WO2025239809A1

WO2025239809A1 - Electrical mining vehicle service system

Info

Publication number: WO2025239809A1
Application number: PCT/SE2024/050473
Authority: WO
Inventors: Carlos Arnaiz Perez CHILENO
Original assignee: Epiroc Rock Drills AB
Current assignee: Epiroc Rock Drills AB
Priority date: 2024-05-16
Filing date: 2024-05-16
Publication date: 2025-11-20
Anticipated expiration: 2026-11-16

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a mobile battery servicing system (1) for swapping and/or charging at least one battery of a mining machine within a mine, the system (1) comprising a support structure (20) having a substantially horizontal extension direction and comprising at least one battery servicing area (21), and a crane (10) attached to the support structure (20), the crane (10) comprising a vertical crane tower (11) having a first end (11a) and a second end (11b), the first end (11a) pivotably attached to the support structure (20), a horizontal crane beam (12) connected to the second end (11b) and comprising a guide rail (13) and a trolley (14), and a hoisting mechanism (15) attached to the crane beam (12) and linearly movable along the crane beam (12) via the guide rail (13) and the trolley (14), the hoisting mechanism further comprising battery lifting equipment (16), wherein the mobile battery servicing system (1) comprising a charger (30) arranged on the support structure (20) and comprising at least one battery connection equipment (31).

Description

ELECTRICAL MINING VEHICLE SERVICE SYSTEM

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates generally to servicing mining machines and in particular to a mobile battery servicing system for swapping and/or charging at least one battery of a mining machine within a mine.

Background

[0002] Mining machines, e.g., face drill rigs, production drill rigs, loaders, haulers, dumpers, rock bolting rigs, cable bolting rigs and concrete spraying machines, are all involved in different phases of the mining operation. Traditionally, mining machines have been driven by combustion engines. However, in recent years growing environmental concerns have driven the mining industry to reduce or phase out the traditional combustion engines to reduce or eventually stop the emission of greenhouse gases from fossil fuels. Furthermore, the usage of combustion engines in underground mines also poses a problem in the working environment of the miners due to exhaust gases emitted.

[0003] In the mining industry the solution is focused on electrification of the mining machine fleet. Discharged traction batteries of electrically driven mining machines within the mining machine fleet need to be serviced, i.e. , the discharged battery needs to be replenished such that the mining machines can operate. Additionally, various electrically driven mining machines may require various servicing infrastructures, e.g., due to differences in voltages and/or weight of their traction batteries. The transition from combustion driven mining machines to electrically driven mining machines consequently requires new solutions regarding the diversity of demands within a fleet of electrically driven mining machines.

[0004] Currently, the diversity in demands within a fleet of electrically driven mining machines results in losses of time and utilization which consequently affects the efficiency of various mining operations. Summary

[0005] It is therefore an object of the embodiments herein to provide a battery servicing system that at least partially solves or alleviates the aforementioned challenges.

[0006] This object is achieved by means of the subject matter of the independent claims of the present disclosure, wherein further aspects of the present disclosure are incorporated in the dependent claims.

[0007] In a first aspect of the present disclosure, it is provided a mobile battery servicing system for swapping and/or charging at least one battery of a mining machine within a mine, the system comprising a support structure having a substantially horizontal extension direction and comprising at least one battery servicing area, and a crane attached to the support structure, the crane comprising a vertical crane tower having a first end and a second end, the first end pivotably attached to the support structure, a horizontal crane beam connected to the second end and comprising a guide rail and a trolley, and a hoisting mechanism attached to the crane beam and linearly movable along the crane beam via the guide rail and the trolley, the hoisting mechanism further comprising battery lifting equipment, wherein the mobile battery servicing system comprising a charger arranged on the support structure and comprising at least one battery connection equipment.

[0008] This provides a mobile battery servicing system which can be moved to a location within the mine where needed to facilitate the battery servicing needs of a mining machine fleet, thus improving the efficiency of mining operations.

[0009] In various example embodiments the crane tower may be folded against the support structure during a transportation mode.

[0010] The advantage of these embodiments is that improvements in the transportation of the mobile battery servicing system is achieved.

[0011 ] In various example embodiments the support structure may be a wheeled carrier. [0012] The advantage of these embodiments it a practical means of transportation of the mobile battery servicing system is achieved.

[0013] In various example embodiments the mobile battery servicing system may further comprise at least one strut member releasably attached to the crane tower and pivotably and/or releasably attached the support structure.

[0014] The advantage of these embodiments is that the stability of the mobile battery servicing system during operation is improved, while simultaneously retaining a practical means of achieving transportation of the mobile battery servicing system.

