Coleman Powermate, Inc.

William J Anderson

Harold C Scott

Kandarp I Pandya

Chiping Sun

Henry Tally

G Weylin Johnson

Ardel R Bednorz

Mitchell K Davis

The throttle of an engine in an engine driven generator system operating under an intermittently heavy load, as in supplying current to a welder, is controlled such that successive control signals sent to a throttle actuator for adjusting the engine throttle position are inhibited until at least a predetermined time has elapsed since the last preceding adjustment to the throttle. This procedure ensures that, as to each incremental adjustment to the throttle, the engine has sufficient time to respond, thereby preventing over-speeding or stalling the engine. The throttle actuator may be a stepper motor which is stepped by throttle position change signals from a processor which monitors engine speed and generator load to determine whether the throttle should be adjusted and, if so, in which direct. Alternatively, the throttle actuator may be a solenoid pulling against a spring in accordance with the average current through the solenoid coil. In this embodiment, the processor causes pulse width modulated signals to be applied across the solenoid coil with throttle position changes being reflected in changes to the width of the pulses, such changes in the pulse width being delayed for at least the predetermined time since the last preceding adjustment to the throttle.

Throttle control for small engines and other applications

A lightweight engine-driven generator set including a stator having at least first and second windings (preferably three-phase) and a rotor having a soft magnetic core and a plurality of high energy product permanent magnets, separated by consequence poles, disposed proximate the stator such that relative motion of the rotor and stator causes magnetic flux from the rotor to interact with and induce current in the stator windings. The first winding includes a predetermined number of turns corresponding to a first predetermined voltage output; and the second winding includes a predetermined number of turns corresponding to a second predetermined voltage output, the respective windings being grouped together as a unit and wound about the core such that the respective winding coils are wound in continuous close thermal contact with each other. The first winding generates a relatively high voltage, low amperage signal, and the second winding generates a relatively low voltage, high amperage signal; and a switch provides for selection of the desired output. Preferably the rotor is a hollow cylinder mounted on the engine shaft for rotation about the stator and such that the proper gap distance between rotor and stator is maintained during rotation of the rotor without bearings external to the engine. The low voltage, high amperage winding (or winding group) may be tapped to provide a selectable voltage output. Suitable rectifiers and inverters may be provided to effect selective DC and AC output signals.

Light weight rotor and stator with multiple coil windings in thermal

The throttle of an engine in an engine driven generator system operating subject to a wide and rapidly variable load, as in supplying current to a welder, is operated such that control signals are sent to a throttle actuator for adjusting the engine throttle position in response to load changes. The throttle actuator may be a solenoid pulling against a spring in accordance with the average current through the solenoid coil. In this embodiment, the processor causes pulse width modulated signals to be applied across the solenoid coil with throttle position changes being reflected in changes to the width of the pulses, such changes in the pulse width being delayed for at least the predetermined time since the last preceding adjustment to the throttle. Alternatively, the throttle actuator may be a stepper motor which is stepped by throttle position change signals from a processor which monitors engine speed and generator load to determine whether the throttle should be adjusted and, if so, in which direction and to what extent for optimum response.

Load demand throttle control for portable generator and other

A particularly advantageous power converter, suitable for use in an engine powered generator system. A signal simulating a desired AC waveform is produced by a converter circuit at first and second converter output terminals. The converter circuit, responsive to respective switching signals applied thereto, selectively effects current paths between a juncture node and one of the first and second converter output terminals and between a common rail and the other of the first and second converter output terminals. A controller selectively generates control signals to the converter circuit and to a mechanism for varying the magnitude of the juncture node voltage, to create a predetermined waveform at the converter output terminals simulating the desired AC waveform. A number of alternative embodiments for producing a simulated sine wave are described, as well as accommodations for inductive loads, and mechanisms for minimizing power dissipation during the switching interval.

Multimode power converter

An improved method and system of increasing the effective electrical load capacity of a power converter is disclosed. Potential damage due to current surges from variation in load is avoided by sensing an impending over-current condition, decreasing the system output by a predetermined amount or to a predetermined level, and then gradually increasing the output to bring the system back to desired operating conditions. Such control can be affected by varying the throttle setting to adjust rotor speed, controlling the DC rail level, or a combination of both methods.

Throttle controlled generator system

A mechanically and electrically efficient, lightweight, portable motor-generator includes a stator having a plurality of windings and a rotor with a body of soft-magnetic material carrying a plurality of permanent, high energy product magnets in a surface near the stator such that relative motion of the rotor and stator causes magnetic flux from the permanent magnets to interact with and induce current in the stator windings. The magnets are mounted in insets formed in the rotor surface which includes portions between the insets to form respective consequence poles. The rotor is a hollow cylinder with the magnets mounted on an internal surface, and the stator is concentrically disposed within the cylinder. The stator includes first and second windings. A first rectification circuit, responsive to signals from the first stator winding, develops a relatively high voltage, low amperage DC signal; and a second rectification circuit, responsive to signals from the second stator winding, develops a relatively low voltage high amperage DC signal. In one preferred embodiment, the first and second windings are 3-phase, and the corresponding phases of the respective 3-phase windings are grouped together as a unit and wound about the core such that the corresponding phases of the respective 3-phase windings coils are wound in continuous thermal contact with each other. Each phase of at least one winding includes a first portion defined by a tap to provide a third voltage output.

Light weight machine with rotor employing permanent magnets and

A generator according to the disclosure includes a control system for regulating the output of the generator. The generator, such as a permanent magnet generator, includes multiple windings. For high current applications, the windings are connected in parallel. For high voltage applications, each three-phase set of windings is connected in series. The various windings may be selectively and individually activated by the control system to achieve a desired output current or voltage.

Growing community of inventors

Alamogordo, NM, United States of America

William J Anderson