Changeable Battery Pack Adapter and Battery Changing System

• US 20090288898A1
• Filed: 05/20/2009
• Published: 11/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jungheinrich AG
• Original Assignee: Jungheinrich AG
• Inventors: BOEGELEIN, Rolf, HATZL, Franz, ZEIDLER, Christoph, PLASTININ, Oleg
• Granted Patent: US 8,167,069 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/68.500
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0483 from the front
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0494 with arrangements for sliding
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/30 Trolleys
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/42 Fork lift trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/0754 Battery removal arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/60 Electric or hybrid propulsion means for production processes
• 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 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

The invention relates to a battery changing system, comprising at least one first industrial truck (12), at least one battery pack (14, 20, 42), which is or can be inserted into a battery compartment (16) of the first industrial truck (12), wherein the battery compartment (16) has at least one lateral access opening (18) for inserting the battery pack (14, 20, 42) with a first end (54) leading into the battery compartment (16) and for withdrawing the battery pack (14, 20, 42) with its first end (54) at the rear from the battery compartment (16), wherein the battery pack (14, 20, 42) accommodated in the battery compartment (16) can be supported in the vicinity of its first end (54) with at least one rolling body (52a, 52b) on the base (48) of the battery compartment (16), and at least one transport device (24), on which the battery pack (14, 20, 42) can be accommodated and can be moved away from and towards the industrial truck (12). The invention proposes that the transport device (24) comprises a changeable adapter (22), which can be aligned in a predetermined position for a battery changing operation relative to the industrial truck (12) by means of mutually interacting alignment means (56, 66; 58, 62), which are arranged on the changeable adapter (22) and on the industrial truck (12). In addition, the invention relates to a method for inserting and removing a battery pack of an industrial truck in a battery changing system according to the invention.

Claims

1. Changeable battery pack adapter for accommodating a battery pack (14, 20, 42;

114), which can be withdrawn from a battery compartment (16) of an industrial truck (12), or for providing a battery pack (14, 20, 42;

114), which can be inserted into the battery compartment (16), wherein the changeable adapter (22;

122) is capable of being aligned in a predetermined position for a battery changing operation relative to the industrial truck (12) by means of mutually interacting alignment means (56, 66;

58, 62) provided on the changeable adapter (22;

122) and on the industrial truck (12).

2. Changeable adapter according to claim 1, wherein the changeable adapter (22) can be coupled to the industrial truck (12) by means of a first coupling apparatus (58, 62) during the battery changing operation, wherein preferably the alignment means act as the first coupling apparatus (58, 62).

3. Changeable adapter according to claim 2, wherein the first coupling apparatus (58, 62) for coupling the changeable adapter (22) to the industrial truck (12) is designed in such a way that the coupling can be produced when the changeable adapter (22) is raised relative to the base (48), which bears the battery pack (14, 20, 42), of the industrial truck (12) and can be released when the changeable adapter (22) is lowered.

4. Changeable adapter according to claim 3, wherein the first coupling apparatus comprises at least one centring pin (58), which engages in a corresponding opening (62) in the base (48) of the industrial truck, in particular in the base (48) of the battery compartment (16), during raising.

5. Changeable adapter according to claim 1, wherein it is configured in such a way that a securing stop (74a, 74b) arranged in the battery compartment (16) can be overcome during the battery changing operation when the battery pack (14, 20, 42) is moved out of the battery compartment (16) onto the changeable adapter (22) and from the changeable adapter (22) into the battery compartment (16).

6. Changeable adapter according to claim 1, wherein it comprises at least one guideway (36a, 36b), which guides the movement of rolling bodies (38a, 38b;

76a, 76b) associated with the battery pack (14, 20, 42) out of or into the battery compartment (16).

7. Changeable adapter according to claim 6, wherein two guideways (36a, 36b) are provided which are arranged laterally spaced apart from one another and on which rolling bodies (38a, 38b;

76a, 76b) of the battery pack (14, 20, 42) can move.

8. Changeable adapter according to claim 7, wherein it is designed in such a way that, during the battery changing operation and when the battery pack (14, 20, 42) is accommodated in the battery compartment (16) of the industrial truck (12), rolling bodies (52a, 52b) associated with a first end (54) of the battery pack (14, 20, 42) are supported in the battery compartment (16) and rolling bodies (36a, 36b) associated with a second end (40) of the battery pack (14, 20, 42) are supported on the guideways (38a, 38b) of the changeable adapter (22).

