Shared Power Street Sweeper Engine System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Street sweeping vehicles often face operational disruptions due to chassis engine failures affecting non-driving functions, and energy loss during braking and deceleration is not reclaimed in existing systems.
Innovation Solution
A power delivery system that includes a chassis engine for driving functions and an auxiliary engine for non-driving functions, with a power boost system using hydraulic pumps and motors to share power and reclaim energy, allowing simultaneous powering of non-driving functions by both engines and recovering energy from vehicle movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the chassis engine is configured to separately provide power to non-driving functions, then the auxiliary engine can be designed at a smaller maximum output capacity, but a failure of the chassis engine system can prevent the operation of some or all of the non-driving functions
Solution Approach 1:
The power delivery system is segmented into two independent power sources: the chassis engine and the auxiliary engine. Each engine can independently power non-driving functions through its own power transmission device, ensuring that a failure in one system does not affect the other. This segmentation allows the auxiliary engine to be smaller while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the operational parameters of the two engines based on demand. The control system can adjust which engine powers which functions, and at what power levels, allowing flexible optimization of both engine size and reliability. The chassis engine can operate at lower power levels when the auxiliary engine is handling non-driving functions.
2Device complexity
If energy is not recaptured during braking and deceleration, then the system is simpler, but energy is lost to heat without being able to be recaptured
Solution Approach 1:
The system converts the harmful energy loss during braking and deceleration into useful energy. The power transmission device connected to the chassis engine acts as a generator during regenerative braking, converting the kinetic energy that would otherwise be lost to heat into electrical energy that can be stored and used to power vehicle functions.
Solution Approach 2:
A power transmission device serves as an intermediary between the chassis engine and the electrical system. This device can operate in multiple modes: as a motor to drive the generator during regenerative braking, and as a coupling mechanism to transfer power between the engines. This intermediary enables energy recovery without significantly increasing system complexity.
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
Enhances operational reliability by enabling simultaneous powering of non-driving functions with both engines and recapturing energy typically lost during braking and deceleration, allowing for a smaller auxiliary engine design and improved efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The power transmission devices are a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor, respectively. The first power transmission device may be coupled to a power output of the chassis engine while the second power transmission device may be coupled to a power output of the auxiliary engine.
Implementation Method 2
energy normally lost to heat during braking and deceleration of the vehicle is generally not able to be recaptured in these types of systems
Data Source
AI summary
A power delivery system for a vehicle is disclosed. In one embodiment, the power delivery system includes a chassis engine configured to power driving functions of the vehicle and an auxiliary engine configured to power non-driving hydraulic functions of the vehicle. The power delivery system may also include a power boost system comprising a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor in fluid communication with each other. The hydraulic pump may be coupled to a power output of the chassis engine while the hydraulic motor may be coupled to a power output of the auxiliary engine. In one embodiment, the power delivery system has a power sharing mode in which power is transferred from the chassis engine power output to the auxiliary engine power output via the hydraulic pump and motor such that the non-driving hydraulic functions of the vehicle are simultaneously powered by the chassis engine and the auxiliary engine.