Battery-powered electric dump truck

Abstract

To provide an improved battery-powered electric dump truck and a related method.SOLUTION: The invention relates to a battery-powered electric dump truck comprising a frame, a dump body pivotally attached to the frame, and a power unit including a battery for supplying electric energy to at least one electric propulsion motor (62) of the battery-powered electric dump truck, wherein a hydraulic pump (63) and the electric motor (62) are attached to the power unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery-powered electric dump truck and methods relating to the battery-powered electric dump truck. [Background technology]

[0002] Dump trucks are typically powered by an internal combustion engine, such as a diesel engine. In most applications, the diesel engine drives a generator, which in turn drives an electric traction motor to drive the dump truck. An example of such a diesel-electric dump truck is described in the brochure "T 284 - Liebherr Mining Truck, LME-11481630-enGB08-2022, Liebherr Mining Equipment Newport News Co."

[0003] In order to reduce the environmental impact of dump trucks, attempts have been made to power dump trucks using batteries. Battery-powered electric dump trucks and battery-powered electric trucks are known from documents such as Patent Documents 1, 2, 3, and 4. Patent Documents 5 and 6 show dump trucks equipped with hybrid power units based on hydrogen fuel cells / batteries. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Chinese Utility Model No. 218505646 [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. 2022 / 036364 [Patent Document 3] U.S. Patent No. 11220167 [Patent Document 4] U.S. Patent No. 1,1541,739 [Patent Document 5] US Patent Application Publication No. 2023 / 0339308 [Patent Document 6] International Publication No. 2023 / 074203 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved battery electric dump truck and related methods. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In a first aspect, the present disclosure includes a battery-powered electric dump truck having a frame, a dump body pivotally mounted to the frame, a power unit having a battery that supplies electric energy to at least one electric traction motor of the battery-powered electric dump truck, and a radiator unit, the radiator unit including two radiator columns spaced apart from each other, with an installation opening for the power unit disposed between the radiator columns.

[0007] In a second aspect, the present disclosure includes a dump truck having a frame, a dump body pivotally mounted to the frame, and a power unit that supplies electric energy to at least one electric traction motor of the battery-powered dump truck, the power unit being mounted on a cantilever mount that is attached to the frame and bolted to the frame. The cantilever mount is bolted to an inner wall of a side beam, allowing it to be interchangeable to accommodate different power unit mounting requirements. Among other things, this allows for a modular, field-replaceable structural mount to be provided for accepting various types of power units.

[0008] In a third aspect, the present disclosure provides a battery-powered dump truck having a frame, a dump body pivotally mounted to the frame, a power unit including a battery that supplies electric energy to at least one electric propulsion motor of the battery-powered dump truck, and a hydraulic pump operated by the electric motor, the hydraulic pump and the electric motor being mounted to the power unit. In particular, the electric motor / pump may be mounted to the rear of the power unit. This third aspect allows for quick removal and replacement of the entire power unit. The hydraulic system, regardless of the type of power system used, can be located in the same position as when driven by an internal combustion engine.

[0009] In a fourth aspect, the present disclosure includes a battery-powered electric dump truck having a frame, front and rear wheels attached to the frame, a dump body pivotally mounted to the frame, a power unit including a battery that supplies electric energy to at least one electric traction motor of the battery-powered electric dump truck, and at least one additional battery unit, wherein the at least one additional battery unit is attached to the frame at a position between the front and rear wheels using a first bracket having a pin inserted into a hook provided on the frame.

[0010] In a fifth aspect, the present disclosure includes a method for attaching or detaching a power unit to or from a battery-powered electric dump truck, the battery-powered electric dump truck having a frame, a dump body pivotally attached to the frame, and a power unit having a battery and supplying electric energy to at least one electric traction motor of the battery-powered electric dump truck, the method including inserting the power unit from a front side of the battery-powered electric dump truck or removing the power unit to a front side of the battery-powered electric dump truck through an insertion opening provided between two radiator columns provided on the front side of the battery-powered electric dump truck.