9. Changeable adapter according to claim 8, wherein those end sections (72a, 72b) of the guideways (38a, 38b) which face the battery compartment (16) during the battery changing operation are designed so as to rise away from the battery compartment (16) and then to be substantially horizontal such that, during the battery changing operation, the battery pack (14, 20, 42) is positioned higher on the changeable adapter (22) than in the battery compartment (16), as a result of which the securing stop (74a, 74b) can be overcome.

10. Changeable adapter according to claim 1, wherein it has a releasable locking element (44, 82, 84), with which a battery pack (14, 20, 42) which is accommodated on the changeable adapter (22) can be brought into or is in engagement.

11. Changeable adapter according to claim 1, wherein the first coupling apparatus (158) is connected releasably to the changeable adapter (122).

12. Changeable adapter according to claim 11, wherein the changeable adapter (122) can be coupled to the battery pack (114) by means of a second coupling apparatus (258) during the battery changing operation, preferably when the first coupling apparatus (158) is removed from the changeable adapter (122).

13. Changeable adapter according to claim 12, wherein the second coupling apparatus (258) is designed in such a way that the coupling between the changeable adapter (122) and the battery pack (114) can be produced when the changeable adapter (122) is raised relative to the base, which bears the battery pack (114), of the industrial truck and can be released when the changeable adapter (122) is lowered.

14. Changeable adapter according to claim 13, wherein the second coupling apparatus (258) has an accommodating depression (258), which runs transversely with respect to the movement direction of the battery pack and with which a coupling projection (111), which is provided on the lower side of the battery pack (114), can be brought into engagement.

15. Changeable adapter according to claim 1, wherein it is or can be accommodated on a separate industrial truck, in particular a manually-operated lift truck (24), in particular is fixedly connected thereto.

38. Method for inserting or removing a battery pack (14, 20, 42;

114) of an industrial truck (12) in a battery changing system according to claim 12, wherein the method comprises the steps of;

opening the access opening (18) of the battery compartment (16) of the industrial truck (12);

feeding a changeable adapter (22;

122) to the battery compartment (16), preferably by means of a second industrial truck, in particular a manually-operated lift truck (24;

124);

aligning the changeable adapter (22;

122) in a predetermined relative position in relation to the industrial truck (12) for the battery changing operation, wherein the changeable adapter (22;

122) is raised in particular into an upper stop position;

moving a battery pack (14, 20, 42;

114), which is accommodated in the battery compartment (16), onto the changeable adapter (22;

122) or moving a battery pack (14, 20, 42;

114), which is accommodated on the changeable adapter (22;

122), into the empty battery compartment (16);

lowering the changeable adapter (22;

122);

removing the changeable adapter (22;

122), possibly with the battery pack (14, 20, 42;

114) accommodated, from the industrial truck (12).

39. Method according to claim 38, characterized in that it furthermore comprises the step of producing a coupling between the changeable adapter (22) and the industrial truck (12) or the battery pack (114) which is active during the battery changing operation, wherein the coupling is preferably produced or released by the changeable adapter (22)

16. Battery changing system, comprising

at least one first industrial truck (12),

at least one battery pack (14, 20, 42;

114), which is or can be inserted into a battery compartment (16) of the first industrial truck (12), wherein the battery compartment (16) has at least one lateral access opening (18) for inserting the battery pack (14, 20, 42;

114) with a first end (54) leading into the battery compartment (16) and for withdrawing the battery pack (14, 20, 42;

114) with its first end (54) at the rear from the battery compartment (16), wherein the battery pack (14, 20, 42;

114) accommodated in the battery compartment (16) can be supported in the vicinity of its first end (54) with at least one rolling body (52a, 52b;

152) on the base (48) of the battery compartment (16), and at least one transport device (24;

124), on which the battery pack (14, 20, 42;

114) can be accommodated and can be moved away from and towards the industrial truck (12),

characterized in that the transport device (24;

124) comprises a changeable adapter (22;

122), which can be aligned in a predetermined position for a battery changing operation relative to the industrial truck (12) by means of mutually interacting alignment means (56, 66;

58, 62), which are arranged on the changeable adapter (22;

122) and on the industrial truck (12).

17. Battery changing system according to claim 16, characterized in that the changeable adapter (22) can be coupled to the industrial truck (12) by means of a coupling apparatus (58, 62) during the battery changing operation, wherein preferably the alignment means act as the coupling apparatus (58, 62).

18. Battery changing system according to claim 16, characterized in that, at a second end (40) which is opposite the first end (54), the battery pack (14, 20, 42) comprises at least one further rolling body (38a, 38b), which, in the inserted state of the battery pack (14, 20, 42), protrudes downwards over the upper side of the battery compartment base (48) and is provided as a lifting stop for the changeable adapter (12) for the raising and withdrawal of the battery pack (14, 20, 42).

