Battery Support Vehicle With In-Motion Energy Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Battery-powered electric machines can become disabled due to insufficient energy from their on-board batteries or electrical issues, preventing operation and stranding the machine until a maintenance station can be reached, especially if the battery cannot hold a charge or if a separate electrical issue prevents energy delivery to components.
Innovation Solution
A service vehicle equipped with a computer-implemented method that receives notifications of disabled machines, determines a route to travel with the machine in a convoy formation, and uses an energy transfer arm to transfer energy from its battery to the machine's energy transfer port, allowing the machine to operate while en route to a destination, such as a maintenance station.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a mobile charging system connects to an electric vehicle to charge its battery, then the battery can be recharged, but the vehicle cannot travel while being charged and must remain stationary
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an energy transfer arm as an intermediary mechanism that physically connects the service vehicle to the disabled machine. This arm contains an energy transfer device that can deliver energy directly to the machine's energy transfer port, enabling the machine to receive energy while moving in a convoy formation rather than remaining stationary during charging
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static charging model (vehicle must be stationary) to a dynamic charging model where the service vehicle and disabled machine travel together in a convoy formation. The energy transfer arm is designed to maintain connection during movement, allowing energy transfer to occur while both vehicles are in motion
2Use of energy by moving object
If the mobile charging system only charges the battery, then energy can be replenished, but the machine remains stranded if the battery cannot hold charge or if electrical issues prevent energy delivery to components
Solution Approach 1:
The energy transfer arm serves as a direct intermediary connection that bypasses the battery's charging functions. The energy transfer device can deliver energy directly to the machine's energy transfer port, providing power to operational components even when the battery cannot hold charge or when electrical issues prevent normal energy delivery through the battery system
Solution Approach 2:
The system separates the energy transfer function from the battery charging function. The energy transfer device and energy transfer port create an independent energy delivery pathway that operates separately from the battery system, allowing energy to reach operational components directly without relying on battery charging capability
3Ease of repair
If a tow truck transports the machine to a maintenance station, then the machine can be repaired, but site operations are disrupted and downtime increases
Solution Approach 1:
The service vehicle provides preliminary energy transfer and operational support to the disabled machine before it reaches the maintenance station. By enabling the machine to operate during transit in a convoy formation, the system performs the useful action of keeping the machine operational during what would otherwise be non-productive transport time
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous operational capability of the machine from the point of failure through transport to the maintenance station. The energy transfer arm provides uninterrupted energy supply during the entire journey, allowing the machine to continue performing useful work rather than being idle during transport
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
Enables the machine to continue operating and travel to a maintenance station for repair, reducing downtime and site operations disruptions by providing on-site energy transfer and convoy travel capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
transfer second energy from a service vehicle battery of the service vehicle to the machine via the energy transfer arm
Data Source
AI summary
A service vehicle can have a service vehicle battery that can provide energy to, and/or receive energy from, a separate machine that is normally configured to operate based on energy provided by a battery of the machine. If a machine becomes unable to operate using the battery of the machine, the service vehicle can travel to the machine and use an energy transfer arm to transfer energy to the machine. In some situations, the service vehicle and the machine can travel together in a convoy formation, for instance to a maintenance station, while the service vehicle provides the machine with energy for driving operations of the machine.