Pivoting boom structure for dynamic energy transfer system
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsIgor Strashny, Jason Schafer, Paul Ives
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pivoting boom includes a housing pivotally attached to a frame of a mobile machine at a pivot point at a proximal end of the housing and a busbar assembly attached to an interior surface of the housing and configured to electrically connect the mobile machine to the electrically-conducting rail system via a plurality of electrical cables in the busbar assembly. A pivoting boom also includes a hydraulic system configured to extend or retract the pivoting boom about the pivot point and a pneumatic system configured to control the movement of a trailing arm assembly and a contactor assembly.
Claims20
A boom for connecting a mobile machine to an electrically-conducting rail system, the boom comprising:
- a housing, the housing pivotally attached to a frame of the mobile machine at a pivot point at a proximal end of the housing;
- a busbar assembly, the busbar assembly attached to an interior surface of the housing and configured to be connected to a plurality of electrical cables that electrically connect the mobile machine to the electrically-conducting rail system via the busbar assembly;
- a hydraulic system, the hydraulic system including a hydraulic power unit, a hydraulic cylinder and a hydraulic manifold;
- and
- a pneumatic system within the housing.
An electrical power supply system, comprising:
- an electrically-powered mobile machine;
- a boom for electrically connecting the electrically-powered mobile machine to an electrically-conducting rail system, the boom comprising:
- a boom housing defining an interior;
- a first busbar;
- a second busbar, wherein the first busbar and the second busbar are spaced apart by a plurality of housing connectors, the plurality of housing connectors coupling the first busbar and the second busbar to the interior of the boom housing;
- and
- a plurality of electrical cables, the plurality of electrical cables each including a connection pin connected to the first busbar and the second busbar.
A boom fluid system, the boom fluid system comprising:
- an electronic control module;
- a hydraulic system, the hydraulic system including a hydraulic power unit, a hydraulic manifold, and a hydraulic cylinder connected at a proximal end to a frame of a mobile machine and to an external boom housing at a distal end;
- and
- a pneumatic system, the pneumatic system including a filter, a compressor, a dryer, a pneumatic tank, and a pneumatic valve,
- wherein the electronic control module monitors and controls pressure generated by the hydraulic system and the pneumatic system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.