[0015] In various example embodiments the mobile battery servicing system may further comprise at least one wall mounting bracket.

[0016] The advantage of these embodiments is that further stability of the mobile battery servicing system is achieved during lifting of heavy batteries.

[0017] In various example embodiments the support structure may further comprise a substantially rectangular section wherein the crane tower is pivotably attached, and the battery servicing area and the charger are located.

[0018] The advantage of these embodiments is that a more functional area of which the battery is to be servicing is provided.

[0019] In various example embodiments the crane tower may be pivotably attached to the support structure between battery servicing area and the charger.

[0020] The advantage of these embodiments is that there is no risk of interference of collision between a transported battery and the charger.

[0021] In various example embodiments the crane beam may be rotatable around a rotation axis defined by the elongation direction of the crane tower via a rotation mechanism. [0022] The advantage of these embodiments is that flexibility within the movement of the crane to is enabled.

[0023] In various example embodiments the battery servicing area may comprise a conveyor belt mechanism.

[0024] The advantage of these embodiments is that further automation of servicing of batteries is achieved.

[0025] In various example embodiments the conveyor belt mechanism may comprise a first conveyor belt having a first transporting direction and a second conveyor belt having a second transporting direction opposite to the first transporting direction.

[0026] The advantage of these embodiments is that further automation of servicing of batteries is achieved.

[0027] In various example embodiments the first transporting direction may be directed towards a first distal end of the battery servicing area and the second transporting direction may be directed towards a second distal end of the battery servicing area opposite the first distal end, each transporting direction may be orthogonal to the horizonal extension direction of the support structure.

[0028] The advantage of these embodiments is that further automation of servicing of batteries is achieved.

[0029] In various example embodiments the crane may comprise a control unit and the hoisting mechanism comprises an electrical winch motor, wherein the control unit is communicatively connected to the electrical winch motor.

[0030] The advantage of these embodiments is that automation of servicing of batteries is achieved.

[0031] In various example embodiments the crane may comprise a control unit and the trolley may comprise an electric motor, wherein the control unit is communicatively connected to the electric motor. [0032] The advantage of these embodiments is that further automation of servicing of batteries is achieved.

[0033] In various example embodiments the charger may comprise a plurality of battery connection equipment.

[0034] The advantage of these embodiments is that further efficiency within servicing of batteries is achieved.

[0035] Further advantages with and features of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments.

Brief description of drawings

[0036] The invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 depicts a side view of a mobile battery servicing system according to various example embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 2 depicts a side view of a mobile battery servicing system in a transportation mode according to various example embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 3 depicts a side view of a mobile battery servicing system wherein the support structure may comprise a wheeled carrier to various example embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 4 depicts a side view of a mobile battery servicing system may comprise a strut member according to various example embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 5 depicts a side view of a mobile battery servicing system may comprise a wall mounting bracket according to various example embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 6 depicts a top-down view of a mobile battery servicing system according to various example embodiments of the present disclosure. Fig. 7 depicts a top-down view of a mobile battery servicing system wherein the support structure may comprise a conveyor belt mechanism and wherein the crane tower may be rotatable according to various example embodiments of the present disclosure.

Description of embodiments

[0037] The invention is not limited only to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, which primarily have an illustrative and exemplifying purpose. This patent application is intended to cover all adjustments and variants of the preferred embodiments described herein; thus, the present invention is defined by the wording of the appended claims and the equivalents thereof.

[0038] The person skilled in the art realized that the present disclosure by no means is limited to the preferred embodiments described above. On the contrary, many modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims. It should further be noted that the drawings not necessarily are to scale, and dimensions of certain features may have been exaggerated for the sake of clarity. Emphasis is instead placed upon illustrating the principle of the embodiments herein. Additionally, in the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality.

[0039] Figure 1 depicts a side view of a mobile battery servicing system 1 for swapping and/or charging at least one battery of a mining machine within a mine according to various example embodiments of the present disclosure. The battery servicing system 1 may be suitable for swapping of at least one mining machine, meaning that the system 1 comprises the technical features (as described below) to carry out a removal of at least one battery from the at least one mining vehicle, and to subsequently provide at least one battery that may be charged back to the mining vehicle. The battery to be provided may be charged in advance of the battery swapping operation. Additionally, or alternatively, the battery servicing system 1 may be suitable for charging at least one battery of at least one mining vehicle, i.e. , after removal of the at least one battery from the mining machine, the system comprises the technical features (as described below) to charge the removed battery. The mobile battery system 1 may be suitable for swapping and/or charging of at least one battery for any type of mining machine, the type of mining machine is not important.

