Matthew P Hendrickson

US Patent:

7956762, Jun 7, 2011

Filed:

Sep 15, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/210898

Inventors:

Bradley Bailey - Peoria IL, US
Matthew Hendrickson - Peoria IL, US
Frederick Beach - East Peoria IL, US

Assignee:

Caterpillar Inc. - Peoria IL

International Classification:

G08B 21/00

US Classification:

340648, 3406916, 3406934, 340 532

Abstract:

A controller () in an electric drive system is used to develop power generation failure diagnostics. During operation, the controller () receives a set of generator inputs, a set of machine parameters, and a set of diagnostic values. Next, the controller () determines a set of expected operating values corresponding to the set of diagnostic values. The controller () then compares the obtained diagnostic values to one or more corresponding expected operating values. If the difference is greater than a threshold, the controller () provides an appropriate fault indication.

US Patent:

8140206, Mar 20, 2012

Filed:

Sep 15, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/210861

Inventors:

Bradley Bailey - Peoria IL, US
Matthew Hendrickson - Peoria IL, US
William J. Tate - Dunlap IL, US
Walter E. Earleson - Morton IL, US
Jeffrey A. Brand - Chillicothe IL, US

Assignee:

Caterpillar Inc. - Peoria IL

International Classification:

G05D 3/00

US Classification:

701 22, 280 653

Abstract:

An electric drive system includes a fuel-driven engine () driving an electrical power generator () that provides power to one or more electric drive motors (). A method of load management in the electric drive system includes receiving an actual fuel signal, an engine speed () signal, a throttle position signal, a motor speed () signal, an intake air pressure, a barometric pressure signal, and an intake air temperature signal. These values are used to determine a torque limit. The torque limit is used to limit a torque command to the electric drive motors () such that the torque command is consistent with the operating capabilities of the engine ().

US Patent:

8410739, Apr 2, 2013

Filed:

Sep 15, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/210893

Inventors:

Matthew Hendrickson - Peoria IL, US
Bradley Bailey - Peoria IL, US
Frederick Beach - East Peoria IL, US

Assignee:

Caterpillar Inc. - Peoria IL

International Classification:

H02K 23/68

US Classification:

318434

Abstract:

A controller () in an electric drive system is used to determine the operating condition of array of rotating diodes (B) within a generator (). During operation, the controller () receives a set of generator inputs, a set of machine parameters, and a set of diagnostic values. Next, the controller () determines a set of expected operating values corresponding to the set of diagnostic values. The controller () then compares the obtained diagnostic values to one or more corresponding expected operating values. If the difference is greater than a threshold, the controller () provides a fault indication that one or more of the array of rotating diodes (B) has malfunctioned.

US Patent:

8428805, Apr 23, 2013

Filed:

Jan 10, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/347153

Inventors:

Bradley Bailey - Peoria IL, US
Matthew Hendrickson - Peoria IL, US
William J. Tate - Dunlap IL, US
Walter E. Earleson - Morton IL, US
Jeffrey E. Brand - Chillicothe IL, US

Assignee:

Caterpillar Inc. - Peoria IL

International Classification:

B60L 11/00

US Classification:

701 22, 701 99, 180 62285, 180 6531, 318473

Abstract:

An electric drive system includes a fuel-driven engine () driving an electrical power generator () that provides power to one or more electric drive motors (). A method of load management in the electric drive system includes receiving an actual fuel signal, an engine speed () signal, a throttle position signal, a motor speed () signal, an intake air pressure, a barometric pressure signal, and an intake air temperature signal. These values are used to determine a torque limit. The torque limit is used to limit a torque command to the electric drive motors () such that the torque command is consistent with the operating capabilities of the engine ().

US Patent:

8626368, Jan 7, 2014

Filed:

Sep 7, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/876358

Inventors:

Matthew Hendrickson - Dunlap IL, US
Bradley Bailey - Peoria IL, US
Suresh Reddy - Dunlap IL, US

Assignee:

Caterpillar Inc. - Peoria IL

International Classification:

B60L 11/00
G06F 7/00

US Classification:

701 22, 701 54, 701101

Abstract:

An electric drive system includes a fuel-driven prime mover for driving an electrical power alternator controlled at least in part by an excitation voltage is disclosed. The electrical power alternator makes electrical power available on a DC link having a voltage characteristic and a current characteristic. A method for managing the response of the alternator includes determining a voltage of the DC link and a torque command by an operator. The torque command is used to derive a mechanical power that is being commanded. A desired voltage of the DC link is determined based on the derived mechanical power, and an excitation voltage command signal is provided based on the desired voltage of the DC link by use of a closed loop controller. An actual excitation voltage is applied to the electrical power alternator based on the excitation voltage command signal.

US Patent:

7996163, Aug 9, 2011

Filed:

Sep 15, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/210888

Inventors:

Bradley Bailey - Peoria IL, US
Frederick Beach - East Peoria IL, US
Matthew Hendrickson - Peoria IL, US

Assignee:

Caterpillar Inc. - Peoria IL

International Classification:

G01R 31/00

US Classification:

702 58, 702 60, 702 64, 702117

Abstract:

A system for detecting a short circuit in a direct current (DC) link (), wherein the DC link () is coupled with a rectifier () which includes a set of rectifier diode pairs (). During operation, a controller () receives a set of outputs of a power generator , a set of machine parameters, and a set of diagnostic values. Next, the controller () determines a set of expected operating values corresponding to the set of diagnostic values. The controller () then compares diagnostic values to corresponding expected operating values. If the difference between the diagnostic values and the expected operating values exceeds a threshold, the controller () provides a flag to indicate that a short circuit condition exists.

US Patent:

20100066294, Mar 18, 2010

Filed:

Sep 15, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/210853

Inventors:

Matthew Hendrickson - Peoria IL, US
Benjamin P. Gottemoller - Peoria IL, US

Assignee:

Caterpillar Inc. - Peoria IL

International Classification:

G01R 31/02

US Classification:

318490

Abstract:

A controller () in an electric drive system is used to determine whether a phase current imbalance in the output winding of a power generator () exists. During operation, the controller () receives a set of power generator diagnostic values corresponding to the phase currents output by the power generator (). Next, the controller () determines a set of expected operating phase current values. The controller () then compares the obtained diagnostic values to one or more corresponding expected operating values. If the difference is greater than a threshold, the controller () provides an appropriate fault indication indicative of a phase current imbalance.

US Patent:

20120163055, Jun 28, 2012

Filed:

Dec 23, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/977877

Inventors:

Lewei Qian - Peoria IL, US
Matthew Hendrickson - Dunlap IL, US
David Marchand - Dunlap IL, US

International Classification:

H02M 7/757

US Classification:

363127

Abstract:

A method of regulating temperature of a transistor-based component of a power system is disclosed. The method may include operating the power system to supply electric power to the transistor-based component and converting the electric power from direct current to alternating current, or alternating current to direct current, using the transistor-based component, thereby creating heat in the transistor-based component. The method may include outputting the electric power from the transistor-based component and supplying the electric power to an electrically-powered component to perform an output operation. The method may include controlling, during a predetermined system operating condition, one or more operations of a component associated with the power system to actively generate heat to thereby maintain the temperature of the transistor-based component higher than from the conversion of electric power that is performed to produce the electric power used to perform the output operation during the predetermined system operating condition.