Patent Publication Number: US-2021194258-A1

Title: Refrigerated Truck/Trailer with Unified Charging Port

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION 
     The application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/949,493 filed Dec. 18, 2019, the contents of which are hereby incorporated in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Refrigerated trucks and trailers are commonly used to transport perishable goods, such as, for example, produce, meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, cut flowers, and other fresh or frozen perishable products. To maintain the perishable goods, typically, a transport refrigeration unit is mounted to the truck or to the trailer. The transport refrigeration unit can be driven either mechanically (ex. a direct mechanical coupling or belt drive) or electrically. When mechanically driven, the transport refrigeration unit derives power from the vehicle engine. When electrically driven, the transport refrigeration unit can derive power either from a generator or an onboard battery. 
     Vehicles, including refrigerated trucks and trailers, are moving away from fossil fuel and toward electric power as an energy source. Electric vehicles use one or more electric motor for propulsion. To supply power to drive the one or more electric motor, electric vehicles commonly use one or more onboard vehicle battery. When paired with an electrically driven transport refrigeration unit, the onboard vehicle battery can be used to drive both the vehicle and the refrigeration unit. As an alternative to a shared battery system, separate batteries may be used. For example, the electric vehicle may have a battery separate from the refrigeration unit battery. 
     When having separate batteries, it is common for each battery to have a separate charging port. Each charging port typically has its own connection to the charging station. With each charging station having a limited number of connections available, using multiple connections for a single electrically powered refrigerated truck greatly reduces the number of electrically powered refrigerated trucks that may be charged by each charging station. 
     Accordingly, there remains a need for a more efficient system for recharging a vehicle battery and a refrigeration unit battery of an electrically powered refrigerated truck. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
     According to one embodiment, a system for recharging a vehicle battery and a refrigeration unit battery with a charging station is provided. The charging station provides electrical power at a charging station voltage. The system includes a charging port, a vehicle power train system, and a refrigeration unit system. The charging port receives electrical power from the charging station. The vehicle power train system is in connection with the charging port, the vehicle power train system receives electrical power from the charging port. The vehicle power train system includes a vehicle battery for storing the electrical power at a vehicle power train system voltage. The refrigeration unit system is in connection with the charging port. The refrigeration unit system receives electrical power from the charging port. The refrigeration unit system includes a refrigeration unit battery and a refrigeration electrical system. The refrigeration unit battery stores electrical power at a refrigeration unit system voltage. The refrigeration electrical system converts the electrical power from the refrigeration unit battery to a mechanical energy. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the vehicle power train system further includes a vehicle electrical system for converting the electrical power from the vehicle battery to a mechanical energy. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the electrical power is transferable between the vehicle power train system and the refrigeration unit system. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the charging station is a direct current (DC) charging station. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the vehicle power train system further includes a vehicle DC to DC converter for converting the electrical power from the charging station voltage to the vehicle power train system voltage, the electrical power converted by the vehicle DC to DC converter being stored by the vehicle battery. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the refrigeration unit system further includes a refrigeration DC to DC converter for converting the electrical power from the charging station voltage to the refrigeration unit system voltage, the electrical power converted by the refrigeration DC to DC converter being stored by the refrigeration unit battery. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the charging station is an alternating current (AC) charging station. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the charging port includes an AC to DC converter for converting the electrical power from an alternating current (AC) to a direct current (DC). 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the vehicle power train system further includes a vehicle DC to DC converter for converting the electrical power to a vehicle power train system voltage, the electrical power converted by the vehicle DC to DC converter being stored by the vehicle battery. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the refrigeration unit system further includes a refrigeration DC to DC converter for converting the electrical power to a refrigeration unit system voltage, the electrical power converted by the refrigeration DC to DC converter being stored by the refrigeration unit battery. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the vehicle power train system further includes a vehicle AC to DC converter for converting the electrical power from an alternating current (AC) to a direct current (DC), the electrical power converted by the vehicle AC to DC converter being stored by the vehicle battery. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the refrigeration unit system further includes a refrigeration AC to DC converter for converting the electrical power from an alternating current (AC) to a direct current (DC), the electrical power converted by the refrigeration AC to DC converter being stored by the refrigeration unit battery. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the electrical power converted by the AC to DC converter is stored by the vehicle battery. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the electrical power converted by the AC to DC converter is stored by the refrigeration unit battery. 
