ALL-ELECTRIC POWERED ANFO VEHICLE

• US 20130220714A1
• Filed: 02/23/2012
• Published: 08/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: J.H. Fletcher & Company.
• Original Assignee: Oldenburg Group Incorporated
• Inventors: Rudinec, Stephen A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,170,081 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/40 Working vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 characterised by AC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/14 for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• CPC Class Codes: F42D 1/10 Feeding explosives in granular or slurry form; Feeding explosives by pneumatic or hydraulic pressure
• 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 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

There is provided an all-electric powered ANFO vehicle. The all-electric powered ANFO vehicle includes a support structure. This support structure includes a first and second section and a steering section. The support structure also includes a lift apparatus configured to deliver explosives to a mine face in a mine tunnel. A self-contained battery module is removably mounted on the support structure. A pair of wheel sets is coupled to the support structure, with each wheel set including two wheels. One wheel of each wheel set is rotably coupled on each side of the support structure. A motor is mounted on the support structure and is coupled to at least one wheel and the battery module. A motor controller, including a DC/AC inverter is coupled to the motor and the battery module.

Claims

1. An all-electric powered ANFO vehicle comprising:

a support structure including a portion configured as a platform configured to support a container of an explosive component, with the support structure dimensionally configured to operate in an underground mine;

a container including an explosive component, the container disposed on the platform;

a self-contained battery module removably mounted on the support structure;

a pair of wheel sets coupled to the support structure, with each wheel set including two wheels, with one wheel of each wheel set rotably coupled on each side of the support structure;

a lift apparatus configured to support a human, the lift apparatus coupled to the platform and includes conduits in fluid communication with the container;

an AC induction motor mounted on the support structure and coupled to at least one wheel and the battery module;

a motor controller including a DC/AC inverter coupled to the AC induction motor and the battery module; and

a vehicle controller coupled to the motor controller.

2. The all-electric vehicle of claim 1, including a heat sink mounted on the motor controller.

3. The all-electric vehicle of claim 1, further comprising another AC induction motor mounted on the support structure and coupled to another wheel and the battery module.

4. The all-electric vehicle of claim 1, wherein the support structure comprises a first section and a second section with the two sections connected with a steering section configured to move the first section angularly relative to the second section.

5. The all-electric vehicle of claim 4, wherein the steering section includes two hydraulic cylinders with one end of each hydraulic cylinder coupled to a common pivot configured on one of the first section and second section.

6. The all-electric vehicle of claim 4, wherein the second section includes the platform.

7. An all-electric powered ANFO vehicle comprising:

a support structure including a platform, with the support structure dimensionally configured to move within an underground mine;

a container including an explosive component, the container disposed on the platform;

a self-contained battery module removably mounted on the front of the support structure;

a pair of wheel sets coupled to the support structure, with each wheel set including two wheels, with one wheel of each wheel set rotably coupled on each side of the support structure;

a lift apparatus configured to support a human, the lift apparatus coupled to the platform and includes conduits in fluid communication with the container supported on the platform;

a pair of motors mounted on the support structure and coupled to the battery module with a motor operably coupled to each wheel of at least one wheel set; and

a motor controller including a DC/AC inverter coupled to each motor and the battery module.

8. The all-electric powered ANFO vehicle of claim 7, wherein the motor coupled to each wheel is one of an electric motor and a hydraulic motor.

9. The all-electric powered ANFO vehicle of claim 7, including a heat sink mounted on the motor controller.

10. The all-electric vehicle of claim 7, wherein the support structure comprises a first section and a second section with the two sections connected with a steering section configured to move the first section angularly relative to the second section.

11. The all-electric vehicle of claim 10, wherein the steering section includes two hydraulic cylinders with one end of each hydraulic cylinder coupled to a common pivot configured on one of the first section and second section.

12. The all-electric vehicle of claim 10, wherein the second section includes the platform.

13. The all-electric vehicle of claim 7, including at least one additional motor mounted to the support structure, with the additional motor coupled to at least one wheel of another wheel set.

14. An all-electric powered ANFO vehicle comprising:

a support structure including a portion configured as a platform configured to support a container of an explosive component, with the support structure dimensionally configured to operate in an underground mine, the support structure further comprises a first section and a second section with the two sections connected with a steering section configured to move the first section angularly relative to the second section;

a container including an explosive component, the container disposed on the platform;

a self-contained battery module removably mounted on the support structure;

a pair of wheel sets coupled to the support structure, with each wheel set including two wheels, with one wheel of each wheel set rotably coupled on each side of the support structure;

a lift apparatus configured to support a human, the lift apparatus coupled to the platform and includes conduits in fluid communication with the container;

a pair of motors mounted on the support structure and coupled to the battery module with a motor operably coupled to each wheel of at least one wheel set;

a motor controller including a DC/AC inverter coupled to the motor and the battery module; and

a vehicle controller coupled to the motor controller.

15. The all-electric vehicle of claim 14, wherein the steering section includes two hydraulic cylinders with one end of each hydraulic cylinder coupled to a common pivot configured on one of the first section and second section.

16. The all-electric vehicle of claim 14, wherein the second section includes the platform.

17. The all-electric vehicle of claim 14, including a heat sink mounted on the motor controller.

18. The all-electric vehicle of claim 14, further comprising another AC induction motor mounted on the support structure and coupled to another wheel and the battery module.

19. The all-electric powered ANFO vehicle of claim 14, wherein the motor coupled to each wheel is one of an electric motor and a hydraulic motor.

20. The all-electric vehicle of claim 14, including at least one additional motor mounted to the support structure, with the additional motor coupled to at least one wheel of another wheel set.

21. The all-electric vehicle of claim 14, further comprising another container including another explosive component, with such container mounted on the platform.