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US-20260124981-A1 - STORAGE TANK MOUNTING FOR HYBRID MINING TRUCKS

US20260124981A1US 20260124981 A1US20260124981 A1US 20260124981A1US-20260124981-A1

Abstract

A support structure for a mining truck can include an interior mounting interface. The interior mounting interface can be configured to removably attach the support structure to a chassis of the mining truck. The support structure can further include a center mounting interface. The center mounting interface can be configured to support an interior storage tank adjacent to the chassis. The support structure can further include an exterior mounting interface. The exterior mounting interface can be configured to support an exterior storage tank adjacent to the interior storage tank.

Inventors

  • Kieran J. Richards

Assignees

  • CUMMINS INC.

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20241101

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . A support structure for a mining truck, the support structure comprising: an interior mounting interface configured to removably attach the support structure to a chassis of the mining truck; a center mounting interface configured to support an interior storage tank adjacent to the chassis; and an exterior mounting interface configured to support an exterior storage tank adjacent to the interior storage tank.
  2. 2 . The support structure of claim 1 , wherein: the interior mounting interface comprises an interior pivot axis about which the support structure is pivotable relative to the chassis; the center mounting interface comprises a center pivot axis about which the interior storage tank is pivotable relative to the support structure; and the exterior mounting interface comprises an exterior pivot axis about which the exterior storage tank is pivotable relative to the support structure.
  3. 3 . The support structure of claim 2 , wherein each of the interior mounting interface, the center mounting interface, and the exterior mounting interface is pivotable independently of each other.
  4. 4 . The support structure of claim 1 , wherein each of the interior mounting interface, the center mounting interface, and the exterior mounting interface includes a damping portion having one or more vibration dampers.
  5. 5 . The support structure of claim 1 , further comprising an upper beam extending between the interior mounting interface and the exterior mounting interface, wherein: the upper beam comprises a channel having a first end and a second end; the interior mounting interface comprises an interior bar member attached to the first end; and the exterior mounting interface comprises an exterior bar member attached to the second end.
  6. 6 . The support structure of claim 5 , wherein: a first portion of the upper beam overlaps a portion of the interior bar member; and a second portion of the upper beam overlaps a portion of the exterior bar member.
  7. 7 . The support structure of claim 5 , wherein the interior bar member and the exterior bar member are welded to the upper beam.
  8. 8 . The support structure of claim 1 , wherein one of the interior storage tank and the exterior storage tank comprises a hydraulic fluid storage tank.
  9. 9 . The support structure of claim 1 , wherein one of the interior storage tank and the exterior storage tank comprises at least one of a fuel tank, a battery module, and a flywheel.
  10. 10 . A storage tank assembly for a mining truck, the storage tank assembly comprising: a support structure pivotably coupled to a chassis of the mining truck; an interior storage tank supported by and pivotably coupled to the support structure; and an exterior storage tank supported by and pivotably coupled to the support structure; wherein the interior storage tank is pivotable relative to the support structure independently of the exterior storage tank; and wherein the exterior storage tank is pivotable relative to the support structure independently of the interior storage tank.
  11. 11 . The storage tank assembly of claim 10 , wherein the interior storage tank is vibrationally isolated from the support structure.
  12. 12 . The storage tank assembly of claim 10 , wherein the exterior storage tank is vibrationally isolated from the support structure.
  13. 13 . The storage tank assembly of claim 10 , further comprising one or more vibration dampers between at least one of: the support structure and the chassis; the interior storage tank and the support structure; and the exterior storage tank and the support structure.
  14. 14 . The storage tank assembly of claim 10 , wherein the support structure includes a crossbar defining a pivot axis about which the support structure is configured to pivot, the crossbar received between a chassis mounting post of the chassis and a clamping member coupled to the chassis mounting post so that the crossbar is freely rotatable.
  15. 15 . A method of mounting a first storage tank and a second storage tank to a chassis of a mining truck, comprising: mounting a support structure to a mounting post of the chassis of the mining truck; mounting a pre-existing storage tank to a center mounting interface of the support structure; and mounting a second storage tank to an exterior mounting interface of the support structure so that the second storage tank is positioned adjacent to the pre existing storage tank.
