Electric Work Vehicle Battery Cover Layout for Longer Range

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric work vehicles face challenges in accommodating large-capacity batteries due to space constraints, limiting travel distance, and requiring additional members for cover holding, which increases production costs.

Innovation Solution

The battery is not accommodated by the cover member, allowing a large battery to be included, with the cover member and battery cover having a continuous outer shape, and the cover member being swingable or slidable to avoid obstacles, and featuring an inspection opening for easy maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of moving object

If the battery capacity is increased to extend travel distance, then the travel distance is improved, but the battery size increases making it difficult to accommodate within the cover member

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetravel distanceVSAvoidbattery size
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The battery is extracted from the cover member's accommodation space and positioned independently on the vehicle body. This separation allows the battery to be sized according to travel distance requirements without being constrained by the cover member's internal volume, directly resolving the contradiction between extended travel duration and battery volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Stability of the object's composition

If a dedicated holding member is added to secure the cover member, then the cover member stability is improved, but the device complexity and production cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecover member stabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cover member is merged with the battery cover into a single integrated component. This combination eliminates the need for separate holding members to secure the cover, as the battery cover itself provides the necessary support and attachment functions, thereby reducing structural complexity while maintaining stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The battery cover is designed to serve multiple functions: it protects the battery, provides structural support for the cover member, and eliminates the need for dedicated holding members. This multi-functionality approach reduces the overall number of components required in the system.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3988432B1Electric work vehicle
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 KUBOTA CORP
  • EP3988432B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3988432B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3988432B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An electric work vehicle A includes: a driver section 3 that an operator is able to enter; a battery 4 forward of the driver section 3; a motor M drivable on electric power supplied by the battery 4; a travel device 10, 11 drivable by the motor M; a cover member 12 having an accommodation space inside and capable of being opened and closed, wherein the battery 4 includes: an electricity storage E to store electric power; and a battery cover 40 hermetically accommodating the electricity storage E, and the battery cover 40 has an outer wall surface as part of the exterior of the electric work vehicle. (Fig. 1)