EP-4737164-A1 - ARCHITECTURE FOR FUEL CELL MINING TRUCKS

Abstract

Architectures of heavy equipment vehicles, such as mining trucks, are presented herein for hybridization of such vehicles. For example, the architectures provided herein may relate to the placement of fuel cell stacks, battery packs, fuel tanks, and/or other related components within an existing or new architecture of a heavy equipment vehicle.

Inventors

• RICHARDS, KIERAN J.

Assignees

• Cummins, Inc.

Dates

Publication Date

20260506

Application Date

20251007

Claims (15)

1. A mining haul truck, comprising: a vehicle chassis having a first end portion with a first end and a second end portion with a second end, the vehicle chassis comprising a first longitudinal member extending from the first end to the second end and a second longitudinal member extending from the first end to the second end, the first longitudinal member and the second longitudinal member defining a vehicle chassis space therebetween; a first wheel coupled to the first longitudinal member at a first forward position; a second wheel coupled to the first longitudinal member at a first rearward position, the first wheel and the second wheel defining a side saddle therebetween; a third wheel coupled to the second longitudinal member at a second forward position; a fourth wheel coupled to the second longitudinal member at a second rearward position, the third wheel and the fourth wheel defining a second side saddle therebetween; a power module support frame coupled to a forward position of the vehicle chassis; and a first fluid tank positioned within the vehicle chassis space defined by the first longitudinal member and the second longitudinal member and supported by the power module support frame.
2. The mining haul truck of claim 1, further comprising a hydraulic fluid tank positioned in the second side saddle and mounted to the vehicle chassis.
3. The mining haul truck of claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising a battery module, wherein the battery module is: - positioned within the vehicle chassis space and supported by the power module support frame; or - positioned within the first end portion of the vehicle chassis on or adjacent to the first end of the vehicle chassis; or - positioned in one of the first side saddle and the second side saddle and mounted to the vehicle chassis.
4. The mining haul truck of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a fuel cell module, wherein the fuel cell module is: - positioned within the vehicle chassis space adjacent to the first fluid tank; or - positioned in the first side saddle and mounted to the vehicle chassis.
5. The mining haul truck of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one of: - a balance-of-plant module positioned within the vehicle chassis space and supported by at least one of the power module support frame and the first fluid tank; and - an air cleaner positioned within the vehicle chassis space and supported by at least one of the power module support frame and the first fluid tank.
6. The mining haul truck of claim 1, wherein the first fluid tank is mounted to a lower portion of the power module support frame; and wherein the mining haul truck further comprises: a fuel cell module positioned within the vehicle chassis space and supported by an upper portion of the power module support frame; and a balance-of-plant module positioned within the vehicle chassis space and supported by the upper portion of the power module support frame.
7. The mining haul truck of claim 6, further comprising: a battery module positioned within the first side saddle and mounted to the vehicle chassis.
8. The mining haul truck of claim 7, further comprising: a hydraulics tank positioned within the second side saddle and mounted to the vehicle chassis; and a second fluid tank positioned within the second side saddle and mounted to the vehicle chassis.
9. The mining haul truck of claim 8, wherein at least one of the first fluid tank and the second fluid tank is a hydrogen tank, or wherein at least one of the first fluid tank and the second fluid tank contains one of methanol and ammonia.
10. The mining haul truck of any one of claims 6 to 9, further comprising a deck supported by the first end portion of the vehicle chassis and an air cleaner supported by the deck.
11. The mining haul truck of claim 1, wherein the power module support frame is positioned within the vehicle chassis space; the mining haul truck further comprising: a first battery module supported by the power module support frame; a first fuel cell module positioned within the vehicle chassis space and supported by the power module support frame in a vertical arrangement with the first battery module so that the first fuel cell module is positioned above the first battery module; and a first balance-of-plant module positioned on the power module support frame and operably connected to the first fuel cell module.
12. The mining haul truck of claim 11, wherein the first fluid tank is positioned within the first side saddle and coupled to the first longitudinal member.
13. The mining haul truck of claim 11 or claim 12, further comprising a second battery module positioned within the vehicle chassis space and supported by the power module support frame.
