Electric Work Vehicle Battery Housing Pre-Charge Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electric work vehicles face challenges in compactly integrating pre-charge and discharge components, efficient air cooling of batteries, and suppressing vibrations of battery modules during uneven terrain travel.

Innovation Solution

The configuration includes a housing case with pre-charge and discharge parts integrated within, a fan device with ventilation holes for efficient air flow between battery stacks, and support members to couple stacks firmly to frames, reducing vibrations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If pre-charge part and discharge part are provided outside the battery, then they can be independently maintained, but the overall structure becomes complex and occupies more space

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveIndependent maintenance of pre-charge and discharge partsVSAvoidStructure complexity and space occupation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pre-charge part and discharge part are integrated into the battery housing case, merging previously separate components into a unified structure. This reduces overall device complexity and space occupation while maintaining functional independence through separate circuit pathways within the integrated housing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Device complexity

If air cooling is applied to the outer side of the battery, then the structure is simple, but the cooling efficiency is insufficient compared to inner side cooling

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveCooling structure complexityVSAvoidBattery cooling efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The battery cooling system is segmented into multiple air flow paths: external air intake, internal air flow through battery modules, and exhaust pathways. This segmentation enables efficient heat dissipation from internal battery components while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure through modular air flow management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If stacks are housed directly in the housing case without support members, then the structure is simple, but vibration during travel causes stacks to vibrate against the housing case

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveSupport structure complexityVSAvoidVibration suppression and stack stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Support members are introduced as intermediary components between the stacks and the housing case. These support members provide mechanical coupling and vibration isolation, preventing direct contact between stacks and the housing case while maintaining structural integrity and reducing complexity compared to rigid mounting systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

This configuration achieves a compact layout, efficient heat dissipation, and effective vibration suppression, enhancing the performance and reliability of electric work vehicles.

Implementation Method 1

a fan device (62, 63) configured to be able to suck air in the housing case (1) or supply air to the housing case (1) via the ventilation hole (62a, 63a)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP4454917A1Electric work vehicle
Publication Date: 2024.10.30 KUBOTA CORP
  • EP4454917A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4454917A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4454917A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A battery (4) includes: a housing case (1) in which a plurality of battery modules (6) are housed; a pre-charge part (67) configured to perform processing for gradually supplying power to an inverter at a start of power supply from the battery (4) to the inverter; and a discharge part (68) configured to perform processing for discharging power remaining in the inverter in response to power supply from the battery (4) to the inverter being shut off. The pre-charge part (67) and the discharge part (68) are provided in the housing case (1).