Variable speed drive for a generator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11268596-B2
Application number	US-201916511622-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 15, 2019
Priority date	Jul 15, 2019
Publication date	Mar 8, 2022
Grant date	Mar 8, 2022

Abstract

A variable drive system of a power system is disclosed. The variable drive system may include an engine gearset to transfer power from an engine output of an engine to a variable input driveshaft of the variable drive system. The variable drive system may include a generator gearset to transfer power, generated by the engine, to a generator driveshaft of a generator. The variable drive system may include a variable drive, coupled to the variable input driveshaft, to enable a gear ratio between engine output and the generator driveshaft to be adjustable, the variable input driveshaft being offset from at least one of the engine output or the generator driveshaft. The variable drive system may include a direct drive clutch to bypass variable power transfer through the variable drive and enable direct power transfer from the engine output to the generator driveshaft.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A variable drive system of a power system comprising:
an engine gearset to transfer power from an engine output of an engine to a variable input driveshaft of the variable drive system;
a generator gearset to transfer power, generated by the engine, to a generator driveshaft of a generator;
a variable drive, coupled to the variable input driveshaft, to enable a gear ratio between engine output and the generator driveshaft to be adjustable,
the variable input driveshaft being offset from at least one of:
the engine output, or
the generator driveshaft; and

a clutch to bypass variable power transfer through the variable drive and enable direct power transfer from the engine output to the generator driveshaft,
the clutch being directly connected to a fixed gear drive, the fixed gear drive being mechanically coupled between the variable input driveshaft and the variable drive.

2. The variable drive system of claim 1 , wherein the fixed gear drive is a planetary gear drive.

3. The variable drive system of claim 1 , wherein gears of the engine gearset and gears of the generator gearset are interchangeable between three particular fixed gears based on a particular speed of the engine output and a desired speed of the generator driveshaft.

4. The variable drive system of claim 1 , wherein the variable drive comprises a variator to enable an axial length of the power system to be reduced.

5. The variable drive system of claim 1 , wherein an input end of the generator is within a threshold distance of an output end of the engine.

6. The variable drive system of claim 1 , wherein the clutch is connected to the fixed gear drive via at least one or more fasteners or one or more couplings.

7. The variable drive system of claim 1 , wherein the clutch is positioned toward a side of the generator of the fixed gear drive.

8. The variable drive system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a different clutch to disengage a hydraulic pump to prevent power transfer to the hydraulic pump,
the different clutch being mechanically coupled to a motor idler shaft that is mechanically coupled to the engine gearset.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Seipold John
• Vasudeva Gaurav
• Jacobson Evan
• Manning Eric

Classifications

• Y02E10/72

  Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction · CPC title

• H02K7/1815

  structurally associated with reciprocating piston engines (general aspects of generating sets, e.g. housing, F02B63/04) · CPC title

• F16H2057/02069

  for industrial applications · CPC title

• F16H2037/0873

  with switching means, e.g. to change ranges · CPC title

• F16H2037/0866

  Power-split transmissions with distributing differentials, with the output of the CVT connected or connectable to the output shaft · CPC title