Refuse Vehicle E-PTO Sound Management for Noise Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electric refuse vehicles generate high levels of noise pollution from their E-PTO systems, which can disturb pedestrians and potentially damage hearing, necessitating a reduction in audible output.

Innovation Solution

The refuse vehicle incorporates an E-PTO housing with sound insulation material and a sound management system comprising microphones and speakers to detect and reduce noise, adjusting sound output based on vehicle speed and location.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the E-PTO system operates at high power to perform vehicle functions, then productivity is improved, but noise pollution increases causing harmful effects to pedestrians and potential hearing damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle operation efficiencyVSAvoidnoise pollution

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system generates noise-cancelling sounds that are intentionally created to counteract the harmful noise from E-PTO operations. By converting the problem of noise generation into a solution where controlled sounds are produced to cancel unwanted noise through destructive interference, the system maintains productivity while eliminating the harmful noise effect.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The sound management system acts as an intermediary between the E-PTO system and the external environment. It introduces sound waves as a mediating element that interferes with and cancels the harmful noise waves, allowing the E-PTO system to operate efficiently while protecting pedestrians from noise damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-generated harmful factors

If sound insulation material is added to the E-PTO housing to reduce noise, then noise pollution is reduced, but device complexity and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaudible outputVSAvoidhousing structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces passive mechanical sound insulation with an active electronic sound management system. Instead of adding heavy insulation materials and complex housing structures, the system uses electronic sensors, processors, and speakers to generate noise-cancelling sounds, thereby reducing noise pollution without significantly increasing mechanical complexity or weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Object-generated harmful factors

If the noise reducing sound system is activated continuously, then noise pollution is reduced, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise pollutionVSAvoidbattery power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The sound management system operates dynamically rather than statically. It continuously monitors E-PTO operational status and adjusts its activity accordingly - activating only when the E-PTO system is running and generating noise, and deactivating when the E-PTO is idle. This dynamic operation ensures noise reduction is provided only when needed, optimizing energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where sensors detect E-PTO operational parameters and feed this information to the control system, which then adjusts the noise-cancelling sound output accordingly. This feedback loop ensures the energy-intensive noise cancellation function is activated only when actually needed, preventing unnecessary energy consumption during idle periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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 system effectively reduces noise pollution by using sound insulation and active noise cancellation, ensuring quieter operation in residential areas and compliance with noise regulations.

Implementation Method 1

The E-PTO housing includes sound insulation material and is configured to reduce an audible output from the E-PTO system

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSound insulation: Acoustic Absorption

Implementation Method 2

one or more speakers coupled to the body configured to emit noise reducing sounds

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectActive noise cancellation: Sound

Data Source

PatentUS20250349281A1Refuse vehicle with sound management

Publication Date: 2025.11.13 OSHKOSH CORPORATION

AI summary

A refuse vehicle includes a body coupled at least one of the frame and the chassis, a battery configured to provide electrical power to a first motor, a vehicle body supported by the chassis and defining a receptacle for storing refuse therein, an electric power take-off system coupled to the vehicle body, the electric power take-off system including a second motor configured to convert electrical power received from the battery into hydraulic power, one or more microphones coupled to the body and configured to detect noise, one or more speakers coupled to the body configured to emit noise reducing sounds, and a controller configured to receive data related to the detected noise from the one or more microphones and cause the one or more speakers to emit the noise reducing sounds in response to the data received from the one or more microphones.