Hybrid construction equipment

• US 6,678,972 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2002
• Issued: 01/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Inventors: Kimoto, Kenzo, Tamaru, Masatake, Naruse, Masami
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad, Christopher J.
• Application Number:
  US10/042,242
• Publication Number:
  US 20020104239A1
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 373/48, 373/47, 374/66, 379/02, 374/14, 374/15, 374/16, 372/34, 701/50, 172/2
• US Class Current: 37/466
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/28 characterised by the electric energy storing means, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/44 Series-parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/0866 Engine compartment, e.g. heat exchangers, exhaust filters, cooling devices, silencers, mufflers, position of hydraulic pumps in the engine compartment
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/16 Cabins, platforms, or the like, for drivers for motor vehicles in general B62D33/06, for cranes B66C13/54
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2075 of the hybrid type for vehicles in general B60W20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/907 Electricity storage, e.g. battery, capacitor

Abstract

A hybrid construction equipment capable of sufficiently exhibiting performance of a battery with strategic arrangement of the apparatuses being carried out is provided. For this purpose, the hybrid construction equipment includes, on an upper revolving superstructure (10) rotatably placed on a lower traveling unit, an engine (1), a generator (3) driven by the engine (1), a battery (5) charged with electric power generated by the generator (3), an electric motor (7) driven by electric power of the battery (5), an inverter (6) for controlling drive of the electric motor (7) and a driver'"'"'s cab (12), and the battery (5) is placed to be isolated from the engine (1) and the generator (3).

Claims

1. Hybrid construction equipment comprising:

on an upper revolving superstructure rotatably placed on a lower traveling unit,

an engine;

a generator driven by said engine;

a battery charged with electric power generated by said generator;

an electric motor driven by electric power of said battery;

an inverter for controlling drive of said electric motor; and

a driver'"'"'s cab,

wherein said battery is placed to be isolated from said engine and said generator,

wherein said battery is placed inside an upper revolving superstructure frame under said driver'"'"'s cab.

2. The hybrid construction equipment according to claim 1,

wherein said engine, said generator and a fuel tank are placed in a machine room at a rear part of said upper revolving superstructure, and

wherein a working fluid tank and an operation valve for operating a hydraulic pump driven by said engine are placed at a right side of a front part of said upper revolving superstructure.

3. The hybrid construction equipment according to claim 2,

wherein a battery housing chamber, which includes a cooling air inlet port communicating with said driver'"'"'s cab and a cooling air outlet port, is provided inside said upper revolving superstructure frame, and

wherein said battery is housed in said battery housing chamber.

5. The hybrid construction equipment according to claim 1,

wherein a battery housing chamber, which includes a cooling air inlet port communicating with said driver'"'"'s cab and a cooling air outlet port, is provided inside said upper revolving superstructure frame, and

wherein said battery is housed in said battery housing chamber.

6. The hybrid construction equipment according to any one of claim 1, claim 4 and claim 5, further comprising:

an air intake chamber communicating with a radiator, in a machine room at a rear part of said upper revolving superstructure,

wherein said inverter is housed in said air intake chamber.

7. The hybrid construction equipment according to claim 2 or claim 3, further comprising:

an air intake chamber communicating with a radiator, in said machine room,

wherein said inverter is housed in said air intake chamber.

8. The hybrid construction equipment according to any one of claim 1, claim 2, claim 4, claim 5 and claim 3, further comprising:

an inverter housing chamber at a rear part of said driver'"'"'s cab,

wherein said inverter is housed in said inverter housing chamber.

9. The hybrid construction equipment according to any one of claim 4, claim 5 and Claim 3,

wherein said inverter is housed in said battery housing chamber.

4. Hybrid construction equipment comprising:

on an upper revolving superstructure rotatably placed on a lower traveling unit,

an engine;

a generator driven by said engine;

a battery charged with electric power generated by said generator;

an electric motor driven by electric power of said battery;

an inverter for controlling drive of said electric motor; and

a driver'"'"'s cab,

wherein said battery is placed to be isolated from said engine and said generator,

wherein a battery housing chamber, which includes a cooling air inlet port communicating with said driver'"'"'s cab and a cooling air outlet port, is provided inside an upper revolving superstructure frame under said driver'"'"'s cab, and

wherein said battery is housed in said battery housing chamber.

10. Hybrid construction equipment, comprising:

on an upper revolving superstructure rotatably placed on a lower traveling unit,

an engine;

a generator driven by said engine;

a battery charged with electric power generated by said generator;

an electric motor driven by electric power of said battery;

an inverter for controlling drive of said electric motor;

a driver'"'"'s cab; and

an air intake chamber communicating with a radiator, in a machine room at a rear part of said upper revolving superstructure,

wherein said battery is placed to be isolated from said engine and said generator and said inverter is housed in said air intake chamber.

11. Hybrid construction equipment, comprising:

on an upper revolving superstructure rotatably placed on a lower traveling unit,

an engine;

a generator driven by said engine;

a battery charged with electric power generated by said generator;

an electric motor driven by electric power of said battery;

an inverter for controlling drive of said electric motor; and

a driver'"'"'s cab; and

an inverter housing chamber at a rear part of said driver'"'"'s cab,

wherein said battery is placed to be isolated from said engine and said generator and said inverter is housed in said inverter housing chamber.