Engine Control Patents (Class 290/40R)
  • Patent number: 6166449
    Abstract: A mean vehicle speed Va and a mean variation .DELTA.Va are factors reflecting a current driving condition and an expected driving condition of a vehicle, which relate to a charge-discharge amount of a battery. A target state SOC* of the battery is calculated from the mean vehicle speed Va and the mean variation .DELTA.Va. The charge-discharge amount of the battery increases with an increase in mean vehicle speed Va and mean variation .DELTA.Va. The lower charging state of the battery results in the higher charge-discharge efficiency. The structure of the present invention sets the target state SOC* of the battery and controls the actual state of the battery to the target state SOC*, thereby enhancing the charge-discharge efficiency of the battery and ensuring a sufficient supply of electric power required for driving the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshifumi Takaoka, Yukio Kinugasa, Kouji Yoshizaki, Yoshiaki Taga, deceased, by Shigeo Taga, heir, by Takiko Taga, heiress
  • Patent number: 6133643
    Abstract: The present invention is adapted to provide a method for dynamically determining optimal governor dynamics, i.e., gains, for a fuel control system supplying fuel to an engine. The method determines a mode of the engine, then determines the governor gain in response to the engine mode. The mode or condition of the engine includes a transmission mode, a throttle mode, and a cruise control mode. The governor gains are determined by determining the current engine mode, selecting the appropriate gain look-up table in response to the engine mode, and responsively selecting a gain value from the look-up table in response to at least one of the desired and actual speed. The gain maps are determined using empirical data and classical control system design methods, and storing the results in gain maps, or tables. The governor gain values are used in a forward and a feedback path PID control algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael S. Lukich, Larry E. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6124645
    Abstract: A hill-holding arrangement for an electrically driven vehicle includes a vehicle with a "gas pedal" which generates a torque command signal T.sub.CMD. A switch (314) couples T.sub.CMD to a motor controller (316, 14) which drives the motor (40) and therefore the vehicle. When the "gas pedal" calls for zero torque, and the vehicle speed is zero, the switch responds to logic (FIG. 5), and substitutes a position-holding torque command signal T.sub..theta. for the operator-controlled torque command signal T.sub.CMD. Position controlling torque command T.sub..theta. is generated by a controller (312) which receives a position signal representative of the angular position .theta. of the rotor. The position-holding torque control loop then produces such torque as may be required to prevent the rotor of the motor from moving from its commanded position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Charles Jones, Timothy Michael Grewe
  • Patent number: 6093974
    Abstract: A control device for restarting an engine is configured to engage a forward clutch of an automatic transmission quickly, with little shock and without involving a special cost for restarting the engine. When the engine is restarted, a way for supplying an oil is changed in accordance with a leaving amount of an oil from an oil passage with respect to the forward clutch of the automatic transmission or an oil temperature. A time for executing a quick pressure increase control and a control target pressure is changed in accordance with a leaving amount of the oil or the oil temperature. Further, the quick pressure increase control is started at a timing when an engine revolution (a rotational speed of an oil pump) is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Tabata, Kojiro Kuramochi, Shuji Nagano, Shogo Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 6057605
    Abstract: A vehicle powertrain comprises an internal combustion engine 10 and an electric motor 14 capable of producing driving or braking torque for the vehicle. The exhaust system for the engine 10 includes a catalytic converter 22. A control unit 18 monitors the temperature of the catalytic converter 22 using a sensor 32 and controls the driving or braking torque produced by the electric motor 14 so that the load on the engine produces exhaust gases of a suitable temperature to keep the catalytic converter within its optimum operating temperature range while maintaining the desired total output of torque from the powertrain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Rover Group Limited
    Inventors: Carl Charles Bourne, John Lewis Outram
  • Patent number: 6054844
