US6014015A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical generator employing rotary engine
Assignee: Optimus Acquisition LLC
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Filing: 1998-08-06
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Granted: 2000-01-11
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Expires: 2018-08-06
Abstract
Abstract A system for generating electrical power signals from a fluid fuel source. The system comprises an engine and a generator. The engine burns the fuel and is connected to the generator such that the generator generates a raw power signal. An output stage generates an output power signal from the raw power signal. A control circuit controls the operation of the engine based on the output power signal. The control circuit further controls the operation of the engine based on an output current of the generator when this output current exceeds a current threshold level. The control circuit additionally controls the operation of the engine based on a temperature of the engine when the engine temperature exceeds a rated temperature level. The system thus generates sufficient power to supply a variable load but stays within an operating range defined by a rated power level and the rated temperature level.
Inventors
- 👤 Anthony R. Thorne
- 👤 Fredrick Kaiser
- 👤 Russell A. Skinner, Sr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 21:32
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02P; H02P9/00; H02P9/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
183 words
A system for generating a power signal at an output bus from a fuel source comprising: an engine having an output shaft, where the engine is connected to the fuel source such that the engine burns fuel to rotate the output shaft; a generator having generator output terminals and an input shaft operatively connected to the output shaft such that rotation of the output shaft causes the generator to generate a raw power signal at the generator output terminals; an output stage operatively connected between the generator output terminals and the output bus, where the output stage generates an output power signal from the raw power signal; and an engine control portion for generating an engine control signal for controlling the engine, where the engine control portion generates the engine control signal to operate the engine in a voltage control mode based on the output power signal in the absence of at least one predetermined fault state, and in a fault control mode in a predetermined relationship to a fault parameter associated with the predetermined fault state when the predetermined fault state exists.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
183 words
A system for generating a power signal at an output bus from a fuel source comprising: an engine having an output shaft, where the engine is connected to the fuel source such that the engine burns fuel to rotate the output shaft; a generator having generator output terminals and an input shaft operatively connected to the output shaft such that rotation of the output shaft causes the generator to generate a raw power signal at the generator output terminals; an output stage operatively connected between the generator output terminals and the output bus, where the output stage generates an output power signal from the raw power signal; and an engine control portion for generating an engine control signal for controlling the engine, where the engine control portion generates the engine control signal to operate the engine in a voltage control mode based on the output power signal in the absence of at least one predetermined fault state, and in a fault control mode in a predetermined relationship to a fault parameter associated with the predetermined fault state when the predetermined fault state exists.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system as recited in claim 1, in which the engine control portion controls the engine to maintain an output power of the system within a predetermined operating range.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
107 words
A system as recited in claim 1, in which the engine control portion comprises: a voltage control circuit for generating a voltage control signal corresponding to a voltage of the output power signal; a current control circuit for generating a current control signal corresponding to the output current of the generator; a temperature control circuit for generating a temperature control signal corresponding to the temperature of the engine; a sensors control circuit for generating the engine control signal based on the voltage control signal, the current control signal, and the temperature control signal; and engine control means for controlling the engine based on the engine control signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
A system as recited in claim 3, in which the engine control means comprises: a carburetor operatively connected between the fuel source and the engine for controlling the amount of fuel flowing to the engine; and a servo motor operatively connected to the carburetor to open and close the carburetor based on the engine control signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system as recited in claim 1, in which the engine is a rotary engine.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as recited in claim 1, in which the generator is a permanent magnet generator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system as recited in claim 1, in which the output stage comprises a rectifier and a filter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system as recited in claim 1, in which the engine control portion generates the engine control signal in at least one fault control mode selected from a group of fault control modes comprising a temperature control mode and a current control mode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
A system as recited in claim 8, in which when the engine control portion operates in the temperature control mode, the engine control portion controls engine RPM in inverse relationship to the temperature of the engine; and when the engine control portion operates in the current control mode, the engine control portion controls engine RPM in inverse relationship to the output current of the generator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system as recited in claim 1, in which the predetermined fault state exists when the predetermined fault parameter does not fall within a predetermined fault range associated with the predetermined fault parameter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
63 words
