Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
BATTERY POD ASSEMBLY FOR ELECTRIC REFUSE VEHICLE
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.
63/084,334, filed
September 28, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference in their
entireties.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Refuse vehicles collect a wide variety of waste, trash, and other
material from
residences and businesses. Operators of the refuse vehicles transport the
material from various
waste receptacles within a municipality to a storage or processing facility
(e.g., a landfill, an
incineration facility, a recycling facility, etc.).
SUMMARY
[0003] One embodiment relates to a refuse vehicle. The refuse vehicle includes
a chassis, a
body assembly coupled to the chassis, and a battery pod assembly coupled to
the body assembly.
The body assembly defines a refuse compartment. The battery pod assembly
includes one or
more batteries and a plurality of stress mitigation devices. The plurality of
stress mitigation
devices are each configured to mitigate of a plurality of operating loads such
that the refuse
vehicle is capable of operating in a plurality of environments. The plurality
of operating loads
include a thermal cycle, a thermal event, a vibration load, a mechanical
impact, and a chemical
intrusion.
[0004] Another embodiment relates to a battery pod assembly for a refuse
vehicle. The battery
pod assembly includes a pod structure defining an internal volume and a door
disposed on the
pod structure and configured to provide access to the internal volume. One or
more batteries are
disposed within the internal volume. A plurality of dampers and/or isolators
are disposed on the
pod structure. One or more of the plurality of dampers and/or isolators is
configured to couple
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the pod structure to a body of the refuse vehicle. Additionally, one or more
of the plurality of
dampers and/or isolators is configured to couple the one or more batteries to
the pod structure.
The battery pod assembly also includes a thermal management system. The
thermal management
system includes a controller and temperature sensors coupled to the controller
and disposed near
pod structure. The temperature sensors are each configured to sense a
temperature of the battery
pod assembly. The thermal management system also includes a cooling assembly
coupled to the
controller. The cooling system is configured to reduce the temperature of the
battery pod
assembly. The thermal management system also includes a heating assembly
coupled to the
controller. The heating assembly is configured to increase the temperature of
the battery pod
assembly.
[0005] This summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way
limiting. Other
aspects, inventive features, and advantages of the devices or processes
described herein will
become apparent in the detailed description set forth herein, taken in
conjunction with the
accompanying figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refuse vehicle, according to an
exemplary
embodiment.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a side section view of a battery pod assembly, according to
an exemplary
embodiment.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a side view of the refuse vehicle of FIG. 1 having a bottom
mounted battery
pod, according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a side view of the refuse vehicle of FIG. 1 having a top
mounted battery pod,
according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0010] FIG. 5 is a side view of the refuse container of FIG. 1 having a
centrally mounted
battery pod, according to an exemplary embodiment.
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[0011] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the refuse container of FIG. 1 having a
tailgate mounted
battery pod, according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0012] FIG. 7 is a side view of the refuse container of FIG. 1 having a frame
mounted battery
pod, according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0013] FIGS. 8A-9B are the refuse vehicle of FIG. 1 having multiple battery
pods, according to
several exemplary embodiments.
[0014] FIGS. 10A-10B are the refuse vehicle of FIG. 1 having a top mounted
battery pod,
according to several exemplary embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] Before turning to the figures, which illustrate certain exemplary
embodiments in detail,
it should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the
details or methodology set
forth in the description or illustrated in the figures. It should also be
understood that the
terminology used herein is for the purpose of description only and should not
be regarded as
limiting.
[0016] According to an exemplary embodiment, a battery pod assembly for a
refuse vehicle is
disclosed herein. The battery pod assembly of the present disclosure provides
many advantages
over conventional systems. The battery pod assembly may include various stress
mitigation
devices to mitigate mechanical stress (e.g., tensile stress, compressive
stress, shear stress, cyclic
stress, etc.), thermal stress (e.g., thermal cycling, thermal events, etc.),
and/or physical ingress
(e.g., water ingress, debris ingress, chemical ingress, etc.) on the battery
pod assembly and
components thereof.
[0017] According to various exemplary embodiments, the battery pod assembly
may be
positioned in various locations on the refuse vehicle such that the battery
pod assembly is readily
accessible for regular maintenance. Additionally, components of the battery
pod assembly may
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be modular such that the components can be swapped out or upgraded. For
example, a battery
cell may be upgraded to future battery cell chemistries not yet available.
