Patent Application

App. No. 16/548,625

Abstract

Claims (58)

1 . A generator management system for use with a generator, the system comprising:

a generator selectively supplying power to one or more load sources, the generator including an engine; and

a controller communicably and operatively coupled to the generator to control operation of the generator, the controller comprising:

a load sensing circuit structured to receive a load value of the engine;

a fuel level sensing circuit structured to receive a fuel level value of a fuel source supplying fuel to the engine; and

an evaluation circuit structured to:

receive the load value of the engine from the load sensing circuit;

receive the fuel level value from the fuel level sensing circuit;

evaluate the load value and the fuel level value to determine a remaining runtime of the generator; and

control the generator to selectively supply power to a subset of the one or more load sources based on the remaining runtime of the generator and a desired runtime of the generator.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the evaluation circuit is further structured to evaluate an updated load value and an updated fuel level value based on the generator supplying power to the subset of the one or more load sources and determine an updated remaining runtime of the generator.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the evaluation circuit is further structured to generate and transmit a message for display to a user interface of the generator indicating the remaining runtime of the generator.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the evaluation circuit is further structured to generate and transmit a message for display to a user device connected via a network indicating the remaining runtime of the generator.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller further comprises a priority circuit structured to prioritize supplying power to a prioritized subset of the one or more load sources to maximize the remaining runtime of the generator;

wherein the evaluation circuit communicates with the priority circuit to receive the prioritized subset of the one or more load sources and controls the generator to selectively supply power to only the prioritized subset of the one or more load sources.

6 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a user device structured to receive user input and transmit the user input to the controller;

wherein the user input includes a prioritization of the one or more load sources, the prioritization including a first priority load source and a second priority load source, wherein priority of supply of power to the first priority load source is higher than supply of power to the second priority load source;

wherein the evaluation circuit is structured to receive the user input and control the generator to selectively supply power to the first priority load source prior to supplying power to the second priority load source.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the user device comprises at least one of a mobile device, a smart home device, and a smart appliance.

8 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a user device structured to receive user input and transmit the user input to the controller;

wherein the user input includes a selection of the subset of one or more load sources to which to supply power;

wherein the evaluation circuit is structured to receive the user input and control the generator to selectively supply power to only the subset of one or more load sources.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the user device comprises at least one of a mobile device, a smart home device, and a smart appliance.

10 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a tables database, wherein the evaluation circuit evaluates the load value and the fuel level value to determine a remaining runtime of the generator from the tables database.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the fuel source includes at least one of a diesel fuel tank, a liquefied petroleum gas tank, and one or more batteries.

12 . A generator for supplying power to one or more load sources, the generator comprising:

an engine;

a throttle movable to a plurality of positions between closed and wide-open;

a governor coupled to the throttle to open and close the throttle;

a load sensor structured to sense a position of the throttle;

a fuel level sensor structured to sense a fuel level in a fuel tank supplying fuel to the engine; and

a controller structured to control operation of the generator, the controller comprising:

a load sensing circuit structured to receive a load value of the engine from the load sensor;

a fuel level sensing circuit structured to receive a fuel level value of a fuel tank providing fuel to the engine from the fuel level sensor; and

an evaluation circuit structured to:

receive the load value of the engine from the load sensing circuit;

receive the fuel level value from the fuel level sensing circuit;

evaluate the load value and the fuel level value to determine a remaining runtime of the generator; and

control the generator to selectively supply power to a subset of one or more load sources based on the remaining runtime of the generator and a desired runtime of the generator.

13 . The generator of claim 12 , wherein the evaluation circuit is further structured to evaluate an updated load value and an updated fuel level value based on the generator supplying power to the subset of the one or more load sources and determine an updated remaining runtime of the generator.

14 . The generator of claim 12 , wherein the evaluation circuit is further structured to generate and transmit a message for display to a user interface of the generator indicating the remaining runtime of the generator.

15 . The generator of claim 12 , wherein the controller further comprises a priority circuit structured to prioritize supplying power to a prioritized subset of the one or more load sources to maximize the remaining runtime of the generator;

wherein the evaluation circuit communicates with the priority circuit to receive the prioritized subset of the one or more load sources and controls the generator to selectively supply power to only the prioritized subset of the one or more load sources.

16 . The generator of claim 12 , wherein the evaluation circuit is further structured to receive user input including a prioritization of the one or more load sources, the prioritization including a first priority load source and a second priority load source, wherein priority of supply of power to the first priority load source is higher than supply of power to the second priority load source;

wherein the evaluation circuit is structured to receive the user input and control the generator to selectively supply power to the first priority load source prior to supplying power to the second priority load source.

17 . The generator of claim 12 , wherein the evaluation circuit is further structured to receive user input including a selection of the subset of one or more load sources to which to supply power;

wherein the evaluation circuit is structured to receive the user input and control the generator to selectively supply power to only the subset of one or more load sources.

18 . The generator of claim 12 , further comprising a tables database, wherein the evaluation circuit evaluates the load value and the fuel level value to determine a remaining runtime of the generator from the tables database.

19 . A method for controlling a generator, the method comprising:

receiving, by a load sensing circuit, a load value of the generator;

receiving, by a fuel sensing circuit, a fuel level of a fuel source supplying fuel to the generator;

evaluating, by an evaluation circuit, the load value and the fuel level;

determining, from the evaluation, remaining runtime of the generator

receiving, by a user device, user input, wherein the user input includes a prioritization of one or more load sources, the prioritization including a first priority load source and a second priority load source, wherein priority of supply of power to the first priority load source is higher than supply of power to the second priority load source;

controlling, by a controller communicably and operatively coupled to the generator, the generator to selectively supply power to a subset of the one or more load sources based on the remaining runtime of the generator, the desired runtime of the generator, and the prioritization of the one or more load sources.

20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising:

evaluating an updated load value and an updated fuel level value based on the generator supplying power to the subset of the one or more load sources;

determining an updated remaining runtime of the generator based on the updated load value and the updated fuel level value.

Assignments (8)