Patent classifications
B28C5/4227
ELECTRIC CONCRETE VEHICLE SYSTEMS AND METHODS
An electrified vehicle include a chassis, a front axle coupled to the chassis, a rear axle coupled to the chassis, an electric motor supported by the chassis, and a trailer coupled to a rear end of the chassis and configured to be towed by the electrified vehicle. The electric motor is configured to drive at least one of the front axle, the rear axle, or a component of the electrified vehicle. The trailer includes a trailer frame, a trailer axle coupled to the trailer frame, and an energy storage device supported by the trailer frame. The energy storage device includes a plurality of batteries. The energy storage device configured to power the electric motor.
Electric concrete vehicle systems and methods
A concrete mixer vehicle includes a chassis, a tractive assembly coupled to the chassis and configured to propel the concrete mixer vehicle, a mixing drum rotatably coupled to the chassis, and an electromagnetic device configured to convert electrical energy to mechanical energy to drive the tractive assembly. In a first configuration, a first battery module is removably coupled to the chassis and configured to provide the electrical energy to the electromagnetic device, and in a second configuration, the first battery module is removed from the chassis and replaced with a second battery module, the second battery module removably coupled to the chassis and configured to provide the electrical energy to the electromagnetic device.
Electric concrete vehicle systems and methods
A concrete mixer truck includes a chassis, a plurality of tractive assemblies coupled to the chassis, a mixing drum rotatably coupled to the chassis, the mixing drum defining an internal volume configured to contain material and an aperture through which the material can enter and exit the internal volume, an energy storage device positioned at a rear end of the chassis and configured to provide electrical energy, and an electromagnetic device electrically coupled to the energy storage device, where the electromagnetic device is configured to receive the electrical energy from the energy storage device and provide mechanical energy to drive at least one of the plurality of tractive assemblies to propel the concrete mixer truck.
HYDRAULIC CIRCUIT ARCHITECTURE WITH ENHANCED OPERATION EFFICENCY
The present disclosure relates to a hydraulic drive system having a hydraulic circuit architecture operable in first and second modes. In a first mode, a main hydraulic pump (22) is used to drive a hydraulic actuator (24) via a closed hydraulic circuit, and a charge pump (42) provides charge flow to the closed hydraulic circuit. In a second mode the main pump set to zero displacement and the charge pump (42) is used to drive the hydraulic actuator (24).
Multi-function joystick for concrete mixer vehicle
A controller for a concrete mixer vehicle includes a base, an elongated shaft extending from the base, and a control portion positioned at free end of the elongated shaft. The control portion has a grip portion and a button interface providing at least one of a plurality of controls. The plurality of controls facilitate selectively operating (i) a hopper actuator to reposition a charge hopper between a first position and a second position, (ii) a first chute actuator to pivot a chute about a lateral axis to raise and lower a distal end of the chute, (iii) a second chute actuator to pivot the chute about a vertical axis to move the distal end left and right, (iv) a drum driver to control at least one of a speed or a rotational direction of a mixing drum, and (v) a transmission of the concrete mixer vehicle in one of a plurality of modes.
MIXER DRUM DRIVE WITH VARIABLE DISPLACEMENT MOTOR
A drum drive system includes a controller configured to selectively control an engine, a variable displacement pump, and a variable displacement motor of a vehicle to provide a target drum speed for a drum of the vehicle. To provide the target drum speed, the controller is configured to: (i) initially operate the variable displacement motor at a maximum motor displacement and operate the variable displacement pump at a pump displacement that provides the target drum speed without needing to actively manipulate an engine speed of the engine; (ii) increase the pump displacement and decrease a motor displacement without needing to actively manipulate the engine speed while still providing the target drum speed; and (iii) increase the engine speed in response to the pump displacement reaching a maximum pump displacement and the motor displacement reaching a minimum motor displacement if necessary to maintain the target drum speed.
Mixer drum drive with variable displacement motor
A vehicle includes an engine, a drum, a drum drive system, and a control system coupled to the engine and the drum drive system. The drum drive system includes a pump and a motor. The pump is mechanically coupled to the engine and configured to pump a fluid through a hydraulic system. The pump has a variable pump displacement. The motor is fluidly coupled to the pump by the hydraulic system and positioned to drive the drum to agitate the drum contents. The motor has a variable motor displacement. The control system is configured to receive pressure data indicative of a pressure of the fluid within the hydraulic system, reduce the variable motor displacement in response to the pressure of the fluid being less than a threshold system pressure, and reduce a speed of the engine based on the reduction of the variable motor displacement.
ELECTRIC VEHICLE WITH ACCESSORY MODULE
A vehicle includes a chassis, tractive elements coupled to the chassis, an electric motor coupled to the chassis and coupled to the tractive elements such that the electric motor drives the tractive elements to propel the vehicle, an accessory module coupled to the chassis and coupled to an output of the electric motor. The accessory module is configured to receive mechanical energy provided by the electric motor and provide at least one of electrical energy or fluid energy.
ELECTRIC CONCRETE VEHICLE SYSTEMS AND METHODS
A concrete mixer truck includes a chassis, a plurality of tractive assemblies coupled to the chassis, a mixing drum rotatably coupled to the chassis, the mixing drum defining an internal volume configured to contain material and an aperture through which the material can enter and exit the internal volume, an energy storage device positioned at a rear end of the chassis and configured to provide electrical energy, and an electromagnetic device electrically coupled to the energy storage device, where the electromagnetic device is configured to receive the electrical energy from the energy storage device and provide mechanical energy to drive at least one of the plurality of tractive assemblies to propel the concrete mixer truck.
ELECTRIC CONCRETE VEHICLE SYSTEMS AND METHODS
A concrete mixer vehicle includes a chassis, a tractive assembly coupled to the chassis and configured to propel the concrete mixer vehicle, a mixing drum rotatably coupled to the chassis, and an electromagnetic device configured to convert electrical energy to mechanical energy to drive the tractive assembly. In a first configuration, a first battery module is removably coupled to the chassis and configured to provide the electrical energy to the electromagnetic device, and in a second configuration, the first battery module is removed from the chassis and replaced with a second battery module, the second battery module removably coupled to the chassis and configured to provide the electrical energy to the electromagnetic device.