BATTERY-CHANGING VEHICLE WITH CANTILEVERED BOOM

• US 20090067967A1
• Filed: 09/07/2007
• Published: 03/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Multi-Shifter, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Multi-Shifter, Inc.
• Inventors: Williams, Dale A., Pratt, John R., Springston, Eric D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,938,612 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 414/542
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors

Abstract

A battery-changing vehicle includes a mobile carriage, a frame disposed above the mobile carriage, and a boom assembly connected to the frame. The mobile carriage defines a loading deck for receiving and transporting a battery. The boom assembly includes a lift hoist that lifts a battery to and from the loading deck. The lift hoist is capable of lateral movement between an extended disposition, at which the lift hoist is cantilevered away from the loading deck, and a withdrawn disposition, at which the lift hoist is disposed above the loading deck. The battery-changing vehicle may also include a transfer arm capable of transferring a battery to and from the loading deck.

Claims

1. A battery-changing vehicle comprising:

a mobile carriage defining a loading deck for receiving and transporting a battery, the mobile carriage being longitudinally movable along a first axis;

a frame disposed above and connected to the mobile carriage; and

a boom assembly connected to the frame, the boom assembly comprising a lift hoist capable of lifting a battery from the loading deck, the lift hoist being at least laterally movable relative to the loading deck along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, the lift hoist being laterally movable between an extended disposition, at which the lift hoist is cantilevered away from the loading deck, and a withdrawn disposition, at which the lift hoist is disposed above the loading deck.

2. A battery-changing vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

a transfer assembly connected to the mobile carriage, the transfer assembly comprising a transfer arm capable of transferring a battery to and from the loading deck, the transfer arm being at least laterally movable relative to the loading deck.

3. A battery-changing vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the transfer arm is longitudinally movable relative to the loading deck.

4. A battery-changing vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the boom assembly further comprises at least one laterally disposed rail, wherein the lift hoist is supported at least in part by the rail, and wherein the lift hoist is laterally movable along the rail relative to the loading deck.

5. A battery-changing vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the rail is laterally movable relative to the loading deck.

6. A battery-changing vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the boom assembly further comprises a sled engaging the frame, wherein the sled is at least laterally movable relative to the loading deck, and wherein the rail is mounted upon and is movable with the sled.

7. A battery-changing vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the boom assembly further comprises a first actuator engaging at least one of the sled and the frame, and wherein the first actuator is structured to apply force between the sled and the frame causing lateral movement of the boom assembly relative to the loading deck.

8. A battery-changing vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the boom assembly further comprises a second actuator engaging at least one of the lift hoist and the sled, and wherein the second actuator is structured to apply force between the lift hoist and the sled causing lateral movement of the lift hoist along the rail.

9. A battery-changing vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the boom assembly further comprises:

a flexible line member extending from the lift bracket, the lift hoist being capable of lifting a battery from the loading deck by use of the line member; and

a third actuator engaging at least one of the lift hoist and the flexible line member, the lift hoist being capable of lifting a battery from the loading deck by use of the line member upon actuation of the third actuator.

10. A battery-changing vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the mobile carriage further defines opposing first and second longitudinal ends and opposing first and second lateral sides such that the lift hoist is cantilevered away from the first lateral side when disposed at the extended disposition, and wherein the battery-changing vehicle further comprises:

a stationary track engaged by the mobile carriage along the second lateral side, the stationary track guiding longitudinal movement of the mobile carriage and preventing upward motion of the second lateral side of the mobile carriage.

11. A battery-changing vehicle comprising:

a mobile carriage defining a horizontal loading deck for receiving and transporting a battery;

a transfer assembly connected to the mobile carriage, the transfer assembly comprising a transfer arm capable of horizontally transferring a battery to and from the loading deck;

a frame disposed above and connected to the mobile carriage; and

a boom assembly connected to the frame, the boom assembly comprising a lift hoist capable of vertically and horizontally moving a battery to and from the loading deck, the lift hoist being movable between an extended disposition at which the lift hoist is cantilevered away from the loading deck and a withdrawn disposition at which the lift hoist is disposed above the loading deck.

12. A battery-changing vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the boom assembly further comprises a horizontally disposed rail along which the lift hoist is horizontally movable, the rail being horizontally movable relative to the frame.

13. A battery-changing vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the transfer arm is movable in two horizontal dimensions.

14. A battery-changing vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the transfer arm comprises an electromagnet capable of magnetically engaging a battery and horizontally transferring the magnetically engaged battery to and from the loading deck.

15. A battery-changing vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the lift hoist is cantilevered away from a first side of the mobile carriage when disposed at the extended disposition, and wherein the battery-changing vehicle further comprises:

a stationary track engaged by the mobile carriage along a second side of the mobile carriage, the second side being opposite the first side, such that the stationary track prevents upward motion of the second side of the mobile carriage.

16. A method of providing a battery, the method comprising:

moving a battery-changing vehicle to align a loading deck defined by the vehicle with an available battery;

engaging the available battery by a transfer arm coupled to the vehicle;

transferring the engaged battery onto the loading deck by movement of the transfer arm;

engaging the battery by a boom assembly of the vehicle;

moving the battery by the boom assembly from the loading deck to a raised position at which the battery is positioned above a battery bay defined by a second vehicle; and

lowering the battery into the battery bay of the second vehicle.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein:

moving the battery-changing vehicle comprises moving the battery-changing vehicle along a longitudinal axis defined by the battery-changing vehicle; and

transferring the engaged battery onto the loading deck comprises transferring the engaged battery by lateral movement perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

18. A method according to claim 16, wherein moving the battery by the boom assembly comprises:

lifting the battery by the boom assembly; and

horizontally extending the boom assembly from the battery-changing vehicle.

19. A method according to claim 16, wherein, when the battery is moved to the raised position at which the battery is positioned above the battery bay defined by the second vehicle, at least a horizontally disposed rail of the boom assembly is disposed between the battery bay and a roof of the second vehicle.

20. A method according to claim 16, further comprising engaging the battery-changing vehicle with a stationary track to prevent tipping of the battery-changing vehicle when the battery is moved to the raised position.