[0040] The mobile battery servicing system 1 comprises a support structure 20 having a substantially horizontal extension direction and comprising at least one battery servicing area 21 . The support structure 20 may comprise a continuous surface, e.g., a floor where the battery servicing area 21 may be an area of the support structure 20 where the removed battery may be designated to be placed during servicing. However, the support structure 20 may merely comprise the legs of a crane 10, the crane 10 is described in more detail below. In this case, the battery servicing area 21 may merely be a section on the extension of the support structure where the removed battery may be designated to be placed during servicing, i.e. , the battery would in this instance be located on a part of the legs of a crane 20 during servicing. The horizontal direction is to be understood as horizontal in normal operation of the system 1 , hence the horizonal direction would substantially align with the ground, e.g., the incline of the ground, on which the system may be located during operation.

[0041] The mobile battery servicing system 1 further comprises a crane 10. The crane 10 may be of the type of a bridge crane, overhead crane or gantry crane or the like. The crane may comprise a vertical crane tower 11 having a first end 11a and a second end 11 b. The term vertical is to be understood as vertical in the normal operation of the system, hence the crane 10 may be substantially orthogonal to the horizontal direction the support structure 20. The first end 11a pivotably attached to the support structure 20, i.e., through a pivoting mechanism which comprises conventional means such as a hinge mechanism, a pendulum mounting or an articulated joint or the like. The pivoting mechanism may further comprise a conventional locking mechanism to prevent unwanted pivoting of the crane tower 11 during operation. The term pivotable should be understood as a pivot in which the crane tower 11 may be allowed to fold towards or away from the support structure 20. It is not to be confused with the term rotatable, which is used further below. The crane 10 further comprises a horizontal crane beam 12, also known as a crane boom, connected to the second end 11 b of the crane tower 11 . The horizontality of the crane beam 12 may be substantially aligned with the horizontal direction of the support structure 20. In other words, the crane tower 11 and the crane beam 12 may be substantially orthogonally aligned during operation of the crane. The horizontal crane beam 12 comprises a guide rail 13 and a trolley 14. The guide rail 13 may e.g., be a I-Beam rail, a C-track rail, or a square bar rail. The crane 10 further comprise a hoisting mechanism 15 attached to the crane beam 12. The hoisting mechanism 15 may be enabled to be linearly movable along the crane beam 12 via the guide rail 13 and the trolley 14, hence it may enable a battery to be moved along the horizontal direction of the support structure 20 to be positioned towards the designated battery servicing 21 . The hoisting mechanism 15 further comprises battery lifting equipment 16, e.g., a hook or a claw to hold the battery as well as means to move the battery in the vertical direction towards e.g., the designated battery servicing area 21 or to remove/insert the battery of the mining machine, e.g., through an electric winch motor as described in further embodiments below. In various example embodiments the crane 10 comprises a control unit (not shown) and the hoisting mechanism 15 comprises an electrical winch motor (not shown), where the control unit may be communicatively connected to the electrical winch motor. In various example embodiments, the crane 10 comprises a control unit (not shown) and the trolley 14 comprises an electric motor (not shown), the control unit may be communicatively connected to the electric motor. In various example embodiments, the control unit communicatively connected to the electrical winch motor of the hoisting mechanism 15 and the control unit communicatively connected to the trolled 14 may one and the same control unit, thereby consolidating control of both the horizontal movement of the trolley 14 and vertical movement of the hoisting mechanism 15.

[0042] The mobile battery servicing system 1 further comprises a charger 30 arranged on the support structure 20. The charger 30 may be configured to charge batteries of various voltages conventionally used for mining machines, The charger 30 may be connected to a grid. The charger 30 may comprise at least one battery connection equipment 31 , e.g., a charging connector. The type of battery connection equipment 31 may not important but it should be appreciated that the battery connection equipment 31 may be chosen in accordance with the type of mining machines within the machine fleet. In various embodiments, multiple battery connection equipment 31 are present to facilitate charging of several batteries at the same time.

