Onboard Battery Swapping System for Mining Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional mining vehicles rely on diesel engines, which are inefficient and environmentally harmful, and the removal of batteries from electric vehicles requires extensive infrastructure, making battery swapping in confined mining environments challenging.
Innovation Solution
Development of a battery-powered mining vehicle with a mounting and dismounting system that allows for the efficient swapping of battery packs without external infrastructure, using an auxiliary battery pack to maintain power during the swapping process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If batteries are made large and heavy to power electric motors in mining vehicles, then the vehicle can achieve comparable hauling capacity to diesel-powered vehicles, but the removal and swapping of batteries requires extensive external infrastructure such as cranes and lifts
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting and dismounting system is integrated directly onto the electric vehicle, allowing it to perform the battery swapping operation independently without requiring external cranes, lifts, or other infrastructure. The system uses the vehicle's own hydraulic system and mounting mechanisms to lift and replace battery packs
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting and dismounting system serves multiple functions: it can mount battery packs, dismount battery packs, and position them accurately. This multi-functional system eliminates the need for separate external equipment for each operation
2Ease of operation
If a mounting and dismounting system is integrated on the electric vehicle to enable easy battery swapping, then infrastructure needs are reduced, but the vehicle's device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting and dismounting functions are combined into a single integrated system that uses the vehicle's existing hydraulic infrastructure and mounting mechanisms, rather than requiring separate independent systems for each function
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses hydraulic cylinders as intermediary elements to transfer force from the vehicle's hydraulic system to the battery pack mounting mechanisms, enabling controlled lifting and positioning without complex mechanical linkages
3Adaptability or versatility
If the vehicle moves to different locations to swap battery packs, then operational flexibility is improved, but the time required for battery replacement increases due to relocation
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle positions itself adjacent to the battery pack before the actual mounting operation begins, and the mounting system is pre-configured and ready for operation, minimizing the time required for the actual battery swap
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for swapping batteries in an electric vehicle is disclosed. The method includes dismounting a first battery assembly, moving to a second battery assembly and mounting the second battery assembly onto the vehicle. Mounting and dismounting are accomplished by an onboard mounting and dismounting system. The method can be used in a zero infrastructure environment such as an underground mine since mounting and dismounting are accomplished by components on the vehicle itself. An auxiliary battery pack powers the vehicle during between dismounting a battery pack and mounting another battery pack.