[0011] In a sixth aspect, the present disclosure includes a method for manufacturing a dump truck, particularly a battery-electric dump truck according to any one of the preceding claims (aspects), the dump truck including a frame, a dump body pivotally supported on the frame, and a power unit that supplies electric energy to at least one electric traction motor of the battery-electric dump truck, the method including the steps of providing a frame, selecting a power unit from a battery-electric power unit and an internal combustion engine power unit, and mounting the power unit to the frame, the frame being identical for the battery-electric power unit and the internal combustion engine power unit. The dump truck may be particularly modular so that it can be converted after manufacture to be powered by a diesel-electric power unit, a battery-electric power unit, or a fuel cell hybrid power unit.

[0012] The battery electric dump truck of the present disclosure may be used in mining, particularly in surface mining operations.

[0013] The battery electric dump truck of the present disclosure may have a maximum payload of 50 metric tons or more, particularly 100 metric tons or more, particularly 200 metric tons or more, and particularly 300 metric tons or more.

[0014] The battery electric dump truck of the present disclosure can have an unladen weight of 50 tons or more, particularly 100 tons or more, and particularly 200 tons or more.

[0015] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the following drawings.

[0016] The drawings are as follows: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a battery-powered electric dump truck. [Figure 2A]2A is a perspective view showing a frame in the embodiment of the battery electric dump truck in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 2B] 2B is a perspective view showing the frame of the embodiment of the battery-powered electric dump truck of FIG. 1 in a state where a power unit and an additional battery unit are attached to the frame. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the front of the embodiment of the battery electric dump truck of FIG. 1 with the stair element removed, showing the split radiator unit. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the stair element installed. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a radiator unit used in the embodiment of the battery electric dump truck of FIG. [Figure 6A] FIG. 6A shows an embodiment of a bolted cantilever mount for attaching the power unit to the frame shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. [Figure 6B] FIG. 6B shows an embodiment of a bolted cantilever mount for attaching the power unit to the frame shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a hydraulic unit attached to the rear of the power unit. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the embodiment of the hydraulic unit shown in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of an add-on battery unit with mounting brackets for attachment to the frame shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] In general terms, an embodiment of the battery-powered electric dump truck of the present disclosure comprises a frame 10, a dump body 20 pivotally mounted to the frame 10, and a power unit 30 having a battery, the power unit 30 supplying electrical energy to at least one electric traction motor 4 of the battery-powered electric dump truck.

[0019] Details of the battery-electric dump truck and frame embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2A are described below, although aspects of the disclosure described below may also be applied to other battery-electric dump truck or frame embodiments.

[0020] In this embodiment, the frame or chassis 10 is a steel structure formed by welding together steel sections, some of which may be cast and others of plate steel. The beams of the frame may be box, T- or H-shaped in cross section.

[0021] In this embodiment, the power unit 30 does not include an internal combustion engine, so the dump truck is an all-electric dump truck. Also, the battery of the dump truck may be the only on-board power source for the dump truck. However, the dump truck may further include a trolley system for supplying electrical energy via a power line and a trolley system.

[0022] In this embodiment, the power unit 30 includes a battery unit 33 for powering the electric traction motor of the dump truck. The power unit may further include a power distribution cabinet 31 and / or a thermal control unit 32.

[0023] In this embodiment, the battery-powered electric dump truck shown in Figure 1 has front wheels 2 and rear wheels 3, with at least the rear wheels being driven by a traction motor 4. The front wheels 2 are steered by a steering system.

[0024] The battery-electric dump truck comprises a deck 5 supporting a driver's cab 8 and / or a control cabinet 9 at a level above the front wheels 2. Further functional units may also be mounted on the deck 5.

[0025] In the manual mode, the operator controls the propulsion system and steering system of the battery-powered electric dump truck from the cab 8 by using manual control elements such as the steering wheel, accelerator pedal, and / or brake pedal, thereby controlling the speed and direction of the battery-powered electric dump truck.

[0026] The battery-electric dump truck may have an autonomous mode in which a controller of the battery-electric dump truck autonomously controls the propulsion system and steering system of the battery-electric dump truck, and therefore autonomously controls the speed and direction of the battery-electric dump truck. For example, the controller may be configured to autonomously control the battery-electric dump truck according to a work mission from a loading location to an unloading location, or vice versa. Further, the controller may be configured to autonomously control the battery-electric dump truck to move to a charging station and autonomously perform charging operations in conjunction with the charging station. In the autonomous mode, the controller of the battery-electric dump truck may communicate with a central mission controller to receive a work mission to be performed by the battery-electric dump truck.

