Power control system and method

Abstract

This invention discloses a power control system comprising a prime mover and a generator driven by the prime mover. The control device further is coupled with the prime mover and the generator wherein the control device ascertains a power level of the generator and varies an output power of the prime mover according to the power level. The control device measures a duty cycle of a generator output power controller to ascertain the generator power level and generates a signal to a prime mover controller so that the generator duty cycle remains within a pre-determined range. The power control system may include a transmission wherein the control device operation maybe conditioned on a state of the transmission. The power control system may include a speed converter coupled with the prime mover wherein the control device converts a speed of the prime mover according to the generator power level. The control device may operate to control an output power of the generator concurrently with controlling the output power of the prime mover.

1 . A power control system, comprising: 
 (a) a prime mover;    (b) a generator coupled with the prime mover;    (c) a prime mover controller coupled with the prime mover and capable of manipulating an output power of the prime mover; and    (d) a control device coupled with the generator and the prime mover controller;    wherein said control device is configured to ascertain a power level of the generator and to vary the output power of the prime mover, via the prime mover controller, according to said power level.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the prime mover comprises at least one of an internal combustion engine, a turbine engine, a hydraulic motor, and a pneumatic motor.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the generator comprises at least one of a brushless alternator, a field control alternator, and a permanent magnet alternator.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the prime mover controller comprises a pressure controller capable of varying a pressure of the prime mover and wherein the output power of the prime mover is varied by varying the pressure.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the pressure controller comprises a pressure adjustor responsive to the control device and operative to vary the pressure in proportion to said power level.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the pressure adjustor comprises at least one of a compressor, a hydraulic pump, a pneumatic pump, and an electric pump.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the prime mover controller comprises a fuel volume controller capable of varying a fuel volume of the prime mover and wherein the output power of the prime mover is varied by varying the fuel volume.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the fuel volume controller comprises a fuel volume adjustor responsive to the control device and operative to vary the fuel volume in proportion to said power level.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the fuel volume adjustor comprises at least one of a carburetor system, a fuel injection system, a throttle, and a fuel volume control system.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the prime mover controller comprises a rotational speed controller capable of varying a rotational speed of the prime mover and wherein the output power of the prime mover is varied by varying the rotational speed.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the rotational speed controller comprises an actuator responsive to the control device and operative to vary the rotational speed in proportion to said power level.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the actuator comprises at least one of an electric actuator, a pneumatic actuator, and a hydraulic actuator.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the rotational speed controller comprises a fuel distributor responsive to the control device and operative to vary the rotational speed in proportion to said power level.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the fuel distributor comprises at least one of a throttle, a fuel injection system, and a carburetor system.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the prime mover controller comprises an electronic engine controller capable of varying a rotational speed of the prime mover and wherein the output power of the prime mover is varied by varying the rotational speed.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the prime mover controller comprises an electronic engine controller capable of varying a fuel volume of the prime mover and wherein the output power of the prime mover is varied by varying the fuel volume.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control device further comprises a voltage regulator capable of maintaining an output voltage of the generator substantially at a regulation voltage.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the control device further comprises a sensor capable of measuring a temperature and wherein the voltage regulator is configured to vary the regulation voltage according to the temperature.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a transmission coupled with the control device and wherein the control device is configured to engage the prime mover controller when a state of the transmission is substantially equivalent to at least one of a neutral and parked condition.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the control device is further configured to disengage the prime mover when said power level is below a pre-determined level.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising means for communicating system information.  
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said system information comprises at least one of a prime mover output power, a prime mover rotational speed, a prime mover pressure, a prime mover fuel volume, a generator power level, a generator regulation voltage, a generator output controller duty cycle, a temperature, and a transmission state.  
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said communication means comprises a communication terminal, coupled with a computer system, capable of transmitting/receiving a communication signal indicative of said system information.  
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said communication means comprises a light emitting diode, generating a flashing light pattern indicative of said system information.  
   