[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle, shown as refuse vehicle 10 (e.g., a
garbage truck, a
waste collection truck, a sanitation truck, a recycling truck, etc.), is
configured as a front-loading
refuse truck. In other embodiments, the refuse vehicle 10 is configured as a
side-loading refuse
truck or a rear-loading refuse truck. In still other embodiments, the vehicle
is another type of
vehicle (e.g., a skid-loader, a telehandler, a plow truck, a boom lift, etc.).
As shown in FIG. 1,
the refuse vehicle 10 includes a chassis, shown as frame 12; a body assembly,
shown as body 14,
coupled to the frame 12 (e.g., at a rear end thereof, etc.); and a cab, shown
as cab 16, coupled to
the frame 12 (e.g., at a front end thereof, etc.) forward of the body 14. The
cab 16 may include
various components to facilitate operation of the refuse vehicle 10 by an
operator (e.g., a seat, a
steering wheel, actuator controls, a user interface, switches, buttons, dials,
etc.).
[0019] As shown in FIG. 1, the refuse vehicle 10 includes a prime mover, shown
as electric
motor 18, and an energy system, shown as a battery pod assembly 20. In other
embodiments, the
prime mover is or includes an internal combustion engine (e.g., a hybrid
engine, etc.). According
to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the electric motor 18 is coupled
to the frame 12
at a position beneath the cab 16. The electric motor 18 is configured to
provide power to a
plurality of tractive elements, shown as wheels 22 (e.g., via a drive shaft,
axles, etc.). In other
embodiments, the electric motor 18 is otherwise positioned and/or the refuse
vehicle 10 includes
a plurality of electric motors to facilitate independently driving one or more
of the wheels 22. In
still other embodiments, the electric motor 18 or a secondary electric motor
is coupled to and
configured to drive a hydraulic system that powers hydraulic actuators.
According to the
exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the battery pod assembly 20 is coupled
to the frame 12
beneath the body 14. In other embodiments, the battery pod assembly 20 is
otherwise positioned
(e.g., within a tailgate of the refuse vehicle 10, beneath the cab 16, along
the top of the body 14,
within the body 14, etc.).
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[0020] According to an exemplary embodiment, the battery pod assembly 20 is
configured to
receive, generate, and/or store power. The battery pod assembly 20 is also
configured to provide
electric power to the electric motor 18 to drive the wheels 22, electric
actuators of the refuse
vehicle 10 to facilitate operation thereof (e.g., lift actuators, tailgate
actuators, packer actuators,
grabber actuators, etc.), and/or other electrically operated accessories of
the refuse vehicle 10
(e.g., displays, lights, user controls, etc.). The battery pod assembly 20 may
include one or more
rechargeable batteries (e.g., lithium-ion batteries, nickel-metal hydride
batteries, lithium-ion
polymer batteries, lead-acid batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries, iron-ion
batteries, etc.),
capacitors, solar cells, generators, power buses, etc. In one embodiment, the
refuse vehicle 10 is
a completely electric refuse vehicle. In other embodiments, the refuse vehicle
10 includes an
internal combustion generator that utilizes one or more fuels (e.g., gasoline,
diesel, propane,
natural gas, hydrogen, etc.) to generate electricity. The electricity may be
used to charge one or
more batteries of the battery pod 20, power the electric motor 18, power the
electric actuators,
and/or power the other electrically operated accessories (e.g., a hybrid
refuse vehicle, etc.). For
example, the refuse vehicle 10 may have an internal combustion engine
augmented by the
electric motor 18 to cooperatively provide power to the wheels 22. The battery
pod assembly 20
may thereby be charged via an on-board generator (e.g., an internal combustion
generator, a solar
panel system, etc.), from an external power source (e.g., overhead power
lines, mains power
source through a charging input, etc.), and/or via a power regenerative
braking system. In these
arrangements, the battery pod assembly 20 may include a power interface
structure to facilitate
charging the batteries of the battery pod assembly. The power interface may be
configured to
receive power from the on-board generator or the external power source. The
battery pod
assembly 20 may then provide power to the electrically operated systems of the
refuse vehicle
10. In some embodiments, the battery pod assembly 20 provides the power to the
to the
electrically operated systems of the refuse vehicle 10 via the power
interface. In some
embodiments, the battery pod assembly 20 includes a heat management system
(e.g., liquid
cooling, heat exchanger, air cooling, etc.).
