Single solid state power supply for multiple engine systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11008993-B2
Application number	US-201816138746-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 21, 2018
Priority date	Sep 21, 2018
Publication date	May 18, 2021
Grant date	May 18, 2021

Abstract

A power generation system is disclosed. The power generation system may include a first engine and a second engine. The power generation system may include an alternating current (AC) generator coupled to the first engine and a solid state power supply connected to the AC generator via a first circuit. The power generation system may include a first energy storage device associated with the first engine, connected to the solid state power supply via a second circuit, and a first engine control module (ECM) associated with the first engine, connected to the solid state power supply via the second circuit. The power generation system may include a second energy storage device associated with the second engine, connected to the solid state power supply via the second circuit, and a second ECM associated with the second engine, connected to the solid state power supply via the second circuit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A machine, comprising:
a first engine of a first engine system;
a second engine of a second engine system;
an alternating current (AC) generator coupled to the first engine;
a solid state power supply of the first engine system,
wherein the second engine system receives direct current electricity only from the solid state power supply,
wherein the second engine system does not include a solid state power supply, and
wherein the solid state power supply is connected to the AC generator via a first circuit;

a first energy storage device of the first engine system,
the first energy storage device being connected to the solid state power supply via a second circuit;

a first engine control module (ECM) for controlling the first engine,
the first ECM being connected to the solid state power supply via the second circuit;

a second energy storage device of the second engine system,
the second energy storage device being connected to the solid state power supply via the second circuit; and

a second ECM for controlling the second engine,
the second ECM being connected to the solid state power supply via the second circuit.

2. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the solid state power supply includes a rectifier to convert alternating current electricity to the direct current electricity and provide the direct current electricity at an amperage that satisfies a threshold amperage.

3. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the solid state power supply is to provide the direct current electricity to the first energy storage device, the first ECM, the second energy storage device, and the second ECM via the second circuit.

4. The machine of claim 1 ,
wherein the AC generator is to provide alternating current electricity to the solid state power supply, and
wherein the solid state power supply is to provide diagnostic information regarding the alternating current electricity provided by the AC generator.

5. The machine of claim 1 ,
wherein the solid state power supply is to provide the direct current electricity to the first energy storage device and the second energy storage device via the second circuit,
wherein the first energy storage device is to provide the direct current electricity to the first ECM via a third circuit, and
wherein the second energy storage device is to provide the direct current electricity to the second ECM via a fourth circuit.

6. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the first energy storage device is to provide the direct current electricity to the first ECM via a third circuit.

7. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the solid state power supply is configured to convert alternating current electricity into the direct current electricity.

8. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the solid state power supply is configured to provide diagnostic information regarding alternating current electricity provided by the AC generator.

9. The machine of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third engine of a third engine system,
wherein the third engine system receives the direct current electricity only from the solid state power supply.

10. The machine of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third engine of a third engine system,
wherein the third engine system does not include another AC generator or another solid state power supply.

11. A system comprising:
a first engine system including:
a first engine,
a solid state power supply, and
a first energy storage device connected to the solid state power supply; and

a second engine system including:
a second engine, and
a second energy storage device connected to the solid state power supply,
the first energy storage device and the second energy storage device receiving direct current electricity only from the solid state power supply, and
the second engine system not including a solid state power supply.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first engine system further includes:
an alternating current (AC) generator.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the second engine system does not include an AC generator.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the first engine is configured to cause rotation of one or more components of the AC generator.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the AC generator is configured to convert mechanical input from the first engine into alternating current electricity.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the solid state power supply includes components configured to convert alternating current electricity into the direct current electricity.

17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first engine system includes a first engine control module (ECM) to control the first engine.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the second engine system includes a second engine control module (ECM) to control the second engine.

19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the direct current electricity is used to charge the first energy storage device.

20. The system of claim 11 , wherein the solid state power supply is configured to provide the direct current electricity at an ambient temperature range.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Roplekar Jay
• Meischner Chris
• Fischer Jeffery
• Smith Thomas

Classifications

• H02J7/34 Primary

  Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other DC sources, e.g. providing buffering (H02J7/14 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H02P9/02

  Details {of the control} · CPC title

• H02J9/08

  requiring starting of a prime-mover · CPC title

• F02B63/04

  for electric generators · CPC title

• F02N11/0866 Primary

  comprising several power sources, e.g. battery and capacitor or two batteries · CPC title