     According to another aspect of the disclosure, a method for recharging a vehicle battery and a refrigeration unit battery with a charging station is provided. The charging station provides an electrical power at a charging station voltage. The method includes receiving, at a charging port, the electrical power from the charging station; transferring, to a vehicle power train system, the electrical power from the charging port, the vehicle power train system storing, in a vehicle battery, the electrical power at a vehicle power train system voltage; and transferring, to a refrigeration unit system, the electrical power from the charging port, the refrigeration unit system, in a refrigeration unit battery, storing the electrical power at a refrigeration unit system voltage, and converting, in a refrigeration electrical system, the electrical power from the vehicle battery to a mechanical energy. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the vehicle power train system further includes a vehicle electrical system, the vehicle electrical system converts electrical power from the vehicle battery to a mechanical energy. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the method further includes transferring the electrical power between the vehicle power train system and the refrigeration unit system. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the charging station is a direct current (DC) charging station. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the vehicle power train system converts, in a vehicle DC to DC converter, the electrical power from a charging station voltage to a vehicle power train system voltage, the electrical power converted by the vehicle DC to DC converter being stored by the vehicle battery. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the refrigeration unit system converts, in a refrigeration DC to DC converter, the electrical power from a charging station voltage to a refrigeration unit system voltage, the electrical power converted by the refrigeration DC to DC converter being stored by the refrigeration unit battery. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the charging station is an alternating current (AC) charging station. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the charging port includes an AC to DC converter for converting the electrical power from an alternating current (AC) to a direct current (DC). 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the vehicle power train system converts, in a vehicle DC to DC converter, the electrical power to a vehicle power train system voltage, the electrical power converted by the vehicle DC to DC converter being stored by the vehicle battery. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the refrigeration unit system converts, in a refrigeration DC to DC converter, the electrical power to a refrigeration unit system voltage, the electrical power converted by the refrigeration DC to DC converter being stored by the refrigeration unit battery. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the vehicle power train system converts, in a vehicle AC to DC converter, the electrical power from an alternating current (AC) to a direct current (DC), the electrical power converted by the vehicle AC to DC converter being stored by the vehicle battery. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the refrigeration unit system converts, in a refrigeration AC to DC converter, the electrical power from an alternating current (AC) to a direct current (DC), the electrical power converted by the refrigeration AC to DC converter being stored by the refrigeration unit battery. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the electrical power converted by the AC to DC converter is stored by the vehicle battery. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the electrical power converted by the AC to DC converter is stored by the refrigeration unit battery. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The subject matter, which is regarded as the disclosure, is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The following descriptions of the drawings should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of an electrically powered refrigerated vehicle with a unified charging port in accordance with one aspect of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of a system for recharging a vehicle battery and a refrigeration unit battery with a charging station in accordance with one aspect of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic illustration of a system for recharging a vehicle battery and a refrigeration unit battery with a charging station in accordance with one aspect of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic illustration of a system for recharging a vehicle battery and a refrigeration unit battery with a charging station in accordance with one aspect of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic illustration of a system for recharging a vehicle battery and a refrigeration unit battery with a charging station in accordance with one aspect of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic illustration of a system for recharging a vehicle battery and a refrigeration unit battery with a charging station in accordance with one aspect of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic illustration of a system for recharging a vehicle battery and a refrigeration unit battery with a charging station in accordance with one aspect of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A system and method for charging a vehicle battery and a refrigeration unit battery are provided. The system and method provide a more efficient way to charge the separate batteries, when compared to common charging systems. Instead of requiring multiple connections to the charging station, one unified charging port is used to charge both the vehicle battery and the refrigeration unit battery. By reducing the required number of connections for each electrically powered refrigerated vehicle, each charging station may provide power to an increased number of electrically powered refrigerated vehicles. 