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the power output of an internal combustion engine in a vehicle, wherein a motor/generator or a generator/motor is coupled to the output shaft of the engine and the positive and negative torque of the motor/generator or the generator/motor is varied to control the power output of the engine as a function of speed for all manners of performance of the vehicle. The engine operates along a predetermined ideal operating line at all speeds of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventor: Andrew A. Frank
  • Patent number: 6054776
    Abstract: A parallel hybrid electric vehicle includes an engine and a motor/generator as a rotary driving source. A differential device has a first shaft connected to the engine, a second shaft connected to the motor/generator, and a third shaft connected to a transmission device. The first and the second shafts can be coupled by a direct clutch. At the time of start of the vehicle with the engine in an idling condition, the motor/generator is controlled to enter a reverse rotation power generating condition, and the engine speed is maintained near an idling speed. After the start of the vehicle, when the motor/generator is in a forward rotation condition, the motor/generator is controlled to operate as a motor to maintain the engine speed at a target speed, and when the engine speed and the motor/generator speed coincide with each other, the direct clutch is made to enter a coupled condition thereby to prevent the occurrence of coupling shock, and also to reduce a driving time of the motor/generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Jatco Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuo Sumi
  • Patent number: 6037672
    Abstract: In an electrical power generation unit with a prime mover having an output shaft rotating at a speed .omega. which determines an output power function having at each value of .omega. an output-power/.omega. slope M.sub.d, and a generator developing electrical power responsive to shaft rotation, a generator electrical impedance is selected to provide a generator output-power/.omega. slope M.sub.g to approximate the M.sub.d slope, so that .omega. can be controlled to maximize efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: LockHeed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Timothy Michael Grewe
  • Patent number: 6020651
    Abstract: A pump controller (40) calculates a pump maximum absorbing horsepower and a pump required horsepower based on an accelerator signal, a pump delivery pressure and an operation signal, determines an engine required horsepower (PN) by selecting minimum one of both horsepower values, and calculates a pump required revolution speed based on the accelerator signal, the operation signal and an engine revolution speed signal to determine an engine required revolution speed (NN). The engine controller (40) determines, from the engine required horsepower (PN), a required-horsepower-referenced target engine revolution speed (NK) at which a fuel consumption rate is minimized, and selects larger one of the engine required revolution speed (NN) and the target engine revolution speed (NK) as an engine target revolution speed (NZ) to control an injected fuel amount and fuel injection timing, thereby controlling an engine torque and an engine output revolution speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazunori Nakamura, Ei Takahashi, Toichi Hirata
  • Patent number: 6018201
    Abstract: An electrical distribution system for a motor vehicle comprises an engine, an electrically-conductive structural portion of the vehicle and a battery having a positive terminal and a negative terminal. The system also includes a starter motor having an electrical current return electrically coupled to the engine and an electrical generator having an electrical current return electrically coupled to the engine. Also, the system comprises an electrical current return path from the structural portion to the engine and an electrical current return conductor electrically and mechanically coupled between the engine and the structural portion. In addition, the system contains a capacitor coupled in series with the electrical current return conductor. In a variation of the disclosed system, the connections to the structural portion of the vehicle are made to the body and/or chassis of the vehicle. Systems built to according to the present invention have been demonstrated to have very advantageous properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcus H. Mauney, Wes A. Nagara
  • Patent number: 5962927
    Abstract: By calculating a fuel vapor quantity in a fuel tank based on a fuel temperature and a fuel residual quantity in the fuel tank, then calculating a fuel vapor purge quantity based on an engine revolution number and engine torque when an engine is driven, and then estimating a fuel vapor quantity captured in a vapor capturing unit based on the fuel vapor quantity and the fuel vapor purge quantity, the engine can be driven to purge the fuel vapor to the engine before the fuel vapor overflows the vapor capturing unit to thus be discharged into the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Nissan Motor., LTD.