  16. 16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein: the support structure is pivotably mounted to the mounting post of the chassis by an interior mounting interface about a first pivot axis; the pre-existing storage tank is pivotable relative to the chassis about a second pivot axis; and the second storage tank is pivotable relative to the chassis about a third pivot axis.
  17. 17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the pre-existing storage tank is pivotable independently of the second storage tank and the second storage tank is pivotable independently of the pre-existing storage tank.
  18. 18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the pre-existing storage tank is cylindrical.
  19. 19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein mounting the support structure includes receiving a crossbar of the support structure between the mounting post of the chassis and a clamping member so that the crossbar is freely rotatable.
  20. 20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein mounting the pre-existing storage tank includes receiving a portion of the pre-existing storage tank within a slot defined by a support tab of the support structure and coupling a clamping member to the support tab so that the portion of the pre-existing storage tank is positioned between the support tab and the clamping member.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates to architectures, or component arrangement, of hybrid mining trucks. In particular, the present disclosure relates to mounting storage tanks to a hybrid mining truck. BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE Environmental and efficiency considerations have 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 makes 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 DISCLOSURE The present disclosure provides a support structure for a mining truck. The support structure includes an interior mounting interface configured to removably attach the support structure to a chassis of the mining truck; a center mounting interface configured to support an interior storage tank adjacent to the chassis; and an exterior mounting interface configured to support an exterior storage tank adjacent to the interior storage tank. In another embodiment, the interior mounting interface includes an interior pivot axis about which the support structure is pivotable relative to the chassis. The center mounting interface includes a center pivot axis about which the interior storage tank is pivotable relative to the support structure; and the exterior mounting interface includes an exterior pivot axis about which the exterior storage tank is pivotable relative to the support structure. Further, each of the interior mounting interface, the center mounting interface, and the exterior mounting interface is pivotable independently of each other. In another embodiment, each of the interior mounting interface, the center mounting interface, and the exterior mounting interface includes a damping portion having one or more vibration dampers. In yet another embodiment, the support structure includes an upper beam extending between the interior mounting interface and the exterior mounting interface. The upper beam includes a channel having a first end and a second end; the interior mounting interface includes an interior bar member attached to the first end; and the exterior mounting interface includes an exterior bar member attached to the second end. Further, a first portion of the upper beam overlaps a portion of the interior bar member; and a second portion of the upper beam overlaps a portion of the exterior bar member. Additionally, the interior bar member and the exterior bar member are welded to the upper beam. In another embodiment of the support structure, one of the interior storage tank and the exterior storage tank includes a hydraulic fluid storage tank. In yet another embodiment, one of the interior storage tank and the exterior storage tank includes at least one of a fuel tank, a battery module, and a flywheel. The present disclosure further provides a storage tank assembly for a mining truck, the storage tank assembly including a support structure pivotably coupled to a chassis of the mining truck; an interior storage tank supported by and pivotably coupled to the support structure; and an exterior storage tank supported by and pivotably coupled to the support structure. The interior storage tank is pivotable relative to the support structure independently of the exterior storage tank. The exterior storage tank is pivotable relative to the support structure independently of the interior storage tank. In another embodiment of the storage tank assembly, the interior storage tank is vibrationally isolated from the support structure. In yet another embodiment, the exterior storage tank is vibrationally isolated from the support structure. In another embodiment, the storage tank assembly includes one or more vibration dampers between at least one of: the support structure and the chassis; the interior storage tank and the support structure; and the exterior storage tank and the support structure. In a different embodiment, the support structure includes a crossbar defining a pivot axis about which the support structure is configured to pivot, the crossbar received between a chassis mounting post of the chassis and a clamping member coupled to the chassis mounting post so that the crossbar is freely rotatable. The present disclosure also provides a method of mounting a first storage tank and a second storage tank to a chassis of a mining truck. The method includes mounting a support structure to a mounting post of the chassis of the mining truck; mounting a pre-existing storage tank