IP Library Granted Patent US 12,305,360
Granted Patent B2
US 12,305,360 · App. 17/802,341 · Granted May 20, 2025

Electric drivetrain and component storage configurations for an electric work vehicle

Inventors: Christopher Alan Andreuccetti (Burlington, IA); Eric James Zieser (Clearwater, KS); James Sutor (Galesburg, IL); Chad M. Blakewell (Dallas City, IL)
E02F9/0866B60K1/04B60L50/60E02F3/964E02F9/0883B60K2001/0411B60L2200/40
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,305,360
App. No.
17/802,341
Granted
May 20, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

In one aspect, an electric work vehicle includes a chassis extending in a longitudinal direction between a first end and an opposed second end, and a cab supported between the first and second ends of the chassis. The work vehicle also includes a work implement assembly positioned at the first end or the second end, and a storage compartment defining a storage volume extending in the longitudinal direction between the cab and the first end or the second end. Moreover, the electric work vehicle includes a battery module positioned within the storage compartment, and a drivetrain including an electric traction motor positioned within the storage compartment and configured to be operated via power supplied from the battery module. The electric traction motor is coupled to a transmission of the drivetrain to allow torque to be transferred from the traction motor to corresponding traction devices of the electric work vehicle.

Claims (41)

1. An electric work vehicle, comprising:

a chassis extending in a longitudinal direction between a first end of the chassis and an opposed second end of the chassis;

a cab supported between the first and second ends of the chassis;

a work implement assembly positioned at one of the first end or the second end of the chassis;

a storage compartment defining a storage volume extending in the longitudinal direction between the cab and one of the first end or the second end of the chassis;

a battery module positioned within the storage compartment;

a drivetrain including an electric traction motor positioned within the storage compartment and configured to be operated via power supplied from the battery module, the electric traction motor coupled to a transmission of the drivetrain to allow torque to be transferred from the electric traction motor to corresponding traction devices of the electric work vehicle; and

a side storage compartment positioned along one side of the chassis, the side storage compartment housing an electric hydraulics-driving motor and a hydraulic pump, the electric hydraulics-driving motor being operated via power supplied from the battery module and configured to rotationally drive the hydraulic pump to provide a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid to an actuator associated with the work implement assembly.

2. The electric work vehicle of claim 1 , wherein an output shaft of the electric traction motor is coaxially aligned with an input shaft of the transmission.

3. The electric work vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the electric traction motor is coupled to the transmission via a torque converter positioned within the storage compartment.

4. The electric work vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the side storage compartment includes an interior divider wall that divides an interior storage volume defined by the side storage compartment into a first storage chamber and a second storage chamber, the electric hydraulics-driving motor being positioned within the first storage chamber and the hydraulic pump being positioned within the second storage chamber.

5. The electric work vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the second storage chamber is configured as a hydraulic tank for storing hydraulic fluid.

6. The electric work vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a side storage compartment positioned along one side of the chassis, the side storage compartment housing a motor/inverter controller and a power inverter, the motor/inverter controller being configured to control the operation of the power inverter for regulating a supply of power from the battery module to the electric traction motor.

7. The electric work vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the chassis comprises a forward end of the chassis and the second end of the chassis comprises an aft end of the chassis, the work implement assembly comprising a loader assembly positioned at the forward end of the chassis, the loader assembly including a loader arm supported relative to the chassis and a first work implement pivotably coupled to the loader arm.

8. The electric work vehicle of claim 7 , further comprising a backhoe assembly positioned at the aft end of the chassis, the backhoe assembly including at least one arm supported relative to the chassis and a second work implement pivotably coupled to the at least one arm.

9. The electric work vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the storage compartment comprises a forward storage compartment extending in the longitudinal direction between the cab and the forward end of the chassis.

10. An electric work vehicle, comprising:

a chassis extending in a longitudinal direction between a first end of the chassis and an opposed second end of the chassis;

a cab supported between the first and second ends of the chassis;

a work implement assembly positioned at one of the first end or the second end of the chassis;

a storage compartment defining a storage volume extending in the longitudinal direction between the cab and one of the first end or the second end of the chassis;

a battery module supported relative to the chassis;

a drivetrain including an electric traction motor positioned within the storage compartment and configured to be operated via power supplied from the battery module, the electric traction motor coupled to a transmission of the drivetrain to allow torque to be transferred from the electric traction motor to corresponding traction devices of the electric work vehicle; and

a side storage compartment positioned along one side of the chassis, the side storage compartment housing an electric hydraulics-driving motor and a hydraulic pump, the electric hydraulics-driving motor being operated via power supplied from the battery module and configured to rotationally drive the hydraulic pump to provide a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid to an actuator associated with the work implement assembly;

wherein an output shaft of the electric traction motor is coaxially aligned with an input shaft of the transmission.

11. The electric work vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the battery module is positioned within the storage compartment.

12. The electric work vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the electric traction motor is coupled to the transmission via a torque converter positioned within the storage compartment.

13. The electric work vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the side storage compartment includes an interior divider wall that divides an interior storage volume defined by the side storage compartment into a first storage chamber and a second storage chamber, the electric hydraulics-driving motor being positioned within the first storage chamber and the hydraulic pump being positioned within the second storage chamber.

14. The electric work vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the second storage chamber is configured as a hydraulic tank for storing hydraulic fluid.

15. The electric work vehicle of claim 10 , further comprising a side storage compartment positioned along one side of the chassis, the side storage compartment housing a motor/inverter controller and a power inverter, the motor/inverter controller being configured to control the operation of the power inverter for regulating a supply of power from the battery module to the electric traction motor.

16. The electric work vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the first end of the chassis comprises a forward end of the chassis and the second end of the chassis comprises an aft end of the chassis, the work implement assembly comprising a loader assembly positioned at the forward end of the chassis, the loader assembly including a loader arm supported relative to the chassis and a first work implement pivotably coupled to the loader arm.

17. The electric work vehicle of claim 16 , further comprising a backhoe assembly positioned at the aft end of the chassis, the backhoe assembly including at least one arm supported relative to the chassis and a second work implement pivotably coupled to the at least one arm.

18. The electric work vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the storage compartment comprises a forward storage compartment extending in the longitudinal direction between the cab and the forward end of the chassis.

19. An electric work vehicle, comprising:

a chassis extending in a longitudinal direction between a first end of the chassis and an opposed second end of the chassis;

a cab supported between the first and second ends of the chassis;

a work implement assembly positioned at one of the first end or the second end of the chassis;

a storage compartment defining a storage volume extending in the longitudinal direction between the cab and one of the first end or the second end of the chassis;

a battery module positioned within the storage compartment;

a drivetrain including an electric traction motor positioned within the storage compartment and configured to be operated via power supplied from the battery module, the electric traction motor coupled to a transmission of the drivetrain to allow torque to be transferred from the electric traction motor to corresponding traction devices of the electric work vehicle; and

a side storage compartment positioned along one side of the chassis, the side storage compartment housing a motor/inverter controller and a power inverter, the motor/inverter controller being configured to control the operation of the power inverter for regulating a supply of power from the battery module to the electric traction motor.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 7, 2026
From: CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLC
To: BLUE LEAF I.P., INC.
Reel/Frame 075345/0160 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 25, 2022
From: ANDREUCCETTI, CHRISTOPHER ALAN; ZIESER, ERIC JAMES; SUTOR, JAMES; BLAKEWELL, CHAD M.
To: CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLC
Reel/Frame 060903/0651 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62982261 · Feb 27, 2020
Related Publication 20230097590A1 · Mar 30, 2023
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