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[0021] According to an exemplary embodiment, the refuse vehicle 10 is
configured to transport
refuse from various waste receptacles within a municipality to a storage
and/or processing
facility (e.g., a landfill, an incineration facility, a recycling facility,
etc.). As shown in FIG. 1,
the body 14 includes a plurality of panels, shown as panels 32, a tailgate 34,
and a cover 36. The
panels 32, the tailgate 34, and the cover 36 define a collection chamber
(e.g., hopper, etc.),
shown as refuse compai ___________________________________________________
intent 30. Loose refuse may be placed into the refuse compai intent 30
where it may thereafter be compacted (e.g., by a packer system, etc.). The
refuse compai intent
30 may provide temporary storage for refuse during transport to a waste
disposal site and/or a
recycling facility. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the body 14 and
the refuse
compai __ intent 30 extend above or in front of the cab 16. According to the
embodiment shown in
FIG. 1, the body 14 and the refuse compaitment 30 are positioned behind the
cab 16. In some
embodiments, the refuse compartment 30 includes a hopper volume and a storage
volume.
Refuse may be initially loaded into the hopper volume and thereafter compacted
into the storage
volume. According to an exemplary embodiment, the hopper volume is positioned
between the
storage volume and the cab 16 (e.g., refuse is loaded into a position of the
refuse compai intent 30
behind the cab 16 and stored in a position further toward the rear of the
refuse compai intent 30, a
front-loading refuse vehicle, a side-loading refuse vehicle, etc.). In other
embodiments, the
storage volume is positioned between the hopper volume and the cab 16 (e.g., a
rear-loading
[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, the refuse vehicle 10 includes a lift
mechanism/system (e.g., a
front-loading lift assembly, etc.), shown as lift assembly 40, coupled to the
front end of the body
14. In other embodiments, the lift assembly 40 extends rearward of the body 14
(e.g., a rear-
loading refuse vehicle, etc.). In still other embodiments, the lift assembly
40 extends from a side
of the body 14 (e.g., a side-loading refuse vehicle, etc.). As shown in FIG.
1, the lift assembly
40 is configured to engage a container (e.g., a residential trash receptacle,
a commercial trash
receptacle, a container having a robotic grabber arm, etc.), shown as refuse
container 60. The lift
assembly 40 may include various actuators (e.g., electric actuators, hydraulic
actuators,
pneumatic actuators, etc.) to facilitate engaging the refuse container 60,
lifting the refuse
container 60, and tipping refuse out of the refuse container 60 into the
hopper volume of the
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refuse compai intent 30 through an opening in the cover 36 or through the
tailgate 34. The lift
assembly 40 may thereafter return the empty refuse container 60 to the ground.
According to an
exemplary embodiment, a door, shown as top door 38, is movably coupled along
the cover 36 to
seal the opening thereby preventing refuse from escaping the refuse compai __
intent 30 (e.g., due to
wind, bumps in the road, etc.).
[0023] As shown in FIG. 2, the battery pod assembly 20 is coupled to a portion
11 of the refuse
vehicle 10. The battery pod assembly 20 includes a shell show as pod structure
60 and one or
more energy storage devices shown as batteries 80. The pod structure 60
defines an internal
volume 62 of the battery pod assembly 20. The pod structure 60 includes an
portal shown as door
61. The door 61 allows a user to access the internal volume 62 from outside of
the pod structure
60. The pod structure 60 is configured to mitigate the transmission of
mechanical loads (e.g.,
vibrations, shock, stress, etc.) from outside the battery pod assembly 20 to
the internal volume
62. Additionally, the pod structure 60 is configured to mitigate water,
debris, or chemicals from
entering the internal volume 62. In some embodiments, the pod structure 60
includes a thermal
insulating layer configured to mitigate against thermal stress such as thermal
cycling or thermal
events. In other embodiments the pod structure 60 may also electrically couple
the batteries 80 to
each other and/or to the electrical systems of the refuse vehicle 10.
[0024] The battery pod assembly 20 includes one or more vehicle coupling
devices shown as
external dampers 65 (e.g., dampers and/or isolators). The external dampers 65
are disposed
between the pod structure 60 and the refuse vehicle 10 and are configured to
couple the battery
pod assembly 20 to the portion 11 of the refuse vehicle 10. The dampers 65 are
also configured
to mitigate the transmission of active and/or passive mechanical loads from
the refuse vehicle to
the battery pod assembly 20 (e.g., to the pod structure 60). That is, the
external dampers 65 are
configured as mechanical dampers such as a mechanical dashpot, a
fluid/hydraulic dashpot, a
shock absorber, etc. In other embodiments, the battery pod assembly may
include other coupling
devices (e.g., pins, linkages, latches, etc.) to couple the pod structure 60
to the refuse vehicle 10.