    Inventors: Eiji Inada, Shinichirou Kitada, Toshio Kikuchi, Hiroyuki Hirano, Ryuichi Idoguchi, Takeshi Aso, Yuutarou Kaneko
  • Patent number: 5949146
    Abstract: A technique is disclosed for operating an internal combustion engine near the lean burn limit. This technique includes sensing a first characteristic corresponding to a mean effective pressure of the engine and a second characteristic corresponding to fluid pressure in the intake manifold. An engine performance criterion is established as a function of the first and second characteristics. This performance criterion corresponds to an observed emission rate of a pollutant from the engine. A target for the performance criterion is selected which corresponds to lean burn operation of the engine with a limited emission rate of a pollutant. A mixture of air and fuel provided for combustion by the engine is controlled in accordance with the performance criterion and the target. The performance criterion may correspond to: ((BMEP.times.IMT)/IMP). Furthermore, this technique may be applied to lean burning, gaseous-fueled engines configured to drive an electrical power generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Cummins Engine Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Terry VandenBerghe
  • Patent number: 5945742
    Abstract: A starter has a motor, output shaft driven by the motor, a pinion moving body mounted on the output shaft and engageable with a ring gear, an electromagnet switch, and a rotation restricting member driven by the electromagnet switch to engage and restrict rotation of the pinion moving body until engagement of a pinion gear with the ring gear. To protect the pinion rotation restricting member, continued engagement of the rotation restricting member with the pinion moving body is released by a guide when the pinion moving body rotates a predetermined angle. Further, to protect the pinion moving body, the pinion moving body is advanced closely to the ring gear and thereafter the motor is allowed to rotate so that the pinion engages the ring gear at low rotation speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Araki, Keiichi Matsushima, Masahiro Soh
  • Patent number: 5939861
    Abstract: Charging and discharging of a battery are controlled while observing the state of the battery, thereby improving its efficiency and increasing battery service life. A program control circuit acquires vehicle speed from a vehicle speed sensor and the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine from a rotation sensor. The program control circuit controls an inverter which performs AC-to-DC or DC-to-AC conversion between a motor-generator coupled to the internal combustion engine and a battery mounted on the vehicle. At the same time, the program control circuit acquires the charging and discharging current (i) of the battery, which is detected by a current sensor, and calculates the time integral I of the charging and discharging current (i). The circuit controls the charging current to the battery during regenerative braking, and the discharge current when the vehicle is being driven, in accordance with a function of the time integral I.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Hino Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Isao Joko, Tetsuo Koike, Koichi Yamaguchi, Atsushi Masuda, Kunitoshi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 5939794
    Abstract: A series hybrid vehicle includes a generator to be driven by an engine, a battery to be charged by the output power of the generator, and a motor for driving the vehicle using the output power sent from the generator and the output power sent from the battery. In an engine control system for the series hybrid vehicle, the values of power demanded by the vehicle when the vehicle is running (i.e., power demand values) are derived based on various engine operation indicative sensor signals, and a running state of the vehicle is estimated based on a frequency distribution of the power demand and a mean value of such power demand values. The system selects one of prestored control patterns depending on the estimated vehicle running state and controls the engine based on the selected control pattern so as to further control the output power of the generator. The system is also applicable to a parallel hybrid vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Nippon Soken, Inc.
    Inventors: Shoji Sakai, Hironori Asa, Sadahisa Onimaru, Mitsuo Inagaki
  • Patent number: 5936312
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to carry out control and enable an engine to output a desired power, thereby preventing unexpected charge or discharge of storage battery means. A power output apparatus of the present invention sets energy Pe to be output from an engine, in order to cancel a deviation .DELTA.Pb of a charge-discharge electric power Pb of a battery from its target value Pb* , and controls operation of the engine to output the energy Pe. The energy Pe output from the engine is subjected to torque conversion by means of a clutch motor and an assist motor and output to a drive shaft as a required power. In case that the converted energy is not equal to the required power, the battery is charged with the surplus electric power or is discharged to supplement the shortage of electric power. Namely regulation of the energy Pe results in controlling the charge-discharge electric power Pb of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Koide, Yasutomo Kawabata, Eiji Yamada, Akihiko Kanamori, Masatoshi Uchida, Tetsuya Abe, Akihiro Yamanaka, Takeshi Kotani