[0027] The controller may include a microprocessor and a computer program stored in non-transitory memory, the computer program including code that, when executed on the microprocessor, provides the functionality described above and below. The controller may be connected to input devices located in the cab of the dump truck and may control actuators of the dump truck, such as the steering actuator and electric traction motor 4, to control steering and propulsion.

[0028] A radiator unit 40 is provided on the front side of the battery-powered electric dump truck. Furthermore, a stair element 80 leading to the deck 5 is provided in front of the radiator unit 40.

[0029] As part of aspects of the present disclosure described in more detail below, in this embodiment the battery electric dump truck includes a power unit 30 and an additional battery unit 35 positioned between the front wheels 2 and rear wheels 3 of the frame 10.

[0030] The frame of a battery-powered electric dump truck is shown in Figure 2A. In this embodiment, the frame has two side beams 11 extending in the longitudinal direction of the battery-powered electric dump truck. In this embodiment, the side beams extend from the front end to the rear end of the dump truck, and the dump body is pivotally attached to pivot mounting portions 12 located at the rear ends of the side frames.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 2B, the power unit 30 is disposed between the side beams 11 of the frame.

[0032] In this embodiment, the frame 10 has an upper bridge member that connects two side beams 11 in the lateral direction, and this upper bridge member has side pillars 15 extending upward from the side beams 11 and an upper cross beam 16 that connects these side pillars. Furthermore, at the same longitudinal position of the frame, the side beams are connected by a lower bridge member formed by lower extensions of the side pillars that are connected by a lower cross beam 17. Therefore, the upper bridge member and the lower bridge member together constitute a frame structure that extends in the vertical and lateral directions of the battery electric dump truck.

[0033] The deck and cab are attached to the upper cross beam 16 of the upper bridge member.

[0034] Furthermore, connection points 14 for the suspension system of the front wheels 2 are provided on the pillars 15. The suspension system of the rear wheels is attached to connection points 13, 13' provided on the side beams 11.

[0035] In this embodiment, the side beams 11 are connected laterally by at least a first rear cross member 19 and a second rear cross member 19'.

[0036] In this embodiment, the side beams 11 have a basically triangular shape in a side view extending between their front ends, the first rear cross member 19, and the second rear cross member 19'. The long side of the triangle faces upward, the first short side faces downward, and the second short side faces rearward. Thus, the long side extends upward in the fore-aft direction.

[0037] In this embodiment, the first rear cross member 19 is located at the rear corner adjacent the swivel mounting portion 12 of the dump body, and the second rear cross member 19' is located at the lower corner of the triangular shape and has pins at its lateral ends that support the lower ends of dump hoist cylinders for lifting the dump body 20.

[0038] In this embodiment, the front ends of the side beams 11 are connected by a front cross member 18 .

[0039] Aspects of the present disclosure that may be implemented in the battery-electric dump truck embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and the frame embodiment shown in FIG. 2A, or in other embodiments of the battery-electric dump truck, are described below.

[0040] In a first embodiment, as shown in Figures 1 and 3 to 5, the battery electric dump truck includes a split radiator unit 40 having two radiator columns 41 and 42 spaced apart from each other, and an installation opening 45 for the power unit 30 is located between the radiator columns 41 and 42. This makes it possible to attach and detach the power unit 30 to and from the battery electric dump truck without removing the radiator unit.

[0041] This significantly reduces the time required to install or remove the power unit. Because the performance of the battery included in the power unit deteriorates over time, it is necessary to replace the power unit multiple times during the service life of the battery-powered electric dump truck. Therefore, by reducing the time required to install and remove the power unit, the availability rate of the battery-powered electric dump truck can be increased.

[0042] In this embodiment, the power unit can be inserted into or removed from the installation space between the side beams 11 of the frame 10 through the installation opening 45 provided between the radiator columns 41 and 42, while the radiator unit remains attached to the frame.

[0043] In this embodiment, the radiator unit is disposed on the front side of the battery electric dump truck, as shown in Figures 1, 3, and 4. The position of the power unit in the installation space between the side beams 11 of the frame 10 is shown in Figure 2B. Therefore, the power unit is inserted into the installation space from the front and removed through the installation opening 45 forward through the installation space.

