Energy harvesting device for a transport vehicle
First Claim
1. An energy harvesting device for a transport vehicle with a driveline shaft comprising:
- an electric converter circuit, wherein the electric converter circuit comprises;
an electric energy storage comprising an electrochemical battery and a super-capacitor bank,a first DC bus,an electronic brake controller,an electric generator connected to the first DC bus, through the electronic brake controller,a second DC bus connected to the first DC bus through a DC/DC converter, wherein the first DC bus has a first voltage is lower than a second voltage of the second DC bus, andan inverter, wherein an input of the inverter is connected to the second DC bus and an output of the inverter is connected to an electrical load of the energy harvesting device; and
a power take-off unit, wherein the power take-off unit comprises;
a pivot plate with a single-point coupling and an arcuate slot coupling, both for coupling to the vehicle chassis, wherein the pivot plate is rotatable about the single-point coupling around the arcuate slot coupling for aligning with the vehicle driveline shaft, wherein the electric generator is attached to the pivot plate,an electric generator pulley coupled to the electric generator and supported by the pivot plates,a shaft pulley,a shaft attachment for attaching the shaft pulley to the vehicle driveline shaft, anda belt connecting the electric generator pulley and the shaft pulley.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An energy harvesting device for a transport vehicle comprising an electric converter circuit and a power take-off unit is disclosed. The electric converter circuit comprises: an electric energy storage; a first DC bus; an electric generator connected to the first DC bus through an electronic brake controller; a second DC bus connected to the first DC bus through a DC/DC converter, and an inverter connected to the second DC bus and having an output connected to the electrical load of the energy harvesting device. The power take-off unit comprises: a rotatable pivot plate for coupling to the vehicle chassis and supporting the electric generator; an electric generator pulley coupled to the electric generator; a shaft pulley; a shaft attachment for attaching the shaft pulley to the vehicle driveline shaft; and a belt connecting the electric generator pulley and the shaft pulley.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An energy harvesting device for a transport vehicle with a driveline shaft comprising:
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an electric converter circuit, wherein the electric converter circuit comprises; an electric energy storage comprising an electrochemical battery and a super-capacitor bank, a first DC bus, an electronic brake controller, an electric generator connected to the first DC bus, through the electronic brake controller, a second DC bus connected to the first DC bus through a DC/DC converter, wherein the first DC bus has a first voltage is lower than a second voltage of the second DC bus, and an inverter, wherein an input of the inverter is connected to the second DC bus and an output of the inverter is connected to an electrical load of the energy harvesting device; and a power take-off unit, wherein the power take-off unit comprises; a pivot plate with a single-point coupling and an arcuate slot coupling, both for coupling to the vehicle chassis, wherein the pivot plate is rotatable about the single-point coupling around the arcuate slot coupling for aligning with the vehicle driveline shaft, wherein the electric generator is attached to the pivot plate, an electric generator pulley coupled to the electric generator and supported by the pivot plates, a shaft pulley, a shaft attachment for attaching the shaft pulley to the vehicle driveline shaft, and a belt connecting the electric generator pulley and the shaft pulley. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A vehicle, comprising:
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a vehicle chassis; a drive shaft; an energy harvesting device attached to the drive shaft, wherein the energy harvesting device comprises; an electric converter circuit, wherein the electric converter circuit comprises; an electric energy storage comprising an electrochemical battery and a super-capacitor bank, a first DC bus, an electronic brake controller, an electric generator connected to the first DC bus through the electronic brake controller, a second DC bus connected to the first DC bus through a DC/DC converter, wherein the first DC bus has a first voltage is lower than a second voltage of the second DC bus, and an inverter, wherein an input of the inverter is connected to the second DC bus and an output of the inverter is connected to an electrical load of the energy harvesting device a power take-off unit, wherein the power take-off unit comprises; a pivot plate with a single-point coupling and an arcuate slot coupling both for coupling to the vehicle chassis, wherein the pivot plate is rotatable about the single-point coupling around the arcuate slot coupling for aligning with the vehicle driveline shaft, wherein the electric generator is attached to the pivot plate, an electric generator pulley coupled to the electric generator and supported by the pivot plate, a shaft pulley, a shaft attachment for attaching the shaft pulley to the vehicle driveline shaft, and a belt connecting the electric generator pulley and the shaft pulley.
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18. A method of retrofitting a transport vehicle with a driveline shaft, comprising:
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disconnecting an end of the vehicle driveline shaft; attaching an energy harvesting device to vehicle, the energy harvesting device comprising; an electric converter circuit, wherein the electric converter circuit comprises; an electric energy storage comprising an electrochemical battery and a super-capacitor bank, a first DC bus, an electronic brake controller, an electric generator connected to the first DC bus, through the electronic brake controller, a second DC bus connected to the first DC;
bus through a DC/DC converter, wherein the first DC bus has a first voltage is lower than a second voltage of the second DC bus, andan inverter, wherein an input of the inverter is connected to the second DC bus and an output of the inverter is connected to an electrical load of the energy harvesting device; and a power take-off unit, wherein the power lake-off unit comprises; a pivot plate with a single-point coupling and an arcuate slot coupling, both for coupling to the vehicle chassis, wherein the pivot plate is rotatable about the single-point coupling around the arcuate slot coupling for aligning with the vehicle driveline shaft, wherein the electric generator is attached to the pivot plate, an electric generator pulley coupled to the electric generator and supported by the pivot plate, a shaft pulley, a shaft attachment for attaching the shaft pulley to the vehicle driveline shaft, and a belt connecting the electric generator pulley and the shaft pulley; wherein the step of attaching the energy harvesting device to the vehicle comprises; coupling the pivot plate to the vehicle chassis, and attaching the shaft pulley to the vehicle driveline shaft; and reconnecting the vehicle driveline shaft.
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Specification