Multiple Tool Electric Construction Machine

Abstract

A construction machine comprises a machine frame and an articulated boom pivotably mounted to the machine frame. An electric motor is connected to a battery for operating a component of the construction machine. The construction machine is configured to be operated in a loader mode in which a first tool is mounted to the articulated boom, and in an excavator mode in which a second tool is mounted to the articulated boom. The construction machine comprises a tool storage for storing the first tool and/or the second tool. The construction machine is configured to replace one of the first tool and second tool when mounted to the articulated boom with the other one of the first tool and the second tool when stored in the tool storage. A method of changing an operational mode and a method of selecting an operational mode of a construction machine are also described.

1 . A construction machine, comprising:
 a chassis;   an upper structure comprising a machine frame pivotably mounted to the chassis;   at least one battery and at least one electric motor connected to the at least one battery for operating at least one component of the construction machine;   wherein the at least one battery and/or the at least one electric motor is arranged at the chassis and/or the upper structure; and   an articulated boom pivotably mounted to the machine frame;   wherein the construction machine is configured to be operated in a loader mode in which a first tool is mounted to the articulated boom and in an excavator mode in which a second tool is mounted to the articulated boom;   wherein the construction machine further comprises a tool storage for storing the first tool and/or the second tool;   wherein the tool storage comprises a first tool carrier adapted to carry the first tool and a second tool carrier adapted to carry the second tool;   wherein the first tool carrier is arranged at the chassis and the second tool carrier is arranged at the machine frame; and   wherein the construction machine is configured to replace one of the first tool and the second tool when mounted to the articulated boom with the other one of the first tool and the second tool when stored in the tool storage.   
     
     
         2 . The construction machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the chassis, the upper structure, and/or the articulated boom is operable by the at least one electric motor. 
     
     
         3 . The construction machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a hydraulic pump for operating at least one hydraulic actuator for hydraulically actuating the at least one component of the construction machine;   wherein the hydraulic pump is drivable by the at least one electric motor.   
     
     
         4 . The construction machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the first tool carrier and/or the second tool carrier is powered by the at least one battery and the at least one electric motor. 
     
     
         5 . The construction machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the first tool carrier or the second tool carrier comprises retaining means for holding the first tool or the second tool; and wherein the retaining means comprise at least one electrically driven pin for engaging with the first tool or the second tool. 
     
     
         6 . The construction machine according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 a first tool mountable to the articulated boom in the loader mode; and   a second tool mountable to the articulated boom in the excavator mode.   
     
     
         7 . The construction machine according to  claim 6 , wherein the first tool is a loader bucket and the second tool is an excavator bucket. 
     
     
         8 . The construction machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the tool storage is further configured to simultaneously store a third tool. 
     
     
         9 . The construction machine according to  claim 1 , comprising a third tool mountable to the articulated boom in the excavator mode; wherein the third tool is a hammer. 
     
     
         10 . The construction machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the articulated boom comprises multiple arms pivotably connected in series to each other;
 wherein the construction machine further comprises a locking device for selectively locking at least one of the multiple arms of the articulated boom; and wherein the articulated boom is directly connected to the machine frame so as to block any relative movement between at least one of the multiple arms and the machine frame in the loader mode.   
     
     
         11 . A method of changing an operational mode of a construction machine comprising: a chassis; an upper structure comprising a machine frame pivotably mounted to the chassis, at least one battery, and at least one electric motor connected to the at least one battery; and an articulated boom; the method comprising:
 operating the articulated boom by the electric motor;   depositing, by the articulated boom, a tool for one of a first or a second operational mode that is mounted to the articulated boom; and   picking, by the articulated boom, a tool for the other one of the first and the second operational modes from a tool storage provided on the construction machine;   wherein the tool storage comprises a first tool carrier adapted to carry the tool and arranged at the chassis and a second tool carrier adapted to carry the tool and arranged at the machine frame.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the tool is deposited in the tool storage. 
     
     
         13 . A method of selecting an operational mode of a construction machine comprising: a chassis; an upper structure comprising a machine frame pivotably mounted to the chassis, at least one battery, and at least one electric motor connected to the at least one battery; and an articulated boom; wherein the construction machine is operable in a first operational mode and a second operational mode different from the first operational mode; and wherein the first operational mode is a loader mode and the second operational mode is an excavator mode; the method comprising:
 simultaneously providing a first tool for the first operational mode and a second tool for the second operational mode on the construction machine;   operating the articulated boom by the electric motor; and   selecting one of the first tool or the second tool by the articulated boom for operation of the construction machine in the first or the second operational mode from a tool storage provided on the construction machine; wherein the tool storage comprises a first tool carrier adapted to carry the first tool and arranged at the chassis and a second tool carrier adapted to carry the second tool and arranged at the machine frame.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising locking an arm of the articulated boom that is directly connected to the machine frame of the construction machine so as to block any relative movement between the arm and the machine frame. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the first tool carrier or the second tool carrier comprises retaining means for holding the first tool or the second tool, and wherein the retaining means comprise at least one electrically driven pin for engaging with the first tool or the second tool. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the articulated boom comprises an arm directly connected to the machine frame of the construction machine so as to block any relative movement between the arm and the machine frame. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the tool storage is further configured to simultaneously store a third tool. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the first tool carrier or the second tool carrier comprises retaining means for holding the first tool or the second tool, and wherein the retaining means comprise at least one electrically driven pin for engaging with the first tool or the second tool. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the tool storage is further configured to simultaneously store a third tool. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the first tool carrier and/or the second tool carrier is powered by the at least one battery and the at least one electric motor.