14. The mining haul truck of claim 13, further comprising: a second fuel cell module positioned within the vehicle chassis space and supported by the power module support frame in a vertical arrangement with the second battery module so that the second fuel cell module is positioned above the second battery module; and a second balance-of-plant module positioned within the vehicle chassis space, supported by the power module support frame, and connected to the second fuel cell module.
15. The mining haul truck of claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the first battery module is coupled to a top surface of the power module support frame and the second battery module is coupled to a bottom surface of the power module support frame.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates to architectures, or component arrangement, of fuel cell mining trucks. In particular, the present disclosure relates to the arrangement of vehicle components for the retrofitting or first fitting of mining trucks for operation of the mining trucks using fuel cell powertrain systems. BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE Environmental and efficiency considerations has resulted in the electrification of vehicles across industries and purposes. While electric and hybrid passenger and cargo vehicles are becoming more commonplace, electrification and/or hybridization of large equipment vehicles poses its own set of challenges. For example, large equipment vehicles, such as mining trucks, cranes, bulldozers, etc. may require a workload and/or have a sheer size component that make implementation of alternative powertrains more difficult. Additionally, the components required for hybridization and/or electrification of such vehicles may be difficult to arrange due to the space available relative to the respective vehicle for mounting such components. SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE Architectures of heavy equipment vehicles, such as mining trucks, are presented herein for hybridization of such vehicles. For example, the architectures provided herein may relate to the placement of fuel cell modules, battery pack modules, fuel tanks, and/or other related components within an existing or new architecture of a heavy equipment vehicle. The invention is set out in the appended set of claims. In a first aspect of the disclosure a mining haul truck is provided. The mining haul truck includes a vehicle chassis having a first end portion with a first end and a second end portion with a second end. The vehicle chassis includes a first longitudinal member extending from the first end to the second end and a second longitudinal member extending from the first end to the second end. The first longitudinal member and the second longitudinal member define a vehicle chassis space therebetween. A first wheel is coupled to the first longitudinal member at a first forward position. A second wheel is coupled to the first longitudinal member at a first rearward position. The first wheel and the second wheel define a side saddle therebetween. A third wheel is coupled to the second longitudinal member at a second rearward position. The third wheel and the fourth wheel define a second side saddle therebetween. A power module support frame is coupled to a forward position of the vehicle chassis. A first fluid tank is positioned within the vehicle chassis space defined by the first longitudinal member and the second longitudinal member and supported by the power module support frame. In another aspect of the disclosure, a mining haul truck is provided. The mining haul truck includes a vehicle chassis having a first end portion with a first end and a second end portion with a second end. The vehicle chassis includes a first longitudinal member extending from the first end to the second end and a second longitudinal member extending from the firs tend to the second end. The first longitudinal member and the second longitudinal member define a vehicle chassis space therebetween. A power module support frame is coupled to a forward position of the vehicle chassis. A first fluid tank is positioned within the vehicle chassis space defined by the first longitudinal member and the second longitudinal member and mounted to a lower portion of the power module support frame. A fuel cell module is positioned within the vehicle chassis space and supported by an upper portion of the power module support frame. A balance-of-plant module is positioned within the vehicle chassis space and supported by the upper portion of the power module support frame. In yet another aspect of the disclosure, a mining haul truck is provided. The mining haul truck includes a vehicle chassis having a first end portion with a first end and a second end portion with a second end. The vehicle chassis includes a first longitudinal member extending from the first end to the second end and a second longitudinal member extending from the first end to the second end. The first longitudinal member and the second longitudinal member define a vehicle chassis space therebetween. A power module support frame is positioned within the vehicle chassis space and coupled to the vehicle chassis. A first battery module is supported by the power module support frame. A first fuel cell module is positioned within the vehicle chassis space and supported by the power module support frame in a vertical arrangement with the first battery module so that the first fuel cell module is positioned above the first battery module. A first balance-of-plant module is positioned on the power module support frame and operably connected to the first fuel cell module. In another aspect of the disclosure, a mining haul truck is provided. The