Battery Pack Heater Circuit for Cold-Weather Snowmobile Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric snowmobiles face challenges due to cold temperatures, which can negatively impact the performance of battery packs, especially during charging.
Innovation Solution
An electric snowmobile design that includes a heater system connected to the battery pack, a pump for circulating coolant, and a charger connected in parallel to the charging port, allowing the heater to be powered externally during charging and low temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the heater is powered by the battery pack during charging, then the battery pack can provide power to the heater, but the battery pack's already limited power output is further reduced, slowing down the charging speed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an external power source as an intermediary to power the heater during battery charging. The external power source connects to the charging port and provides dedicated power to the heater through a separate circuit path, allowing the battery pack to receive full charging power without sharing it with the heater. This mediator approach resolves the power conflict between heating and charging operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the power supply system into separate circuits: one circuit for charging the battery pack from the external power source, and another circuit for powering the heater from the same external power source through the charging port. This segmentation allows independent power allocation to heating and charging functions, eliminating the power competition that would occur if the battery pack tried to power the heater during charging.
2Reliability
If the battery pack is heated to improve charging performance in cold temperatures, then charging efficiency improves, but additional power consumption increases the complexity of the power management system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the charging port serve multiple functions: it can accept power from an external power source for battery charging, and simultaneously serve as a power input for the heater when an external power source is connected. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for a separate heater power input or complex battery management system to allocate power during cold weather charging, as the charging port becomes a universal power entry point for both charging and heating operations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively maintains the battery pack's temperature, ensuring efficient charging and operation in cold conditions, thereby enhancing the overall performance and reliability of the electric snowmobile.
Implementation Method 1
the heater is powered via the charging port by an external power source selectively connected to the charging port
Implementation Method 2
a pump fluidly connected to the heater and the battery pack for circulating coolant between the heater and the battery pack
Data Source
AI summary
An electric snowmobile has: a frame having a tunnel; a seat; at least one ski operatively connected to the frame; a drive track disposed at least in part under the tunnel; an electric motor supported by the frame, the electric motor being operatively connected to the drive track; a battery pack connected to the frame and electrically connected to the electric motor; a heater fluidly connected to the battery pack; a pump fluidly connected to the heater and the battery pack for circulating coolant between the heater and the battery pack; a charger electrically connected to the battery pack; and a charging port connected to the frame. The charger and heater are electrically connected in parallel to the charging port such that the heater is powered via the charging port by an external power source selectively connected to the charging port and not via the charger or the battery pack.