Shuttle Battery Decentralized Charging for Remote Devices
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Electric batteries used in remote locations or far from charging stations face challenges in recharging, leading to high logistical efforts and downtime, as existing solutions either require frequent transportation of batteries or long-distance movement to charging stations, which are often not feasible.
Innovation Solution
A method and system where a shuttle battery, charged at a remote station, periodically recharges consumer batteries by being transported to them and then recharged itself, allowing for decentralized and efficient power supply, with the option to recharge multiple batteries before returning to the station.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a consumer battery is replaced with a charged one using a dedicated supply vehicle, then the consumer battery can be recharged, but separate supply vehicles and significant logistical and personnel resources are required
Solution Approach 1:
The shuttle vehicle is equipped with both a consumer battery for its primary function (transporting passengers or goods) and a shuttle battery for the secondary function of charging consumer batteries. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated supply vehicles, as the same shuttle vehicle performs both transportation and power supply tasks during its regular routes.
Solution Approach 2:
The shuttle vehicle serves itself by using its own shuttle battery to recharge its consumer battery and the consumer batteries of other shuttle vehicles during scheduled stops. This self-service capability reduces dependence on external charging infrastructure and dedicated support vehicles, particularly benefiting remote operations.
2Reliability
If the consumer unit containing the consumer battery is transported to a charging station, then the battery can be recharged, but significant downtime for the consumer unit occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The shuttle battery is charged in advance at charging stations during off-peak hours or when the shuttle vehicle is not in service. This preliminary charging action ensures that the shuttle battery is ready to provide power to consumer batteries during operational periods, eliminating the need to interrupt service for charging.
Solution Approach 2:
The shuttle battery acts as an intermediary energy carrier between the charging station and the consumer battery. Instead of directly connecting the consumer battery to the charging station (which would require transporting the consumer unit), the shuttle battery mediates the energy transfer by being charged at the station and then charging the consumer battery during regular shuttle operations.
3Ease of operation
If consumer batteries are charged at remote locations without power grid connection, then power supply is enabled, but decentralized charging helps prevent short-term grid overload
Solution Approach 1:
The centralized grid charging process is segmented into distributed charging events occurring at multiple locations and times. Instead of one large charging operation at a central station, the shuttle battery distributes energy to multiple consumer batteries during its regular route stops, spreading the energy demand across different time periods and locations, thereby preventing peak grid overload.
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
This approach ensures continuous readiness of consumer batteries, reduces downtime, and avoids peak electrical loads by decentralizing charging, allowing for efficient power transfer and data transmission without relying on radio or internet connections.
Implementation Method 1
a shuttle battery (2A), in particular a component of a shuttle vehicle (2), periodically recharges the consumer battery (1A)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a
Figure 2b
AI summary
In order to be able to electrically operate a consumer work device (1) that is constantly located on the apron, e.g. a high-loader (4), it is proposed according to the invention to periodically recharge the consumer battery (1A) from a shuttle battery (2A) which is housed in a shuttle vehicle (2) which the consumer work device (1) is constantly moving around anyway.