Apparatus and method for positioning an engine throttle
US6365982B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 30, 1999 |
| Grant date | Apr 2, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 30, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF02D41/083
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method for controlling the speed of an engine driving a generator supplying electrical current to a load includes the steps of monitoring the current, increasing the speed when the current increases and decreasing the speed when the current decreases. The governor apparatus used to carry out the method includes a microcontroller having a current and frequency look-up table embedded in it. For some part of the monitoring step, the engine runs at a first speed, e.g., idle speed, or some moderate speed above idle speed. The increasing step includes detecting an increase in the current to a value, determining from the look-up table the frequency corresponding to the value and increasing the speed of the engine until the frequency of the current is the frequency corresponding to the value. To state it in other words, the new method and apparatus control the engine at a modest speed when the generator is unloaded or lightly loaded and increases engine speed and current frequency with increases in generator load.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.