[0043] Turning now to figure 2, a side view of a mobile battery servicing system 1 in a transportation mode according to various example embodiments of the present disclosure is depicted. The features described in the context of the generalized embodiment of the mobile battery servicing system 1 as seen in figure

I will not be repeated here. The crane tower 11 in figure 11 may be folded against the support structure 20. This may be done through the means of the pivotable attachment of the crane tower 11 to the support structure 20 as described above. The crane beam 12 may be detached from the second end 11 b of the crane tower

I I to enable both the crane tower 11 and the crane beam 12 to be aligned with the support structure 20. However, it is not necessary that the crane beam 12 is detached from the crane tower 11 and aligning with the horizontal direction during a transportation mode. E.g., the support structure 20 may comprise enough space for hosting the crane 11 in an “L-shape” when the crane tower 11 may be folded. The crane tower being folded against the support structure through the pivoting means enables a transportation mode, i.e. , a mode for which the entire mobile battery servicing system 1 may be transported to another location within a mine. The term transport mode should be appreciated as distinct from a normal mode of operation of the crane 10, where the crane may be vertical as described above. In a general form, the mobile battery servicing system 1 may be transported by loading the mobile battery servicing system 1 to a suitable vehicle, however, various other configurations to achieve transport are possible as will be described further herein.

[0044] Turning now to figure 3, a side view of a mobile battery servicing system 1 wherein the support structure may be a wheeled carrier to various example embodiments of the present disclosure is depicted. The features described in the context of the generalized embodiment of the mobile battery servicing system 1 as seen in figure 1 will not be repeated here. The wheeler carrier may e.g., be configured in an embodiment according to figure 3 where the support structure 20 comprises a set of wheels 25 and towbar 23 for attaching the mobile battery servicing system 1 to a suitable vehicle for transport.

[0045] Turning now to figure 4, a side view of a mobile battery servicing system 1 comprising a strut member 24 according to various example embodiments of the present disclosure is depicted. The features described in the context of the generalized embodiment of the mobile battery servicing system 1 as seen in figure 1 will not be repeated here. The strut member 24 in figure 4 may be a diagonal strut, as depicted in figure 4. However, other embodiments such as cross bracing or portal frame bracing may be possible within the context of these embodiments. The strut member 24 may be releasably attached to the crane tower 11 , and pivotably attached to the support structure 20, i.e. , during the transportation mode as described herein, it is possible to fold the strut member 24 accordingly. Alternatively, the strut member 24 may be releasably attached the support structure 20, so that a transportation mode is enabled once the strut member 24 may be released from the crane tower 11 and support structure 20. The strut member 24 may be attached to the crane tower 11 and support structure 20 by bolting or clamping, or the like.

[0046] Turning now to figure 5, a side view of a mobile battery servicing system 1 comprising a wall mounting bracket 17 according to various example embodiments of the present disclosure is depicted. The features described in the context of the generalized embodiment of the mobile battery servicing system 1 as seen in figure 1 will not be repeated here. The wall mounting bracket 17 may be present at the crane beam 12, e.g., at a distal end facing a wall of a mine. This ensures stability of mobile battery servicing system 1 in operation as certain batteries to be serviced are heavy. In various embodiments, described more in detail below, the crane beam may be 12 rotatable around a rotation axis R defined by the elongation direction of the crane tower 11 via a rotation mechanism 18. In such embodiments, the wall mounting bracket 17 may comprise a guide rail and a trolley such that rotation may be partially possible even when the mobile battery servicing system 1 is attached to the wall of a mine.

[0047] Turning now to figure 6, a top-down view of a mobile battery servicing system 1 according to various example embodiments of the present disclosure is depicted. The features described in the context of the generalized embodiment of the mobile battery servicing system 1 as seen in figure 1 will not be repeated here. As seen, the support structure 20 may comprise comprises a substantially rectangular section 20b wherein the crane tower 11 may be pivotably attached, and the battery servicing area 21 and the charger 30 are located. In other words, and as seen in figure 6, the crane beam 12 may extend over the battery servicing area 21 . As seen, the crane tower 11 may be pivotably attached to the support structure 20 at a location between battery servicing area 21 and the charger 30. During movement of the battery is along the horizontal and vertical directions via the crane beam 12 there is consequently never any risk of interference or collision with the charger 30. Further, the support structure 20 may comprise an end 21 b which may be provided closer to and to align with the mining machine in need of battery servicing. The end 21 b may be tapered (not shown). It should be appreciated that the end 21 b is not necessary in conjunction with the other features mentioned in context of figure 6 or 7.

