Dual fuel generator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10907553-B2
Application number	US-202016839196-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 3, 2020
Priority date	Apr 5, 2019
Publication date	Feb 2, 2021
Grant date	Feb 2, 2021

Abstract

A control circuit for a dual fuel generator includes a primary fuel valve to control the supply of a primary fuel, a secondary fuel valve to control the supply of a secondary fuel, a primary fuel pressure switch to detect the primary fuel, a secondary fuel pressure switch to detect the secondary fuel, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive a primary signal for availability of the primary fuel from the primary fuel pressure switch and a secondary signal for availability of the secondary fuel from the secondary and operate the primary fuel valve and the secondary fuel valve in response to the primary signal and the secondary signal. When the secondary fuel valve is open so that the secondary fuel is provided to the dual fuel generator, the control circuit is configured to ground the primary signal by connecting the primary fuel pressure switch to ground.

First claim

We claim:

1. A control circuit for a dual fuel generator, the control circuit comprising:
a primary fuel valve switch to control supply of a primary fuel to the dual fuel generator via a primary fuel valve;
a secondary fuel valve switch to control supply of a secondary fuel to the dual fuel generator via a secondary fuel valve;
a primary fuel pressure switch configured to detect availability of the primary fuel;
a secondary fuel pressure switch configured to detect availability of the secondary fuel; and
a controller configured to receive a primary signal for availability of the primary fuel from the primary fuel pressure switch and a secondary signal for availability of the secondary fuel from the secondary and operate the primary fuel valve switch and the secondary fuel valve switch in response to the primary signal and the secondary signal,
wherein when the secondary fuel is provided to the dual fuel generator, the control circuit is configured to ground the primary signal by connecting the primary fuel pressure switch to ground.

2. The control circuit of claim 1 , wherein the connection of the primary fuel pressure switch to ground prevents operation of the primary fuel valve switch.

3. The control circuit of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is configured to generate a reset signal that disconnect the primary fuel pressure switch from ground.

4. The control circuit of claim 3 , wherein the reset signal activates the primary fuel valve switch and deactivate the secondary fuel valve switch in response to a user input and the detected availability of the primary fuel.

5. The control circuit of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine a variable generator rating based on operation of the primary fuel valve or the secondary fuel valve.

6. The control circuit of claim 5 , wherein the variable generator rating includes a first rating when the primary fuel valve is open and a second rating when the secondary fuel valve is open.

7. The control circuit of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to generate a load command based on operation of the primary fuel valve or the secondary fuel valve.

8. The control circuit of claim 7 , wherein the load command is associated to a first load level when the primary fuel valve is open and a second load level when the secondary fuel valve is open.

9. The control circuit of claim 1 , further comprising:
a relay energized by activation of the secondary fuel valve, wherein the relay grounds the primary signal by connecting the primary fuel pressure switch to ground.

10. The control circuit of claim 1 , further comprising:
an indicator configured to indicate that the secondary fuel valve switch is activated.

11. The control circuit of claim 1 , further comprising:
a momentary switch configured to, when activated, disconnect the ground from the primary signal.

12. A method comprising:
receiving sensor data for availability of at least a primary fuel source of a dual fuel generator;
performing a changeover from the primary fuel source to a secondary fuel source of the dual fuel generator; and
grounding a circuit element associated with the primary fuel source in response from to the changeover from the primary fuel source to the secondary fuel source.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein a changeover from the secondary fuel source to the primary fuel source is prevented from the grounding of the circuit element associated with the primary fuel source.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
receiving updated sensor data for the availability of at least the primary fuel source, the updated sensor data indicating that the primary fuel source is operational, wherein a changeover from the secondary fuel source to the primary fuel source is prevented from the grounding of the circuit element associated with the primary fuel source.

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
receiving a reset signal to stop the grounding of the circuit element associated with the primary fuel source.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the reset signal is generated by a switch actuation.

17. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
determining a variable generator rating based on operation of the primary fuel source or the secondary fuel source, wherein the variable generator rating describes an output of the dual fuel generator.

18. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
generating a load command based on operation of the primary fuel source or the secondary fuel source, wherein the load command connects or disconnects a load for the dual fuel generator.

19. A dual fuel generator comprising:
a primary fuel valve to control supply of a primary fuel to the dual fuel generator via a primary fuel valve;
a secondary fuel valve to control supply of a secondary fuel to the dual fuel generator via a secondary fuel valve;
a primary fuel pressure switch configured to detect availability of the primary fuel;
a secondary fuel pressure switch configured to detect availability of the secondary fuel; and
a control circuit configured to receive a primary signal for availability of the primary fuel from the primary fuel pressure switch and a secondary signal for availability of the secondary fuel from the secondary and operate the primary fuel valve switch and the secondary fuel pressure switch in response to the primary signal and the secondary signal,
wherein when the secondary fuel is provided to the dual fuel generator, the control circuit is configured to ground the primary signal by connecting the primary fuel pressure switch to ground.

20. The dual fuel generator of claim 19 , wherein the connection of the primary fuel pressure switch to ground prevents operation of the primary fuel valve switch.

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Chiu Harrison C
• Thompson Peter
• Gudmundson Seth
• Meulemans Zachary David

Classifications

• F02D19/0623

  Failure diagnosis or prevention; Safety measures; Testing · CPC title

• F02D19/0628 Primary

  Determining the fuel pressure, temperature or flow, the fuel tank fill level or a valve position · CPC title

• F02D19/0626

  Measuring or estimating parameters related to the fuel supply system · CPC title

• F02D19/0615 Primary

  being initiated by automatic means, e.g. based on engine or vehicle operating conditions · CPC title

• F02D19/06 Primary

  peculiar to engines working with pluralities of fuels, e.g. alternatively with light and heavy fuel oil, other than engines indifferent to the fuel consumed · CPC title