Hybrid Fire Fighting Vehicle Pump-Drive Power Divider Architecture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional internal combustion engine-driven fire fighting vehicles face limitations in response times and fuel efficiency, particularly in reaching remote areas of airports quickly and effectively extinguishing fires.
Innovation Solution
The development of a hybrid powertrain system for fire fighting vehicles, combining a diesel or gasoline engine with an electric motor and a battery pack, which includes an electromagnetic device and a power divider to facilitate the operation of the pump system and drivetrain, enabling improved acceleration and top speeds while reducing fuel consumption and emissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a traditional internal combustion engine is used to drive the fire fighting vehicle, then the vehicle can maintain sufficient power for carrying water and suppressants, but the response time is slow and fuel efficiency is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a traditional internal combustion engine with an electromagnetic device (electric motor) to create a hybrid powertrain system. The engine and motor work together through a power divider to provide both the power needed for carrying water and suppressants and the rapid acceleration for improved response time, while the electric motor contributes to reducing overall fuel consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The hybrid powertrain system serves multiple functions: the electromagnetic device provides auxiliary propulsion to improve acceleration and response time, acts as a generator during vehicle deceleration to recover energy, and works with the engine to reduce fuel consumption and emissions while maintaining the power capacity needed for fire fighting operations.
2Speed
If an electromagnetic device is added to improve acceleration and top speeds, then response time improves, but vehicle complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a power divider as an intermediary component that manages the complex interactions between the engine and electromagnetic device. This mediator distributes power from both sources to the drivetrain and pump system, coordinating their operation to achieve improved acceleration while managing the overall system complexity through centralized power management.
3Loss of energy
If a hybrid powertrain system is implemented, then fuel efficiency and emissions are reduced, but the device complexity and initial cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hybrid powertrain system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the electromagnetic device acts as a generator during vehicle deceleration and braking, converting kinetic energy back into electrical energy to charge the battery pack. This feedback loop recovers energy that would otherwise be lost, improving overall fuel efficiency and reducing emissions while managing the complexity through intelligent energy recovery and management.
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 hybrid powertrain system enhances response times, improves fire fighting vehicle performance by achieving faster acceleration and top speeds, and provides a more eco-friendly solution by reducing fuel consumption and emissions, while maintaining the capacity to carry sufficient water and fire suppressants.
Implementation Method 1
an electromagnetic device electrically coupled to the battery pack and mechanically coupled to at least one of the front axle or the rear axle
Implementation Method 2
a battery pack, a pump system including a water pump, and an electromagnetic device electrically coupled to the battery pack
Data Source
AI summary
An electrified fire fighting vehicle includes a chassis, a cab, a body, a front axle, a rear axle, an engine, a battery pack, a pump system including a water pump, an electromagnetic device electrically coupled to the battery pack and mechanically coupled to at least one of the front axle or the rear axle, and a power divider coupled to the pump system, the engine, and the electromagnetic device.