Dual fuel generator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11614039-B2
Application number	US-202117535035-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 24, 2021
Priority date	Apr 5, 2019
Publication date	Mar 28, 2023
Grant date	Mar 28, 2023

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 generator, the control circuit comprising:
a first fuel switch configured to detect availability of a first fuel;
a second fuel switch configured to detect availability of a second fuel; and
a relay energized in response to activation of the second fuel, wherein the relay connects the first fuel switch to indicate a loss of the first fuel regardless of a state of the first fuel switch.

2. The control circuit of claim 1 , further comprising:
an indicator configured to indicate that contacts of the relay are closed.

3. The control circuit of claim 1 , further comprising:
a momentary switch configured to, when activated, disconnect the relay from the first fuel switch.

4. The control circuit of claim 1 , further comprising:
a controller configured to receive a first signal for availability of the first fuel from the first fuel switch and a second signal for availability of the second fuel from the second switch and operate a first fuel valve or a second fuel valve in response to the first signal and the second signal.

5. The control circuit of claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to generate a load command based on operation of the first fuel valve for the first fuel or the second fuel valve for the second fuel.

6. The control circuit of claim 5 , wherein the load command is associated to a first load level when the first fuel valve is open and a second load level when the second fuel valve is open.

7. The control circuit of claim 4 , wherein when the second fuel is provided to the generator, the control circuit is configured to ground the first signal by connecting the first fuel switch to ground.

8. The control circuit of claim 7 , wherein the connection of the first fuel switch to ground prevents operation of the first fuel valve switch.

9. The control circuit of claim 7 , wherein the control circuit is configured to generate a reset signal that disconnects the first fuel switch from ground.

10. The control circuit of claim 9 , wherein the reset signal activates the first fuel valve and deactivates the second fuel valve in response to a user input and the detected availability of the first fuel.

11. The control circuit of claim 7 , wherein a variable generator rating is determined based on operation of the first fuel valve or the second fuel valve.

12. The control circuit of claim 11 , wherein the variable generator rating includes a first rating when the first fuel valve is open and a second rating when the second fuel valve is open.

13. The control circuit of claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to adjust an engine parameter in response to the availability of the first fuel or the availability of the second fuel.

14. A method comprising:
receiving data for availability of at least a first fuel source of a generator;
switching from the first fuel source to a second fuel source of the generator; and
in response from to the switching from the first fuel source to the second fuel source, providing a connection to a first fuel switch to indicate a loss of the first fuel regardless of a state of the first fuel switch.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
receiving sensor data for the availability of at least the first fuel source, the sensor data indicating that the first fuel source is operational, wherein a changeover from the second fuel source to the first fuel source is prevented from the connection to the first switch.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
receiving a reset signal to stop the connection to the first switch.

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

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein providing the connection to the first fuel switch comprises:
connecting a path between ground and the first fuel switch.

19. An apparatus for a generator, the apparatus comprising:
a controller configured to receive a first signal for availability of a first fuel from and a second signal for availability of a second fuel and perform a changeover from the first fuel to a second fuel,
wherein a connection to a switch associated with the first fuel is provided to indicate a loss of the first fuel regardless of a state of the switch.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the connection is providing by grounding the switch associated with the first fuel.

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

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

Classifications

• F02D29/06

  peculiar to engines driving electric generators · CPC title

• H02P9/04

  Control effected upon non-electric prime mover and dependent upon electric output value of the generator · CPC title

• F02D19/0626

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

• F02D41/0025

  Controlling engines characterised by use of non-liquid fuels, pluralities of fuels, or non-fuel substances added to the combustible mixtures · CPC title

• Y02T10/30

  Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels · CPC title