Power architecture for a vehicle such as an off-highway vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11697349-B2
Application number	US-202117443776-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 27, 2021
Priority date	Jul 12, 2018
Publication date	Jul 11, 2023
Grant date	Jul 11, 2023

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a power distribution architecture for an off-road vehicle. The power distribution architecture includes a work circuit and a propel circuit and is configured for facilitating bi-directional power exchange between the work circuit and the propel circuit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A power distribution architecture for an off-road vehicle, the power distribution architecture comprising:
a work circuit including a plurality of motion control units configured to be fluidly connected to separate hydraulic actuators, the motion control units each including an electric motor/generator mechanically coupled to a pump/motor;
an electrical bus for providing electrical power to each of the electric motors/generators;
a common pressure rail for providing hydraulic power to each of the motion control units; and
a prime mover which directs power through a power take-off to a mechanical transmission for driving propulsion of the vehicle, wherein the prime mover also is coupled to a mechanical power take-off to a pump for pressurizing the common pressure rail.

2. The power distribution architecture of claim 1 , further comprising a hydraulic accumulator in fluid communication with the common pressure rail.

3. The power distribution architecture of claim 1 , further comprising a first battery corresponding to the work circuit that is electrically connected to the electrical bus.

4. The power distribution architecture of claim 1 , wherein the electrical bus is a DC electrical bus.

5. The power distribution architecture of claim 1 , wherein the mechanical power take-off transfers power from the prime mover to the electric motor/generator, and wherein the mechanical power take-off and the electric generator allow braking energy to be re-routed to the work circuit.

6. The power distribution architecture of claim 1 , wherein the prime mover drives the electric motor/generator for energizing the electrical bus.

7. A power distribution architecture for an off-road vehicle, the power distribution architecture comprising:
a work circuit including a plurality of motion control units configured to be fluidly connected to separate hydraulic actuators, the motion control units each including an electric motor/generator mechanically coupled to a pump/motor;
an electrical bus for providing electrical power to each of the electric motors/generators;
a common pressure rail for providing hydraulic power to each of the motion control units; and
a prime mover which drives an electric generator for providing electrical power to a motor drive of an electric traction motor of a propel circuit of the vehicle, wherein the prime mover also is coupled by a mechanical power take-off to a pump for pressurizing the common pressure rail, wherein the motor drive is configured to direct a DC output along a DC power line to a power distribution unit, wherein the power distribution unit electrically connects the DC power line to the electrical bus and provides DC-DC power conversion such that the DC electrical bus has a lower DC voltage than the DC power line, and wherein the power distribution unit allows for bi-directional electrical power transfer between the DC power line and the DC electrical bus.

8. The power distribution architecture of claim 7 , further comprising:
a first battery corresponding to the work circuit that is electrically connected to the electrical bus; and
a second battery coupled to the DC power line, the second battery having a higher voltage than the first battery.

9. A power distribution architecture for an off-road vehicle, the power distribution architecture comprising:
a work circuit including a plurality of motion control units configured to be fluidly connected to separate hydraulic actuators, the motion control units each including an electric motor/generator mechanically coupled to a pump/motor;
an electrical bus for providing electrical power to each of the electric motors/generators;
a common pressure rail for providing hydraulic power to each of the motion control units; and
a prime mover which drives an electric generator for providing electrical power to a motor drive of an electric traction motor of a propel circuit of the vehicle, wherein the motor drive is configured to direct a DC output along a DC power line to a power distribution unit, wherein the power distribution unit electrically connects the DC power line to the electrical bus and provides DC-DC power conversion such that the electrical bus has a lower DC voltage than the DC power line, wherein the power distribution unit allows for bi-directional electrical power transfer between the DC power line and the DC electrical bus, and wherein the DC power line powers an electric pump/motor for pressurizing the common pressure rail.

10. The power distribution architecture of claim 9 , further comprising:
a first battery corresponding to the work circuit that is electrically connected to the electrical bus; and
a second battery coupled to the DC power line, the second battery having a higher voltage than the first battery.

11. A power distribution architecture for an off-road vehicle, the power distribution architecture comprising:
a work circuit including a plurality of motion control units configured to be fluidly connected to separate hydraulic actuators, the motion control units each including an electric motor/generator mechanically coupled to a pump/motor;
an electrical bus for providing electrical power to each of the electric motors/generators;
a common pressure rail for providing hydraulic power to each of the motion control units;
a first battery corresponding to the work circuit that is electrically connected to the electrical bus; and
a prime mover which drives a first electric generator for providing electrical power to a motor drive of an electric traction motor of a propel circuit of the vehicle, wherein the motor drive is configured to direct a DC output along a DC power line, wherein the DC power line powers an electric pump/motor for pressurizing the common pressure rail.

12. The power distribution architecture of claim 11 , further comprising a second battery coupled to the DC power line, the second battery having a higher voltage than the first battery.

13. The power distribution architecture of claim 11 , wherein the prime mover drives a second electric generator that energizes the electrical bus, and wherein the electrical bus has a DC voltage that is lower than a DC voltage of the DC power line.

Assignees

• Danfoss As

Inventors

• Wang Meng
• Shah Jalpa
• Piyabongkarn Damrongrit

Classifications

• B60L50/60

  using power supplied by batteries (in combination with fuel cells B60L50/75) · CPC title

• B60L15/04

  using DC · CPC title

• B60L2210/10

  DC to DC converters · CPC title

• H02P27/06

  using DC to AC converters or inverters (H02P27/05 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60L50/10 Primary

  using propulsion power supplied by engine-driven generators, e.g. generators driven by combustion engines · CPC title