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US 12,344,087 B2Granted
System and methods for modular vehicle energy replenishment
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorNavin Khadiya
Life of this patent
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Abstract
One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for automatically refueling a vehicle using fuel storage modules. The vehicle can comprise a vehicle-side fuel module storage that is coupled with a fuel manifold to provide fuel to the vehicle. A remote fuel storage can be located proximate the target operation for the vehicle. When a fuel loading event is identified, such as low fuel, the vehicle can transit to the remote fuel module storage. Once appropriately aligned, actuators can be used to automatically exchange fuel modules between the vehicle-side fuel module storage and the remote fuel module storage.
Claims19
A system for automatically refueling a vehicle using fuel storage modules, comprising:
- a vehicle comprising a fuel manifold that couples with a plurality of fuel modules and controls fuel flow from the fuel modules to provide fuel to the vehicle, the fuel modules storing fuel for the vehicle;
- a remote fuel storage apparatus, disposed proximate to a target operation performed by the vehicle, the remote fuel storage apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of storage bays that respectively hold a fuel module, and at least one empty bay to receive a fuel module from the vehicle;
- and
- a storage control module that determines a location of the at least one empty bay for receiving a fuel module from the vehicle, and a location of a storage bay with a non-empty fuel module for transfer to the vehicle;
- one or more actuators that move fuel modules between storage bays in the remote fuel storage apparatus, and that move modules between the vehicle and the remote fuel storage apparatus;
- and
- a controller comprising memory configured to store instructions and data, and a processor to process the data and instructions, the controller identifying a fuel loading operation that comprises transiting the vehicle to the remote fuel storage apparatus to exchange modules between the vehicle and the remote fuel storage apparatus.
5 more elements
A system for automatically refueling a vehicle using fuel storage modules, comprising:
- a vehicle that utilizes fuel storage modules to provide fuel for the vehicle during a target operation, the vehicle comprising:
- a fuel manifold that provides fuel to the vehicle, the fuel manifold comprising a plurality of fuel module couplings engaged with the fuel manifold, wherein the fuel module couplings are respectively configured to couple with a fuel module;
- a vehicle side modular fueling station that operably holds one or more fuel modules that are respectively coupled to a fuel module coupling, wherein the one or more fuel modules store fuel for the vehicle;
- a controller comprising memory configured to store instructions and data, and a processor to process the data and instructions, the controller identifying a fuel loading operation that, when triggered, comprises transiting the vehicle to a remote fuel storage apparatus to exchange modules between the vehicle and the remote fuel storage apparatus;
- and
- a sensor array comprising one or more sensors that detect fuel characteristics to identify an amount of fuel remaining in the module, and a fuel usage rate;
- and that detect an alignment of the vehicle side modular fueling station with the remote fuel storage apparatus during the fuel loading operation;
- wherein the fuel loading operation can be identified by data indicative of an amount of fuel remaining in the one or more fuel modules and data indicative of the target operation;
- and
- wherein the vehicle utilizes one or more actuators to automatically exchange fuel modules between the remote fuel storage apparatus and the vehicle side modular fueling station.
7 more elements
A method for automatically refueling a vehicle using fuel storage modules, comprising:
- triggering a fuel loading event for a vehicle that utilizes fuel storage modules to provide fuel for the vehicle during a target operation, the vehicle comprising:
- a fuel manifold that provides fuel to the vehicle, the fuel manifold comprising a plurality of fuel module couplings engaged with the fuel manifold, wherein the fuel module couplings are respectively configured to couple with a fuel module;
- a vehicle side modular fueling station that operably holds one or more fuel modules that are respectively coupled to a fuel module coupling, wherein the one or more fuel modules store fuel for the vehicle;
- a controller comprising memory configured to store instructions and data, and a processor to process the data and instructions, the controller identifying a fuel loading operation that, when triggered, comprises transiting the vehicle to a remote fuel storage apparatus to exchange modules between the vehicle and the remote fuel storage apparatus;
- and
- a sensor array comprising one or more sensors that detect fuel characteristics to identify an amount of fuel remaining in the module, and a fuel usage rate;
- and that detect an alignment of the vehicle side modular fueling station with the remote fuel storage apparatus during the fuel loading operation;
- wherein the triggering of the fuel loading operation can be identified by data indicative of an amount of fuel remaining in the one or more fuel modules and data indicative of the target operation;
- aligning the vehicle side modular fueling station with the remote fuel storage apparatus, wherein the remote fuel storage apparatus is disposed proximate to the target operation performed by the vehicle, the remote fuel storage apparatus comprising a plurality of storage bays that respectively hold a fuel module, and at least one empty bay to receive a fuel module from the vehicle;
- and
- using one or more actuators to automatically exchange fuel modules between the remote fuel storage apparatus and the vehicle side modular fueling station during the fuel loading event.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.