Methods and apparatus to power a crane on a work truck using an engine-powered service pack

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11124137-B2
Application number	US-201715687985-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 28, 2017
Priority date	Aug 30, 2016
Publication date	Sep 21, 2021
Grant date	Sep 21, 2021

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to power a crane on a work truck using an engine-powered service pack are disclosed. An example auxiliary power system for a vehicle includes an engine, a generator configured to convert mechanical energy from the engine to electrical energy, and power conversion circuitry configured to provide electrical power to a crane to enable the crane to lift at least a portion of a rated load, and configured to convert the electrical energy from the generator to output DC power.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An auxiliary power system for a vehicle, comprising:
an engine;
a generator configured to convert mechanical energy from the engine to electrical energy;
one or more energy storage devices;
power conversion circuitry configured to provide electrical power to a crane to enable the crane to lift at least a portion of a rated load, and configured to convert the electrical energy from the generator and the one or more energy storage devices to output DC power; and
a battery charging circuit coupled to a battery of the vehicle to charge the battery of the vehicle and to power the crane, the battery charging circuit configured to:
generate a battery charging power output in a plurality of charging modes with a varying current output via power from the electrical energy from the generator;
output power to charge the battery of the vehicle according to a trickle, normal, or rapid charging mode of the plurality of charging modes; and
output the battery charging power output to power the crane at the rapid charging mode.

2. The auxiliary power system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the power conversion circuitry comprises at least one of a welding output or a battery charging output.

3. The auxiliary power system as defined in claim 2 , wherein the power conversion circuitry is configured to charge an energy storage device of the one or more energy storage devices via the battery charging output.

4. The auxiliary power system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the battery of the vehicle is at least one of a cranking battery installed in the vehicle.

5. The auxiliary power system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the power conversion circuitry comprises an AC-to-DC converter configured to convert AC power from the generator to the DC power.

6. The auxiliary power system as defined in claim 5 , wherein the AC-to-DC converter comprises at least one of a switched mode power supply or welding-type power conversion circuitry.

7. The auxiliary power system as defined in claim 5 , wherein the power conversion circuitry is a welding-type power supply that is detachable from the generator.

8. The auxiliary power system as defined in claim 1 , further comprising a remote control interface configured to control at least one aspect of the power conversion circuitry.

9. The auxiliary power system as defined in claim 8 , wherein the remote control interface is configured to control operation of the crane receiving the electrical power from the power conversion circuitry.

10. The auxiliary power system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the power conversion circuitry comprises an alternating current (AC) receptacle, the power conversion circuitry configured to provide the electrical power to the crane via an electrical cord when the electrical cord is plugged into the AC receptacle.

11. The auxiliary power system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the crane and the auxiliary power system are installed on the vehicle, and the power conversion circuitry is configured to provide the electrical power to operate the crane while an engine of the vehicle is off.

12. The auxiliary power system as defined in claim 1 , further comprising an alternator configured to receive the mechanical energy from the engine and configured to provide at least a first portion of the electrical power to the crane via the power conversion circuitry.

13. The auxiliary power system as defined in claim 12 , wherein second electrical power is provided to the crane from an energy storage device of the one or more energy storage devices.

14. The auxiliary power system as defined in claim 1 , further comprising an energy storage device of the one or more energy storage devices configured to output at least a first portion of the electrical power to the crane, the power conversion circuitry configured to charge the energy storage device.

15. The auxiliary power system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the crane is an electric crane.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Trinkner Michael
• Ihde Jeffrey R
• Schneider Joseph C
• Jochman Nathan J
• Lenzner Jeff

Classifications

• H02M7/04

  by static converters · CPC title

• B66C13/18 Primary

  Control systems or devices (exclusively for rope, cable, or chain winding mechanisms B66D1/40) · CPC title

• B60R16/03 Primary

  for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems {or for (circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00)} · CPC title

• Y02T10/7072

  Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors · CPC title

• Y02T10/70

  Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries · CPC title