Separate Battery Housing Layout for Work Vehicle Wheel Clearance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric work vehicles and tractors face limitations in battery storage capacity due to space constraints in their main housing, and they often lack separate battery housings to increase power storage efficiently without compromising motive operation, such as wheel turning.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a main body with separate first and second battery housings, each capable of holding multiple battery modules, with the housings spaced away from each other and overlapping partially to maximize space usage without hindering wheel movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If a single housing is used to store batteries in the main body, then the structure is simple, but the battery storage capacity is limited due to space constraints

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery storage capacityVSAvoidhousing structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The battery housing is divided into a first housing and a second housing that are separate from each other. The first housing stores first battery modules while the second housing stores second battery modules, allowing independent placement and expansion of battery capacity without requiring a single large housing structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first housing and second housing are positioned to overlap partially with each other, creating a nested-like configuration where the housings interlock spatially. This overlapping arrangement maximizes the use of available space within the vehicle body while maintaining separate battery compartments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Quantity of substance

If battery storage space is increased in the main body, then the power storage capacity improves, but the motive operation such as wheel turning is adversely affected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery storage capacityVSAvoidwheel turning operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the battery housing into first and second housings, the battery storage system can be configured to overlap rather than occupy the same space as moving components. This segmentation allows the battery modules to be positioned in locations that do not interfere with wheel turning radius and vehicle maneuverability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first and second housings are arranged to overlap in a spatial configuration that utilizes vertical and lateral dimensions rather than only horizontal space. This dimensional arrangement allows battery storage to be increased without expanding the vehicle's footprint or interfering with wheel movement in the horizontal plane.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS20250121704A1Work vehicle including side housing separate from main housing

Publication Date: 2025.04.17 KUBOTA CORP

AI summary

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a work vehicle includes a main body, at least one front wheel supported by the main body, at least one rear wheel supported by the main body, a first housing to house one or more first battery modules, a second housing to house one or more second battery modules, and a first side housing that is separate from the first housing and the second housing. The first housing at least partially overlaps the second housing.