Industrial Vehicle Battery Layout for In-Frame Obstacle Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial vehicles face challenges in efficiently navigating tight spaces while maintaining obstacle detection capabilities without increasing vehicle contour or altering the operator compartment dimensions.
Innovation Solution
A battery system with a counterweight assembly and sensor assemblies positioned within the vehicle's frame bounds, allowing for 360-degree monitoring without enlarging the vehicle's dimensions, using smaller replacement batteries and cutout portions for sensor access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sensor assemblies are added to the vehicle for obstacle detection, then the obstacle detection capability is improved, but the vehicle contour may be increased
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor assemblies are nested within the existing vehicle structure by positioning them in the battery compartment and utilizing the counterweight assembly as a mounting platform. The sensors are completely contained within the front, back, left, and right bounds of the frame, allowing obstacle detection functionality to be added without increasing the vehicle contour.
2Reliability
If sensor assemblies are positioned to monitor all areas around the vehicle, then the monitoring coverage is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sensor assemblies are merged into a unified mounting structure on the counterweight assembly. The counterweight assembly serves as a common platform that holds multiple sensor assemblies, allowing them to be positioned at different locations (front, rear, left, right sides) to achieve 360-degree monitoring coverage while simplifying installation and maintenance through a consolidated mounting approach.
3Volume of moving object
If a smaller replacement battery is used, then the space available for sensor placement is improved, but the vehicle stability may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The counterweight assembly is positioned underneath the battery compartment to compensate for the reduced weight and volume of the smaller replacement battery. This counterweight arrangement maintains the vehicle's center of gravity and stability while creating available space in the battery compartment for mounting sensor assemblies.
Data Source
AI summary
A battery system for an industrial vehicle, the industrial vehicle including a frame having a vehicle contour defined by front, back, left, and right bounds of the frame, the left and right bounds at least partially defined by opposed outermost left and right portions of respective left and right sides of a battery compartment. The battery system includes a battery, and a counterweight assembly, wherein at least a portion is positioned underneath the battery. The battery system further includes a first sensor assembly positioned underneath the battery at one of the left or right side of the battery compartment. The first sensor assembly is completely located within the front, back, left, and right bounds of the frame so as to not increase the vehicle contour. The first sensor assembly includes a sensing device that monitors an area adjacent to the corresponding left or right side of the vehicle.