Modular Road Construction Machine Drive for Multi-Energy Compliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manufacturers face challenges in producing road construction machinery that can adapt to varying energy sources and emissions regulations across different countries, leading to high costs due to the need for multiple machine types.
Innovation Solution
A road construction machine with a modular primary drive system that can be easily interchangeable between different power sources, including internal combustion engines, fuel cells, batteries, and external power sources, using a buffer battery and power converters to manage energy distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manufacturers produce multiple machine types to adapt to different energy sources and emissions regulations, then adaptability to local regulations is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The road construction machine is designed with a universal chassis and working units that can accommodate multiple primary drive systems (diesel engine, electric motor, hydrogen fuel cell) through a standardized interface. This allows a single machine type to fulfill multiple functions across different regulatory environments without requiring separate machine designs for each energy source or emissions standard.
Solution Approach 2:
The machine is divided into separable modules: a permanent chassis with working units and an interchangeable primary drive system. The primary drive system can be detached and replaced independently, allowing manufacturers to produce one base machine type and then segment the drive system into replaceable components that adapt to different regional requirements.
2Ease of manufacture
If a single machine type with interchangeable primary drive system is used, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A universal interface design allows the same chassis and control system to work with different primary drive systems (diesel, electric, hydrogen). The standardized mounting points, connection interfaces, and control architecture reduce the overall system complexity by providing a common framework that simplifies the integration of various drive types.
Solution Approach 2:
The primary drive system is extracted as a separate, self-contained module that can be removed and replaced without affecting the rest of the machine. This extraction isolates the complexity to a single replaceable component, making the overall system management simpler despite the variety of available drive options.
3Adaptability or versatility
If different primary drive systems are designed for different countries, then compliance with local emissions standards is improved, but product variety increases leading to higher production costs
Solution Approach 1:
The machine platform provides universal compliance capability by accepting different primary drive systems through a standardized interface. A single machine design can be configured with diesel engines for regions with relaxed emissions standards, electric motors for zero-emission zones, or hydrogen fuel cells for future-proof compliance, all while maintaining the same chassis and working units.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows dynamic adaptation of the primary drive configuration based on operational requirements and regulatory environments. The interchangeable drive modules enable the machine to dynamically adjust its power source to match local emissions standards and energy infrastructure availability.
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
Enables a single machine type to be adapted to local energy sources and emissions standards, reducing manufacturing costs and allowing flexible operation based on available energy sources and regulations.
Implementation Method 1
The road construction machine can be equipped with a buffer battery. This buffer battery allows for the balancing of peak loads and power demands.
Implementation Method 2
The first power converter can be a first inverter, a first rectifier, or a first converter. A first power converter may be required if the current supplied by the primary drive system does not match the current that can be stored in the buffer battery or the current required by the individual drives.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a road construction machine (1, 2) comprising a chassis (3), a running gear (4), several working units (A, 5, 6, 7, 8) for installing or removing a road surface (ES) and/or conveying an installation material (B), one or more individual drives (10) which are particularly designed to drive the running gear (4) and/or the working units (A, 5, 6, 7, 8), a primary drive system (9) for driving the one or more individual drives (10) of the road construction machine (1, 2), and an interface (12) which is designed to connect the primary drive system (9) to the one or more individual drives (10) in a coupling manner, in particular to enable the supply of power to the one or more individual drives (10) from the primary drive system (9), and wherein the primary drive system (9) is designed to be interchangeable.