[0048] Turning now to figure 7, a top-down view of a mobile battery servicing system 1 wherein the support structure comprising a conveyor belt mechanism and wherein the crane tower may be rotatable according to various example embodiments of the present disclosure is depicted. The features described in the context of the generalized embodiment of the mobile battery servicing system 1 as seen in figure 1 will not be repeated here, nor will features of figure 6 be repeated. As seen, the crane 12 beam may be rotatable around a rotation axis R defined by the elongation direction of the crane tower 11 via a rotation mechanism 18. The rotation mechanism 18 may be a conventional bearing or a swivel joint, or the like. Further seen in figure 7, the battery servicing area 21 may comprise a conveyor belt mechanism 22. The conveyor belt mechanism 22 may be conveyor belt driven by electrical, hydraulic, or pneumatic motors installed underneath the conveyor belt mechanism 22 (not shown). The conveyor belt mechanism 22 may be controlled remotely through conventional means to enable stopping of conveyor belt mechanism 22 such that a battery can be charged while being located on the conveyor belt mechanism 22. It may also be possible that a space, such as a first distal end 21a and a second distal end 21 b of the battery servicing area 21 at the end of the conveyor belt mechanism 22 may be designated for the battery to be located in during charging (not shown). As further shown in 7, the conveyor belt mechanism 22 a first conveyor belt 22a having a first transporting direction T1 and a second conveyor belt 22b having a second transporting direction T2 opposite to the first transporting direction T1 . It is appreciated that the transporting directions T1 and T2 may be arranged as seen fit by the skilled person at other angular directions than the 180-degree angle relationship shown in figure 7. It is not necessary that transporting directions T1 and T2 are opposite each other in the strictest sense, but rather that the transporting directions T1 and T2 transport a battery to be charged away from the center of the battery servicing area 21 .

Having a conveyor belt mechanism 22 in general allows automation of transport of batteries where multiple batteries are to be charged.

[0049] Various examples have been described. These and other examples are within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1 . A mobile battery servicing system (1 ) for swapping and/or charging at least one battery of a mining machine within a mine, the system (1 ) comprising: a support structure (20) having a substantially horizontal extension direction and comprising at least one battery servicing area (21 ), and a crane (10) attached to the support structure (20), the crane (10) comprising: o a vertical crane tower (11 ) having a first end (11a) and a second end (11 b), the first end (11a) pivotably attached to the support structure (20), o a horizontal crane beam (12) connected to the second end (11b) and comprising a guide rail (13) and a trolley (14), and o a hoisting mechanism (15) attached to the crane beam (12) and linearly movable along the crane beam (12) via the guide rail (13) and the trolley (14), the hoisting mechanism further comprising battery lifting equipment (16), wherein the mobile battery servicing system (1 ) comprising a charger (30) arranged on the support structure (20) and comprising at least one battery connection equipment (31).

2. The mobile battery servicing system (1 ) according to claim 1 , the crane tower (11 ) is folded against the support structure (20) during a transportation mode.

3. A mobile battery servicing system (1 ) according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the support structure (20) is a wheeled carrier.

4. The mobile battery servicing system (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one strut member (24) releasably attached to the crane tower (11) and pivotably and/or releasably attached the support structure (20).

5. The mobile battery servicing system (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one wall mounting bracket (17).

6. The mobile battery servicing system (1) according to claim any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support structure (20) further comprises a substantially rectangular section (20b) wherein the crane tower (11 ) is pivotably attached, and the battery servicing area (21 ) and the charger (30) are located.

7. The mobile battery servicing system (1 ) according to claim 6, wherein the crane tower (11 ) is pivotably attached to the support structure (20) between battery servicing area (21 ) and the charger (30).

8. The mobile battery servicing system (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the crane beam is (12) rotatable around a rotation axis (R) defined by the elongation direction of the crane tower (11 ) via a rotation mechanism (18).

9. The mobile battery servicing system (1 ) according to claim 8, wherein the battery servicing area (21 ) comprises a conveyor belt mechanism (22).

10. The mobile battery servicing system (1 ) according to claim 9, wherein the conveyor belt mechanism (22) comprises a first conveyor belt (22a) having a first transporting direction (T1 ) and a second conveyor belt (22b) having a second transporting direction (T2) opposite to the first transporting direction.

11 . The mobile battery servicing system (1 ) according to claim 10, wherein the first transporting direction (T1) is directed towards a first distal end (21a) of the battery servicing area (21 ) and the second transporting direction (T2) is directed towards a second distal end (21 b) of the battery servicing area (21) opposite the first distal end (21a), each transporting direction (T1 , T2) is orthogonal to the horizonal extension direction of the support structure (20).

12. The mobile battery servicing system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the crane (10) comprises a control unit and the hoisting mechanism (15) comprises an electrical winch motor, wherein the control unit is communicatively connected to the electrical winch motor.

13. The mobile battery servicing system (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the crane (10) comprises a control unit and the trolley (14) comprises an electric motor, wherein the control unit is communicatively connected to the electric motor.

14. The mobile battery servicing system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the charger (30) comprising a plurality of battery connection equipment (31).