[0044] In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 1, 3, and 4, when the power unit 30 is installed on the battery electric dump truck, the front surface of the power unit 30 is exposed to the surroundings and therefore forms part of the front surface of the battery electric dump truck. In this embodiment, the front side of the power unit 30 extends in front of or between the radiator columns 41 and 42. In this embodiment, the front surface of the power unit 30 closes the installation opening 45.

[0045] In this embodiment, the front face of the power unit is formed by at least one casing element of the power unit.

[0046] In this embodiment, the power distribution cabinet 31 of the power unit 30 is provided at the front of the power unit and is therefore accessible from the front side. In particular, as shown in Figure 2B, the power distribution cabinet 31 may form the lower front side of the power unit. The power distribution cabinet 31 may have a service (maintenance) door at the front that is accessible from the front of the dump truck.

[0047] Additionally, a high voltage disconnect switch may be located on the front of the power distribution cabinet 31 so that it is accessible to a person standing on the ground in front of the dump truck.

[0048] In this embodiment, the radiator unit extends vertically between the front cross member 18 of the frame 10 and the deck 5, and laterally between the front ends of the side beams 11 of the frame 11. In this embodiment, the radiator unit is attached adjacent to the rear of the front cross beam 18, and therefore extends forward from the lower end of the radiator unit 40.

[0049] In this embodiment, the two radiator columns 41 and 42 and the installation opening 45 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the center plane of the battery electric dump truck.

[0050] In this embodiment, the radiator columns 41 and 42 are mechanically connected to one another by a cross beam 43 that extends above the installation opening 45. In particular, the cross beam 43 extends below the deck 5. In this embodiment, the cross beam is formed by a metal frame element that is connected to the upper surfaces of the radiator columns 41 and 42 and that extends across the entire lateral width of the radiator unit.

[0051] 5, each radiator column 41, 42 includes multiple fans 44 arranged one above the other. In this embodiment, each radiator column 41, 42 includes three fans 44 arranged one above the other, although embodiments including two fans per radiator column or four or more fans per radiator column are equally encompassed by this disclosure.

[0052] The fan passes air through the radiators, i.e., air-to-liquid heat exchangers, of the radiator unit, the liquid side of one or more radiators of each radiator column being arranged in a coolant circuit.

[0053] In this embodiment, the coolant circuits of the radiator columns 41 and 42 are connected in series. In particular, a coolant line 48 connects the coolant circuits of the radiator columns 41 and 42 in series, and a coolant pump 47 is disposed on the coolant line 48. An inlet line 46 for heated coolant is connected to the inlet side of the coolant circuit of the radiator column 42, and an outlet line 49 is connected to the outlet side of the coolant circuit of the radiator column 41, or vice versa.

[0054] In this embodiment, the radiator unit 40 is configured to dissipate heat from the power unit 30. In particular, the power unit 30 may be provided with a thermal conditioning unit for cooling the battery. The coolant circuit of the radiator unit is connected to a heat exchanger arranged in the thermal conditioning unit of the power unit 30 via an inlet line 46 and an outlet line 49, so as to exchange heat with the coolant circuit of the thermal conditioning unit for cooling the battery.

[0055] In this embodiment, the battery-powered electric dump truck includes a stair element 80 disposed in front of the installation opening 45 as shown in Figures 1 and 4. This stair element provides access to the deck 5 from the ground and extends diagonally across the front of the battery-powered electric dump truck.

[0056] In this embodiment, the stair element 80 is detachably attached to the battery-powered electric dump truck, so that the stair element 80 can be easily removed from the battery-powered electric dump truck to allow access to the installation opening 45, and can be attached to the battery-powered electric dump truck after replacing the power unit.

[0057] In particular, as shown in Figure 3, a first mounting element 81 is provided at the front end of one of the side beams 11 and a second mounting element 82 is provided on the opposite side of the front of the radiator unit below the deck, in particular on the cross beam 43 of the radiator unit, and a stair element 80 is removably bolted to the first mounting element 81 and the second mounting element 82, for example.

[0058] According to a second aspect of the present invention, as shown in Figures 2A, 2B, 6A and 6B, the power unit 30 is attached to a cantilever mount 50 that is attached to the frame 10. In particular, in this embodiment, the cantilever mount 50 is attached to the inner wall of the side beam 11 of the frame 10. According to this second aspect, the cantilever mount 50 is bolted to the frame 10.

