Refuse vehicle with range extension

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12384239-B2
Application number	US-202418751556-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 24, 2024
Priority date	Jul 31, 2019
Publication date	Aug 12, 2025
Grant date	Aug 12, 2025

Abstract

A range extension system for a refuse vehicle includes a battery, and a controller. The battery is configured to provide electrical energy for accessories of the refuse vehicle. The controller is configured to obtain a state of charge of the battery and limit operation of at least one of the accessories in response to the state of charge of the battery to extend a transportation range of the refuse vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A refuse vehicle, comprising:
a prime mover configured to drive tractive elements of the refuse vehicle;
a plurality of accessories configured to consume electrical energy;
a battery configured to provide electrical energy for the plurality of accessories; and
processing circuitry configured to limit operation of at least one of the plurality of accessories based on a state of charge of the battery to extend a transportation range of the refuse vehicle.

2. The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the refuse vehicle is a fully electric refuse vehicle and the prime mover an electric motor configured to consume electrical energy provided by the battery to drive one or more of the tractive elements for transportation of the refuse vehicle.

3. The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to limit operation of at least one of the plurality of accessories in response to the state of charge of the battery decreasing below a threshold value, wherein limiting operation of at least one of the plurality of accessories conserves energy discharge of the battery and extends the transportation range of the refuse vehicle.

4. The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a supplemental energy source, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to activate the supplemental energy source to charge the battery in response to the state of charge of the battery or to provide supplemental energy to the prime mover.

5. The refuse vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the supplemental energy source is any of:
an additional battery pack;
a fuel cell; or
an accessory power unit, comprising:
a plurality of tanks configured to store a fuel;
a generator configured to be driven to generate electrical energy to charge the battery; and
an engine configured to consume the fuel and drive the generator.

6. The refuse vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the fuel stored by the plurality of tanks is a compressed natural gas (CNG) and the engine is a CNG engine configured to consume the CNG to drive the generator.

7. The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a global positioning system (GPS) configured to provide a current geographical position of the refuse vehicle to the processing circuitry, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
determine an amount of energy required for the refuse vehicle to complete a collection route; and
limit operation of at least one of the plurality of accessories in response to the state of charge of the battery indicating that the battery is currently insufficient to provide the amount of energy required.

8. The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , wherein limiting operation of at least one of the plurality of accessories comprises at least one of:
restricting operation of a body function of the refuse vehicle;
causing subsequently performed operations of the body function of the refuse vehicle to be performed less frequently; or
shutting off power to the body function of the refuse vehicle.

9. A range extension system for a refuse vehicle, comprising:
a battery configured to provide electrical energy for a refuse accessory of the refuse vehicle; and
processing circuitry, configured to:
limit operation of the refuse accessory based on a state of charge of the battery to extend a transportation range of the refuse vehicle.

10. The range extension system of claim 9 , wherein the refuse vehicle is a fully electric refuse vehicle and a prime mover of the refuse vehicle is an electric motor configured to consume electrical energy provided by the battery to drive one or more tractive elements for transportation of the refuse vehicle.

11. The range extension system of claim 9 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to limit operation of the refuse accessory in response to the state of charge of the battery decreasing below a threshold value, wherein limiting operation of the refuse accessory conserves energy discharge of the battery and extends the transportation range of the refuse vehicle.

12. The range extension system of claim 9 , further comprising a supplemental energy source, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to activate the supplemental energy source to charge the battery in response to the state of charge of the battery or to provide supplemental energy to a prime mover of the refuse vehicle.

13. The range extension system of claim 12 , wherein the supplemental energy source is any of:
an additional battery pack;
a fuel cell; or
an accessory power unit comprising:
a plurality of tanks configured to store a fuel;
a generator configured to be driven to generate electrical energy to charge the battery; and
an engine configured to consume the fuel and drive the generator.

14. The range extension system of claim 13 , wherein the fuel stored by the plurality of tanks is a compressed natural gas (CNG) and the engine is a CNG engine configured to consume the CNG to drive the generator.

15. The range extension system of claim 9 , further comprising a global positioning system (GPS) configured to provide a current geographical position of the refuse vehicle to the processing circuitry, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
determine an amount of energy required for the refuse vehicle to complete a collection route; and
limit operation of at least one of the refuse accessory in response to the state of charge of the battery indicating that the battery is currently insufficient to provide the amount of energy required.

16. The range extension system of claim 9 , wherein limiting operation of the refuse accessory comprises any of:
restricting operation of a body function of the refuse vehicle;
reducing a frequency at which operations of the body function are performed; or
shutting off power to the body function of the refuse vehicle.

17. A method, comprising:
operating an accessory of a refuse vehicle using energy provided by an electrical storage system (ESS);
in response to a comparison between a state of charge of the ESS and a threshold indicating insufficient energy to transport the refuse vehicle to a location, at least one of:
limiting operation of the accessory of the refuse vehicle; or
activating a supplemental energy source to charge the ESS;
wherein limiting operation of the accessory of the refuse vehicle or activating the supplemental energy source increases a transportation range of the refuse vehicle;

in response to the comparison between the state of charge of the ESS and the threshold indicating sufficient energy to transport the refuse vehicle to the location:
continuing to operate the accessory of the refuse vehicle using energy provided by the ESS without limiting operation the accessory and without activating the supplemental energy source.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the supplemental energy source is any of:
an additional battery pack;
a fuel cell; or
an accessory power unit comprising:
a plurality of tanks configured to store a fuel;
a generator configured to be driven to generate electrical energy to charge the ESS; and
an engine configured to consume the fuel and drive the generator.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the fuel stored by the plurality of tanks is a compressed natural gas (CNG) and the engine is a CNG engine configured to consume the CNG to drive the generator.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein limiting operation of the accessory comprises any of:
restricting operation of a body function of the refuse veh

Assignees

• Oshkosh Corp

Inventors

• Yakes Christopher K
• Nasr Nader
• Messina Robert S
• Rocholl Joshua D
• Wente Derek A
• Hoover Vincent
• Klein Zachary L
• Weckwerth Clinton T
• Wachter Skylar A
• Koga Jeff
• Davis Emily

Classifications

• B60L1/003

  to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors · CPC title

• B65F3/041 Primary

  Pivoted arms or pivoted carriers · CPC title

• B65F2003/025

  Constructional features relating to actuating means for lifting or tipping containers · CPC title

• Y02W30/10

  Waste collection, transportation, transfer or storage, e.g. segregated refuse collecting, electric or hybrid propulsion · CPC title

• Y02T10/70

  Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries · CPC title