Charging Trailer Assist Torque for Off-Road Towing Traction
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Solution Overview
Problem
During towing events, vehicles often face challenges in providing sufficient traction and acceleration, especially in off-road or steep grade conditions, where existing systems lack effective assistive propulsion mechanisms to enhance traction drive forces.
Innovation Solution
A mobile generator trailered system that includes a towing vehicle and a charging trailer, where a control module coordinates assistive propulsive torque from the charging trailer's electric machine, powered by a traction battery pack or energy storage system, to assist the towing vehicle's acceleration and traction, with regenerative braking used to recharge the energy storage system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a vehicle uses its own power source for towing, then the vehicle can maintain independence and simplicity of system, but the vehicle lacks sufficient traction and acceleration capability in challenging conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a charging trailer as an intermediary system that provides assistive propulsive torque to the towing vehicle during towing events. The trailer's electric machine acts as a mediator between the ground and the towing vehicle, delivering additional traction force through the trailer wheels pushing against the ground, thereby enhancing the vehicle's acceleration and traction capability without requiring modifications to the vehicle's own powertrain.
2Power
If the vehicle provides its own propulsive force during towing, then the system remains simple and self-contained, but the vehicle cannot provide sufficient assistive propulsion in off-road or steep grade conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the towing vehicle's power source with the charging trailer's energy storage system to create a combined propulsive system. The trailer's battery-powered electric machine supplements the vehicle's power output, delivering additional propulsive torque during high-demand conditions such as off-road or steep grade towing, thereby increasing total available power without overburdening the vehicle's own energy consumption.
3Productivity
If the charging trailer provides assistive propulsive torque, then the vehicle gains enhanced acceleration and traction, but the energy storage system requires replenishment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements regenerative braking in the charging trailer to enable continuous operation. During deceleration or downhill driving, the trailer's electric machine operates in reverse as a generator, converting kinetic energy back into electrical energy to recharge the battery. This continuous energy recovery process ensures the energy storage system remains replenished, allowing the assistive propulsive torque to be available throughout the entire towing journey.
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 enhances traction and acceleration capabilities during towing by providing assistive propulsive torque and efficiently replenishes energy through regenerative braking, improving the vehicle's performance in challenging conditions.
Implementation Method 1
an electric machine of the charging trailer... powered by a traction battery pack or an energy storage system
Implementation Method 2
regenerative braking used to recharge the energy storage system
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are proposed for coordinating and providing assistive traction drive forces during towing events between a motor vehicle and one or more charging trailers. The assistive traction drive forces may be provided in the form of a propulsive torque applied by an electric machine of the charging trailer. Electrical energy for powering the electric machine may be supplied by a powertrain system of the towing vehicle or an energy storage device of an electrified recreational/industrial vehicle that is operably connected to the charging trailer. Energy expended by the energy storage device for powering the electric machine may be replenished during the towing event by regenerative braking.