   
       25 . A power control system, comprising: 
 (a) a prime mover;    (b) a speed converter coupled with the prime mover and capable of converting a speed of the prime mover;    (c) a generator coupled with the speed converter; and    (d) a control device coupled with the generator and the speed converter;    wherein said control device is configured to ascertain a power level of the generator and to convert the speed of the prime mover, via the speed converter, according to said power level.    
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the speed converter comprises a power train.  
   
   
       27 . A control device for a generator comprising a generator output power controller, said generator is driven by a prime mover, said prime mover coupled with a prime mover controller capable of manipulating an output power of the prime mover, said control device comprising: 
 a processor, including a programming code operable on the processor, coupled with the generator output power controller and the prime mover controller;    wherein said processor is configured to measure a duty cycle of the generator output power controller, via a first line, and to vary the output power of the prime mover by generating a signal to the prime mover controller, via a second line, according to said duty cycle.    
   
   
       28 . The control device of  claim 27 , wherein said generator output power controller comprises at least one of a field coil, a silicon controlled rectifier, and a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor.  
   
   
       29 . The control device of  claim 27 , wherein the processor is configured to generate a signal, via the second line, to vary the output power of the prime mover so that the duty cycle remains substantially within a pre-determined range.  
   
   
       30 . The control device of  claim 29 , wherein the pre-determined range is substantially between 70% and 90%.  
   
   
       31 . The control device of  claim 27 , wherein the processor is further configured to measure an output voltage of the generator, via a third line, and to generate a signal, via the second line, to vary the output power of the prime mover substantially proportional to a difference between the output voltage and a pre-determined voltage.  
   
   
       32 . The control device of  claim 27 , wherein the processor is further configured to measure an output voltage of the generator, via a third line, and to vary the duty cycle of the generator output power controller, via the first line, so that the output voltage is substantially equal to a regulation voltage.  
   
   
       33 . The control device of  claim 32 , wherein the processor is further configured to measure a temperature, via a forth line, and to vary the regulation voltage according to the temperature.  
   
   
       34 . The control device of  claim 27 , wherein the prime mover further comprises a transmission and wherein the processor is further configured to measure a transmission state, via a third line, and to generate a signal to vary the output power of the prime mover when said transmission state is substantially equivalent to at least one of a neutral and parked condition.  
   
   
       35 . The control device of  claim 34 , wherein the processor is further configured to generate a signal, via the second line, to disengage the prime mover when the duty cycle is substantially below a pre-determined value.  
   
   
       36 . The control device of  claim 35 , wherein the pre-determined value is substantially equal to 28%.  
   
   
       37 . The control device of  claim 27 , further comprising means for communicating system information.  
   
   
       38 . A control device for a generator comprising a generator output power indicator, said generator is driven by a prime mover, said prime mover coupled with a prime mover controller capable of manipulating an output power of the prime mover, said control device comprising: 
 a processor, including a programming code operable on the processor, coupled with the generator output power indicator and the prime mover controller;    wherein said processor is configured to measure a duty cycle of the generator output power indicator, via a first line, and to vary the output power of the prime mover by generating a signal to the prime mover controller, via a second line, according to said duty cycle.    
   
   
       39 . The control device of  claim 38 , wherein said generator output power indicator comprises a terminal capable of providing a signal indicative of the generator output power.  
   
   
       40 . A control device for a generator comprising a generator output power controller, said generator is driven by a prime mover via a speed converter coupled with the prime mover and capable of converting a speed of the prime mover, said control device comprising: 
 a processor, including a programming code operable on the processor, coupled with the generator output power controller and the speed converter;    wherein said processor is configured to measure a duty cycle of the generator output power controller, via a first line, and to convert the speed of the prime mover by generating a signal to the speed converter, via a second line, according to said duty cycle.    
   
