Enow, Inc.

Enow Systems LLC

Cooley, Incorporated

Cooley Group Holdings, Inc.

Arpin Renewable Energy, LLC

Jeffrey Charles Flath

Robert W Doane

Philip R Pierce

Ryan Kennedy Kemmet

Stephen Lasher

Gerald Larson

Gary T Wenger

Naresh R Mehta

David Allen Pettey

Jay Johnson

John Mallon

Theodore B Howell

Peter Arpin

Norman Cook

A motion detection and interlock mechanism prevents unintended drive-off of a trailer still connected to a charging source, which could cause damage and/or injury if continued unimpeded. Trailer power for electrical components is a high voltage AC connection, typically between 277-480 VAC. Forced disconnection of an engaged plug could damage the plug and receptacle, leave electrical conductive members unprotected, and cause a short circuit. Electrical connections to trailers may be made for powering electric TRUs (Transport Refrigeration Units) for refrigerated loads, and for charging a storage battery for powering the TRU over the road or even the tractor itself in the case of a hybrid/electric tractor. In configurations herein, an e-axle is provided on the trailer suspension, such that a driveaway prevention circuit reverse biases the wheels to prevent movement of the trailer while engaged with a charging outlet.

Driveaway prevention for electric trailer charging plug

A self contained battery and slide frame houses a pair of trailer axles and an electrical vehicle storage battery secured by parallel slide frame rails adapted for attachment to an underside of a standard tractor trailer (Class 8) trailer frame. The slide frame attaches to an underside of a trailer using perforated frame beams used to vary a position of the wheel/axle assemblies relative to the trailer body and payload. The slide frame rails provide self contained support for a storage battery, e-axle, control electronics and connecting wires for charging and running a vehicle load from the storage battery. Vehicle loads powered by the storage battery include transport refrigeration units (TRUs) and electrical vehicle (EV) tractors.

Trailer frame rail suspension for electric and hybrid transport

A power management and selection system for a class 8 tractor trailer, directs excess solar and vehicular charge capacity to an auxiliary load by measuring available charge capacity from a reefer power system including a reefer battery, solar panel and charge controller for moderating solar power to the reefer batter, and measuring available charge capacity from a cab vehicle power system including a propulsion system battery and alternator. Charge logic, in a selector configured for switching charge capacity to the auxiliary load, determines which of the reefer power system and cab vehicle power system has the most potential excess charge capacity, and directs the determined excess charge capacity to the auxiliary load, while the measured available charge capacity remains sufficient for powering the respective reefer power system or cab vehicle power system.

Solar charging of multiple battery banks

A reefer truck power unit employs a plurality of power sources including roof mounted solar panels, momentum generation, shore power and high capacity storage batteries. The refrigeration system is configured for refrigerating a payload area of the vehicle utilizing power from the power sources, and employs a voltage converter for augmenting the power from the propulsion vehicle source for use with a native vehicle charging//starting system, and a transport load transformer for converting power from the power sources to 3 phase power for powering the refrigeration system. A bank of batteries stores power from the sources for subsequent dispersal to the refrigeration unit.

Tractor trailer refrigeration unit

A reefer truck power unit employs a plurality of power sources including: a propulsion vehicle source driven mechanically by a diesel engine of the vehicle, and having an enhanced alternator configured for generation in excess of needs of a charging/starting system of the vehicle, in which the enhanced alternator has a pulley ratio increasing idle speed generation, and a passive vehicle source including a bank of solar panels disposed on the vehicle. The refrigeration system is configured for refrigerating a payload area of the vehicle utilizing power from the power sources, and employs a voltage converter for augmenting the power from the propulsion vehicle source for use with a native vehicle charging/starting system, and a transport load transformer for converting power from the power sources to 3 phase power for powering the refrigeration system. A bank of batteries stores power from the sources for subsequent dispersal to the refrigeration unit.