[0059] By bolting on the cantilever mounts 50, the frame is independent of the type of power unit used with the truck, and the frame 10 can be adapted to the power unit by bolting on the appropriate cantilever mounts 50. This allows, for example, the same frame to be used for both a battery-electric dump truck and a dump truck powered by an internal combustion engine, such as a diesel-electric dump truck.

[0060] 6A and 6B show embodiments of cantilever mounts 50, 50'. The cantilever mounts 50, 50' have connection plates for connecting to the frame 10, which have through holes 55 for receiving screws 57 that attach the cantilever mounts 50, 50', respectively, to the frame. Additionally, the cantilever mounts have cantilever mounting plates 56, 56', respectively, for mounting a power unit. The cantilever mounting plates 56, 56' have holes for receiving screws and / or rubber support elements for attaching the power unit to the cantilever mounting plates 56, 56'.

[0061] FIG. 6A shows a cantilever mount 50 configured for use with a power unit of the present disclosure that includes a battery for driving a battery-powered electric dump truck, and FIG. 6B shows a cantilever mount 50′ configured for use with a power unit that includes an internal combustion engine and generator for powering an internal combustion engine-powered dump truck.

[0062] In the illustrated embodiment, the cantilever mounts 50 and 50' have connection plates for connecting to the frame that have the same through holes 55 for screws 57. However, the cantilever mounts 50 and 50' differ with respect to the cantilever mounting plates 56, 56', respectively, to which the power units are attached.

[0063] The cantilever mounting plate 56 of the cantilever mount 50 used to mount the power unit 30 of the present disclosure is particularly configured so that brackets 75 and 76 attached to the power unit 30 are attached to the cantilever mounting plate 56 as shown in FIG. 7. The cantilever mount 50 configured to be used for the front and rear brackets 75 and 76 of the power unit may be of a single type or two types, and the front and rear brackets 75 and 76 of the power unit may have different structures.

[0064] 2A, 6A and 6B, the frame includes a frame tube 52 that extends laterally through the frame, and in particular through the side beams 11 of the frame, with the cantilever mounts 50, 50' bolted to cover plates 53 of the frame tube 52. The frame tube provides added stability to the side beams 11 to which the cantilever mounts 50, 50' are attached.

[0065] The frame tubes are welded to the steel plates around the side beams 11. Also, cover plates 53 are welded to the frame tubes 52.

[0066] In this embodiment, the bolts 53 are threaded through holes in the cover plate 53 into separate threaded hole elements 54 located at the rear of the cover plate, thereby eliminating the need to thread holes in the cover plate.

[0067] All of the features described above or below for the battery-powered electric dump truck apply equally to the dump truck according to the second aspect, even if the power unit is an internal combustion engine power unit rather than a battery-powered electric power unit.

[0068] Furthermore, the power unit may be a hydrogen fuel cell power unit or a hybrid power unit that includes a combination of at least two of the aforementioned technologies, i.e., internal combustion engine electric, battery electric, and hydrogen fuel cell.

[0069] According to a third aspect of the present invention, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, a battery-powered electric dump truck includes a hydraulic pump 63 operated by an electric motor 62, and the hydraulic pump 63 and the electric motor 62 are attached to the power unit 30.

[0070] In a conventional dump truck driven by an internal combustion engine, the hydraulic pump is usually driven by the internal combustion engine and is located, for example, in the engine housing. If the hydraulic unit having the hydraulic pump 63 and the electric motor 62 is located in the power unit, there is no need to provide a separate mounting portion for the hydraulic unit on the frame, and there is no need to use different frames for internal combustion engine and battery-powered dump trucks.

[0071] In this embodiment, the hydraulic pump 63 and the electric motor 62 are located behind the power unit 30, which is the same location as in a conventional internal combustion engine.

[0072] Therefore, in this embodiment, the power unit 30 is attached to the frame 10 , and the hydraulic pump 63 and the electric motor 62 are connected only to the frame 10 via the power unit 30 .

