System and method for trailer propulsion
AssigneeAnamnesis Corporation
InventorIan C. Rust
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The vehicle system can include: a set of vehicle couplings (e.g., a tractor interface, a trailer interface, etc.); a chassis, a battery pack, an electric powertrain, a sensor suite, and a controller. The modular vehicle system can optionally include landing gear, a suspension, and any other suitable set of components. The vehicle system functions to structurally support and/or tow a trailer—such as a Class 8 semi-trailer—and/or to augment/supplement a tractor propulsive capability (e.g., via a diesel/combustion engine) with a supplementary electric drive axle(s).
Claims18
An electric vehicle (EV) system comprising:
- a chassis defining a longitudinal axis;
- a kingpin configured to couple the chassis to a fifth wheel of a semi-tractor;
- a secondary fifth wheel mounted to the chassis;
- and
- an electric powertrain comprising a battery, wherein at least a portion of the battery is arranged above the kingpin and longitudinally forward of the kingpin relative to the longitudinal axis.
A road vehicle system comprising:
- a chassis;
- a first vehicle coupling proximal to a forward end of the chassis;
- a second vehicle coupling mounted rearwardly of the forward end;
- and
- an electric powertrain, comprising:
- a battery;
- a steering axle;
- and a traction motor
- a set of axles comprising the steering axle, wherein each axle of the set defines a respective axle load, wherein the sum of the respective axle loads defines a total weight bearing of the road vehicle system, wherein the respective axle load of the steering axle is greater than 70% of the total weight bearing of the road vehicle system in a driving configuration.
A combination vehicle system comprising:
- a semi-tractor comprising a fifth wheel hitch plate;
- a trailer comprising a kingpin;
- and
- an electric vehicle (EV) system connecting the kingpin of the trailer to the fifth-wheel hitch plate, the EV system comprising:
- an integrated sensor suite;
- a traction motor;
- a battery;
- and a steering axle coupled to a traction motor, wherein the traction motor is autonomously controlled based on sensor data from the integrated sensor suite, wherein the battery which is at least partially above the fifth wheel hitch plate of the semi-tractor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.