Container-swappable vehicle and control method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12497112-B2
Application number	US-202217981315-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 4, 2022
Priority date	Jun 28, 2022
Publication date	Dec 16, 2025
Grant date	Dec 16, 2025

Abstract

A container-swappable vehicle includes a container including a container body for receiving a cargo loaded therein, a rotation shaft at a front end portion or a rear end portion thereof, and a coupling body surrounding an external circumferential surface of the rotation shaft, the rotation shaft and the coupling body being connected to each other to be relatively rotated therebetween; and a drive module including a drive device to perform driving, a coupling space including an open side, and a magnetic module provided in the coupling space to allow the coupling body of the container to enter the coupling space through an opening portion by driving toward the coupling body of the container and move the container through driving by the magnetic module being fastened to the coupling body by magnetic force.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A container-swappable vehicle comprising:
a container including a container body for receiving a cargo loaded therein, and a rotation shaft at a front end portion or a rear end portion thereof and a coupling body surrounding an external circumferential surface of the rotation shaft, the rotation shaft and the coupling body being connected to each other to be relatively rotated therebetween; and a drive module including a drive device to perform driving, a coupling space including an open side, and a magnetic module provided in the coupling space to allow the coupling body of the container to enter the coupling space through an opening portion and move the container by the magnetic module being fastened to the coupling body by magnetic force, wherein the magnetic module includes a module body coupled to the coupling body, a rotational magnetic body rotatably coupled to the module body, a fixed magnetic body fixed to the module body, and a coil wound around and electrically connected to the module body, to be configured for coupling to or uncoupling from the coupling body by changing a magnetic circuit through a direction of a magnetic field formed by the coil.

2 . The container-swappable vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the container includes a bearing provided between the coupling body surrounding the rotation shaft and the rotation shaft so that the coupling body relatively rotates with the coupling body.

3 . The container-swappable vehicle of claim 1 ,
wherein the container includes an extension portion extending from an upper portion of a front side or a rear side of the container body, and the rotation shaft and the coupling body extend downwardly from a lower surface of the extension portion, and wherein the drive module drives toward a lower portion of the extension portion to allow the coupling body to be inserted into the coupling space.

4 . The container-swappable vehicle of claim 3 ,
wherein the container includes a first location detection sensor provided on the extension portion or the container body, and wherein the drive module includes a second location detection sensor provided at a location corresponding to the first location detection sensor and configured for detecting a relative location with the first location detection sensor.

5 . The container-swappable vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the first location detection sensor is provided on the lower surface of the extension portion and a front surface or a rear surface of the container body and a plurality of second location detection sensors are provided to correspond to the location of the first location detection sensor to align locations of the container and the drive module.

6 . The container-swappable vehicle of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of magnetic modules are provided in the coupling space to be coupled to the coupling body in a plurality of directions.

7 . The container-swappable vehicle of claim 1 ,
wherein the drive module further includes a moving portion rotatably coupled to opposite end portions of the open side of the coupling space and including the magnetic module disposed therein, and an actuator configured to rotate the moving portion, and wherein when the coupling body is inserted into the coupling space, the moving portion is rotated toward the coupling body by the actuator, and the magnetic module is fastened to the coupling body.

8 . The container-swappable vehicle of claim 7 ,
wherein two moving portions rotatably fastened to the opposite end portions is formed in the coupling space, and three magnetic modules are provided, and wherein two magnetic modules among the three magnetic modules are paired with the two moving portions and a remaining magnetic module is disposed between the two magnetic modules.

9 . The container-swappable vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the drive module includes a contact portion coming in contact with the rotation shaft and an actuator configured to move the contact portion to be in contact with or separated from the rotation shaft.

10 . The container-swappable vehicle of claim 1 ,
wherein the container includes a first connection module penetrating through the inside of the rotation shaft in an upward and downward direction and formed on an internal circumferential surface thereof, and wherein the drive module includes a second connection module inserted into the first connection module to connect the drive module and the container, and an actuator configured to move the second connection module in an upward and downward direction to be coupled to or decoupled from the first connection module.

11 . The container-swappable vehicle of claim 10 ,
wherein the container includes a battery portion configured to store power, and wherein each of the first connection module and the second connection module includes a signal connection portion electrically connected to input and output a control signal therethrough, and a power connection portion configured to input and output power therethrough.

12 . The container-swappable vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the rotation shaft and a fastening portion are provided on a front side and a rear side of the container, and a plurality of drive modules are provided to be connected to the front side and the rear side of the container to perform driving.

13 . The container-swappable vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the drive module drives toward the container so that the coupling body is inserted into the open coupling space and the magnetic module is fixed after the coupling body is inserted into the coupling space, and moves the container through driving.

14 . A method of controlling the container-swappable vehicle of claim 1 , comprising:
identifying respective locations of the drive module and the container; based on locations of the drive module and the container identified in the identifying locations, moving the drive module toward the container so that the coupling body is inserted into the coupling space; and coupling the drive module and the container by operating the magnetic module.

15 . The method of controlling claim 14 , further including:
connecting the drive module and the container in terms of power and a control signal after the coupling.

16 . The method of controlling claim 14 , further including:
identifying a drive direction of the drive module after the coupling; and controlling a contact portion coming in contact with a rotation shaft according to straight driving or turning driving of the drive module identified in the identifying of the drive direction, and an actuator configured to move the contact portion to be in contact with or separated from the rotation shaft.

17 . A container-swappable vehicle comprising:
a container including a container body for receiving a cargo loaded therein, and a rotation shaft at a front end portion or a rear end portion thereof and a coupling body surrounding an external circumferential surface of the rotation shaft, the rotation shaft and the coupling body being connected to each other to be relatively rotated therebetween; and a drive module including a drive device to perform driving, a coupling space including an open side, and a magnetic module provided in the coupling space to allow the coupling body of the container to enter the coupling space through an opening portion and move the container by the magnetic module being fastened to the coupling body by magnetic force, wherein an indented portion is formed on the coupling body to be indented from an external circumferential surface to the cent

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Corp

Inventors

• Hwang Jin Ho
• Cha Dong Eun
• Lee Sang Heon

Classifications

• B62D53/08

  Fifth wheel traction couplings {(tractors for handling trailers in terminals B62D49/007)} · CPC title

• H02P15/00

  Arrangements for controlling dynamo-electric brakes or clutches (vector control H02P21/00) · CPC title

• H02K49/104

  Magnetic couplings consisting of only two coaxial rotary elements, i.e. the driving element and the driven element · CPC title

• B62D53/0842

  King pins · CPC title

• B62D53/005

  Combinations with at least three axles and comprising two or more articulated parts (articulated buses B62D47/025) · CPC title