The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 01, 2005
Filed:
Sep. 06, 2002
Musibau O. Alowonle, Brooklyn Park, MN (US);
Craig D. Block, St. Louis Park, MN (US);
Robert J. Erko, Apple Valley, MN (US);
Richard F. Milun, Corcoran, MN (US);
Musibau O. Alowonle, Brooklyn Park, MN (US);
Craig D. Block, St. Louis Park, MN (US);
Robert J. Erko, Apple Valley, MN (US);
Richard F. Milun, Corcoran, MN (US);
Tennant Company, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
A power management system for a surface maintenance machine, such as a street sweeper is disclosed. The system includes a variable speed engine for transporting the surface maintenance machine, a hydraulic pump powered by the engine, a vacuum fan motor powered by the hydraulic pump, an engine speed sensor coupled to the engine, an electric proportional valve coupled between the hydraulic pump and the vacuum fan motor, said valve for selectively restricting a flow rate to the vacuum fan motor, and a control unit operatively coupled to the engine speed sensor and the proportional valve, said control unit receiving engine speed information from the engine speed sensor and communicating a predetermined signal to the proportional valve to control the flow rate to the vacuum fan motor as a function of engine speed. A method of managing engine power from a single-engine street sweeper is also disclosed.