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[0025] The battery pod assembly 20 also includes one or more battery coupling
devices shown
as internal dampers 68 (e.g., dampers and/or isolators). The internal dampers
68 are disposed
within the internal volume 62 and between the pod structure 60 and one or more
of the batteries
80. The internal dampers 68 are configured to couple the batteries 80 to the
pod structure 60. The
internal dampers 68 are also configured to mitigate the transmission of active
and/or passive
mechanical loads from the pod structure 60 to the batteries 80. In some
embodiments, the
internal dampers 68 may be the same or substantially similar in structure to
the external dampers
65. In other embodiments, the internal dampers 68 are configured as a
different type of
mechanical damper. For example, the external dampers 65 may be configured as
fluid/hydraulic
dashpots and the internal dampers 68 may be configured as mechanical dashpots.
[0026] In some embodiments, the external dampers 65 and/or the internal
dampers 68 are also
configured to capture energy from the active and/or passive mechanical loads.
For example, the
external dampers 65 and/or the internal dampers 68 may utilize piezoelectric
systems or other
suitable systems to capture active and/or passive vibrations passing through
the external dampers
65 and/or the internal dampers 68.
[0027] The battery pod assembly 20 also includes a thermal management system
70. The
thermal management system is configured to mitigate against thermal stress
such as thermal
cycling or thermal events. The source of the thermal stress may come from
within the battery
pod assembly 20 (e.g., typical thermal energy generation from a conventional
battery) or from an
external source (e.g., a thermal event near the refuse vehicle 10). In some
embodiments, the
thermal management system is configured to actively control the temperature of
the battery pod
assembly 20 within a specified range. Accordingly, the thermal management
system 70 may
advantageously improve the operation of the refuse vehicle, for example, by
keeping the
batteries 80 within ideal operating temperatures thus increasing the lifespan
of the batteries 80.
[0028] The thermal management system includes various sensing devices shown as
external
sensors 71 and internal sensors 72. The external sensors 71 are positioned on
or near the pod
structure 60 and are configured to sense an external temperature of the
battery pod assembly 20.
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The internal sensors 72 are positioned within the internal volume 62 and are
configured to sense
an internal temperature of the battery pod assembly 20.
[0029] According to various exemplary embodiments, the thermal management
system 70 may
include a cooling assembly configured to reduce the temperature of the battery
pod assembly 20
and/or components thereof (e.g., the batteries 80). In some embodiments, the
cooling assembly
may utilize a liquid cooling system that includes a thermal transfer liquid, a
cold plate, a pump, a
radiator, and radiator fans. In other embodiments, the cooling assembly may
utilize an air
cooling system that includes a heatsink and fans. In still other embodiments,
the cooling
assembly may utilize other cooling systems including thermoelectric devices
(e.g., Peltier), heat
pumps, fans, radiators, etc.
[0030] In other exemplary embodiments, the thermal management 70 system
includes a
heating assembly configured to increase the temperature of the battery pod
assembly 20 and/or
components thereof (e.g., the batteries 80). The heating assembly may utilize
an electric heating
device or other heating systems such as a thermoelectric device (e.g.,
Peltier), heat pumps, etc.
[0031] In some embodiments, the thermal management system 70 includes a
controller. In
some embodiments, the controller 70 is part of a temperature control system of
the refuse vehicle
(e.g., a chassis temperature controller). In other embodiments, the controller
70 is a separate
device coupled to the refuse vehicle 10. The controller may be coupled to one
or more of the
external sensors 71, the internal sensors 72, the cooling assembly, and the
heating assembly. The
controller may be configured to receive temperature data from one or more of
the external
sensors 71 and the internal sensors 72. The controller may also be configured
to operate one or
more of the cooling assembly and the heating assembly based on the temperature
data. For
example, one or more of the external sensors 71 and the internal sensors 72
may provide
temperature data indicating that the battery pod assembly 20 is below ideal
operating
temperatures. The controller may operate the heating assembly to increase the
operating
temperature of the battery pod assembly 20.
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[0032] Still referring to FIG. 2, the batteries 80 are configured to store and
provide electrical
energy. The batteries 80 may each have a single battery cell or multiple
battery cells (e.g., a
battery pack). Additionally, the batteries 80 may be configured to have a
particular
electrochemistry (e.g., lithium-ion, nickel-metal hydride, lithium-ion
polymer, lead-acid, nickel-
cadmium, iron-ion, etc.).
[0033] In some embodiments, the batteries 80 may be removably coupled to the
battery pod
assembly 20 (e.g., coupled to the pod structure 60 via the internal dampers
68) such that the
batteries 80 are replaceable and/or upgradable. For example, a user may access
the internal
volume 62 to add, remove, replace and/or upgrade the batteries 80. In still
other embodiments,
the battery pod assembly 20 may be removably coupled to the refuse vehicle 10
such that a
battery pod assembly 20 may be added, removed, replaced, and/or upgraded.
