LOCKING MECHANISM

• US 20080314662A1
• Filed: 06/19/2008
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jungheinrich AG
• Original Assignee: Jungheinrich AG
• Inventors: Plastinin, Oleg, Bogelein, Rolf
• Granted Patent: US 7,984,779 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/68.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0455 Removal or replacement of the energy storages
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0461 from the side
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0494 with arrangements for sliding
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/15 Fork lift trucks, Industrial trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/07536 Battery stoppers, i.e. means to hold battery in position

Abstract

The invention relates to a locking mechanism for securing a battery pack (20) which is accommodated in an electrical vehicle (12), in particular in an electrical industrial truck, comprising a vehicle-side plug element (26) and a battery plug element (28), which can be plugged together with said plug element (26) and is connected to the battery pack (20). In this case, it is provided according to the invention that the mechanism comprises a locking element (32), which is arranged on the vehicle (12) and can be moved, in particular pivoted, between a battery release position and a battery locking position, the locking element (32) and the vehicle-side plug element (26) being arranged in relation to one another in such a way that the plug-type connection between the vehicle-side plug element (26) and the battery plug element (28) can be produced and released depending on the position of the locking element (32).

Claims

1. Locking mechanism for securing a battery pack (20) which is accommodated in an electrical vehicle, in particular in an electrical industrial truck, comprising a vehicle-side plug element (26) and a battery plug element (28), which can be plugged together with said plug element (26) and is connected to the battery pack (20), characterized by a locking element (32), which is arranged on the vehicle (12) and can be moved, in particular pivoted, between a battery release position and a battery locking position, the locking element (32) and the vehicle-side plug element (26) being arranged in relation to one another in such a way that the plug-type connection between the vehicle-side plug element (26) and the battery plug element (28) can be produced and released depending on the position of the locking element (32).

2. Locking mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the plug-type connection between the vehicle-side plug element (26) and the battery plug element (28) can be produced and released in the battery locking position of the locking element (32).

3. Locking mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking element (32) in its battery release position at least partially covers the vehicle-side plug element (26), with the result that the production of a plug-connection between the vehicle-side plug element (26) and the battery plug element (28) is prevented.

4. Locking mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking element (32) can only be pivoted from the battery locking position into the battery release position when the battery plug element (28) is unplugged.

5. Locking mechanism according to claim 4, characterized in that the vehicle-side plug element (26) is arranged in such a way that the battery plug element (28), which is inserted in the vehicle-side plug element (26), forms a stop (30) for the locking element (32) preventing it from pivoting into the battery release position.

6. Locking mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking element (32) is arranged on the inner side (24) of an accommodating compartment (18) formed in the vehicle for the battery pack (20).

7. Locking mechanism according to claim 6, characterized in that the locking element (32) in the battery locking position secures the battery pack (22) which is accommodated in the accommodating compartment (18) against a movement out of the accommodating compartment (18).

8. Locking mechanism according to claim 6, characterized in that an accommodating compartment cover, in particular an accommodating compartment door, which closes the accommodating compartment (18) can be closed depending on the position of the locking element (32).

9. Locking mechanism according to claim 8, characterized in that the accommodating compartment cover can only be closed if the locking element (32) is in the battery locking position.

10. Locking mechanism according to claim 8, characterized in that the accommodating compartment cover is formed in such a way that, in the state in which it closes the accommodating compartment (18), it is in engagement with the locking element (32) in such a way that a movement of the locking element out of its locking position is prevented.

11. Locking mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking element (32) can be pivoted about a pivot axis (21), which runs below or above the vehicle-side plug element (26).

12. Locking mechanism according to (claim 1), characterized in that the locking element is in the form of a manually actuable lever (32).

13. Locking mechanism according to claim 12, characterized in that the lever is designed in such a way that it has at least one lever section (46), which secures the battery pack (20) in the battery locking position and which at least partially covers the vehicle-side plug element (26) in the battery release position.

14. Industrial truck comprising a locking mechanism according to claim 1.

15. Industrial truck according to claim 14, characterized in that the accommodating compartment (18) is arranged between a front and a rear axletree of the industrial truck and makes lateral removal or lateral insertion of the battery pack (20) out of or into the accommodating compartment (18) possible.