[0073] In this embodiment, a mounting bracket 77 for mounting the hydraulic pump 63 and / or electric motor 62 is disposed at the rear of the power unit 30. In particular, this bracket is screwed to the rear edge of the side wall of the power unit 30 and is disposed laterally across the rear wall of the power unit. The electric motor 62 is attached to the mounting portion of the bracket 77, and the hydraulic pump is attached to the motor 62.

[0074] According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, as shown in Figures 2B and 9, a battery-powered electric dump truck includes at least one additional battery unit 35, which is attached to the frame 10 at a position between the front wheels 2 and the rear wheels 3 using a first bracket 73 having a pin 78 inserted into a hook 71 provided on the frame. This allows the additional battery unit 35 to be easily replaced. Furthermore, in one embodiment, the same connecting elements as those used for an additional fuel tank in an internal combustion engine-driven dump truck can be used for the additional battery unit 35.

[0075] In this embodiment, an additional battery unit 35 is provided on each side of the battery-powered electric dump truck. Furthermore, a hook 71 is provided on the outer wall of the side beam. The hook 71, and therefore the additional battery unit, is disposed in a position forward in the longitudinal direction of the pin of the cross member 19' to which the hoist cylinder is attached, and therefore is disposed forward of the hoist cylinder.

[0076] In this embodiment, the additional battery unit 35 is attached to the frame 10 using a second bracket 74 which is connected to the frame 10 by at least one rubber support.

[0077] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the second bracket 74 is disposed below the first bracket 73.

[0078] In this embodiment, two rubber supports, which are attached to the frame 10 via two attachment points 72, are connected to opposite ends 79 of a second bracket 74.

[0079] In one embodiment, the first and / or second brackets 73, 74 can be used to connect the fuel tank 35 in an internal combustion engine-powered dump truck, so the same frame can be used for both battery-powered and internal combustion engine-powered dump trucks.

[0080] The above-described first, second, third, and fourth aspects are independent of one another and may be employed independently of one another in the above-described battery electric dump truck embodiments or in any other battery electric dump truck having a frame and a power unit mounted on the frame.

[0081] Furthermore, the first, second, third and / or fourth aspects described above may be combined with each other, and the present disclosure includes all combinations of these aspects.

[0082] In the following, methods according to the present disclosure will be described, which are independent of the above-described features, but in embodiments of the present disclosure, these methods can also be applied to the dump truck according to the first, second, third and / or fourth aspects described above.

[0083] According to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method for attaching or detaching a power unit to or from a battery-powered dump truck. The battery-powered dump truck includes a frame, a dump body pivotally attached to the frame, and a power unit having a battery and supplying electric energy to at least one electric traction motor of the battery-powered dump truck. The method includes inserting or detaching the power unit from or to the front side of the battery-powered dump truck through an insertion opening provided between two radiator columns provided on the front side of the battery-powered dump truck. Therefore, there is no need to remove the radiator unit to insert or detach the power unit, and the radiator unit can remain positioned at the front of the battery-powered dump truck.

[0084] In this embodiment, the method comprises the step of removing a stair element 80 located in front of the installation opening 45 before inserting or removing the power unit 30 .

[0085] In this embodiment, the two radiator columns of the battery-powered electric dump truck remain on the battery-powered electric dump truck while the power unit is removed and replaced with a new power unit.

[0086] This method can be particularly used for the battery electric dump truck according to the first aspect described above. Furthermore, this method can be implemented as described above.

[0087] According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing a dump truck, the dump truck having a frame 10, a dump body 20 pivotally mounted to the frame, and a power unit 30 that drives a propulsion system of the dump truck. The method includes the steps of providing the frame 10, selecting the power unit 30 from a battery-powered electric power unit and an internal combustion engine power unit, and mounting the power unit 30 to the frame 10, the frame being identical for the battery-powered electric power unit and the internal combustion engine power unit. Using a frame that is independent of the type of power unit used can simplify manufacturing and reduce costs.

[0088] If the power unit is a battery-powered electric power unit, it may be configured as described above. In particular, the power unit may include a battery unit 33 for driving an electric traction motor of the dump truck. The power unit may further include a power distribution cabinet 31 and / or a thermal control unit 32.

[0089] Additionally, if the power unit is a battery-powered electric power unit, the dump truck may be configured as previously described for the battery-powered electric dump truck of the present disclosure.

