Power architecture for a vehicle such as an off-highway vehicle
The present disclosure relates to a power distribution architecture for an off-road vehicle. The power distribution architecture includes a work circuit and a propel circuit and is configured for facilitating bi-directional power exchange between the work circuit and the propel circuit.
1. A power distribution architecture for an off-road vehicle, the power distribution architecture comprising:
a work circuit including a plurality of motion control units configured to be fluidly connected to separate hydraulic actuators, the motion control units each including an electric motor/generator mechanically coupled to a pump/motor;
an electrical bus for providing electrical power to each of the electric motors/generators;
a common pressure rail for providing hydraulic power to each of the motion control units; and
a prime mover which directs power through a power take-off to a mechanical transmission for driving propulsion of the vehicle, wherein the prime mover also is coupled by a mechanical power take-off to a pump for pressurizing the common pressure rail, and wherein the prime mover drives an electric generator for energizing the electrical bus.
2. The power distribution architecture of claim 1 , further comprising a hydraulic accumulator in fluid communication with the common pressure rail.
3. The power distribution architecture of claim 1 , further comprising a first battery corresponding to the work circuit that is electrically connected to the electrical bus.
4. The power distribution architecture of claim 3 , wherein the prime mover drives an electric generator for providing electrical power to a motor drive of an electric traction motor of a propel circuit of the vehicle, wherein the motor drive is configured to direct a DC output along a DC power line to a power distribution unit, wherein the power distribution unit electrically connects the DC power line to the electrical bus and provides DC-DC power conversion such that the DC electrical bus has a lower DC voltage than the DC power line, and wherein the power distribution unit allows for bi-directional electrical power transfer between the DC power line and the DC electrical bus.
5. The power distribution architecture of claim 4 , further comprising a second battery coupled to the DC power line, the second battery having a higher voltage than the first battery.
6. The power distribution architecture of claim 4 , wherein the DC power line powers an electric pump/motor for pressurizing the common pressure rail.
7. The power distribution architecture of claim 6 , further comprising a second battery coupled to the DC power line, the second battery having a higher voltage than the first battery.
8. The power distribution architecture of claim 3 , wherein the prime mover drives a first electric generator for providing electrical power to a motor drive of an electric traction motor of a propel circuit of the vehicle, wherein the motor drive is configured to direct a DC output along a DC power line, wherein the DC power line powers an electric pump/motor for pressurizing the common pressure rail.
9. The power distribution architecture of claim 8 , further comprising a second battery coupled to the DC power line, the second battery having a higher voltage than the first battery.
10. The power distribution architecture of claim 1 , wherein the electrical bus is a DC electrical bus.
11. The power distribution architecture of claim 1 , wherein the mechanical power take-off and each electric generator allow braking energy to be re-routed to the work circuit.
12. A power distribution architecture for an off-road vehicle, the power distribution architecture comprising:
a work circuit including a plurality of motion control units configured to be fluidly connected to separate hydraulic actuators, the motion control units each including an electric motor/generator mechanically coupled to a pump/motor;
an electrical bus for providing electrical power to each of the electric motors/generators; and
a prime mover which drives an electric generator for providing electrical power to a motor drive of an electric traction motor of a propel circuit of the vehicle, wherein the motor drive is configured to direct a DC output along a DC power line to a power distribution unit, wherein the power distribution architecture electrically connects the DC power line to the electrical bus and provides DC-DC power conversion such that the electrical bus has a lower DC voltage than the DC power line, wherein the power distribution architecture allows for bi-directional electrical power transfer between the DC power line and the electrical bus.
13. The power distribution architecture of claim 12 , further comprising a first battery corresponding to the work circuit that is electrically connected to the electrical bus.
14. The power distribution architecture of claim 13 , further comprising a second battery coupled to the DC power line, the second battery having a higher voltage than the first battery.