Granted Patent B2

US 12,368,301 · App. 18/673,551 · Granted Jul 22, 2025

Inventors: Ryan Wayne Schumacher (Bloomington, MN); Michael James Vanous (Minneapolis, MN); Mark D. Leasure (Eagan, MN); Nicholas Allan Cregan (Roseville, MN); Matt Srnec (Minnetonka, MN); Alessandro Silvestri (Barcelona, ES)

Assignee: THERMO KING LLC

H02J3/32B60H1/00428B60L1/00B60L53/14

Abstract

Claims (24)

1. A method to distribute power in an electrical power delivery environment, the method comprising:

detecting incoming electrical power provided by a connection with a power source;

determining power level of a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS);

determining power needs for an electrical accessory; and

apportioning the incoming electrical power between the RESS and the electrical accessory based on the determined power needs for the electrical accessory.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is executed by a power distribution unit that is electrically affixed to a vehicle that is at least partially electrically powered.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the RESS delivers apportioned power to a battery of the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the incoming electrical power apportioned to the electrical accessory is delivered to a climate control unit.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the apportioning prioritizes transport load integrity over delivering power to the RESS.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the apportioning includes directing at least a majority of the incoming electrical power to the electrical accessory.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the apportioning includes directing at least some of the incoming electrical power to the RESS.

8. A power distribution unit comprising:

a power detector configured to detect an incoming electrical connection;

a power meter configured to assess a power level of a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) and electrical power needs for the electrical accessory; and

a power source manager configured to apportion the incoming electrical power among the RESS and the based on the determined power needs for the electrical accessory.

9. The power distribution unit of claim 8 , wherein the power source manager is configured to prioritize delivering power to the electrical accessory based on transport load integrity over delivering power to the RESS.

10. The power distribution unit of claim 8 , wherein the power source manager is configured to place a higher priority on delivering power to the RESS.

11. The power distribution unit of claim 8 , wherein the power source manager is configured to place a higher priority on delivering power to the electrical accessory.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores executable instructions that, upon execution, cause a power distribution unit associated with a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) to deliver power to the RESS and to deliver power to the electrical accessory by performing functions comprising:

assessing real-time power level of the RESS and real-time power needs for the electrical accessory; and

apportioning incoming electrical power to the RESS and the electrical accessory by prioritizing power delivery to the electrical accessory.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the RESS delivers power to a vehicle battery.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the apportioning includes delivering power to the RESS and delivering power to the electrical accessory in parallel.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the computer-readable medium is associated with a power distribution unit.

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (3)

References Cited (318)