Bucket Truck Idle Mitigation With Shared A/C and Hydraulic Drive
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Solution Overview
Problem
Utility bucket trucks with insulated aerial work platforms often require continuous idling to maintain cabin comfort and hydraulic functionality, which is inefficient and costly, and existing idle management systems require additional air conditioning compressors and refrigerant line modifications.
Innovation Solution
A dual alternator-less system that uses a single air conditioning compressor and an alternate source of rotary power to drive both the air conditioning compressor and hydraulic pump, allowing for on-demand operation without the need for additional alternators or refrigerant line tapping, and includes automatic engine start-up and pressure sensing for smooth hydraulic control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the engine is kept idling to maintain cabin comfort and hydraulic functionality, then air conditioning and hydraulic access are preserved, but fuel consumption increases and operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic engine cycling instead of continuous idling. The engine starts and stops based on hydraulic demand signals from the bucket controls, providing hydraulic functionality only when needed rather than maintaining constant readiness through continuous idling.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydraulic system serves itself by detecting its own demand through pressure sensors at the bucket controls. When hydraulic pressure is demanded, the system automatically triggers engine start-up, eliminating the need for continuous monitoring and manual intervention.
2Device complexity
If a single air conditioning compressor is used with alternate rotary power sources, then system complexity and cost are reduced, but the ability to provide continuous cooling without engine idling is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The single air conditioning compressor serves multiple functions: it provides cooling when the engine is running and can be driven by either the engine directly or by an electric motor from the battery. This multi-functionality allows the system to maintain cooling availability while reducing complexity compared to dual compressor configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery-powered electric motor acts as an intermediary power source for the air conditioning compressor. When the engine is off, the electric motor mediates between the battery energy storage and the compressor, enabling continuous cooling operation without requiring the engine to idle.
3Stability of the object's composition
If automatic engine start-up is implemented through pressure sensing, then hydraulic performance consistency is improved, but additional sensing and control equipment is required
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback control by using pressure sensors at the bucket controls to detect hydraulic demand. This feedback signal is used to automatically trigger engine start-up, ensuring the engine is running whenever hydraulic functions are needed, thereby maintaining consistent hydraulic performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydraulic system automatically monitors its own operational state through pressure sensing and self-triggers engine start-up when needed. This self-service capability eliminates the need for complex external monitoring and control systems while maintaining hydraulic performance consistency.
Data Source
AI summary
An idle mitigation system for a bucket truck which includes an alternate source of power for the vehicle air conditioner which is coupled to the hydraulic system of the bucket truck which hydraulic system is alternately powered by an electric motor which, when run in reverse, can charge batteries.