     With reference now to the Figures, a schematic illustration of an electrically powered refrigerated vehicle with a unified charging port, in accordance with various aspects of the disclosure, is shown in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the electrically powered refrigerated vehicle  100 , in certain instances, includes a charging port  110 , a vehicle battery  410 , and a refrigeration unit battery  310 . The charging port  110  is configured to receive electrical power from the charging station  200 . The vehicle battery  410  is configured to store electrical power at a vehicle power train system voltage. The refrigeration unit battery  310  is configured to store electrical power at a refrigeration unit system voltage. The electrically powered refrigerated vehicle  100  may include a refrigeration electrical system  320  to convert the electrical power from the refrigeration unit battery  310  to a mechanical energy (ex. to circulate the refrigerant). The electrically powered refrigerated vehicle  100  may include a vehicle electrical system  420  to convert the electrical power from the vehicle battery  410  to a mechanical energy (ex. to propel the vehicle). 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , in certain instances, the vehicle battery  410  is part of a vehicle power train system  400 , and the refrigeration unit battery  310  is part of a refrigeration unit system  300 . The vehicle power train system  400  may, in certain instances, be in connection with the charging port  110  to receive electrical power from the charging port  110 . The refrigeration unit system  300  may, in certain instances, be in connection with the charging port  110  to receive electrical power from the charging port  110 . In certain instances, the electrical power is transferrable between the vehicle power train system  400  and the refrigeration unit system  300 . 
     The charging station  200  may, in certain instances, be a direct current (DC) charging station  200 . The charging station  200  may include a battery management system (not shown) to detect (ex. automatically) the vehicle battery  410  and/or the refrigeration unit battery  310 . The battery management system of the charging station  200  may set the voltage of the electrical power based on the detection of the vehicle battery  410  and/or the refrigeration unit battery  310 . The battery management system of the charging station  200  may, in certain instances, choose a suitable voltage that will work for both the vehicle battery  410  and the refrigeration unit battery  310 . The battery management system of the charging station  200  may, in certain instances, choose a suitable voltage that will work for either the vehicle battery  410  or the refrigeration unit battery  310 . 
     Depending, at least in part, on the size of the vehicle  100 , weight of the vehicle  100 , and/or the current charge (ex. full, partially charged, or empty) of the vehicle battery  410 , the voltage of the vehicle battery  410  may be between 400 volts and 800 volts. In certain instances, the voltage of the vehicle battery  410  is between 400 volts and 700 volts, between 400 volts and 600 volts, between 400 volts and 500 volts, between 500 volts and 800 volts, between 500 volts and 700 volts, between 500 volts and 600 volts, between 600 volts and 800 volts, between 600 volts and 700 volts, between 700 volts and 800 volts. 
     Depending, at least in part on the size of the refrigeration unit system  300 , and/or the current charge (ex. full, partially charged, or empty) of the refrigeration unit battery  310 , the voltage of the refrigeration unit battery  310  may be between 300 and 600 volts. In certain instances, the voltage of the refrigeration unit battery  310  is between 300 volts and 500 volts, between 300 volts and 400 volts, between 400 volts and 600 volts, between 400 volts and 500 volts, between 500 volts and 600 volts. 
     Regardless of the respective voltages the vehicle battery  410  and the refrigeration unit battery  310 , the charging station  200 , in certain instances, through the battery management system chooses a suitable voltage. To convert the electrical power from the charging station  200  voltage to the vehicle power train system  400  voltage, the vehicle power train system  400  may include a vehicle converter  430 . This vehicle converter  430  may be a DC to DC converter when the charging station  200  is a DC charging station  200 . To convert the electrical power from the charging station  200  voltage to the refrigeration unit system  300  voltage, the refrigeration unit system  300  may include a refrigeration converter  330 . This refrigeration converter  330  may be a DC to DC converter when the charging station  200  is a DC charging station. 
     In certain instances, as shown in  FIG. 3 , only the vehicle power train system  400  includes a converter  430 . When only the vehicle power train system  400  includes a converter  430 , the battery management system of the charging station  200  may choose a voltage suitable to the refrigeration unit system  300 . The vehicle converter  430  may be used to convert the electrical power from the charging station  200  voltage to the vehicle power train system  400  voltage. 
     In certain instances, as shown in  FIG. 4 , only the refrigeration unit system  300  includes a converter  330 . When only the refrigeration unit system  300  includes a converter  330 , the battery management system of the charging station  200  may choose a voltage suitable to the vehicle power train system  300 . The refrigeration converter  330  may be used to convert the electrical power from the charging station  200  voltage to the refrigeration unit system  300  voltage. 