  • Patent number: 5914537
    Abstract: A method for quickly controlling the output of a power plant having a turbo-generator set with a steam turbine and a generator, activates energy storage present during a plant process in order to set an additional generator output. In order to achieve a particularly effective control, fuzzy logic is used for the controlled activation of the energy storage. Fuzzy-logic rules from experience at the plant are used in this process. An apparatus for carrying out the method includes a fuzzy-logic system having inputs which include the additional generator output and an energy situation of the activatable storage, and outputs that specify desired setting values for the degree of activation of the individual energy storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Oldrich Zaviska, Christian Fricke, Herbert Furumoto
  • Patent number: 5907191
    Abstract: A power output apparatus 110 includes a planetary gear 120 having a planetary carrier, a sun gear, and a ring gear, an engine 150 having a crankshaft 156 linked with the planetary carrier, a first motor MG1 attached to the sun gear, and a second motor MG2 attached to the ring gear. When the driver steps on an accelerator pedal 164 to change the driving point of the engine 150, the power output apparatus 110 calculates an angular acceleration of the sun gear, calculates a torque used for changing the driving point of the engine 150 by multiplying the angular acceleration by a moment of inertia seen from the first motor MG1 of an inertial system consisting of the first motor MG1 and the engine 150, and drives the second motor MG2 by taking into account the torque. This structure enables a desired torque to be output even in a transient time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shoichi Sasaki, Tetsuya Abe, Masaaki Yamaoka
  • Patent number: 5903061
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicular drive unit having an engine, a motor-generator for acting as a motor and a generator, a planetary gear including at least three rotary elements, a battery for storing electric power as generated by the motor-generator and for feeding electric power to drive the motor-generator, an engine controller for causing the engine to output a target output value on a best mileage curve; and a motor-generator controller for controlling the motor-generator. When the output of the motor-generator corresponding to a target output value of the engine is within an outputtable region of the motor-generator, the motor-generator controller causes the motor-generator to output a reaction torque corresponding to the output torque of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeo Tsuzuki, Satoru Tanaka, Takeshi Hara, Manabu Watanabe, Kenji Omote
  • Patent number: 5852330
    Abstract: In order to prevent an acceleration slip in an early stage of acceleration even in starting, an acceleration slip control system has a predicting section for predicting an acceleration slip of a drive wheel of a vehicle, a prediction control section for determining an initial value of a driving force reduction quantity and decreases the driving force by increasing the driving force reduction quantity to the initial value to prevent an occurrence of an acceleration slip when the acceleration slip is predicted, and a modifying section for modifying the initially set driving force reduction quantity in accordance with a sensed actual slipping condition during a prediction control of the prediction control section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Unisia Jecs Corporation
    Inventor: Daijiro Yumoto
  • Patent number: 5847470
    Abstract: An auxiliary motor drive system including a driving device and an auxiliary motor. The driving device is powered by the engine of a motor vehicle and in turn drives the auxiliary motor. The auxiliary motor in turn drives the drive shaft of the motor vehicle, thus allowing the engine power output to be applied to the vehicle drive shaft while bypassing the vehicle's transmission. The driving device can be a hydraulic pump, a compressor, or an electric generator, while the auxiliary motor is a hydraulic motor, a pneumatic motor, or an electric motor respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Inventor: Herman Roosevelt Mitchell
  • Patent number: 5839530
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for operating a drive installation unit for a vehicle which reduces environmentally harmful gases while improving drive acceleration and deceleration performance by integrating an electric motor and power converter with an internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Voith Turbo GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Bernd Dietzel
  • Patent number: 5831411
    Abstract: In a method for supplying voltage to a motor vehicle with a battery, with a generator driven by the engine of the vehicle, and a device for regulating the idle rpm of the engine as a function of the respective operating state of the battery, the device for regulating the idle rpm is subject to a regulating signal that depends on the charge state of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Norbert Klauer, Manfred Schleich