   
       41 . A method for controlling a power control system, said power control system comprising a prime mover, a generator coupled with the prime mover, and a prime mover controller coupled with the prime mover and capable of manipulating an output power of the prime mover, said method comprising: 
 (a) ascertaining a power level of the generator; and    (b) varying the output power of the prime mover, via the prime mover controller, according to said power level.    
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the step of varying the output power of the prime mover comprises varying a pressure of the prime mover.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the step of varying the pressure comprises varying the pressure in proportion to said power level.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the step of varying the output power of the prime mover comprises varying a fuel volume of the prime mover.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the step of varying the fuel volume comprises varying the fuel volume in proportion to said power level.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the step of varying the output power of the prime mover comprises varying a rotational speed of the prime mover.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the step of varying the rotational speed comprises varying the rotational speed in proportion to said power level.  
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising maintaining an output voltage of the generator, via a voltage regulator, substantially at a regulation voltage.  
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 48 , further comprising measuring a temperature, via a sensor, and varying the regulation voltage according to the temperature.  
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising engaging the prime mover when a state of a transmission is substantially equivalent to at least one of a neutral and parked condition.  
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 50 , further comprising disengaging the prime mover when said power level is below a pre-determined level.  
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising communicating system information.  
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the step of communicating comprises transmitting/receiving a communication signal indicative of said system information.  
   
   
       54 . A method for controlling a power control system, said power control system comprising a prime mover, a speed converter coupled with the prime mover and capable of converting a speed of the prime mover, and a generator coupled with the speed converter, said method comprising: 
 (a) ascertaining a power level of the generator; and    (b) converting the speed of the prime mover, via the speed converter, according to said power level.    
   
   
       55 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the step of converting the speed of the prime mover comprises engaging a gear of the speed converter.  
   
   
       56 . A method for controlling a generator comprising a generator output power controller, said generator is driven by a prime mover, said prime mover coupled with a prime mover controller capable of manipulating an output of the prime mover, said method comprising: 
 (a) measuring a duty cycle of the generator output power controller, via a first line; and    (b) varying the output power of the prime mover, via the prime mover controller, by generating a signal to the prime mover controller, via a second line, according to said duty cycle.    
   
   
       57 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the step of varying the output power comprises varying the output power so that the duty cycle remains substantially within a pre-determined range.  
   
   
       58 . The method of  claim 56 , further comprising measuring an output voltage of the generator, via a third line, and varying the output power substantially proportional to a difference between the output voltage and a pre-determined voltage.  
   
   
       59 . The method of  claim 56 , further comprising measuring an output voltage of the generator, via a third line, and varying the duty cycle, via the first line, so that the output voltage is substantially equal to a regulation voltage.  
   
   
       60 . The method of  claim 56 , further comprising sensing a state of a transmission, via a third line, and engaging the prime mover when the state of the transmission is substantially equivalent to at least one of a neutral and parked condition.  
   
   
       61 . The method of  claim 60 , further comprising generating a signal, via the second line, to disengage the prime mover when the duty cycle is substantially below a pre-determined value.  
   
   
       62 . A method for controlling a generator comprising a generator output power indicator, said generator is driven by a prime mover, said prime mover coupled with a prime mover controller capable of manipulating an output of the prime mover, said method comprising: 
 (a) measuring a duty cycle of the generator output power indicator, via a first line; and    (b) varying the output power of the prime mover, via the prime mover controller, by generating a signal to the prime mover controller, via a second line, according to said duty cycle.    
   
   
       63 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein the step of measuring the duty cycle of the generator output power comprises receiving the duty cycle from a terminal capable of providing a signal indicative of the generator output power.  
   
   
       64 . A method for controlling a generator comprising a generator output power controller, said generator is driven by a prime mover via a speed converter coupled with the prime mover and capable of converting a speed of the prime mover, said method comprising: 
 (a) measuring a duty cycle of the generator output power controller, via a first line; and    (b) converting the speed of the prime mover, via the speed converter, by generating a signal to the speed converter, via a second line, according to said duty cycle.