Excavator Battery Layout for Lower Center of Gravity
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Solution Overview
Problem
The conventional arrangement of a battery above the electric motor and hydraulic pump in a hydraulic excavator leads to a higher center of gravity, making it difficult to maintain balance, especially with large-capacity batteries, which worsens the stability during work operations.
Innovation Solution
The electric work machine is designed with the battery unit positioned on a swivel frame alongside the electric motor and hydraulic pump, arranged side by side in the left-right direction, to lower the center of gravity and balance the weight, ensuring stability even with large-capacity batteries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the battery is located above the electric motor and hydraulic pump in the upper swivel body, then the battery can be positioned in a compact space, but the center of gravity becomes higher making it difficult to maintain balance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from vertical stacking (battery above motor/pump) to horizontal arrangement (battery, motor, and pump side by side on the swivel frame). This dimensional change from vertical to horizontal layout maintains compact space utilization while significantly lowering the center of gravity to improve machine body balance and stability during operation.
2Quantity of substance
If a large-capacity battery unit is used, then the electric power storage is increased, but the machine body balance becomes increasingly difficult to maintain when positioned high or off-center
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies horizontal arrangement on the swivel frame to accommodate large-capacity battery units without compromising balance. By positioning the battery unit side by side with the electric motor and hydraulic pump on the same horizontal plane (the swivel frame), the design enables increased power storage capacity while maintaining the center of gravity at an optimal height for machine stability.
3Area of stationary object
If the battery position is off-center in left-right direction, then space utilization may be improved, but the machine body balance is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric arrangement of components on the swivel frame, positioning the battery unit, electric motor, and hydraulic pump in a balanced horizontal configuration. This asymmetric yet balanced layout optimizes space utilization while maintaining proper weight distribution and center of gravity position, ensuring machine body balance during operation.
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
This configuration maintains good balance and stability of the machine body during work, allowing efficient use of space and preventing enlargement, while effectively cooling electrical components and separating hydraulic and electrical systems for optimal performance.
Implementation Method 1
a battery unit arranged in the upper swivel body and storing electric power to drive the electric motor
Implementation Method 2
an electric motor arranged in the upper swivel body, a hydraulic pump arranged in the upper swivel body and driven by the electric motor
Implementation Method 3
a hydraulic actuator driven by hydraulic oil supplied from the hydraulic pump
Data Source
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AI summary
[Problem] To provide an electric work machine that can maintain good balance of a machine body during work even when a large-capacity (large-size) battery unit is used. [Solution] A hydraulic excavator as an electric work machine comprises a lower traveling body, an upper swivel body located above the lower traveling body and provided to be swivelable with respect to the lower traveling body, an electric motor arranged in the upper swivel body, a hydraulic pump arranged in the upper swivel body and driven by the electric motor, a battery unit arranged in the upper swivel body and storing electric power to drive the electric motor, and a hydraulic actuator driven by hydraulic oil supplied from the hydraulic pump. The upper swivel body has a swivel frame at a bottom portion thereof. The battery unit is arranged on the swivel frame. The electric motor and the hydraulic pump are arranged on the swivel frame, side by side in a left-right direction of the upper swivel body.