  • Patent number: 5754446
    Abstract: A method and system for optimizing performance of a Kaplan turbine power generating unit are provided wherein an optimal "N-dimensional" virtual cam is populated with gate and blade positional settings producing maximum power output for a set of N operating parameters. The preferred parameters include head, flow, power generation level, physical situation of the unit, operating state of neighboring units, trash rack loss and a parameter indicative of cavitation (such as relative submersion level). When the system detects a unique set of operating conditions for which optimization is needed, an iterative optimization search is performed for the best gate and blade positional settings, which are then saved in memory (populating the cam matrix) for subsequent use when the same operating conditions are encountered. The optimal matrix divides parameters having ranges into range segments and treats other parameters as having discrete states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Voith Hydro, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard K. Fisher, Jr., Richard A. Johnson, Ronald E. Deitz
  • Patent number: 5751069
    Abstract: An electrical power generation system includes a heat engine having an output member operatively coupled to the rotor of a dynamoelectric machine. System output power is controlled by varying an electrical parameter of the dynamoelectric machine. A power request signal is related to an engine speed and the electrical parameter is varied in accordance with a speed control loop. Initially, the sense of change in the electrical parameter in response to a change in the power request signal is opposite that required to effectuate a steady state output power consistent with the power request signal. Thereafter, the electrical parameter is varied to converge the output member speed to the speed known to be associated with the desired electrical output power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Kaushik Rajashekara, Bhanuprasad Venkata Gorti, Steven Robert McMullen, Robert Joseph Raibert
  • Patent number: 5642006
    Abstract: A synchronizing device for a parallel connection of a synchronous generator and an a.c. network. The device includes a measuring circuit for measuring the voltage and frequency of the generator and the a.c. network and for measuring the phase angle between the generator and the a.c. network. The measuring circuit includes control outputs for regulating the rotational speed of the generator drive. A set value for the generator frequency includes a defined slip at the start of balancing. The measuring circuit also regulates the voltage output of the generator to match the a.c. network voltage. Once the phase angle between a.c. network voltage and generator voltage has fallen below a predefined value, null balance occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Assignee: Elin Energieversorgung Gesellschaft MBH
    Inventor: Michael Cech
  • Patent number: 5629568
    Abstract: A system of an internal combustion engine (VM) with rpm actuator (DRS), a refrigerator (AM) and a direct drive mechanically coupling the engine to the refrigerator, and a control unit including a thermostat for maintaining the internal temperature of the refrigerator at a predetermined set point value (SW), is improved by (a) a refrigerator thermostat setting, (b) a refrigerator external temperature sensor coupled, and (c) an engine speed tachometer (DM), all coupled to the control unit; (d) the control unit determining an optimal engine rpm from the inputs and characteristic function stored in a memory device (ST) of the control unit; and (e) the rpm actuator adjusting the rpm to the optimal rpm value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Icemaster GmbH
    Inventor: Jurgen Mertens
  • Patent number: 5614768
    Abstract: An engine control device comprises generation current detecting means for detecting generation current of the generator, current value fluctuation removing means for removing the fluctuation of the output of the generation current detecting means, and correction quantity calculating means for calculating the correction quantity of intake gas into said engine in accordance with the output of the current fluctuation removing means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kashia
    Inventor: Toru Tanaka
  • Patent number: 5559704
    Abstract: A method for determining gross engine horsepower of an internal combustion engine coupled in driving relationship to an alternating current electric alternator, the alternator supplying electric power to variable loads, comprises measuring the field current and average per phase armature current supplied by the alternator; computing the magnitude of electric power supplied by the alternator from the measured values of field current and armature phase current; determining the engine efficiency at the computed magnitude of electric power; and converting the computed electric power to engine horsepower at the determined efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Laurence D. Vanek, Myron L. Smith, Ojekunle Aboyade
  • Patent number: 5552640
