Load demand throttle control for portable generator and other applications
US6018200A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 3, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jan 25, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 3, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02P2101/45
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
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.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.