Electricity: single generator systems – Automatic control of generator or driving means – Electrical conditions in circuit other than that of...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-16
2001-06-26
Ponomarenko, Nicholas (Department: 2834)
Electricity: single generator systems
Automatic control of generator or driving means
Electrical conditions in circuit other than that of...
C322S036000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06252382
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an arrangement for supplying power to a motor vehicle electrical system by means of a generator and a solar generator.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, the consumers or assemblies connected to the motor vehicle electrical system are supplied with power via a generator and a battery connected downstream of it by means of the engine of the motor vehicle. Furthermore, there are numerous proposals for at least in part adding the current made available by a solar generator to this type of power supply; the solar generator is made, for example, in the form of solar cells which are located preferably on the roof of the motor vehicle. One arrangement for supplying power to a motor vehicle electrical system is known, for example, from German Patent DE 36 04 226 C2. There, a power flow sensor acquires the power flow to or from the motor vehicle battery and supplies it to a control means which adds up the power flow over a given time interval, for example, one day. Depending on whether the total acquired there is positive or negative, the control means opens or closes a switch between the motor vehicle battery and the motor vehicle electrical system to prevent excess discharge of the motor vehicle battery.
Another proposal for use of a solar generator for supplying power to the motor vehicle electrical system is known from published German Patent Application DE 39 24 755 A1. In this known arrangement, the solar generator is connected to the motor vehicle battery via a charge control module. The charge control module controls the charging current depending on the battery temperature. The motor vehicle battery is connected via a switching module to different assemblies or power consumers, specifically the motor of a sliding roof and two fan motors. The switching module is controlled by a control module which acquires the temperature in the motor vehicle interior and the humidity above the sliding roof in order to separate or connect the power consumer from the motor vehicle battery depending on these parameters. Here, the motor vehicle battery acts as a buffer between the solar generator and the power consumers.
The above addressed suggestions for partial power supply of the motor vehicle electrical system by means of a solar generator do not take into account the fact that conversion of power from fossil fuels, such as gasoline and diesel, into electrical current via the generator in motor vehicles is associated with very poor overall efficiency. With consideration of different operating conditions of the motor vehicle, fuel consumption of around 0.5 liter per 100 km per 100 Wh of electricity produced can be expected. This is especially critical in conjunction with motor vehicles which are otherwise optimized with respect to their fuel consumption, for example, the three-liter car which is the goal of the automotive industry.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above prior art, a primary object of the present invention is to devise an arrangement for supplying power to a motor vehicle electrical system which optimally uses the contribution of a solar generator for power supply and minimizes fuel consumption for power supply via the vehicle engine driven generator.
This object is achieved by a means for separating the vehicle generator from the vehicle engine when the output or energy consumed in the motor vehicle electrical system is less than or equal to the output or energy delivered by the solar generator.
While in the arrangements addressed above the solar generator was used, first of all, to charge the motor vehicle battery, and optionally, for sole operation of selected assemblies or power consumers, the invention takes a completely different approach. Specifically, the contribution of the vehicle generator to supplying of electrical power to the motor vehicle electrical system is partially or completely replaced depending on the power or output balance between the generator and the solar generator; this yields the advantage that less fuel is used to generate power than in the past. Typically, by using the solar generator in accordance with the invention to supply power to the motor vehicle electrical system, while driving, a power consumption of 100 W (which is typically delivered by the vehicle engine driven electric generator) can be equalized when the solar generator is designed to generate a maximum 150 W. Thus, the fuel savings correspond to the initially mentioned fuel consumption of the vehicle generator for power generation of roughly 0.5 liter per 100 km.
Depending on the output or energy balance between the generator output and the solar current supply, according to the invention, an energy balance acquisition means controls a means for reducing the generator output according to the solar current supply at a positive output or energy balance in favor of the vehicle generator is found to exist. On the other hand, additional means are provided by which the vehicle generator is separated from the vehicle engine when a positive output or energy balance is found to exist in favor of the solar generator.
These means for reducing the vehicle generator output or turning it off can basically be accomplished in different ways. Advantageously, the means for reducing the generator output controls power to the exciter winding of the vehicle generator. The means for separating the generator from the vehicle engine, advantageously, comprises a clutch which allows mechanical separation of the generator from the vehicle engine. An integrated magnetic clutch which uses the magnetic field of the exciter winding to control the clutch is preferred. The mechanical part of this clutch can be made, for example, of a conic friction clutch by which one conic part is permanently connected to the drive shaft of the generator, while the other conic part slides movably on this shaft and carries the exciter winding and the corresponding slip rings, this clutch engaging when power is supplied to the exciter winding.
Furthermore, this invention is based on the finding that a major part of the losses of the generator can be attributed to exhaust heat which is dissipated by air cooling at high rpm of the engine and the vehicle generator. Therefore, according to one advantageous development, the invention suggests use of this exhaust heat produced by the vehicle generator to support the passenger compartment heating system of the motor vehicle. For example, there can be water cooling for the generator for this purpose; it being possible for the generator coolant flow to be connected to the remaining engine cooling circuit to use the exhaust heat of the vehicle generator for motor vehicle heating.
These and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which, for purposes of illustration only, show a single embodiment in accordance with the present invention.
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patent: 4581572 (1986-04-01), Yoshiyuki et al.
patent: 5554819 (1996-09-01), Baghai-Kermani
patent: 5570000 (1996-10-01), Kowalski
patent: 5603671 (1997-02-01), Schmidt
patent: 5698905 (1997-12-01), Ruthlein et al.
patent: 5767663 (1998-06-01), Lu
patent: 5789882 (1998-08-01), Ibaraki et al.
patent: 30 07 003 (1980-09-01), None
patent: 36 04 226 (1987-08-01), None
patent: 39 24 755 (1991-01-01), None
Appel Josef
Ganz Thomas
Nixon & Peabody LLP
Ponomarenko Nicholas
Safran David S.
Webasto Karosseriesysteme GmbH
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