    Abstract: An electrical power generating arrangement (for example, in a combined heat and (CHP) system in is which fixed frequency AC electric power for supply to the mains or grid is output from a frequency converter supplied with a variable frequency AC power input from an electrical generator driven by an internal combustion engine. The speed of the engine is varied by operation of a throttle controlled by a controller containing a predetermined engine map representing variation of engine speed as a function of the variation in electrical power output from the frequency converter to meet the demand of an external electrical load. On the load demand changing, the controller signals the frequency converter to give a changed new power output to meet the changed demand. The controller consults the map to determine the new engine speed corresponding to the new power demand and operates the throttle to cause the engine to run at the new speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: British Gas plc
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Sutton, Iain J. Tebbutt
  • Patent number: 5545928
    Abstract: An electric power generation control method in a hybrid vehicle. A target generator output is calculated based on a state of charge, a catalyst temperature, etc., and the target number of engine revolutions is calculated based on the target generator output. A field current is corrected in response to the comparison result between a control target range determined in response to the target number of engine revolutions and the detected number of engine revolutions, thereby performing target control of the number of engine revolutions. Then, a correction amount of a throttle angle is set in response to the comparison result between a control target range determined in response to the target generator output and the detected generator output and the throttle angle is corrected, thereby performing target control of the generator output of a generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Kotani
  • Patent number: 5539258
    Abstract: An electrical power generating arrangement (for example, in a combined heat and power system) in which electric power for supply to mains or grid is output from a generator driven via a continuously variable transmission (C.V.T.) by an internal combustion engine having a throttle. The throttle opening and ratio of the C.V.T. are controlled by a controller comprising a computer programmed with an engine map which is consulted by the computer when there is a change in an external electrical load power demand. For any load, the map indicates at which speed the engine should be run for optimum engine efficiency, the throttle opening is varied to attain that speed, and the controller varies the ratio of the C.V.T. to a value consistent with the desired engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: British Gas plc
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Sutton, Iain J. Tebbutt
  • Patent number: 5412252
    Abstract: Method and system for controlling the acceleration of a turbine-generator or limiting the load of the turbine-generator if a cooling regulator which regulates the cooling of the turbine-generator or auxiliary components is determined to be off-line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Ali Moradian, Maurice A. Jenkins, Robert L. Frater
  • Patent number: 5402007
    Abstract: In a vehicle having a voltage regulated electric alternator driven by an engine for supplying power to drive electrical loads and to charge a vehicle battery, a method of maintaining battery state-of-charge includes adaptively learning a system voltage set-point during a first mode of engine operation probabalistically resulting in an electrical system operative in set-point regulation. The method further determines from the adaptively learned system voltage set-point and a present system voltage during a second mode of engine operation that the electrical system is operative in auto-regulation. Idle speed is controlled in response to the regulation state of the electrical system to maintain the system in set-point regulation to ensure adequate battery charge or minimal battery discharge during the second mode of engine operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Marc B. Center, John A. Zahorchak, Alton G. De Claire, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5373198
    Abstract: The system ensures electric feed for which purpose it has an alternating current motor (1) coupled to an alternator (2) which is coupled to a hydraulic motor (8) which in turn is coupled to a diesel engine (7.)The alternating current motor is coupled by means of a clutch (6) to a high pressure pump (5.)All the elements are governed by a control circuit (4) so that in the absence of network, it simultaneously drives the diesel engine (7) and the hydraulic motor (8) the latter initially maintaining the angular speed of the alternator, until the diesel engine (7) attains its normal working conditions; as of when it is mechanically coupled to the alternator (2), the hydraulic motor (8) remaining turned off.The high pressure pump is capable of being directly coupled to the diesel engine (7) with which the hydraulic motor (8) is the one which maintains the angular speed of the alternator (2) at all times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Assignee: Investigation Tecnica Industrial, S.A.