[0034] The battery pod assembly 20 may include an electric connection (e.g., a
pantograph, a
current collector, a high-voltage line, etc.) shown as power interface 81 to
allow the battery pod
assembly 20 to connect to external power sources (e.g., an overhead power
line, the grid, a
charging station, etc.). For example, the battery pod assembly 20 may include
a charging port to
allow the batteries 80 to be charged while the battery pod assembly 20 is
coupled to the refuse
vehicle 10 (e.g., by a 220V charger). In some embodiments, the battery pod
assembly 20
includes an electrical bypass to power the refuse vehicle 10 from a charging
source while the
battery is being charged. In some embodiments, the battery pod assembly 20
connects to one or
more power sources of refuse vehicle 10 (e.g., an internal combustion
generator, a battery, etc.)
to charge the batteries 80 of the battery pod assembly 20. For example, the
battery pod assembly
20 may include a connection to an onboard diesel generator configured to
provide power to the
battery pod assembly 20 for charging the batteries 80. In these arraignments,
the battery pod
assembly 20 may connect to internal or external power supplies or components
via the power
interface 81.
[0035] The battery pod assembly 20 may be modular such that the components of
the battery
pod assembly 20 may be easily removed, replaced, added, or upgraded.
Additionally, the battery
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pod assembly 20 may be modular with itself such that two or more battery pods
20 may be
coupled. For example, a particular refuse vehicle may require less power
storage and therefore
may include fewer batteries 80 within the batter pod assembly 20. Conversely,
a refuse vehicle
may require more power and include more batteries 80 and/or more battery pod
assemblies 20. In
these arrangements, the thermal management system may also be modular. For
example, the
thermal management 5y5temv70 may include a separate thermal management
assembly (e.g., a
heating assembly, a cooling assembly, etc.) for each of the batteries 80.
Alternatively, the
thermal management system 70 may include modular thermal transfer devices
(e.g., a cold plate,
etc.) for each of the batteries 80. For example, the cooling assembly may be
configured as a
water cooling assembly having one or more cold plates for each of the
batteries 80 and quick
disconnect tubing to easily add or remove batteries. Alternatively, the
thermal management
system 70 may include a modular rack system configured to receive the
batteries 80. The
modular rack system may be configured to provide heating and/or cooling to the
batteries 80.
[0036] Now referring generally to FIGS. 3-10, the battery pod assembly 20 may
be positioned
in various locations on the refuse vehicle 10. For example, the battery pod
may be coupled to the
frame 12, the body 14, the cab 15, or other parts of the refuse vehicle 10. In
other embodiments,
the refuse vehicle 10 may include more than one battery pod assembly 20. In
these arrangements,
each of the battery pod assemblies 20 may similarly be coupled to the frame
12, the body 14, the
cab 15, or other parts of the refuse vehicle 10. The geometry of the pod
structure 60 may change
to suitably conform to the location of the battery pod assembly 20.
[0037] As shown in FIG. 3, the battery pod assembly 20 is coupled to the
rearward top portion
of the body 14. In other embodiments, the battery pod assembly 20 is coupled
to the forward top
portion of the body 14. In some embodiments, the battery pod assembly 20 is
removable/detachable from the body 14. Locating the battery pod assembly 20 on
top of the
body 14 allows easy access to the battery pod assembly 20. For example, a user
may readily
inspect and service the battery pod assembly 20 because it is located on an
external surface of the
refuse vehicle 10.
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[0038] As shown in FIG. 4, the battery pod assembly 20 is coupled to the
rearward bottom
portion of the body 14. In other embodiments, the battery pod assembly 20 is
coupled to the
forward bottom portion of the body 14. As described above, battery pod
assembly 20 may be
removable/replaceable. For example, the refuse vehicle 10 may include a door
on the side of the
body 14 to allow removal and replacement of the battery pod assembly 20. In
some
embodiments, the battery pod assembly 20 is located on a track such that the
battery pod
assembly 20 can be slid out from the body 14 similar to a drawer.
[0039] As shown in FIG. 5, the battery pod assembly 20 is coupled between the
cab 16 and the
body 14. In some embodiments, the battery pod assembly 20 is coupled to the
frame 12.
