SYSTEM FOR RECOVERING ELECTRICAL ENERGY FROM MACHINE

• US 20160107531A1
• Filed: 12/29/2015
• Published: 04/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Ge, Xinyu, Jacobson, Evan E., Chen, Qiang
• Application Number:
  US14/982,069
• Publication Number:
  US 20160107531A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/40 Working vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/24 Using the vehicle's propulsion converter for charging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/20 Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• 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 10/92 Energy efficient charging or discharging systems for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors specially adapted for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• 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 system for recovering electrical energy from a machine working at a worksite is provided. The system includes a first capacitor disposed in the machine and adapted to communicate with a inverter of a hybrid drive system of the machine. The system further includes a drone adapted to carry a second capacitor. The drone is adapted to transfer electrical energy between the second capacitor and an electrical grid present at the worksite. The system further includes a docking system disposed on the machine and includes a controller disposed in communication with the machine and the drone.

Claims

1. A system for recovering electrical energy from a machine working at a worksite, the system comprising:

a first capacitor disposed in the machine, the first capacitor adapted to store electrical energy received from an inverter of an hybrid drive system of the machine;

a drone adapted to carry a second capacitor, the second capacitor adapted to receive the electrical energy from the inverter of the hybrid drive system, wherein the drone is adapted to transfer electrical energy between the second capacitor and an electrical grid present at the worksite;

a docking system disposed on the machine, the docking system adapted to support the drone during transfer of the electrical energy from the inverter to the second capacitor; and

a controller disposed in communication with the machine and the drone, the controller adapted to;

receive, via a sensing unit, a signal indicative of a movement of the machine along a traveling path;

determine the movement of the machine based on the signal received from the sensing unit;

communicate with the first capacitor to store the electrical energy received from the inverter, when the movement of the machine is in a descending path;

receive an input signal indicative of the electrical energy stored in the first capacitor and the second capacitor;

communicate with the drone, wherein the drone is positioned on the docking system for communicating the second capacitor with the inverter of the machine;

communicate with the second capacitor to receive any excess electrical energy from the inverter of the hybrid drive system of the machine, wherein the second capacitor is coupled to an electric port defined in the docking system, and the electric port is in electric communication with the inverter of the machine; and

communicate with the drone to transfer any surplus electrical energy stored in the second capacitor to the machine, when the machine requires an electrical energy more than the electrical energy generated by the inverter of the hybrid drive system during the movement of the machine.