Electric engine accessory control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017282889-A1
Application number	US-201515506135-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 24, 2015
Priority date	Aug 26, 2014
Publication date	Oct 5, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method of controlling electrically-powered vehicle accessories includes receiving energy data, the energy data providing an indication of an availability of free energy; receiving an electrically-powered vehicle accessory classification for an electrically-powered vehicle accessory, the classification including one of a critical and a discretionary electrically-powered vehicle accessory; receiving a prioritization for the electrically-powered vehicle accessory based on the classification and whether the electrically-powered vehicle accessory has an energy storage component; and providing a command to control energy consumption by the electrically-powered vehicle accessory based on its prioritization and the availability of free energy.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method, comprising:
receiving energy data, the energy data providing an indication of an availability of free energy; receiving an electrically-powered vehicle accessory classification for an electrically-powered vehicle accessory, the classification including a spectrum position from discretionary to critical electrically-powered vehicle accessories; receiving a prioritization for the electrically-powered vehicle accessory based on the classification and whether the electrically-powered vehicle accessory has an energy storage component; and providing a command to control energy consumption by the electrically-powered vehicle accessory based on the prioritization of the electrically-powered vehicle accessory and the availability of free energy.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the command is further based on a reaction time for the electrically-powered vehicle accessory, wherein electrically-powered vehicle accessories with relatively slower reaction times are only operated at a lower operating state and electrically-powered vehicle accessories with relatively faster reaction times are at least one of operated at a lower operating state and deactivated.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the prioritization includes positioning relatively more critical electrically-powered vehicle accessories before electrically-powered vehicle accessories with an energy storage component, wherein electrically-powered vehicle accessories with the energy storage component are positioned before relatively more discretionary electrically-powered vehicle accessories.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the command limits energy consumption by the relatively more discretionary electrically-powered vehicle accessories relatively more than the consumption by the electrically-powered vehicle accessories with an energy storage component, wherein consumption by the electrically-powered vehicle accessories with an energy storage component is limited relatively more than the relatively more critical electrically-powered vehicle accessories.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining that free energy is available and providing the command to only power electrically-powered vehicle accessories with energy storage components.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the command to control energy consumption of relatively more discretionary electrically-powered vehicle accessories is based on at least one of their primary function, their impact on engine loading, and the availability of free energy.

7 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising determining that free energy is available and providing the command to power the relatively more discretionary electrically-powered vehicle accessories using the free energy.

8 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising determining that an engine load is in either one or both of an idle state or at or below a preset threshold and providing a command to limit power to the relatively more discretionary electrically-powered vehicle accessories.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the command to power the relatively more critical electrically-powered vehicle accessories includes operating one or more of them at a relatively lower operating state when demand of their primary function is at or below a preset threshold.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the relatively more critical electrically-powered vehicle accessories include at least one of a power steering pump and an engine coolant pump.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the relatively more discretionary electrically-powered vehicle accessories include at least one of an air conditioner compressor, an air compressor, and a cooling fan.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the free energy is provided by a regenerative braking system.

13 . A system, comprising:
a regenerative braking system; and a controller communicably coupled to the regenerative braking system, the controller structured to:
determine that free energy is available based on operation of the regenerative braking system;
receive an electrically-powered vehicle accessory classification for an electrically-powered vehicle accessory, the classification including a spectrum position from discretionary to critical electrically-powered vehicle accessories;
receive a prioritization of the electrically-powered vehicle accessory based on the classification and whether the electrically-powered vehicle accessory has an energy storage component; and
provide a command to control energy consumption by the electrically-powered vehicle accessory based on the prioritization and the availability of free energy.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the prioritization is further based on an energy consumption amount to activate the electrically-powered vehicle accessory, wherein electrically-powered vehicle accessories that consume relatively more energy to activate are operated at a lower operating state and electrically-powered vehicle accessories that consume relatively less energy to activate are at least one of operated at a lower operating state and deactivated.

15 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the prioritization is further based on a reaction time for the electrically-powered vehicle accessory, wherein electrically-powered vehicle accessories with relatively slower reaction times are only operated at a lower operating state and electrically-powered vehicle accessories with relative faster reaction times are at least one of operated at a lower operating state and deactivated.

16 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the prioritization includes placing relatively more critical electrically-powered vehicle accessories before electrically-powered vehicle accessories with an energy storage component which are placed before relatively more discretionary electrically-powered vehicle accessories.

17 . An apparatus, comprising:
a free energy module structured to determine that free energy is available; a classification module structured to receive a classification of an electrically-powered vehicle accessory, the classification including a spectrum position from discretionary to critical electrically-powered vehicle accessories; and an accessory load management module structured to provide a command to manage the electrically-powered vehicle accessory based on its classification and the availability of free energy.

18 . The apparatus of claim 17 , further comprising a prioritization module structured to prioritize management of the electrically-powered vehicle accessory based on the classification and whether the electrically-powered vehicle accessory has an energy storage component.

19 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the accessory load management module is further structured to a provide the command to control energy consumption by the electrically-powered vehicle accessory based on the prioritization of the electrically-powered vehicle accessory.

20 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the prioritization is further based on an energy consumption amount to activate the electrically-powered vehicle accessory, wherein electrically-powered vehicle accessories that consume relatively more energy to activate are operated at a lower operating state and electrically-powered vehicle accessories that consume relatively less energy to activate are at least one of operated at a lower operating state and deactivated.

Assignees

• Cummins Inc

Inventors

• Books Martin T
• Kumar Mahesh Madurai
• Dziuba Robert
• Muralidhar Praveen Chitradurga
• Rauch Jeffrey S
• Paquette Joseph E

Classifications

• B60K6/448

  Electrical distribution type · CPC title

• B60W10/30 Primary

  including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps · CPC title

• B60W30/18

  Propelling the vehicle · CPC title

• B60R16/0236

  for economical driving · CPC title

• B60K1/00

  Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units (B60K7/00 takes precedence; arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion B60K6/00) · CPC title