A charge controller for a vehicle passive energy system employs an interface to a plurality of charge sources including intermittent sources, such as vehicle mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and the vehicle engine and alternator, and an interface to a plurality of charge loads, such as a comfort heating ventilation, refrigeration and air conditioning (HVAC) system and auxiliary vehicle loads. Charge logic computes which of the plurality of sources will supply the charge current and which of the plurality of loads will receive the charge current, and a switch responsive to the charge logic will direct the charge current from at least one of the plurality of sources to at least one of the loads, the plurality of charge sources mutually exclusive from simultaneously powering a common load.

Multiple vehicular charge sources and loads

A refrigeration trailer (reefer) truck power unit controller employs a plurality of power sources including a propulsion vehicle source driven mechanically by a diesel engine of the vehicle, and having an enhanced alternator having a pulley ratio for increasing idle speed power generation, and a passive vehicle source including a bank of solar panels disposed on the vehicle. The controller is configured for refrigerating a payload area of the vehicle utilizing power from the power sources, and employs a voltage converter for augmenting the power from the propulsion vehicle source for use with a native vehicle charging//starting system, and a transport load transformer for converting power from the power sources for powering the refrigeration system. A bank of batteries stores power from the sources for subsequent dispersal to the refrigeration unit.

An integrated truck and trailer power system comprises auxiliary power generation and storage devices mounted on a trailer, such as an array of solar panels mounted on the roof of the trailer and a storage battery mounted on the trailer, and switching devices for controlling flow of power there between and to an electrically powered HVAC system of the truck, whereby the truck can be maintained at a comfortable temperature by supply of power stored by the auxiliary power storage device.

Solar auxiliary power systems for vehicles

A vehicle energy management system for gathering, storing the energy, and distributing the stored energy supports various subsystems on the vehicle such as driver comfort systems, payload refrigeration, liftgate mechanisms, and roof de-icing, for example. The system harvests energy from various sources available to the vehicle, such as solar panels, regenerative braking and shock absorbers. The harvested energy is gathered for battery storage. Management logic allocates the stored electricity to various vehicle loads defined by the subsystems, based on factors such as time of day, ambient temperature, and weather conditions, which are used to predict the electrical demand called for by the loads. Harvestable energy sources available to the vehicle, combined with sufficient battery storage, provides electrical power for supporting these loads without relying on an idling engine for providing electrical or hydraulic power to accommodate the vehicle subsystems, such as comfort stations for an idle-free vehicle implementation.

Method and apparatus for vehicular energy management

An impact resistant membrane and methods of preparing and utilizing the membrane are disclosed. The membrane comprises a loft layer, a first polymeric layer bonded to a first surface of the loft layer, and a second polymeric layer bonded to a second surface of the loft layer. The membrane can be fabricated by providing a loft layer and applying a polymeric layer on a first surface and on a second surface of the loft layer. The membrane has a higher resistance to failure due to impact and thus protects the underlying structure membrane for a longer time. A method of facilitating protecting a structure comprises providing a single ply membrane having a loft layer and a polymeric layer disposed on at least two surfaces of the loft layer.

Roofing membranes

The invented product is a fleecebacked laminate that is suitable as a single-ply fleecebacked roofing membrane. The laminate consists of the following: 1) a thermoplastic reinforced planar sheet, 2) a needle punched fleece formed on both sides of the thermoplastic reinforced planar sheet, and 3) a thermoplastic polymeric layer extruded onto one side of the fleece. The fleece is formed by needle punching fibers through the reinforced planar sheet. The reinforced planar sheet serves as a common supporting base the resulting two-side fleece. The thermoplastic polymeric layer is embedded with one side of the fleece fibers. The thermoplastic polymeric layer serves as the top layer of the roofing membrane, and the second side of exposed fleece serves as a felt. The thermoplastic polymeric layer is preferably comprised of an extruded PVC substrate, compounded to have excellent weather resistance, printability and to be nonflammable. The fleece fibers are preferably composed of polyester. The thermoplastic reinforced planar sheet is preferably a scrim that is extrusion coated with a thermoplastic substrate that is compounded to have excellent weather resistance, and to be nonflammable.

Growing community of inventors

Warwick, RI, United States of America

Jeffrey Charles Flath