Locating the battery pod assembly 20 between the cab 16 and the body 14
reduces a rear weight
of the refuse vehicle 10, thereby reducing component stress of weight bearing
members (e.g., a
rear axle). Furthermore, centrally locating the battery pod assembly 20
protects the battery pod
assembly 20 from damage in a mechanical impact event. Furthermore, centrally
locating the
battery pod assembly 20 allows easy modification/retrofitting of existing
refuse vehicles to
include the battery pod assembly 20. The battery pod assembly 20 may be easily
accessed
and/or removed from the refuse vehicle 10. For example, the battery pod
assembly 20 may
include forklift pockets so that a forklift may easily remove the battery pod
assembly 20 from the
refuse vehicle 10. In some embodiments, the battery pod assembly 20 includes
one or more
eyelet connectors to receive a lifting hook or similar hoisting attachment.
The battery pod
assembly 20 may be configured to connect to an external rail system to quickly
replace the
battery pod assembly 20 by sliding it orthogonally off the refuse vehicle 10.
[0040] In some embodiments, the battery pod assembly 20 is configured to
dynamically
change position on the refuse vehicle 10 based on loading of the refuse
vehicle 10. For example,
the battery pod assembly 20 may translate horizontally along the frame 12
toward the cab 16 or
toward the body 14 to change a weight distribution of the vehicle. In some
embodiments, the
battery pod assembly 20 includes one or more controllers to measure the weight
distribution of
the refuse vehicle 10 and adjust a position of the battery pod assembly 20
accordingly.
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[0041] As shown in FIG. 6, the battery pod assembly 20 is coupled to the
tailgate 34 of the
refuse vehicle 10. In some embodiments, the battery pod assembly 20 is
positioned vertically
along a rearward side of the refuse compai intent 30. In some embodiments,
the battery pod
assembly 20 is positioned substantially near the base of the tailgate 34 or as
part of the tailgate
34. The battery pod assembly 20 may be configured to be accessible via the
tailgate 34. For
example, a user could open the tailgate 34 to reveal battery pod assembly 20.
In some
embodiments, the tailgate 34 includes one or more rotating elements (e.g.,
hinges, mechanical
bearings) to facilitate rotation around a rearward corner of the refuse compat
intent 30. For
example, the tailgate 34 could include one or more hinging mechanisms on a
side to allow a user
to open the tailgate 34 like a door and gain access to the battery pod
assembly 20 located along
the frame 12 of the refuse vehicle 10. In some embodiments, the tailgate 34 is
a double door.
Swinging the tailgate 34 open like a door requires less energy than lifting
the tailgate 34.
[0042] In some embodiments, the tailgate 34 is fully integrated with the
battery pod assembly
20 and is configured to be removable/replaceable. For example, a first
tailgate 34 having a first
battery pod assembly 20 could be replaced by a second tailgate 34 having a
second battery pod
assembly 20 when the batteries 80 of the first battery pod assembly 20 are
depleted of energy.
Removing and replacing the tailgate 34 may limit loss of vehicle operation due
to charging time
because the tailgate 34 including the depleted battery pod assembly 20 may be
charged
separately of the refuse vehicle 10. Furthermore, swappable battery pod
assemblies enable a
smaller fleet of refuse vehicles to service the same area because the reduced
downtime associated
with battery charging enables the refuse vehicles to operate for longer
periods of time. In some
embodiments, a number of racks index one or more battery cells of the battery
pod assembly 20.
[0043] As shown in FIG. 7, the battery pod assembly 20 is coupled between the
body 14 and
the frame 12 (e.g., on a sub-frame). As described above, in some embodiments,
the battery pod
assembly 20 may be configured to translate horizontally along the frame 12 of
the refuse vehicle
10. For example, the battery pod assembly 20 could move between a forward
portion and a
rearward portion of the body 14 of the refuse vehicle 10 such that the refuse
vehicle 10 is evenly
loaded. As described above, in some embodiments, the battery pod assembly 20
is removable
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and/or replaceable. The battery pod assembly 20 may be accessed via a door on
a side of the
body 14 or via the tailgate 34. Similarly, the battery pod assembly 20 may be
removed and/or
replaced by another battery pod assembly. Alternatively, one or more
individual battery cells
(e.g., batteries 80 of FIG. 2) of the battery pod assembly 20 could be
replaced. In some
embodiments, the battery pod assembly 20 can be accessed by removing the
refuse compai intent
30. For example, a refuse vehicle with a removable refuse compai ___________
intent (e.g., a container truck)
may remove the refuse compai intent to reveal the battery pod assembly 20.
