Refuse vehicle with independently operational accessory system
A refuse vehicle includes multiple tractive elements, a prime mover, and an independent accessory system. The prime mover is configured to generate mechanical energy to drive one or more of the tractive elements. The independent accessory system includes one or more storage tanks configured to store a fuel, and an accessory primary mover. The accessory primary mover is configured to fluidly couple with the one or more storage tanks to receive the fuel from the one or more storage tanks and operate to pressurize a hydraulic fluid to drive an accessory of the refuse vehicle. The accessory primary mover is configured to pressurize the hydraulic fluid to drive the accessory of the refuse vehicle independently of operation of the prime mover.
1. A refuse vehicle comprising:
a plurality of tractive elements;
a prime mover configured to generate mechanical energy to drive one or more of the tractive elements; and
an independent accessory system, comprising:
one or more storage tanks configured to store a fuel;
an accessory primary mover configured to fluidly couple with the one or more storage tanks to receive the fuel from the one or more storage tanks and operate to pressurize a hydraulic fluid to drive an accessory of the refuse vehicle;
wherein the accessory primary mover is configured to pressurize the hydraulic fluid to drive the accessory of the refuse vehicle independently of operation of the prime mover.
2. The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the prime mover is at least one of an internal combustion engine, a compressed natural gas engine, or an electric motor.
3. The refuse vehicle of claim 2 , further comprising:
a battery system comprising a plurality of battery cells configured to store energy, wherein the electric motor is configured to draw electrical power from the battery cells to drive one or more of the tractive elements.
4. The refuse vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the accessory primary mover is configured to drive a generator to charge the battery cells.
5. The refuse vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the battery cells are driven to charge by a generator that is driven by another accessory primary mover separate from the accessory primary mover used to pressurize the hydraulic fluid.
6. The refuse vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the generator, the other accessory primary mover, and a plurality of charging fuel tanks are stored at a charging station, wherein the refuse vehicle is configured to removably electrically couple with the generator of the charging station to charge the battery cells of the refuse vehicle.
7. The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the independent accessory system is a compressed natural gas (CNG) system, wherein the fuel is a compressed natural gas, and the accessory primary mover is a CNG engine configured to consume the compressed natural gas to drive a hydraulic pump.
8. The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the independent accessory system is a diesel system, wherein the fuel is a diesel fuel, and the accessory primary mover is an internal combustion engine configured to consume the diesel fuel to drive a hydraulic pump.
9. The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the accessory primary mover and a hydraulic pump that is driven by the accessory primary mover to pressurize the hydraulic fluid are positioned in a modular unit, wherein the modular unit is removably coupled with the refuse vehicle.
10. The refuse vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the modular unit is a tailgate that is coupled with the refuse vehicle.
11. An independent accessory system for a refuse vehicle, the system comprising:
one or more storage tanks configured to store a fuel; and
an accessory primary mover configured to fluidly couple with the one or more storage tanks to receive the fuel from the one or more storage tanks and operate to pressurize a hydraulic fluid to drive an accessory of the refuse vehicle;
wherein the accessory primary mover is configured to pressurize the hydraulic fluid to drive the accessory of the refuse vehicle independently of operation of a prime mover of the refuse vehicle.
12. The independent accessory system of claim 11 , wherein the prime mover of the refuse vehicle is at least one of an internal combustion engine, a compressed natural gas engine, or an electric motor.
13. The independent accessory system of claim 11 , wherein the accessory primary mover is configured to drive a generator to generate electrical energy to charge battery cells of the refuse vehicle.
14. The independent accessory system of claim 11 , wherein the independent accessory system is a compressed natural gas (CNG) system, wherein the fuel is a compressed natural gas, and the accessory primary mover is a CNG engine configured to consume the compressed natural gas to drive a hydraulic pump.
15. The independent accessory system of claim 11 , wherein the independent accessory system is a diesel system, wherein the fuel is a diesel fuel and the accessory primary mover is an internal combustion engine configured to consume the diesel fuel to drive a hydraulic pump.
16. The independent accessory system of claim 11 , wherein the accessory primary mover and a hydraulic pump that is driven by the accessory primary mover to pressurize the hydraulic fluid are positioned in a modular unit, wherein the modular unit is removably coupled with the refuse vehicle.
17. The independent accessory system of claim 16 , wherein the modular unit is a tailgate of the refuse vehicle.
18. A refuse vehicle comprising:
an independent compressed natural gas (CNG) system comprising:
a plurality of CNG storage tanks configured to store CNG fuel; and
an independent CNG engine configured to receive the CNG fuel from the plurality of CNG storage tanks and generate mechanical energy using the CNG fuel, wherein the independent CNG engine operates independently of operation of a primary mover of the refuse vehicle.
19. The refuse vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the independent CNG engine is configured to drive operation of one or more accessories of the refuse vehicle.
20. The refuse vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the independent CNG engine is configured to drive a generator to charge a battery of the refuse vehicle.