Trailer mounted battery range extender for electric truck tractor
OwnerJohn B. Lampsa, Evan J. Lampsainventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tractor trailer battery system having a battery compartment containing one or more battery units which house one or more battery cells, electrical leads from the battery units to a trailer mounted controller in electrical communication with a cab mounted controller which is in electrical communication an electric motor or hybrid engine system. The battery system allows for either the trailer mounted controller or the cab mounted controller to provide principal communication to the electric motor or hybrid engine system.
Claims16
A battery range extender system for a tractor-trailer, said tractor-trailer having a trailer;
- said trailer having an exterior;
- said battery range extender system comprising:
- a battery compartment, at least one battery cell, a first controller, and a first charging port, wherein said battery compartment is in fixed communication with said exterior;
- said battery compartment comprising at least one battery unit;
- said at least one battery unit having a battery unit cavity defined by a first side and an oppositely opposed second side;
- at least one door in communication with at least one of said first side and said oppositely opposed second side;
- said at least one battery cell provided in said battery unit cavity;
- said at least one battery cell in removable communication with said at least one battery unit;
- wherein said at least one battery cell may be removed from said battery compartment for a recharging of said at least one battery cell;
- at least one of said first controller and said first charging port electrically coupled with said at least one battery cell;
- and
- said at least one battery cell electrically coupled with said tractor-trailer.
A method of loading at least one battery cell of a battery range extender system for a tractor-trailer, said tractor-trailer having a trailer;
- said trailer having an exterior;
- said method comprising:
- inserting extensions of a loading device into at least one guide channel of a first battery cell;
- inserting said first battery cell into a battery compartment, wherein said battery compartment is in fixed communication with said exterior;
- and moving said first battery cell to first position;
- and
- inserting a second battery cell into said batten compartment, wherein said second battery cell exerts a force on said first battery cell.
A method of unloading at least one battery cell of a battery range extender system for a tractor-trailer, said tractor-trailer having a trailer;
- said trailer having an exterior;
- said method comprising:
- inserting extensions of a loading device into at least one guide channel of a second battery cell;
- and
- removing said second battery cell from a battery compartment, wherein said battery compartment is in fixed communication with said exterior;
- and
- removing a first battery cell from said battery compartment wherein said first battery cell and said second battery cell were in close communication.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.