Abstract: A vehicle including a chassis and an engine connected to the chassis. The vehicle also includes an alternator connected to the engine and a drive system connected to the alternator. The vehicle also includes a number of wheel motors connected to the drive system. The vehicle also includes a number of wheels connected to the wheel motors. The drive system includes a number of modules. Each of the modules is directly connected to at least one other module of the modules. Each of the modules is interchangeable with another of the modules. Each of the modules includes one or more switches for controlling a mode of operation of each of the modules. The one or more switches of each of the modules are set to control an electrical interface between the drive system and electrical components of the vehicle, the electrical components including at least the wheel motors.

Abstract: A vehicle including a chassis and an engine connected to the chassis. The vehicle also includes a torque converter directly connected to the engine. The vehicle also includes a motor having a first side and a second side directly connected to the torque converter, opposite the engine. The motor further includes a rotor having an annular shaft cavity. The motor further includes a first diameter equal to or smaller than a second diameter of the torque converter. The motor is connected to the torque converter via the annular shaft cavity. The vehicle also includes a drive shaft directly connected to the motor, opposite the torque converter. The drive shaft is operatively disposed in the annular shaft cavity. The vehicle also includes a transmission connected to drive shaft. The vehicle also includes a differential connected to the transmission. The vehicle also includes wheels connected to the differential.

Abstract: Power supply systems and methods for controlling such systems are provided. One power supply system includes a generator set configured to provide an electrical output to an electrical bus, over which power is supplied to heavy equipment. The power supply system further includes a computerized controller configured to be coupled to an energy storage element, wherein the computerized controller is configured to couple the energy storage element to the electrical bus in advance of a predicted increase in demand upon the electrical bus to maintain a substantially constant voltage on the electrical bus during the predicted increase in demand and prevent a drop in voltage on the electrical bus that would otherwise result from the predicted increase in demand. The predicted increase in demand is anticipated by the computerized controller as forthcoming based upon extrapolation, at least in part, from data related to a past operation of the heavy equipment.

Abstract: Power supply systems and methods for controlling such systems are provided. One power supply system includes a generator set configured to provide an electrical output to an electrical bus, over which power is supplied to heavy equipment. The power supply system further includes a computerized controller configured to be coupled to an energy storage element, wherein the computerized controller is configured to couple the energy storage element to the electrical bus in advance of a predicted increase in demand upon the electrical bus to maintain a substantially constant voltage on the electrical bus during the predicted increase in demand and prevent a drop in voltage on the electrical bus that would otherwise result from the predicted increase in demand. The predicted increase in demand is anticipated by the computerized controller as forthcoming based upon extrapolation, at least in part, from data related to a past operation of the heavy equipment.

Abstract: Heavy equipment includes a body, an electrical bus, and working components coupled to the body and powered by electricity conveyed via the electrical bus. The heavy equipment further includes a generator set providing an electrical output to the electrical bus, an energy storage element configured to be coupled to the electrical bus, and a computerized controller coupled to the energy storage element. The computerized controller includes a logic module for coupling the energy storage element to the electrical bus in advance of a predicted increase in demand upon the electrical bus, where the increase in demand is anticipated by the computerized controller as forthcoming based upon extrapolation, at least in part, from data related to a previous operation of the heavy equipment.

Abstract: Heavy equipment is designed for operation in a substantially-repetitive work cycle that includes lifting, rotating, and lowering steps. The heavy equipment includes a generator, an electrical bus, an energy storage component, and working components. The generator provides a substantially constant electrical output to the electrical bus, which is communicated to the working components. As such, the working components of the heavy equipment are driven directly or indirectly by the electrical output of the generator. The controller selectively couples the energy storage component to the electrical bus, and the energy storage component is configured to store electricity provided by the generator, and to provide electricity to the working components by way of the electrical bus.

Abstract: Heavy equipment is designed for operation in a substantially-repetitive work cycle that includes lifting, rotating, and lowering steps. The heavy equipment includes a generator, an electrical bus, an energy storage component, and working components. The generator provides a substantially constant electrical output to the electrical bus, which is communicated to the working components. As such, the working components of the heavy equipment are driven directly or indirectly by the electrical output of the generator. The controller selectively couples the energy storage component to the electrical bus, and the energy storage component is configured to store electricity provided by the generator, and to provide electricity to the working components by way of the electrical bus.

Abstract: Heavy equipment includes a body, an electrical bus, and working components coupled to the body and powered by electricity conveyed via the electrical bus. The heavy equipment further includes a generator set providing an electrical output to the electrical bus, an energy storage element configured to be coupled to the electrical bus, and a computerized controller coupled to the energy storage element. The computerized controller includes a logic module for coupling the energy storage element to the electrical bus in advance of a predicted increase in demand upon the electrical bus, where the increase in demand is anticipated by the computerized controller as forthcoming based upon extrapolation, at least in part, from data related to a previous operation of the heavy equipment.

Abstract: A hydraulic system includes a plurality of pumps that provide pressurized fluid to a plurality of hydraulic actuators some of which work more that others. That system is controlled by producing a usage value for each of the plurality of pumps which indicates an amount that the respective pump has worked. One of the pumps is assigned to each hydraulic actuator in response to the usage values. The pumps with lower usage values are assigned to hydraulic actuators which work more, so as to equalize the use of each pump. The assignment of pumps to hydraulic actuators changes with changes in the usage values for the plurality of pumps. When a given one of the plurality of hydraulic actuators is to operate, hydraulic fluid is routed from the assigned pump to that given one of the plurality of hydraulic actuators.