Vehicle Attachment Power Storage for Supplemental Energy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Work vehicles often face power supply issues when executing tasks with attached implements, as the power demands of the implement can detract from the vehicle's primary functions or exceed the onboard power source's capabilities, leading to inadequate power for other tractor operations.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle attachment system that includes an electric machine and energy storage device, capable of receiving mechanical power from the onboard source, generating and storing electric power, and transferring it back to the vehicle or implement as needed, with a supervisory controller monitoring parameters to manage power flow and storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If an energy storage device is added to provide supplemental power, then on-demand power delivery is enabled, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveon-demand power delivery capabilityVSAvoidattachment system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The energy storage device is designed to perform multiple functions: storing electrical energy, delivering supplemental power to the implement, and potentially recovering energy during regenerative braking or downhill operations. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by providing versatile power management capabilities that benefit both vehicle and implement operations.

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

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 on-demand supplemental power delivery and storage of excess power, allowing lower-power vehicles to handle high-power applications by providing additional power when needed, thereby enhancing operational capabilities without compromising primary functions.

Implementation Method 1

The electric machine may be configured to: receive mechanical power from the onboard power source via the power transfer connection(s); utilize the received mechanical power to generate electric power

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

receive electric power from the electric storage device for conversion to mechanical power; and transfer the converted mechanical power to the vehicle and/or the implement associated with the vehicle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP2891567B1Supplemental power attachment for a vehicle
Publication Date: 2020.01.15 DEERE & CO
  • EP2891567B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2891567B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2891567B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A vehicle attachment (12) and control system (36) for a vehicle attachment are described. The attachment (12) includes a chassis (22) configured to be attached to a vehicle (10) with an onboard power source (14). The attachment includes an attachment power source (30) supported by the chassis and an energy storage device (34) supported by the chassis and configured to receive power from the attachment power source. The attachment includes a control system (36) configured to transmit a signal to, and receive a signal from, the attachment power source (30) and/or the energy storage device (34). The control system, the attachment power source, and the energy storage device are configured to provide power from the attachment power source and the energy storage device, via power transfer connections (20), between the vehicle (10), or an associated implement (16), and the attachment power source or the energy storage device.