Sleeper Cab Battery Cavity Layout for Aerodynamic Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing configuration of sleeper cabs in electric vehicles, particularly in heavy trucks, faces challenges in maximizing space for energy storage systems due to aerodynamic inefficiencies and safety concerns related to battery placement.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves integrating an energy storage system receptacle box within the sleeper compartment of the sleeper cab, where the receptacle box extends inward from the side walls or floor, creating a cavity isolated from the sleeper compartment. This configuration allows at least a portion of the energy storage system to be located above the floor, optimizing space usage while ensuring safety and aerodynamic performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If batteries are mounted on a gantry behind the sleeper cab, then space for energy storage is provided, but aerodynamic performance degrades due to airflow through the gap
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the energy storage system mounting with the sleeper cab structure by integrating batteries into the sleeper cab's floor cavity or side wall cavity, eliminating the separate gantry structure. This consolidation removes the gap between the sleeper cab and trailer, thereby improving aerodynamic performance while providing sufficient space for energy storage within the integrated design.
2Quantity of substance
If batteries are mounted on a gantry behind the sleeper cab, then energy storage capacity is increased, but safety is compromised due to gantry swinging into the back of the cab during a crash
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the energy storage system from the external gantry structure and relocates it into the sleeper cab's internal cavity space. This repositioning removes the safety hazard of the gantry swinging into the cab during crashes, while the energy storage system remains securely mounted within the protected cavity space of the sleeper cab structure.
3Quantity of substance
If sleeper cab space is used for housing energy storage system, then space utilization is improved, but sleeping space is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the vertical dimension and lateral cavity spaces within the sleeper cab structure (floor cavity, side wall cavity) to house the energy storage system. This three-dimensional space utilization allows the batteries to be accommodated within the structural cavities of the sleeper cab without encroaching on the horizontal sleeping area, thereby maintaining both space utilization efficiency and adequate sleeping space.
Data Source
AI summary
A sleeper cab for an electric vehicle. The sleeper compartment is provided with side walls, a floor, and a bunk space. The bunk space is provided with an energy storage system receptacle box. The energy storage system receptacle box is provided with a receptacle box wall that extends inward into the sleeper compartment from at least one of the side walls or the floor and that includes a sleeper compartment facing side and cavity defining side opposite the sleeper compartment facing side, the cavity defining side defining a cavity that extends into the sleeper compartment from at least one of the side walls or the floor and that is isolated from the sleeper compartment by the receptacle box wall. At least a portion of an energy storage system is inserted into the cavity so that at least a portion of the energy storage system is located above the floor.