Wireless Lift Battery Charging During Job Site Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aerial work platforms and mobile elevating work platforms transitioning to semi-electric or all-electric configurations face frequent recharging needs due to limited battery capacity, requiring efficient and convenient charging solutions during transportation.
Innovation Solution
A delivery vehicle equipped with tractive elements, a bed, an electrical power source, and wireless charging devices, including an inductive coil, that can wirelessly charge lift device batteries while en route to a destination, using a controller to monitor and manage battery states and initiate charging operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If lift devices use rechargeable batteries to transition to semi-electric or all-electric configurations, then environmental sustainability and operational flexibility are improved, but frequent recharging is required due to limited battery capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary charging actions by monitoring battery state of charge during transport and automatically initiating charging operations before the lift device reaches its destination, ensuring the battery is sufficiently charged in advance for immediate operational use
Solution Approach 2:
The charging operation continues uninterrupted during the transport phase, transforming previously idle transport time into productive charging time, thereby eliminating downtime and maintaining continuous useful action throughout the workflow
2Ease of operation
If the delivery vehicle is equipped with wireless charging devices and electrical power source, then charging convenience and productivity are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs automated monitoring and control where the controller independently detects battery state of charge levels and autonomously initiates and manages charging operations without manual intervention, making the complex system self-regulating and ease-to-operate
Solution Approach 2:
The delivery vehicle integrates multiple functions including transport, battery monitoring, and wireless charging capabilities into a single unified platform, allowing the vehicle to serve both delivery and charging purposes simultaneously, thereby justifying the added complexity through enhanced versatility
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
Ensures lift devices arrive at their destination with sufficient charge, enhancing productivity by utilizing downtime for charging and extending battery life through optimized charging management.
Implementation Method 1
The one or more wireless charging devices can be configured to wirelessly provide power to one or more rechargeable batteries of one or more lift devices positioned on the bed via an inductive coil
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle can include a plurality of tractive elements, a bed, an electrical power source including a battery assembly, one or more wireless charging devices electrically coupled with the electrical power source, and a controller communicably coupled with the electrical power source. The one or more wireless charging devices can be configured to wirelessly provide power to one or more rechargeable batteries of one or more lift devices positioned on the bed via an inductive coil. The controller can be configured to determine battery information regarding a state of charge of the battery assembly and a state of charge of the one or more rechargeable batteries of the one or more lift devices. The controller can be configured to initiate, based on the determined battery information, a charging operation to charge the one or more rechargeable batteries of the one or more lift devices via the inductive coil of the one or more wireless charging devices.