Electric Construction Machine Drive-Tank Layout for Operator Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Compact electric construction machines face challenges in achieving optimal operator visibility and weight distribution due to restricted component alignment and complex hydraulic line routing, leading to impaired visibility and disrupted control.
Innovation Solution
The drive unit is arranged with its linkage-side end section closer to the linkage than the tank, creating a descending height profile, allowing for a low superstructure design and clear field of vision, while the tank and drive unit are aligned on a common side, facilitating smooth machine operation and efficient cable routing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the drive unit is arranged vertically between the tank and cooling unit along the longitudinal axis, then the upper carriage becomes sufficiently compact, but the free alignment of the electric motor and hydraulic pump is restricted leading to complex contacting and routing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a vertical arrangement (along the longitudinal axis) to a lateral arrangement (across the transverse axis) of the drive unit components. By positioning the electric motor and hydraulic pump side-by-side rather than stacked vertically, the invention creates freedom of alignment in the lateral dimension while maintaining compactness through the off-center positioning of the entire drive unit assembly.
2Illumination intensity
If the working unit and driver's cab are offset toward opposite edges of the front wall, then the field of vision is improved, but the weight distribution becomes uneven leading to disrupted construction machine control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric positioning where the drive unit is deliberately placed off-center toward one side of the upper carriage, while the working unit and driver's cab are positioned to balance the overall weight distribution. This asymmetric arrangement allows the heavy drive unit components to be concentrated in one area, creating a descending height profile that improves visibility while the counterbalancing placement of other components maintains stable weight distribution for smooth machine operation.
3Illumination intensity
If the superstructure is designed low on the side of the tank and drive unit, then the field of vision is cleared, but the cable length between electric motor and energy storage unit increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the apparent disadvantage of increased cable length into a benefit by utilizing the flexible tank as a cable routing conduit. The tank's deformable structure allows it to accommodate and guide the longer cables from the electric motor to the energy storage unit, protecting the cables and enabling their routing through the superstructure's internal volume rather than requiring external runs that would be even longer and more exposed.
Data Source
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AI summary
An electric construction machine is described with a working unit (7), with an undercarriage (2) having a running gear (3), and with an upper carriage (4) which can be pivoted relative to the undercarriage (2) via a slewing ring (8) and has a linkage (6) for the working unit (7), in which a drive unit (9) comprising an electric motor (10) and a pump (11) for driving the running gear (3) and/or the working unit (7), an electrical energy storage device (12) for supplying the electric motor (10) with electrical energy, and a tank (13) for supplying the pump (11) with a hydraulic working medium are arranged, wherein the tank (13) and the drive unit (9) are arranged on the same side with respect to a longitudinal axis (14) of the upper carriage running through the slewing ring (8).In order to provide the operator with a comprehensive field of vision (22) despite the compact design and to allow smooth control of the construction machine, it is proposed that an articulation-side end section (17) of the drive unit (9), viewed in the direction of the superstructure longitudinal axis (14), is located closer to the articulation (6) than an articulation-side end section (18) of the tank (13), and that a deck-side end section (19) of the drive unit (9) is arranged below a deck-side end section (20) of the tank (13).