Modular Battery Supply Unit for Heavy-Load Vehicle Uptime
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Heavy-duty modular vehicles with electric drive units face challenges in energy supply due to the need for frequent charging, lack of charging infrastructure, especially in remote areas, and the inability to maneuver if batteries are defective, limiting their operational flexibility and reliability.
Innovation Solution
An energy supply unit with interchangeable electrical energy storage devices that can be detachably connected to the electro-hydraulic unit, allowing for easy replacement and charging, independent of a charging infrastructure, and featuring mechanical, electrical, and fluid connecting elements for flexible operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If battery-powered drive units are used in heavy-duty modular vehicles, then the vehicle can operate electrically, but the vehicle requires frequent charging and cannot maneuver if batteries are defective
Solution Approach 1:
The energy storage system is divided into multiple replaceable battery units that can be independently exchanged. Each battery unit functions as an independent module, allowing one to be replaced without affecting the others. This segmentation enables quick replacement of defective or discharged batteries, maintaining operational reliability while providing electrical energy supply.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the state of the energy storage from fixed to variable by implementing interchangeable battery units. This allows the electrical energy supply parameters (capacity, charge state) to be dynamically adjusted by replacing batteries, thereby maintaining reliable operation even when individual batteries are defective or discharged.
2Use of energy by moving object
If battery-powered drive units are used in heavy-duty modular vehicles, then the vehicle can operate electrically, but charging infrastructure is required which is not guaranteed in remote areas
Solution Approach 1:
Batteries are pre-charged at base locations or previous stops before deployment to remote areas. The interchangeable battery units allow the vehicle to carry multiple pre-charged batteries, enabling operation in remote locations without requiring local charging infrastructure. This preliminary charging action ensures operational flexibility in areas where charging facilities are unavailable.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging function is extracted from the vehicle's fixed infrastructure and transferred to portable, interchangeable battery units. This allows the energy supply system to operate independently of location-specific charging infrastructure, providing adaptability to remote areas where no charging facilities exist.
3Use of energy by moving object
If battery-powered drive units are used in heavy-duty modular vehicles, then the vehicle can operate electrically, but transport must be interrupted to charge the batteries
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of performing time-consuming on-site charging operations, the system enables rapid battery replacement that skips the charging step during operation. Defective or discharged batteries are quickly swapped with pre-charged units, minimizing interruption to transport operations and reducing downtime significantly compared to traditional charging methods.
Solution Approach 2:
Batteries are pre-charged before being installed in the vehicle, so that when a battery needs replacement, it can be swapped immediately with a fully charged unit. This preliminary charging action eliminates the need for time-consuming charging interruptions during transport operations.
4Use of energy by moving object
If battery-powered drive units are used in heavy-duty modular vehicles, then the vehicle can operate electrically, but a battery failure renders the vehicle unmaneuverable
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system is segmented into multiple independent replaceable units rather than a single critical component. This segmentation ensures that a failure in one battery unit does not render the entire vehicle inoperable, as other units can continue to provide electrical energy supply and maintain vehicle maneuverability.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple pre-charged backup batteries are carried in the vehicle, allowing immediate replacement of failed units. This preliminary preparation ensures that battery failures do not result in vehicle immobilization, as functional batteries are readily available to maintain electrical power and maneuverability.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An energy supply unit (2) for an electro-hydraulic unit (3) of a heavy-duty modular vehicle (23) is described, comprising at least one electrical energy storage device (7) for operating an electric motor (4) of the electro-hydraulic unit (3), at least one electrical connecting element (9) for establishing a detachable electrical connection between the at least one electrical energy storage device (7) and the electric motor (4), and at least one mechanical connecting element (8) for establishing a detachable mechanical connection with the electro-hydraulic unit (3) and/or the heavy-duty modular vehicle (23). Furthermore, a system (1) comprising at least one energy supply unit (2) and one electro-hydraulic unit (3) for a heavy-duty modular vehicle (23), as well as a heavy-duty modular vehicle (23), is described.