Pivoting Battery Array Support for Loader Counterweight Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Battery-powered vehicle loaders, such as skid steer and tracked loaders, face challenges in providing efficient storage and accessible battery management during operation, which affects counterweight and operational efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a pivotally supported battery panel at the rear end of the chassis, allowing batteries to be stored within the chassis for counterweight and made accessible externally, with each battery housed in a removable unit and electrically coupled to motors, enabling independent power delivery to wheels or tracks for enhanced traction and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of stationary object
If batteries are stored within the chassis for counterweight, then counterweight function is improved, but battery accessibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The battery panel is designed to be pivotally supported, allowing it to rotate between a horizontal stowed position (providing counterweight) and a vertical access position (providing battery accessibility). This dynamic reconfiguration resolves the contradiction by enabling the same structure to serve both functions at different times.
2Productivity
If batteries are made accessible from exterior, then battery management efficiency is improved, but counterweight function deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable battery panel allows operators to access batteries externally when needed for management tasks, then return it to the horizontal position to restore the counterweight function. This dynamic switching enables both efficient battery management and maintenance of counterweight functionality.
3Power
If multiple batteries are stored in chassis, then power capacity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system is divided into multiple individual battery units that can be independently managed, removed, or replaced. Each battery is housed in its own compartment on the battery panel, allowing for modular configuration that increases power capacity while maintaining manageable complexity through standardization.
Data Source
AI summary
An electric loader is provided with a plurality of independently driven wheels. For example, a four-wheeled electric loader includes four independently operated wheels, each directly coupled to a dedicated electric motor. A fifth independent electrical motor powers the lift arm and/or any attachments coupled to an auxiliary hydraulic. A central forced-air system supplies pressurized air to each independent electric motor to cool the electric motor during operation. In some embodiments, the auxiliary electric motor powers the fan and/or air conditioner of the central forced-air system. A lever and/or electric brake may be applied to an axle of the electric motors. A pivotable battery panel locks a plurality of battery cells to provide a central source of power, counter-weight the loader arm, and rotate away to provide the operator access to an internal cavity of the cab.