[0090] If the power unit is an internal combustion engine power unit, the internal combustion engine may drive a generator which in turn powers an electric traction motor of the dump truck.

[0091] Furthermore, if the power unit is an internal combustion engine power unit, the configuration of the dump truck may be the same as that described above for the battery-electric dump truck of the present disclosure. However, in one embodiment, a radiator unit may be used that is located in front of the power unit and does not include an installation opening. In this case, the radiator may be provided with, for example, a single centrally located fan. This is because, for internal combustion engine-driven dump trucks, the internal combustion engine power unit does not need to be replaced during the normal service life of the truck.

[0092] In one embodiment, the method may include mounting the power unit 30 in the same position relative to the frame 10 regardless of whether the power unit 30 is a battery electric power unit or an internal combustion engine power unit.

[0093] In one embodiment, the method may include mounting the power unit 30 to a cantilever mount 50 bolted to the frame 10, the cantilever mount 50, 50' being selected depending on whether the power unit 30 is a battery electric power unit or an internal combustion engine power unit. In particular, this step may be performed using a dump truck and / or cantilever mount as described in the second aspect of the present disclosure.

[0094] In one embodiment, the method may include the step of attaching the additional battery unit 35 or the fuel tank 35 to the frame 10 via mounting brackets 73, 74, depending on whether the power unit is a battery electric power unit or an internal combustion engine power unit, the mounting brackets 73, 74 being identical for the additional battery unit and the fuel tank. In particular, this step may be performed using the dump truck and / or frame and / or mounting brackets 73, 74 described in the fourth aspect of the present disclosure.

[0095] In one embodiment, the method may include attaching a hydraulic unit to the power unit, whether the power unit is a battery electric power unit or an internal combustion engine power unit.

[0096] In particular, this step may be performed using the dump truck described in the third aspect of the present disclosure when the power unit is a battery electric power unit.

[0097] In one embodiment, if the power unit is a battery-powered electric power unit, the hydraulic unit includes an electric motor for driving the hydraulic unit, and if the power unit is an internal combustion engine power unit, the hydraulic unit is driven by the internal combustion engine of the power unit.

[0098] The hydraulic unit, and in particular the hydraulic pump of the hydraulic unit, may provide hydraulic pressure for operating the hoist cylinders of the dump truck.

Claims

1. A battery-powered electric dump truck, The frame and a dump body pivotally attached to the frame; a power unit having a battery for supplying electrical energy to at least one electric traction motor of the battery-powered electric dump truck; a hydraulic pump operated by an electric motor; A battery-powered electric dump truck, wherein the hydraulic pump and the electric motor are attached to the power unit.

2. The battery-powered electric dump truck according to claim 1, A battery-powered electric dump truck, wherein the hydraulic pump and the electric motor are disposed behind the power unit.

3. The battery-powered electric dump truck according to claim 1, The power unit is attached to the frame, and the hydraulic pump and the electric motor are connected to the frame only via the power unit.

4. The battery-powered electric dump truck according to claim 1, A battery-powered electric dump truck, wherein a mounting bracket for mounting the hydraulic pump and / or the electric motor is disposed behind the power unit.

5. The battery-powered electric dump truck according to claim 1, The frame has two side beams extending in the longitudinal direction of the battery electric dump truck.

6. The battery-powered electric dump truck according to claim 5, The battery-powered electric dump truck, wherein the power unit is disposed between the side beams.

7. The battery-powered electric dump truck according to claim 5, The battery electric dump truck, wherein the frame has an upper bridge member that connects the two side beams laterally, and the upper bridge member has side pillars that extend upward from the side beams and an upper cross beam that connects the side pillars.

8. The battery-powered electric dump truck according to claim 5, The battery electric dump truck, wherein the side beams are laterally connected by at least a first rear cross member and a second rear cross member.

9. The battery-powered electric dump truck according to claim 5, The side beams have a basically triangular shape extending between a front end, a first rear cross member, and a second rear cross member, the first rear cross member being disposed at a rear corner adjacent to a pivot mount of the dump body, and the second rear cross member being disposed at a lower corner of the triangular shape and supporting a lower end of a dump hoist cylinder.

10. The battery-powered electric dump truck according to claim 5, A battery-powered electric dump truck in which the front ends of the side beams are connected by a front cross member.

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