Battery Power System for Plug In Hybrid Tractor Trailers

• US 20110114398A1
• Filed: 11/17/2010
• Published: 05/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Control Module, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Control Module, Inc.
• Inventors: Bianco, James S.
• Application Number:
  US12/948,082
• Publication Number:
  US 20110114398A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/00 Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units B60K7/00 takes precedence; arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion B60K6/00; electric transmission arrangements B60K17/12; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles per se B60L; current-collectors for power supply lines of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/001 one motor mounted on a propulsion axle for rotating right and left wheels of this axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0438 Arrangement under the floor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0444 Arrangement on a trailer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/28 Trailers
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/36 Vehicles designed to transport cargo, e.g. trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/145 Haulage vehicles, trailing trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/147 Trailers, e.g. full trailers or caravans
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/61 Arrangements of controllers for electric machines, e.g. inverters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A battery power system for a plug-in hybrid or electric tractor trailer employs a battery module which is carried by the trailer. A cable communicates with the battery module and connects with a connector on the cab for supplying power to power the electric motor of the cab. The cab can be disconnected from the trailer while the battery module on the trailer is charged. The cab can then be driven by the electric motor powered by the battery supply of the cab.

Claims

1. A plug in hybrid or electric tractor trailer comprising:

a cab having an electric motor for driving said cab;

a battery power supply to supply power to said electric motor and a controller for controlling power to said electric motor and being in electrical communication with a battery power connector; and

a trailer couplable with said cab for transport by said cab, said trailer carrying a battery module, said module communicating with a battery cable connectable with said cab battery power connector, said battery module communicating with an external connector located on said trailer for external electrical communication.

2. The tractor trailer of claim 1 wherein said external connector is a dock inlet connector.

3. The hybrid tractor trailer of claim 1 wherein said external connector is a connector for electrical communication with tower service equipment.

4. The tractor trailer of claim 2 and further comprising a tower service equipment connector on said trailer electrically communicating with said battery module.

5. The tractor trailer of claim 2 wherein said trailer has a front and rear and said dock connector is located at the rear of said trailer.

6. The tractor trailer of claim 3 wherein said trailer has opposed sides and said truck service equipment connector is located at a side of said trailer.

7. The tractor trailer of claim 1 further comprising a battery charger positioned on said trailer and electrically connected to said battery module.

8. The tractor trailer of claim 1 wherein said trailer has an underside and battery module is suspended at the underside of said trailer.

9. The tractor trailer of claim 2 further comprising a detector for detecting whether said dock inlet connector is connected with an external cable.

10. The tractor trailer of claim 3 further comprising a detector for detecting whether said tower service equipment connector is connected to an external cable for said tower service equipment.

11. A method of managing the battery power supply of a tractor trailer comprising a plug in hybrid or electric cab having an electric power system with a battery power supply and a trailer comprising:

mounting a battery module to the trailer;

connecting the battery module to the electric power system for the cab;

transferring power from the battery module to the electric power system of the cab to meet electric power requirements for transporting the trailer;

charging the battery module while the trailer is parked;

disconnecting the battery module from the electric power system for the cab; and

driving the cab away from the trailer by employing the battery power supply of the cab.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising charging the battery module while the trailer is at a loading dock.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising charging the battery module while said trailer is connected to electric tower service equipment.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising selecting a battery module from a plurality of battery modules in accordance with the transport function of the trailer.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

providing a battery charger for charging said second battery module;

connecting said charger to an external connector;

connecting a power cable with said external connector; and

supplying power through said connector to charge said second battery module.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising detecting connecting said power cable with said external connector and generating a signal indicative thereof.

15. A method for supplying electrical power for an electric motor for driving a plug in hybrid or electric tractor trailer comprising a plug in hybrid or electric cab couplable to a trailer for transport comprising:

providing an electric motor in the cab for driving said cab and a first battery module in the cab for supplying power to said motor;

providing a second battery module in the trailer;

electrically connecting said second module with a controller for said electric motor; and

supplying electric power from said second battery module for powering said electric motor.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said step of electrically connecting said second module with a controller further comprises connecting a power cable from said second module with a connector on said cab.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

electrically disconnecting said power cable from said connector;

decoupling said trailer from said cab; and

driving said cab away from said trailer.

20. The method of claim 15 further comprising selecting said second battery module from a plurality of battery modules with different capacities in accordance with the transport function of the trailer.