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

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018056902-A1
Application number	US-201715687985-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 28, 2017
Priority date	Aug 30, 2016
Publication date	Mar 1, 2018
Grant date	—

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; 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.

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 via the battery charging output.

4 . The auxiliary power system as defined in claim 3 , wherein the energy storage device is at least one of a cranking battery installed in the vehicle or an auxiliary battery coupled to the crane.

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 , wherein the power conversion circuitry comprises a battery charging circuit configured to be coupled to a battery of the vehicle to charge the battery of the vehicle, the battery charging circuit configured to:
generate a battery charging output from the electrical energy from the generator; and output the electrical power to the crane.

13 . 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.

14 . The auxiliary power system as defined in claim 13 , wherein second electrical power is provided to the crane from an energy storage device.

15 . The auxiliary power system as defined in claim 1 , further comprising an energy storage device 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.

16 . The auxiliary power system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the crane is an electric crane or an electric-hydraulic crane.

17 . An auxiliary power system for a vehicle, comprising:
an engine; a generator configured to convert mechanical power from the engine to alternating current (AC) electrical power, and to output the AC electrical power to a crane to enable the crane to lift at least a portion of a rated load; and power conversion circuitry configured to convert the AC electrical power to DC electrical power.

18 . The auxiliary power system as defined in claim 17 , wherein the power conversion circuitry comprises at least one of a welding output or a battery charging output.

19 . The auxiliary power system as defined in claim 17 , wherein the generator is hardwired to the crane to provide the AC electrical power to the crane.

20 . A system, comprising:
a crane attached to a vehicle, the vehicle having an engine; an auxiliary power unit having a service engine and a generator configured to generate alternating current power; and a welding power supply configured to:
receive the alternating current power from the generator;
selectively convert the alternating current power to welding power having a first voltage or to direct current power having a second voltage; and
output the direct current power having the second voltage to power a hydraulic system of the electric-hydraulic crane.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

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

Classifications

• H02J7/00

  Circuit arrangements for charging or discharging batteries or for supplying loads from batteries · CPC title

• B66C13/22

  for electric drives (transmitting control pulses B66C13/40; systems or devices of general application H02P) · CPC title

• F02B63/04

  for electric generators · CPC title

• B66C23/44

  Jib-cranes adapted for attachment to standard vehicles, e.g. agricultural tractors · CPC title

• B66C23/54

  with pneumatic or hydraulic motors, e.g. for actuating jib-cranes on tractors · CPC title