# US 11,938,805 B2 · Reconfiguration of diesel-powered haul truck with hybrid hydrogen fuel cell and battery power supply

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- Number: US 11,938,805 B2
- Document ID: US11938805B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/180,042
- Filed: 2023-03-07
- Published: 2023-10-26
- Granted: 2024-03-26
- Earliest claimed: 2022-04-25
- Assignees: First Mode IPP Limited
- Applicants: First Mode IPP Limited
- Inventors: Joshua M. Sweere; Spencer M. Anunsen; Larissa Y. Kunz; Harlan Thomas Kuo; Alexis R. Humann; David T. Gerhardt
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11938805B2

## CPC

- B60K 1/04: of the electric storage means for propulsion
- B62D 21/186: {for building site vehicles or multi-purpose tractors (tracked vehicles B62D55/10; tractors in general B62D49/00; building site vehicles in general E02F; lift-trucks B66F)}
- B60K 11/00: Arrangement in connection with cooling of propulsion units
- B60K 15/063: Arrangement of tanks
- B60K 15/07: of gas tanks
- B60L 1/02: to electric heating circuits
- B60L 50/15: with additional electric power supply (with capacitors charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/40; with batteries charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/61)
- B60L 50/66: {Arrangements of batteries}
- B60L 50/71: Arrangement of fuel cells within vehicles specially adapted for electric vehicles
- B60L 50/75: using propulsion power supplied by both fuel cells and batteries
- H01M 8/04029: Heat exchange using liquids
- H01M 8/04201: {Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes}
- H01M 16/006: {of fuel cells with rechargeable batteries}
- B60K 15/03: Fuel tanks
- B60K 2001/0438: {Arrangement under the floor}
- B60K 2015/03315: {for hydrogen}
- B60K 2015/0638: {the fuel tank is arranged in the rear of the vehicle}
- B60L 2200/36: Vehicles designed to transport cargo, e.g. trucks
- B60L 2200/40: Working vehicles
- B62D 65/10: the sub-units or components being engines, clutches or transmissions
- H01M 2220/20: Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
- H01M 2250/20: Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)
- B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY

## Abstract

The present disclosure provides a mining haul truck with the diesel-powered components removed, the resulting available volumes retrofitted with components of a hybrid hydrogen fuel cell/battery-based powerplant. In some embodiments, the tray and/or the canopy of the haul truck can be replaced or reconfigured to create an additional volume for receiving components of the hybrid hydrogen fuel cell/battery-based powerplant.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of retrofitting a diesel-powered mining haul truck with a hybrid hydrogen fuel cell/battery-based powerplant, comprising:
removing, from a frame of the haul truck, (a) an engine and an alternator from an engine bay, (b) a diesel tank from a first wheel pocket, and (c) a hydraulic fluid reservoir from a second wheel pocket to create a plurality of first available volumes;
installing the hydraulic fluid reservoir in a rear axle pocket; and
installing at least a portion of a fuel cell system, a battery system, or a hydrogen storage system (HSS) in at least one of the first available volumes.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the installing includes installing at least a portion of the battery system in one of the first wheel pocket or the second wheel pocket.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1,
wherein the installing includes installing a first portion of the battery system in the first wheel pocket and a second portion of the battery system in the second wheel pocket.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the installing includes installing the fuel cell system in the engine bay.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the mining haul truck includes a tray, the tray and a surface of the frame forming a second available volume, and wherein the installing includes installing at least a portion of the fuel cell system, the battery system, or the hydrogen storage system (HSS) in the second available volume.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the installing includes installing the HSS in the second available volume.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the HSS is configured to store hydrogen in a gaseous state.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
removing a radiator from the frame of the haul truck to create a front of frame volume; and
installing a cooling system in the front of frame volume, the cooling system being at least 10% larger in volume than the radiator.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
connecting the fuel cell system, the battery system, and the HSS.

### Claim 10 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the battery system has a mass, the mass of the battery system being evenly distributed between the first wheel pocket and the second wheel pocket.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the HSS is configured to store hydrogen in a liquid state.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the HSS includes a plurality of storage tanks.