System and method for all electrical operation of a mining haul truck

• US 10,286,787 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2013
• Issued: 05/14/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Large Drives LLC
• Original Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Mazumdar, Joy
• Primary Examiner(s): Dhakal, Bickey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Imtiaz, Zoheb
• Application Number:
  US14/038,995
• Publication Number:
  US 20150090554A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,055 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/40 Working vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 5/00 Current collectors for power supply lines of electrically-propelled vehicles current collectors in general H01R41/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/53 in combination with an external power supply, e.g. from overhead contact lines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 9/00 Electric propulsion with power supply external to the vehicle electric propulsion for monorail vehicles, suspension vehicles or rack railways B60L13/00; in combination with batteries or fuel cells within the vehicle B60L50/53
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 3/14 by regenerative braking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A mining haul truck driven by electrical wheel motors is operated with all electrical power sources; that is, without a diesel engine. While travelling on the loading site, the mining haul truck is powered by an on-board energy storage system, which can comprise a bank of ultracapacitors. The mining haul truck then moves to the bottom of a trolley ramp and is coupled to trolley lines. While travelling uphill, the mining haul truck is powered by the trolley lines, and the on-board energy storage system is charged by the trolley lines. When the mining haul truck reaches the top of the trolley ramp, the mining haul truck is uncoupled from the trolley lines. While travelling on the unloading site, the mining haul truck is powered by the on-board energy storage system. The on-board energy storage system can also be charged by retard energy generated by the wheel motors during braking.

Claims

1. A method for supplying electrical power to an electrical motor on an all electrically powered mining haul truck, the method comprising initially charging an on-board energy storage system with electrical power from a charging station or a trolley power system while the mining haul truck is coupled to first trolley lines of the trolley power system;

uncoupling the mining haul truck from the charging station or the first trolley lines; and

supplying electrical power to the electrical motor from the on-board energy storage system while the mining haul truck is uncoupled from the charging station or the first trolley lines and travelling within a first region, coupling the mining haul truck to second trolley lines of a trolley ramp, supplying electrical power to the electrical motor and charging the on-board energy storage system from the second trolley lines while the mining haul truck travels along the trolley ramp, uncoupling the mining haul truck from the second trolley lines, and supplying electrical power to the electrical motor from the on-board energy storage system while the mining haul truck is uncoupled from the second trolley lines and travelling within a second region, wherein the mining haul truck is propelled by electrical power supplied by the trolley power system alone, or by the on-board energy storage system alone, or a combination of the trolley power system and the on-board energy storage system, without mechanical power supplied by a mechanical engine to propel the mining haul truck.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the on-board energy storage system comprises at least one ultracapacitor.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the on-board energy storage system comprises at least one battery.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

supplying electrical power to the electrical motor from the trolley power system while the mining haul truck is travelling on an uphill grade when travelling along the trolley ramp.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of wherein:

the mining haul truck is travelling on a downhill grade when travelling along the trolley ramp.

6. The method of claim 1, further:

charging the on-board energy storage system with electrical power generated by the electrical motor during braking of the mining haul truck.

7. The method of claim 4, further:

charging the on-board energy storage system with electrical power generated by the electrical motor during braking of the mining haul truck.

8. The method of claim 5, further:

charging the on-board energy storage system with electrical power generated by the electrical motor during braking of the mining haul truck.

9. An electrical power system for supplying electrical power to an electrical motor on an all electrically powered mining haul truck, the electrical power system comprising:

an on-board energy storage system;

an inverter configured to;

receive electrical power from the on-board electrical energy storage system;

receive electrical power from a trolley power system; and

supply electrical power to the electrical motor; and

a controller configured to;

Initially charge the on-board energy storage system with electrical power from a charging station or the trolley power system while the mining haul truck is coupled to first trolley lines of the trolley power system; and

supply electrical power to the electrical motor from the on-board energy storage system while the mining truck is uncoupled from the charging station or the first trolley lines and traveling within a first region,

supply electrical power to the electrical motor and charge the on-board energy storage system by the second trolley lines of the trolley power system while the mining haul truck travels along a trolley ramp, and supply electrical power to the electrical motor from the on-board energy storage system while the mining haul truck is uncoupled from the second trolley lines and travelling within a second region, wherein the mining haul truck is configured to be propelled by electrical power supplied by at least one of the trolley power system alone, the on-board energy storage system alone, or a combination thereof without mechanical power supplied by a mechanical engine to propel the mining haul truck.

10. The electrical power system of claim 9, wherein:

the on-board energy storage system comprises at least one ultracapacitor.

11. The electrical power system of claim 9, wherein:

the on-board energy storage system comprises at least one battery.

12. The electrical power system of claim 9, wherein:

the on-board energy storage system is configured to be charged with electrical power generated by the electrical motor during braking of the mining haul truck.

13. A method for operating an all electrically powered mining haul truck comprising an electrical motor, the method:

charging an on-board energy storage system with electrical power from a trolley power system while the mining haul truck is coupled to first trolley lines of the trolley power system;

supplying electrical power to the electrical motor from the trolley power system while the on-board energy storage system is being charged by the trolley power system;

uncoupling the mining haul truck from the first trolley lines;

supplying electrical power to the electrical motor from the on-board energy storage system;

driving the mining haul truck to a loading site; and

filling the mining haul truck with a payload;

driving the mining haul truck to a trolley ramp;

coupling the mining haul truck to second trolley lines of the trolley power system;

driving the mining haul truck along the trolley ramp while coupled to the second trolley lines;

supplying electrical power to the electrical motor from the second trolley lines; and

charging the on-board energy storage system with electrical power supplied from the second trolley lines, wherein the mining haul truck is propelled by electrical power supplied by the trolley power system alone, or by the on-board energy storage system alone, or a combination of the trolley power system and the on-board energy storage system;

without mechanical power supplied by a mechanical engine to propel the mining haul truck.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

charging the on-board energy storage system with electrical power generated by the electrical motor during braking of the mining haul truck.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

driving the mining haul truck to an unloading site; and

unloading the payload from the mining haul truck.

16. The method of claim 15, further:

charging the on-board energy storage system with electrical power generated by the electrical motor during braking of the mining haul truck.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the on-board energy storage system comprises at least one ultracapacitor or at least one battery.