BATTERY PACK SYSTEM

• US 20090252994A1
• Filed: 04/06/2009
• Published: 10/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alexander Livingston
• Original Assignee: Alexander Livingston
• Inventors: Livingston, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US12/419,117
• Publication Number:
  US 20090252994A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/70 Interactions with external data bases, e.g. traffic centres
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/62 charged by low-power generators primarily intended to support the batteries, e.g. range extenders
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/30 Constructional details of charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/302 Cooling of charging equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/665 Methods related to measuring, billing or payment
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/10 for monitoring or controlling batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/18 of two or more battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/33 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/488 Cells or batteries combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light density
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/647 Prismatic or flat cells, e.g. pouch cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6551 Surfaces specially adapted for heat dissipation or radiation, e.g. fins or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6555 arranged between the cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6557 : arranged between the cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/244 : Secondary casings; Racks; Suspension devices; Carrying devices; Holders characterised by their mounting method
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/249 : specially adapted for aircraft or vehicles, e.g. cars or trains constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles B60L50/64
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/262 : with fastening means, e.g. locks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/271 : Lids or covers for the racks or secondary casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/296 : characterised by terminals of battery packs terminals of batteries H01M50/543
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/581 : in response to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/167 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 : Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Abstract

The invention described here is a modular energy system for electric vehicles. This modular electrical power system is comprised of a group of battery packs, a rack, and a charging and exchange station. Each battery pack fits into a case that has a handle to make it easy to grasp and lift from its holder. Battery packs are limited to no more than thirty pounds each. The battery packs are installed in a rack which is secured to the vehicle. The rack has defined positions or slots in which the battery packs are placed. The battery pack includes heat sinks to remove the heat from the batteries. The charging and exchange station allows the user two options; 1) recharge the vehicle while parked without removing the batteries, or 2) exchange the vehicles batteries for fully charged packs.

Claims

1. A modular electrical power system for electric vehicles with a motor, said system comprising:

a plurality of energy packs, with each energy pack comprising a case with an integral handle for containing at least one energy cell, at least one lockdown fitting configured for operative engagement with a latch on an energy pack rack, with each said energy pack weighing less than 30 pounds, with said case comprising electrical power connectors configured to prevent reversed polarity connection; and

at least one rack configured for attachment to said electric vehicle, configured for interfitting engagement with said plurality of energy packs, said rack comprising a rack base for attachment to a vehicle, said rack base including a plurality of defined positions for said energy packs, each of said energy pack positions comprising electrical connections for operative connection with said energy pack electrical power connectors to said vehicle power and diagnostic system, a latch configured to engage said lockdown fitting on said energy packs, and a plurality of heat sinks arranged for contact with said energy packs with said heat sinks configured for contact with said energy packs for the purpose of energy pack heat rejection.

2. The modular electrical power system for electric vehicles of claim 1 which further comprises:

an energy pack charge and exchange station comprising a user interface terminal configured to accept information input by a station user, said information comprising user identification, financial information related to payment for services and services desired;

an energy pack exchange and deposit bay configured to receive and dispense energy packs, comprising an energy pack charger pendant cable, configured for connection to said electric vehicle, and an energy pack charger, with said energy pack charger configured to charge individual energy packs when said individual energy packs are placed in said energy charge and exchange station, said energy pack charger configured to charge a parked electrical vehicle energy system when said vehicle is connected to said energy pack charge and exchange station by said energy pack charger pendant cable.

3. The modular electrical power system for electric vehicles of claim 1 in which said energy packs are comprised of one or more batteries.

4. The modular electrical power system for electric vehicles of claim 1 in which said energy packs are comprised of one or more capacitors.

5. The modular electrical power system for electric vehicles of claim 1 in which said energy packs are comprised of hydrogen fuel cells.

6. The modular electrical power system for electric vehicles of claim 3 in which said energy pack case contains a plurality of cells connected to form a battery with desired voltage and energy storage.

7. The modular electrical power system for electric vehicles of claim 1 in which said case with an integral handle further comprises indicator lights configured to signal status of charge, connection status and fault conditions.

8. The modular electrical power system for electric vehicles of claim 7 in which said indicator lights are LEDs.

9. The modular electrical power system for electric vehicles of claim 1 in which said energy pack case with an integral handle includes an electrical connector configured for electrical connection with a monitoring system.

10. The modular electrical power system for electric vehicles of claim 1 in which said energy pack case further comprises a plurality of energy pack heat transfer plates to remove heat from said energy packs by contact with said heat sinks on said racks.

11. The modular electrical power system for electric vehicles of claim 1 in which said energy pack case further comprises one or more unique identification numbers.

12. The modular electrical power system for electric vehicles of claim 3 in which said power pack is comprised of a plurality of standard lithium ion cells.

13. The modular electrical power system for electric vehicles of claim 12 in which said power pack is comprised of a plurality of standard 18650 lithium ion cells.

14. The modular electrical power system for electric vehicles of claim 1 in which said electrical power connectors on said energy packs include a shield for covering said energy pack terminals when said energy pack is removed from said energy pack rack.

15. The modular electrical power system for electric vehicles of claim 1 in which said energy pack rack heat sinks are water filled units positioned to contact said energy pack case when said energy pack cases are installed and locked in place in said rack.

16. The modular electrical power system for electric vehicles of claim 10 in which said energy pack rack heat sinks are positioned to contact said heat transfer plates of said energy pack case when said energy pack cases are installed and locked in place in said rack.

17. The modular electrical power system for electric vehicles of claim 1 where said battery rack heat sinks further comprise one or more air channels positioned to direct cooling airflow over and through said energy pack heat sinks.

18. A modular electrical power system for electric vehicles with a motor, said system comprising:

a plurality of energy packs, with each energy pack comprising a case with an integral handle for containing at least one energy cell, at least one lockdown fitting configured for operative engagement with a latch on an energy pack rack, with each said energy pack weighing less than 30 pounds, with said case comprising electrical power connectors configured to prevent reversed polarity connection;

at least one rack configured for attachment to said electric vehicle, configured for interfitting engagement with said plurality of energy packs, said rack comprising a rack base for attachment to a vehicle, said rack base including a plurality of defined positions for said energy packs, each of said energy pack positions comprising electrical connections for operative connection with said energy pack electrical power connectors to said vehicle power and diagnostic system, a latch configured to engage said lockdown fitting on said energy packs, and a plurality of heat sinks arranged for contact with said energy packs with said heat sinks configured for contact with said energy packs for the purpose of energy pack heat rejection;

an energy pack charge and exchange station comprising a user interface terminal configured to accept information input by a station user, said information comprising user identification, financial information related to payment for services and services desired; and

an energy pack exchange and deposit bay configured to receive and dispense energy packs, comprising an energy pack charger pendant cable, configured for connection to said electric vehicle, and an energy pack charger, with said energy pack charger configured to charge individual energy packs when said individuals energy packs are placed in said energy charge and exchange station said energy pack charger configured to charge a parked electrical vehicle energy system when said vehicle is connected to said energy pack charge and exchange station by said energy pack charger pendant cable