    Inventor: Miguel Lopez Jimenez
  • Patent number: 5371412
    Abstract: A control method and apparatus of an engine for driving a generator. When a weight W of a charcoal canister is greater than a predetermined value W.sub.1 ` and a vehicle runs, the engine is actuated. As the result of the actuation of the engine, when a gasoline vapor within a fuel tank is purged and the weight W of the charcoal canister is lower than a second predetermined value W.sub.2, a vacuum switching valve for purging the canister is turned off and the engine is stopped. Even when the vehicle runs while a battery is frequently charged by an external charger, the occurrence of a certain amount of the fuel vapor which can not be caught and collected by the charcoal canister can be prevented and a low pollution vehicle can be obtained. In place of the vehicle running state, a vehicle running distance, or a vehicle running time can be used. In place of the predetermined value W.sub.2, a fuel purge amount can be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Iwashita, Hirohumi Kubota, Shouji Katsumata, Takeshi Kotani
  • Patent number: 5332959
    Abstract: A device for control of power (P) generated by a gas turbine (1) which drives an electric generator (2) with a rectifier (3) connected thereto, comprises a control member (6) adapted to control the fuel supply of the gas turbine (1) in such a way that the inlet temperature (T) of the gas turbine is caused to correspond, at least substantially, to a predetermined value (TR). A direct-voltage network (4) with controllable voltage (U) is connected to the rectifier (3) and the control member (6) generates a voltage control signal (URs) which is supplied to the direct-voltage network (4) .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1994
    Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri AB
    Inventors: Anders Malmquist, Johnny Rehn
  • Patent number: 5311063
    Abstract: A vehicle engine speed controller for automatically determining the electrical load demand made of the engine electrical system from portable auxiliary and vehicle mounted electrically operated or controlled equipment, singly or in combination, and controlling the engine throttle speed setting through a governor with certain fail safe control mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: Hubler Corporation
    Inventor: Scott M. Hubler
  • Patent number: 5252860
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling fuel flow in a combustion turbine, wherein a load signal representative of the load on the combustion turbine is given, are shown to include fuel flow device for regulating the flow of fuel in the combustion turbine in response to a control signal, a controller for generating a control signal representative of the difference between the load signal and a limit signal and for providing the control signal to the fuel flow device and a limit signal generator for generating the limit signal so that the limit signal is representative of the sum of the load signal and a maximum instantaneous load value, wherein the limiting means varies the limit signal over time from a first value to the sum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: William L. McCarty, Kermit R. Wescott
  • Patent number: 5177369
    Abstract: Engine-driven equipment includes a stopped-engine detector and a mechanism for safely shutting down the engine, including battery operated auxiliary devices, after detection that the engine has stopped. The engine may be shut down simply by closing a gas cock in the fuel line, but whatever the cause of engine stoppage, auxiliary devices are permitted to run for a predetermined time after stoppage to, for example, cool the engine or maintain warm glow plugs for easier restarting. If the gas cock is used to stop the engine, the engine will continue to run until fuel remaining in the fuel line has been expended, and then safely and automatically shut-down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1993
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Kamiya, Hironori Nakayama
  • Patent number: 5170065
    Abstract: An engine speed control apparatus controls the rotational speed of an engine when the engine is overloaded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Motohiro Shimizu, Kouichi Asai
  • Patent number: 5163400
    Abstract: An engine unit having a throttle valve drive unit constructed so as to cause a throttle valve to rotate and stop at a desired angular position, characterized in that the throttle valve drive unit comprisesa synchronous motor for driving the throttle valve,a damping means for damping the rotation of the throttle valve,a voltage supply means for supplying d-c voltage to the synchronous motor, anda supply voltage control means for controlling the d-c voltage outputted by the voltage supply means;the throttle valve being adapted to stop at an angular position at which the rotational torque generated by the synchronous motor in accordance with the supply voltage of the supply voltage controlling means and the damping torque of the damping means are balanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1992
    Assignee: Sawafuji Electric Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Tooru Yoshioka, Hideyuki Hashiba
  • Patent number: 5153446
    Abstract: A control apparatus of a rotational speed of an engine outputs a drive signal for adjusting the opening of a control valve which controls a specific volume of intake air of the engine to control the engine speed. The drive signal is based on the sum of a basic control amount and a correction amount. The correction amount is varied such that an actual speed of the engine and a target speed tend to become equal during the idling condition. When the engine goes to the idling condition from the loaded condition, the drive signal is added to a predetermined value to provide a much larger value of the drive signal than in the normal idling condition, and is then progressively decreased until the sum becomes equal to said first control amount. Thus, the engine can be operated without too large a drop in engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki K.K.