A system as recited in claim 1, in which the predetermined fault state is selected from a group of predetermined fault states comprising a temperature fault state in which the temperature of the engine does not fall within a rated temperature range and a current fault state in which the output current of the generator does not fall within a rated current range.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
60 words
A system as recited in claim 11, in which: the temperature of the engine does not fall within the rated temperature range when the temperature of the engine exceeds a rated temperature level; and the output current of the generator does not fall within the rated current range when the output current of the generator exceeds a current threshold level.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
179 words
A method of generating a power signal at an output bus from a fuel source comprising: providing an engine having an output shaft; providing a generator having an input shaft and generator output terminals; providing an output stage for conditioning electrical signals; operatively connecting the engine to the fuel source; operatively connecting the engine output shaft to the generator input shaft; operatively connecting the output stage between the generator output terminals and the output bus; operating the engine to burn fuel such that rotation of the output shaft causes the generator to generate a raw power signal at the generator output terminals; passing the raw power signal through the output stage to obtain an output power signal at the output bus; controlling the engine based on an engine control signal, where the engine control signal is generated to operate the engine in a predetermined relationship to the output power signal in the absence of a predetermined fault state; and in a predetermined relationship to a fault parameter associated with the predetermined fault state when the predetermined fault state exists.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
179 words
A method of generating a power signal at an output bus from a fuel source comprising: providing an engine having an output shaft; providing a generator having an input shaft and generator output terminals; providing an output stage for conditioning electrical signals; operatively connecting the engine to the fuel source; operatively connecting the engine output shaft to the generator input shaft; operatively connecting the output stage between the generator output terminals and the output bus; operating the engine to burn fuel such that rotation of the output shaft causes the generator to generate a raw power signal at the generator output terminals; passing the raw power signal through the output stage to obtain an output power signal at the output bus; controlling the engine based on an engine control signal, where the engine control signal is generated to operate the engine in a predetermined relationship to the output power signal in the absence of a predetermined fault state; and in a predetermined relationship to a fault parameter associated with the predetermined fault state when the predetermined fault state exists.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as recited in claim 13, further comprising the step of controlling the engine to maintain an output power of the system within a predetermined operating range.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
88 words
A method as recited in claim 13, in which the step of controlling the engine comprises the steps of: generating a voltage control signal corresponding to a voltage of the output power signal; generating a current control signal corresponding to the output current of the generator; generating a temperature control signal corresponding to the temperature of the engine; generating the engine control signal based on the voltage control signal, the current control signal, and the temperature control signal; and controlling the engine based on the engine control signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
64 words
A method as recited in claim 15, in which the step of controlling the engine comprises the steps of: connecting a carburetor between the fuel source and the engine; connecting a servo motor to the carburetor; and operating the servo motor based on the engine control signal to open and close the carburetor and thereby regulate the amount of fluid flowing to the engine.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as recited in claim 13, in which the step of providing the engine comprises the step of providing a rotary engine.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system as recited in claim 13, in which the step of providing the generator comprises the step of providing a permanent magnet generator.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as recited in claim 13, in which the step of providing the output stage comprises the steps of providing a rectifier and a filter.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as recited in claim 13, in which the predetermined fault state exists when the predetermined fault parameter does not fall within a predetermined fault range associated with the predetermined fault parameter.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
63 words
A method as recited in claim 13, in which the predetermined fault state is selected from a group of predetermined fault states comprising a temperature fault state in which the temperature of the engine does not fall within a rated temperature range and a current fault state in which the output current of the generator does not fall within a rated current range.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method as recited in claim 21, in which: the temperature of the engine does not fall within the rated temperature range when the temperature of the engine exceeds a rated temperature level; and the output current of the generator does not fall within the rated current range when the output current of the generator exceeds a current threshold level.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
79 words
A method as recited in claim 13, in which the predetermined fault state is selected from a group of predetermined fault states comprising a temperature fault state and a current fault state, where: when the temperature fault state exists, the engine control portion controls engine RPM in inverse relationship to the temperature of the engine; and when the current fault state exists, the engine control portion controls engine RPM in inverse relationship to the output current of the generator.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-01-10 | 2003-07-12 | 2004-01-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-01-10 | 2007-07-12 | 2008-01-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-01-10 | 2011-07-12 | 2012-01-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |