unit and the generator control unit when the generator control mode is selected, and
the device configuration interface selectively engages the monitoring unit and the ground interface unit when the external power monitor mode is selected.

14. The multifunction control system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one generator characteristic includes at least one of a generator excitation characteristic and a generator control characteristic.

15. The multifunction control system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one power characteristic includes at least one of a voltage characteristic and an amperage characteristic.

16. The multifunction control system of claim 13 , wherein the generator control mode includes at least one of a main generator control mode and an auxiliary generator control mode.

17. The multifunction control system of claim 13 , wherein the device configuration interface indicates a system status and a selection of the at least one of the generator control mode and the external power monitor mode.

Assignees

• Hamilton Sundstrand Corp

Inventors

• Buzzard John N
• Wetzel Richard T

Classifications

• H02J9/066

  characterised by the use of dynamo-electric machines (H02J9/08 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H02J3/007

  Arrangements for selectively connecting one or more loads to one or more power sources or power lines · CPC title

• H02P9/48

  Arrangements for obtaining a constant output value at varying speed of the generator, e.g. on vehicle (H02P9/04 - H02P9/46 take precedence) · CPC title

• G05B2219/2639

  Energy management, use maximum of cheap power, keep peak load low · CPC title

• H02J3/04 Primary

  Arrangements for connecting networks of the same frequency but supplied from different sources · CPC title