In some
embodiments, the battery pod assembly 20 is coupled to the refuse compai ___
intent 30 itself and can
be removed with the refuse compai intent 30. For example, a refuse vehicle
could swap a first
full refuse compai intent with a first battery pod assembly having depleted
batteries for a second
empty refuse compai intent with a second battery pod assembly having
charged batteries.
[0044] Referring now to FIGS. 8A-9B, several illustrations of an exemplary
placement of the
battery pod assembly 20 are shown, according to several exemplary embodiments.
In various
embodiments, the battery pod assembly 20 is coupled to a rearward top portion
of the refuse
vehicle 10 (e.g., above the refuse compai intent 30, etc.). Additionally or
alternatively, the
battery pod assembly 20 is coupled to a rearward portion of the refuse vehicle
10. For example,
the battery pod assembly 20 may be coupled to the tailgate 34 and/or a
rearward portion of the
refuse compaament 30 (e.g., as shown in FIGS. 8A-8C). As another example, the
battery pod
assembly 20 may be coupled to a vertical rear surface of the refuse
compaiiment 30. In some
embodiments, the battery pod assembly 20 or components thereof are coupled to
the wheel 22.
In some embodiments, the battery pod assembly 20 is coupled to a front and
rear wheelset of the
refuse vehicle 10 (e.g., as shown in FIGS. 8A-8C). In various embodiments,
placement of the
battery pod assembly 20 as shown in FIGS. 8A-8C facilitates shifting weight
rearward on the
refuse vehicle 10, thereby reducing strain on forward load bearing components
(e.g., a front axle,
etc.). In some embodiments, the placement of the battery pod assembly 20 shown
in FIGS. 8A-
8C is preferred for a rear-loading refuse vehicle 10. In various embodiments,
the battery pod
assembly 20 includes a different number and/or arrangement of components than
shown
explicitly in the FIGURES. For example, the battery pod assembly 20 may
include a first
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Date Recue/Date Received 2021-09-23
component coupled to an exterior hub surface of the front wheels 22
electrically coupled to a
second component integrated with the tailgate 34. In some embodiments, the
placement of the
battery pod assembly 20 shown in FIGS. 9A-9B is preferred for a front-loading
refuse vehicle 10
and/or a side-loading refuse vehicle 10. For example, the battery pod assembly
20 may be
positioned on the lift assembly 40. In various embodiments, the battery pod
assembly 20, or
components thereof, are detachable from the refuse vehicle 10 as described in
detail above.
[0045] Referring now to FIGS. 10A-10B, several illustrations of another
exemplary placement
of the battery pod assembly 20 are shown, according to several exemplary
embodiments. In
various embodiments, the battery pod assembly 20 is coupled to a top portion
of the refuse
vehicle 10. For example, the battery pod assembly 20 may be coupled to a top
portion of refuse
compai __ intent 30 and/or above the cab 16 (e.g., as shown in FIGS. 10A-10B).
In some
embodiments, the battery pod assembly 20 is coupled to a canopy (or other
structural element)
located above the cab 16. Additionally or alternatively, the battery pod
assembly 20, or
components thereof, may be coupled to the wheels 22. For example, a first
component of the
battery pod assembly 20 (e.g., a battery cell, etc.) may be coupled to an
exterior hub region of the
wheels 22 and a second component of the battery pod assembly 20 (e.g., a power
converter, etc.)
may be coupled to a structural element (e.g., a portion of frame 12, etc.)
above the cab 16. In
some embodiments, the placement of the battery pod assembly 20 shown in FIGS.
10A-10B is
preferred for a rear-loading refuse vehicle 10. In various embodiments, the
placement of the
battery pod assembly 20 as shown in FIGS. 10A-10B facilitates moving weight
(e.g., battery
weight, etc.) forward on the refuse vehicle 10 (e.g., toward the cab 16 and
away from the tailgate
34, etc.), thereby reducing stress on rear load-bearing components (e.g., a
rear axle, etc.).
[0046] As utilized herein, the terms "approximately," "about,"
"substantially", and similar
terms are intended to have a broad meaning in harmony with the common and
accepted usage by
those of ordinary skill in the art to which the subject matter of this
disclosure pertains. It should
be understood by those of skill in the art who review this disclosure that
these terms are intended
to allow a description of certain features described and claimed without
restricting the scope of
these features to the precise numerical ranges provided. Accordingly, these
terms should be
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Date Recue/Date Received 2021-09-23
interpreted as indicating that insubstantial or inconsequential modifications
or alterations of the
subject matter described and claimed are considered to be within the scope of
the disclosure as
recited in the appended claims.
