Removable Trailer Battery Containers for Adaptive Electric Assist

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Solution Overview

Problem

Heavy goods vehicles face challenges in fuel consumption and pollution due to the constraints of electrical energy storage, particularly in trailers, where existing solutions either limit adaptability, increase weight, or complicate battery management.

Innovation Solution

A land vehicle or heavy goods trailer with a goods storage compartment containing removable electrical energy containers, connected to an axle motor system via an electric bus, allowing for easy addition or removal of containers and adaptive energy management, including geolocation and energy recovery systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the battery is placed in the trailer chassis, then the electrification system can be implemented, but the battery becomes difficult to remove or replace and requires specific moving means

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrification system implementationVSAvoidbattery removal and replacement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The battery is extracted from the trailer chassis and placed in the goods storage compartment instead. This allows the battery to be easily removed along with goods using standard handling equipment, eliminating the need for specific moving means while maintaining electrification functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The goods storage compartment serves dual purposes: it stores goods and accommodates the battery. This multi-functional use of space allows the battery to be handled as part of regular cargo operations, improving ease of removal and replacement without requiring dedicated battery handling systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If the battery is placed in the trailer chassis, then the electrification system can operate, but the size of the battery is limited and therefore the amount of electrical energy is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrification system operationVSAvoidamount of electrical energy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The battery placement moves from the constrained horizontal space of the trailer chassis to the vertical three-dimensional space of the goods storage compartment. This dimensional change allows for larger battery configurations that can store more electrical energy while still fitting within the overall trailer structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Duration of action of moving object

If additional batteries are added to increase autonomy, then the energy capacity increases, but the weight of the vehicle increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle autonomyVSAvoidvehicle weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The battery configuration becomes dynamic and adaptable - batteries can be added or removed from the goods storage compartment based on specific mission requirements. This allows optimization between autonomy and weight for different operational scenarios, rather than being fixed with always carrying maximum battery capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Stability of the object's composition

If the battery is integrated into the trailer structure, then the system is stable, but the electrification cannot be adapted according to needs and handling becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem stabilityVSAvoidelectrification adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The electrification system is segmented into modular battery units that can be independently added or removed from the goods storage compartment. This segmentation maintains system stability when batteries are present while enabling easy adaptation of the electrification configuration based on specific operational needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4296109A1Land vehicle or heavy goods vehicle trailer with removable electric energy container
Publication Date: 2023.12.27 IFP ENERGIES NOUVELLES
  • EP4296109A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4296109A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4296109A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a land vehicle (1) or a heavy goods vehicle trailer (3), which includes a goods storage compartment (4). At least one removable electrical power container (5) is arranged within the goods storage compartment (4), to power a motor system (7) connected to an axle (6) of the vehicle (1) or the trailer (3).