    Inventor: Setsuhiro Shimomura
  • Patent number: 5099183
    Abstract: A process controller for maintaining constant pressure under varying flow conditions, including a variable ramp generator and a constant threshold generator which are used to phase-control the current to the pump motor. The process controller can operate over a wide range of incoming AC power line frequencies, and has safety features which drive the motor to its mininum speed in the event of a failure at the setpoint control potentiometer and also disconnect power to the controller if the pressure exceeds a dangerous magnitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Assignee: American Power Equipment Company
    Inventor: Sami J. C. Webe
  • Patent number: 5095221
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling fuel flow in a combustion turbine, wherein a speed reference signal is given and wherein an actual speed signal is given, is shown to include a fuel flow regulator for regulating the flow of fuel in response to a control signal, a controller for generating a control signal representative of the difference between the actual speed signal and the speed reference signal, a first adjustment member for modifying the speed reference signal to account for droop prior to generation of the control signal, and a second adjustment means for modifying the speed reference signal to account for speed error also prior to generating the control signal. A load condition specifically envisioned for use with the present invention is the point of closure of the generator breaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1992
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: Paul J. Tyler
  • Patent number: 5083038
    Abstract: In a vehicle vibration reduction control apparatus for controlling an alternator driven by an engine to charge a battery in such a way that vehicle body vibration due to the engine can be cancelled by alternator vibration, the reference voltage applied to an alternator field coil is reduced by a predetermined value for a predetermined time period, whenever battery terminal voltage exceeds a predetermined level. Since the battery charging rate can be reduced automatically at battery overcharge due to cancellation of engine vibration by alternator vibration, it is possible to prevent the battery from being overcharged when engine vibration increases at idling, for instance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1992
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Fukushima, Kei Murakami, Shigeru Kuriyama, Yozo Nakamura, Yuji Maeda, Kenichi Nakamura, Keiichi Mashino, Yuzo Kadomukai
  • Patent number: 5066866
    Abstract: An electrical apparatus for use with a motor vehicle electrical system, which includes an engine-driven alternator, provides a switching circuit for switching the system between a normal-power state and a high-power state. In the normal-power state, the apparatus provides the nominal electrical power needed by the vehicle electrical system and battery. In the high-power state, the apparatus causes the engine-driven alternator to produce a higher voltage and a higher power output for external loads, while still providing the nominal electrical power for the vehicle electrical system and the vehicle battery. In the normal-power mode of operation, the vehicle voltage regulator sees the full voltage generated by the vehicle alternator. In the high-power mode of operation, the vehicle voltage regulator sees only a reduced portion of the full voltage generated by the vehicle alternator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1991
    Inventor: William M. Hallidy
  • Patent number: 4881184
    Abstract: A turbine monitoring device is provided for interfacing the control panel of a gas turbine with a standard personal computer. The interface device includes a plurality of isolation circuits for isolating the personal computer from the turbine control panel to prevent ground faults. The interface device also includes scaling circuits to allow a selectable scaling factor to be provided to prefetermined operating signals. The interface device is adapted to receive operating signals from the control panel of the turbine and convert the operating signals into data signals which are suitable for use by the data processor. The interface device of the present invention may be used in conjunction with a variety of data processors which are readily available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1989
    Assignee: Datac, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Abegg, III, Stephen G. Gemmell
  • Patent number: 4879501
    Abstract: A constant speed hydrostatic drive system is disclosed wherein a generator drive shaft is maintained at a constant speed by utilizing an electro-hydraulic controlled displacement pump responsive to a pressure transducer to control a hydraulic motor. A speed sensor is used to produce a direct current signal responsive to the drive shaft speed. The signal is converted into a series of voltage pulses also responsive to the shaft speed which are compared to a speed reference signal to provide a speed error signal. A loop gain control means is provided to utilize said speed error signal to adjust the shaft speed to coincide with said reference signal. A timing reference and digital trim control are also provided to compensate for long term drifting in the type speed control circuit described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1989
    Assignee: Commercial Shearing, Inc.
    Inventor: Lambert Haner
  • Patent number: 4853552
    Abstract: A signal representing the electrical output power of a steam turbine-generator is fed back to a control system. A signal representing the boiler steam pressure is also fed to the control system. A control signal for controlling valves feeding steam to the steam turbine is gain controlled between one and zero in the presence of a negative rate of change of steam pressure less than a predetermined value. At other negative and all positive values of rate of change of steam pressure, the control signal is unaffected. In one embodiment, a linear relationship is employed for controlling the gain for increasingly negative values of the rate of change of steam pressure. At an extreme negative value, the gain is controlled to zero, whereby the a load reference signal remains unchanged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1989
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jens Kure-Jensen, Bernd A. K. Westphal, Thane M. Drummond