ELECTRICAL CABINET

• US 20120224942A1
• Filed: 03/02/2011
• Published: 09/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Cherney, Mark J., Coakley, Troy A., Sauvageau, Joseph S., Thakur, Devendra
• Granted Patent: US 8,528,675 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 414/685
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2300/17 Construction vehicles, e.g. graders, excavators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2300/50 Tilting frame vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/0858 Arrangement of component parts installed on superstructures not otherwise provided for, e.g. electric components, fenders, air-conditioning units E02F9/16, E02F9/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2075 of the hybrid type for vehicles in general B60W20/00
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2087 Control of vehicle steering for steering with hydraulic or pneumatic drives E02F9/225
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

An electric drive work vehicle is provided having a chassis, at least one power distribution system, and a cabinet that houses the at least one power distribution system. The cabinet may be mounted atop the chassis to shield the cabinet and its contents from ground water and debris.

Claims

1. An electric drive work vehicle having a front end and a rear end, a longitudinal axis extending from the front end to the rear end of the work vehicle, the work vehicle including:

a chassis;

an operator cab supported by the chassis, the operator cab housing an operator of the work vehicle;

a platform supported by the chassis, the platform providing access to the operator cab;

an engine;

at least one traction device positioned to support the chassis on the ground;

at least one electric traction motor operatively coupled to the at least one traction device to propel the chassis across the ground;

at least one power distribution system that distributes power from the engine to the at least one electric traction motor; and

a cabinet that houses the at least one power distribution system, at least a portion of the cabinet being located above the platform and longitudinally forward of the engine.

2. The work vehicle of claim 1, wherein the cabinet is located longitudinally rearward of the operator cab.

3. The work vehicle of claim 1, wherein the platform surrounds at least two sides of the cabinet.

4. The work vehicle of claim 1, wherein the cabinet is recessed in the platform such that another portion of the cabinet extends beneath the platform.

5. The work vehicle of claim 1, wherein the at least one power distribution system includes a first power distribution system and a second power distribution system, the first power distribution system distributing power from the engine to a right-side front traction motor and a left-side rear traction motor, the second power distribution system distributing power from the engine to a left-side front traction motor and a right-side rear traction motor, the cabinet housing the first and second power distribution systems.

6. The work vehicle of claim 1, wherein the at least one power distribution system includes a capacitor that projects out of the cabinet for exposure to ambient air.

7. The work vehicle of claim 6, further including a perforated lid that covers the capacitor while permitting exposure to ambient air.

8. The work vehicle of claim 1, further including an engine housing supported by the chassis and surrounding the engine, wherein the cabinet is located longitudinally between the operator cab and the engine housing.

9. The work vehicle of claim 8, wherein a rear panel of the cabinet abuts the engine housing.

10. The work vehicle of claim 8, wherein the cabinet includes a rear-facing bracket that is configured to receive a fastener to fasten the cabinet to the engine housing.

11. The work vehicle of claim 1, further including:

a bucket moveably coupled to the chassis at the front end of the work vehicle;

at least one hydraulic cylinder configured to move the bucket relative to the chassis; and

a tank in fluid communication with the at least one hydraulic cylinder to supply hydraulic fluid to the at least one hydraulic cylinder, wherein the cabinet is located above the tank.

12. An electric drive work vehicle having a front end and a rear end, a longitudinal axis extending from the front end to the rear end of the work vehicle, the work vehicle including:

a chassis;

a work tool moveably coupled to the chassis;

at least one hydraulic cylinder configured to move the work tool relative to the chassis;

a tank in fluid communication with the at least one hydraulic cylinder to supply hydraulic fluid to the at least one hydraulic cylinder;

an operator cab supported by the chassis, the operator cab housing an operator of the work vehicle;

a power source;

at least one traction device positioned to support the chassis on the ground;

at least one electric traction motor operatively coupled to the at least one traction device to propel the chassis across the ground;

at least one power distribution system that distributes power from the power source to the at least one electric traction motor; and

a cabinet that houses the at least one power distribution system, the cabinet being located above the tank.

13. The work vehicle of claim 12, wherein the cabinet is located longitudinally rearward of the work tool.

14. The work vehicle of claim 12, wherein the work tool is moveably coupled to the chassis at the front end of the work vehicle.

15. The work vehicle of claim 12, wherein the work tool is a bucket that is configured to contact the ground to pick up material from the ground.

16. The work vehicle of claim 12, further including a platform supported by the chassis, the platform providing access to the operator cab, wherein at least a portion of the cabinet is located above the platform.

17. The work vehicle of claim 12, wherein an inlet port and an outlet port of a fluid conduit are accessible through at least one opening in the cabinet, the fluid conduit configured to convey a cooling fluid throughout the cabinet.

18. An electric drive work vehicle having a front end and a rear end, a longitudinal axis extending from the front end to the rear end of the work vehicle, the work vehicle including:

a chassis;

a work tool moveably coupled to the chassis at the front end of the work vehicle;

an operator cab supported by the chassis, the operator cab housing an operator of the work vehicle;

a platform supported by the chassis, the platform providing access to the operator cab;

a power source;

at least one traction device positioned to support the chassis on the ground;

at least one electric traction motor operatively coupled to the at least one traction device to propel the chassis across the ground;

at least one power distribution system that distributes power from the power source to the at least one electric traction motor; and

a cabinet that houses the at least one power distribution system, at least a portion of the cabinet being located above the platform and longitudinally rearward of the work tool.

19. The work vehicle of claim 18, wherein the operator cab is located longitudinally between the work tool and the cabinet.

20. The work vehicle of claim 18, wherein, in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the cabinet is substantially centered on the platform.

21. The work vehicle of claim 18, further including:

at least one hydraulic cylinder configured to move the work tool relative to the chassis; and

a tank in fluid communication with the at least one hydraulic cylinder to supply hydraulic fluid to the at least one hydraulic cylinder, wherein the cabinet is located above the tank.

22. The work vehicle of claim 18, wherein the cabinet defines an opening that receives an electrical cable, the cabinet further including at least one electromagnetic interference shield adjacent to the opening.

23. The work vehicle of claim 22, wherein the at least one electromagnetic interference shield includes a cover plate or an annular seal.