Electric Refuse Vehicle Body Power Management for Energy Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refuse vehicles with diesel engines and hydraulic systems pose environmental and maintenance challenges, particularly in urban areas, and there is a need for more efficient, all-electric or partially electric alternatives.
Innovation Solution
A refuse vehicle design featuring a chassis with a natural gas engine and an all-electric vehicle body, including electrically actuated body systems and a power management module to regulate energy usage, track electrical energy, and provide real-time efficiency recommendations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If diesel engines and hydraulic systems are used in refuse vehicles, then reliable power and actuation are provided, but environmental harm increases and maintenance difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the diesel engine with an electric motor for vehicle propulsion, and replaces hydraulic actuators with electric actuators for body system operation. This substitution eliminates exhaust emissions and hydraulic fluid leaks, directly resolving the environmental harm while maintaining reliable power and actuation through electric systems.
2Force
If hydraulic systems are used for body systems, then adequate actuation force is provided, but system leakage and maintenance complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes hydraulic actuators with electric actuators for all body systems including the tailgate, loading assembly, and packing assembly. Electric actuators provide adequate actuation force without the leakage problems inherent in hydraulic systems, and they are simpler to maintain with fewer moving parts and no hydraulic fluid to replace.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If all-electric body systems are implemented, then environmental impact is reduced and maintenance is simplified, but energy consumption management becomes critical
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a power management module that continuously monitors battery state of charge, power consumption of various body systems, and vehicle operation parameters. This feedback system enables real-time optimization of energy distribution, allowing the vehicle to dynamically adjust actuation speeds, prioritize critical functions, and manage battery charging/discharging cycles to maximize operational efficiency while minimizing environmental impact.
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 solution reduces environmental impact, minimizes hydraulic system failures, and enhances energy efficiency through real-time energy management and optimization of vehicle operations.
Implementation Method 1
a battery pack configured to provide electric power to the body systems
Implementation Method 2
the internal combustion engine further includes an alternator electrically connected with and configured to recharge the battery pack
Implementation Method 3
a natural gas powered internal combustion engine
Data Source
Figure 1~2A
Figure 2B~2C
Figure 3
AI summary
A refuse vehicle includes a vehicle chassis and an all-electric vehicle body on the chassis. The body includes a hopper, a refuse storage container, and a plurality of electrically powered body systems. The body systems include an electrically actuated tailgate, an electrically actuated refuse loading assembly, and an electrically actuated refuse packing assembly configured to remove refuse from the hopper and to pack said refuse in the storage container. The vehicle (e.g., vehicle body) further includes a power management module configured to regulate energy usage of the body systems and/or to record and track electrical energy usage in the body systems.