Refuse Vehicle Battery Swap Assembly for Reduced Charging Downtime

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The recharging of electric-powered refuse vehicles is a time-consuming process due to the limitations of current battery technology, which can interfere with the vehicle's availability for use.

Innovation Solution

A refuse vehicle with a removable and replaceable energy storage and/or generation system, allowing for quick swapping of energy systems to maintain vehicle uptime and reduce charging time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the energy system is recharged using current battery technology, then the vehicle can continue to operate, but the recharging process is time-consuming and reduces vehicle availability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle availabilityVSAvoidrecharging time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the energy storage function from the vehicle chassis by using a removable battery system. The battery can be quickly detached and replaced with a charged one, eliminating the need for time-consuming on-vehicle recharging and significantly reducing vehicle downtime.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary charging actions off-vehicle. Multiple battery systems can be charged in advance at centralized charging stations while vehicles are in service, so that fully charged batteries are ready for immediate replacement, eliminating waiting time during operational periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If a removable energy system is implemented, then vehicle uptime is improved through quick swapping, but the device complexity increases due to multiple energy systems and replacement mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle uptimeVSAvoidenergy system configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the energy system into modular, interchangeable battery units that can be independently handled. This segmentation allows the vehicle to maintain operational continuity while simplifying the replacement process through standardized interfaces and individual unit handling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates universal battery systems that can serve multiple vehicles or be used across different operational contexts. The standardized battery design with common interfaces allows the same battery unit to be transferred between different vehicle platforms, reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20250100417A1Electric refuse vehicle battery exchange and trailer

Publication Date: 2025.03.27 OSHKOSH CORPORATION

AI summary

A refuse vehicle includes a chassis, a refuse container coupled to the chassis, a tractive assembly coupled to the chassis and configured to propel the refuse vehicle, and an electric energy system configured to provide electrical energy to drive the tractive assembly. In a first configuration, a first energy system is removably coupled to the chassis and configured to provide the electrical energy to the electric energy system and in a second configuration, the first energy system is removed from the chassis and replaced with a second energy system, the second energy system removably coupled to the chassis and configured to provide the electrical energy to the electric energy system.