[0047] It should be noted that the term "exemplary" and variations thereof, as
used herein to
describe various embodiments, are intended to indicate that such embodiments
are possible
examples, representations, or illustrations of possible embodiments (and such
terms are not
intended to connote that such embodiments are necessarily extraordinary or
superlative
examples).
[0048] The term "coupled" and variations thereof, as used herein, means the
joining of two
members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary
(e.g., permanent
or fixed) or moveable (e.g., removable or releasable). Such joining may be
achieved with the
two members coupled directly to each other, with the two members coupled to
each other using a
separate intervening member and any additional intermediate members coupled
with one
another, or with the two members coupled to each other using an intervening
member that is
integrally formed as a single unitary body with one of the two members. If
"coupled" or
variations thereof are modified by an additional term (e.g., directly
coupled), the generic
definition of "coupled" provided above is modified by the plain language
meaning of the
additional term (e.g., "directly coupled" means the joining of two members
without any separate
intervening member), resulting in a narrower definition than the generic
definition of "coupled"
provided above. Such coupling may be mechanical, electrical, or fluidic.
[0049] References herein to the positions of elements (e.g., "top," "bottom,"
"above," "below")
are merely used to describe the orientation of various elements in the
FIGURES. It should be
noted that the orientation of various elements may differ according to other
exemplary
embodiments, and that such variations are intended to be encompassed by the
present disclosure.
[0050] The hardware and data processing components used to implement the
various
processes, operations, illustrative logics, logical blocks, modules and
circuits described in
connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented or
performed with a
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Date Recue/Date Received 2021-09-23
general purpose single- or multi-chip processor, a digital signal processor
(DSP), an application
specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or
other
programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete
hardware components, or
any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A
general purpose
processor may be a microprocessor, or, any conventional processor, controller,
microcontroller,
or state machine. A processor also may be implemented as a combination of
computing devices,
such as a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of
microprocessors, one or
more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such
configuration. In some
embodiments, particular processes and methods may be performed by circuitry
that is specific to
a given function. The memory (e.g., memory, memory unit, storage device) may
include one or
more devices (e.g., RAM, ROM, Flash memory, hard disk storage) for storing
data and/or
computer code for completing or facilitating the various processes, layers and
modules described
in the present disclosure. The memory may be or include volatile memory or non-
volatile
memory, and may include database components, object code components, script
components, or
any other type of information structure for supporting the various activities
and information
structures described in the present disclosure. According to an exemplary
embodiment, the
memory is communicably connected to the processor via a processing circuit and
includes
computer code for executing (e.g., by the processing circuit or the processor)
the one or more
processes described herein.
[0051] The present disclosure contemplates methods, systems and program
products on any
machine-readable media for accomplishing various operations. The embodiments
of the present
disclosure may be implemented using existing computer processors, or by a
special purpose
computer processor for an appropriate system, incorporated for this or another
purpose, or by a
hardwired system. Embodiments within the scope of the present disclosure
include program
products comprising machine-readable media for carrying or having machine-
executable
instructions or data structures stored thereon. Such machine-readable media
can be any available
media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer or
other machine
with a processor. By way of example, such machine-readable media can comprise
RAM, ROM,
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Date Recue/Date Received 2021-09-23
EPROM, EEPROM, or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other
magnetic
storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to carry or store
desired program code
in the form of machine-executable instructions or data structures and which
can be accessed by a
general purpose or special purpose computer or other machine with a processor.
Combinations
of the above are also included within the scope of machine-readable media.
Machine-executable
instructions include, for example, instructions and data which cause a general
purpose computer,
special purpose computer, or special purpose processing machines to perform a
certain function
or group of functions.
[0052] Although the figures and description may illustrate a specific order of
method steps, the
order of such steps may differ from what is depicted and described, unless
specified differently
above. Also, two or more steps may be performed concurrently or with partial
concurrence,
unless specified differently above. Such variation may depend, for example, on
the software and
hardware systems chosen and on designer choice. All such variations are within
the scope of the
disclosure. Likewise, software implementations of the described methods could
be
accomplished with standard programming techniques with rule-based logic and
other logic to
accomplish the various connection steps, processing steps, comparison steps,
and decision steps.
[0053] It is important to note that the construction and arrangement of the
refuse vehicle 10
and the systems and components thereof as shown in the various exemplary
embodiments is
illustrative only. Additionally, any element disclosed in one embodiment may
be incorporated or
utilized with any other embodiment disclosed herein. Although only one example
of an element
from one embodiment that can be incorporated or utilized in another embodiment
has been
described above, it should be appreciated that other elements of the various
embodiments may be
incorporated or utilized with any of the other embodiments disclosed herein.
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