Electric tractor

• US 7,828,099 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2008
• Issued: 11/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solectrac, Inc. (Ideanomics, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Stephen Heckeroth
• Inventors: Heckeroth, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Restifo; Jeffrey J
• Application Number:
  US12/036,469
• Publication Number:
  US 20090223724A1
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: 180/68.5, 180/2.2, 180/65.31
• US Class Current: 180/68.5
• 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 16/00 Arrangements in connection with power supply of propulsion units in vehicles from forces of nature, e.g. sun or wind electric propulsion with power supply from forces of nature, e.g. sun or wind B60L8/00; marine propulsion by wind motors driving water-engaging propulsive elements B63H13/00; wind motors specially adapted for installation on vehicles F03D9/32
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/40 Working vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/003 Converting light into electric energy, e.g. by using photo-voltaic systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/221 Tractors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors

Abstract

An electric tractor including a frame having a front end and a longitudinal axis between its front and rear ends. At least one drive wheel is provided for propelling the electric tractor and at least one electric motor for powering the at least one drive wheel. A pair of rails extend parallel to one another in a spaced apart relationship along the longitudinal axis and a first battery pack sized to be received in a plurality of locations along the rails, the first battery pack being selectively in electrical contact with the at least one electric motor once received on the rails.

Claims

1. An electric tractor comprising a frame having a front end and rear end, a longitudinal axis between said front and rear ends, at least one drive wheel or track for propelling said electric tractor and at least one electric motor for powering said at least one drive wheel or track, a pair of rails extending parallel to one another in a spaced apart relationship along said longitudinal axis, at least one exchangeable battery pack sized to be received in a plurality of locations along said rails, said at least one battery pack being selectively in electrical contact with said at least one electric motor once received on said rails, said at least one exchangeable battery pack being positionable and mechanically lockable by at least one first solid pin positioned through at least one first hole of a plurality of holes in said rails aligned with at least one second hole of a plurality of holes in said at least one battery pack frame in a plurality of locations from said front end to said rear end of said electric tractor along said rails such that said at least one battery pack can be positioned and locked in place in order to counter balance the weight of implements or other loads and add weight for traction on said electric tractor.

2. The electric tractor of claim 1 comprising an exchangeable battery pack positionable and lockable by said at least one first solid pin through aligned holes on the tractor and said battery pack frame in locations other than said rails.

3. The electric tractor of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of exchangeable battery packs simultaneously positionable and lockable by said at least one first solid pin, and at least one second solid pin.

4. The electric tractor of claim 1 wherein said battery pack is positioned and lockable by said first and second solid pins such that the center of gravity of said electric tractor is lowered thereby.

5. The electric tractor of claim 1 wherein a permanently mounted battery pack can be selectively in electric contact with said at least one electric drive motor to felicitate the loading, unloading or positioning of at least one secondary exchangeable battery pack.

6. The electric tractor of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of rollers located between said battery pack and said pair of rails to facilitate slideable positioning of said battery pack along said frame.