     In certain instances, the charging station  200  is an alternating current (AC) charging station  200 . When the charging station  200  is an AC charging station  200 , the vehicle converter  430  may be an AC to DC vehicle converter  430 . The electrical power converted by the AC to DC vehicle converter is stored by the vehicle battery  410 . When the charging station  200  is an AC charging station  200 , the refrigeration converter  330  may be an AC to DC refrigeration converter  330 . The electrical power converted by the AC to DC refrigeration converter  330  is stored by the refrigeration unit battery  310 . 
     When the charging station  200  is an AC charging station  200 , the charging port  110  may include an AC to DC charging port converter  111  for converting the electrical power from an alternating current (AC) to a direct current (DC). As shown in  FIG. 5 , when a charging port converter  111  is used both the vehicle power train system  400  and the refrigeration unit system  300  may include converters  430 ,  330 , respectively. These converters  430 ,  330  may be DC to DC converters. The DC to DC vehicle converter  430  may be used to convert the electrical power to a vehicle power train system  400  voltage. The DC to DC refrigeration converter  330  may be used to convert the electrical power to a refrigeration unit system  300  voltage. When both the vehicle power train system  400  and the refrigeration unit system  300  include converters  430 ,  330 , respectively, the battery management system of the charging station  200  may choose a suitable voltage for both the vehicle power train system  400  and the refrigeration unit system  300 . 
     In certain instances, as shown in  FIG. 6 , only the refrigeration unit system  300  includes a DC to DC converter  330 . When only a DC to DC refrigeration converter  330  is used, the battery management system of the charging station  200  may choose a suitable voltage for the vehicle power train system  400 . The DC to DC refrigeration converter  330  may be used to convert the electrical power from a charging station  200  voltage to a refrigeration unit system  300  voltage. 
     In certain instances, as shown in  FIG. 7 , only the vehicle power train system  400  includes a DC to DC converter  430 . When only a DC to a DC vehicle converter  430  is used, the battery management system of the charging station  200  may choose a suitable voltage for the refrigeration unit system  400 . The DC to DC vehicle converter  430  may be used to convert the electrical power from a charging station  200  voltage to a vehicle power train system  300  voltage. 
     In certain instances, the charging station  200  is an AC charging station  200 , the charging port  110  does not include an AC to DC converter  111 , and both the vehicle power train system  400  and the refrigeration unit system  300  include AC to DC converters  430 ,  330 , respectively. As described above, in connection with a DC charging station  200  when describing  FIG. 2 , this configuration may visually look the same, however, the charging station  200  is an AC charging station  200  and the converters  330 ,  430  are AC to DC converters. The vehicle AC to DC converter  430  may be used to convert the electrical power from a charging station alternating current (AC) voltage to a direct current (DC) to a vehicle power train system  400  voltage. The refrigeration AC to DC converter  330  may be used to convert the electrical power from a charging station alternating current (AC) voltage to a direct current (DC) to a refrigeration unit system  300  voltage. 
     The various configurations of the system enable a more efficient method for recharging a vehicle battery and a refrigeration unit battery with a charging station. The method may be completed, for example, using the exemplary configurations shown in  FIGS. 1-7 . Regardless of the configuration, the method provides for the recharging of a vehicle battery and a refrigeration unit battery with a charging station, the charging station supplying electrical power at a charging station voltage. The method provides for the receiving, at a charging port, electrical power from the charging station. The method further provides for the transferring of electrical power from the charging port to a vehicle power train system. The vehicle power train system stores the electrical power at a vehicle power train system voltage in a vehicle battery. The method additionally provides for the transferring of electrical power from the charging port to a refrigeration unit system. The refrigeration unit system stores the electrical power at a refrigeration unit system voltage in a refrigeration unit battery. When used by the refrigeration unit system, a refrigeration electrical system may be used to convert the electrical power from the vehicle battery to a mechanical energy. When used by the vehicle power train system, a vehicle electrical system may be used to convert the electrical power from the vehicle battery to a mechanical energy. It is envisioned that this method, through various configurations, may be used with either an AC charging station or a DC charging station. 
     While the present disclosure has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this present disclosure, but that the present disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims.