Battery Carrier Positioning for Easier Electric Work Vehicle Loading

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric work vehicles, such as riding mowers, require operators to manually align the height of a carrier with a guide portion of the vehicle body during installation, which can be cumbersome and time-consuming.

Innovation Solution

The electric work vehicle is designed with a positioning mechanism that stops the carrier's lifting operation when the support portion reaches a position where it can be supported by the guide portion, allowing for easy alignment and installation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual alignment of carrier height with guide portion is required during installation, then the installation process can be completed, but the operator burden increases and workability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of carrier installationVSAvoidtime for height alignment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning portion on the carrier and guide portion on the vehicle body automatically align with each other when the carrier is lifted to the correct height. The system serves itself by using the geometric relationship between these two features to indicate proper positioning, eliminating the need for operator judgment and adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses visual indicators (different shading in the drawings representing different heights/positions) to show when the carrier is at the correct height relative to the guide portion. This visual feedback mechanism allows operators to quickly identify proper alignment without complex measurements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

2Manufacturing precision

If the carrier installation process requires precise height alignment, then proper installation can be achieved, but the complexity of the installation procedure increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprecision of carrier positioningVSAvoidcomplexity of installation procedure
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning portion is pre-configured on the carrier with specific geometric characteristics that correspond to the guide portion on the vehicle body. This preliminary design ensures that when the carrier is lifted, the alignment occurs automatically at the correct height, eliminating the need for complex adjustment procedures during installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The positioning portion and guide portion act as intermediary features that mediate between the carrier and vehicle body. These intermediate elements provide a simple geometric interface that automatically establishes the correct height relationship, simplifying the overall installation procedure while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3970472B1Electric work vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.03.05 KUBOTA CORP
  • EP3970472B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3970472B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3970472B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An electric work vehicle includes: a carrier 32 in which a battery can be stored and a support portion 40 is provided; a carrier storage portion provided in a vehicle body and capable of holding the carrier 32; a guide portion 21, 22 that is capable of supporting, via the support portion 40, the carrier 32 operated so as to be lifted from the ground, in a state in which the carrier is lifted from the ground, and guiding the carrier 32 toward the carrier storage portion; and a positioning portion 42 configured to, when the carrier 32 placed on the ground is operated so as to be lifted and the support portion 40 has reached a position at which the support portion 40 can be supported by the guide portion 21, 22, stop the operation of lifting the carrier 32.