19. Battery changing system according to claim 18, characterized by a shifting frame (42), which bears the battery pack (14, 20), is capable of moving jointly with the battery pack (14, 20) and has the rolling bodies (38a, 38b, 52a, 52b, 76a, 76b).

20. Battery changing system according to claim 19, characterized in that the battery pack (14, 20) can be removed outside the battery compartment by the shifting frame (42), if necessary.

21. Battery changing system according to claim 16, characterized in that in each case at least two rollers (38a, 38b, 52a, 52b, 76a, 76b) are provided laterally spaced apart from one another as rolling bodies both at the first end (54) and at the second end (40) of the battery pack (14, 20, 42).

22. Battery changing system according to claim 21, characterized in that a respective roller pair is provided at the first and at the second end (54, 40), wherein the rollers (38a, 38b, 76a, 76b) of the two roller pairs are laterally spaced apart from one another by the same distance and are arranged at identical lateral positions in relation to the shifting frame (42).

23. Battery changing system according to claim 22, characterized in that the two roller pairs (38a, 38b, 76a, 76b) form inner roller pairs in relation to the lateral extent, and in that a further outer roller pair (52a, 52b) is provided at the first end (54), with the rollers of said roller pair each being provided further towards the outside on the shifting frame (42), in particular in the corner regions thereof.

24. Battery changing system according to claim 23, characterized in that, in the inserted state and during the battery changing operation, the battery pack (14, 20, 42) is supported with the outer roller pair (52a, 52b) of the first end (54) on the battery compartment (16, 48) and with the inner roller pair (38a, 38b) of the second end (40) on the changeable adapter (22).

25. Battery changing system according to claim 21, characterized in that guideways (36a, 36b, 50a, 50b) are provided in the battery compartment (16) and on the changeable adapter (22), on which guideways respective rollers (38a, 38b, 52a, 52b, 76a, 76b) of a relevant roller pair of the battery pack (14, 20, 42) can roll, with the result that the battery pack is capable of moving along the guideways (36a, 36b, 50a, 50b) between the battery compartment (16) and the changeable adapter (22) during the battery changing operation.

26. Battery changing system according to claim 25, characterized in that the guideways (36a, 36b, 50a, 50b) have raised guide profiles in comparison with the battery compartment base (48) and the changeable adapter base (32), and in that the rollers (38a, 38b, 52a, 52b, 76a, 76b) have concave guide grooves which run around along the roller periphery and into which the guide profiles of the guideways (36a, 36b, 50a, 50b) engage when the battery pack (14, 20, 42) is moved.

27. Battery changing system according to claim 25, characterized in that those end sections (72a, 72b) of the guideways (36a, 36b) of the changeable adapter (22) which face the battery compartment (16) during the battery changing operation are designed so as to rise away from the battery compartment (16) and then to be substantially horizontal such that, during the battery changing operation, the battery pack (14, 20, 42) is positioned higher on the changeable adapter (22) than in the battery compartment (16), as a result of which a securing stop (74a, 74b) arranged in the battery compartment (16) can be overcome.

28. Battery changing system according to claim 21, at least according to claim 23, characterized in that guideways (50a, 50b) for the outer roller pair (52a, 52b) of the first end (54) are provided in the battery compartment (16), on which guideways the battery pack (14, 20, 42) can roll when moved and is supported in the inserted state, wherein the inner roller pair (76a, 76b) of the first end (54) is arranged so as to float freely above the battery compartment base (48).

29. Battery changing system according to claim 28, characterized in that the battery compartment guideways (50a, 50b) and the changeable adapter guideways (36a, 36b) have a region of overlap (UB) during the battery changing operation in the battery movement direction, such that, when the battery pack (14, 20, 42) is withdrawn from the battery compartment (16), the support of the battery pack (14, 20, 42) in the region of overlap (UB) transfers from the outer roller pair (52a, 52b) to the inner roller pair (76a, 76b) of the first end (54), wherein the outer roller pair (52a, 52b) is lifted off from the battery compartment guideways (50a, 50b).

30. Battery changing system according to claim 16, characterized in that the battery compartment base (48) has, in the region of the access opening (18), a cutout (66), which has the front rim section of the battery compartment base (48), with the result that the rolling body or the inner roller pair (38a, 38b) of the second end (40) protrudes downwards through the cutout (66) when the battery pack (14, 20, 42) is inserted.

31. Battery changing system according to claim 30, characterized in that the changeable adapter (22) has a lug (56) which can be inserted into the cutout (66) of the battery compartment base (48), in such a way that, during the battery changing operation and when the battery pack (14, 20, 42) is inserted, the rolling body or the inner roller pair (38a, 38b) of the second end (40) of the battery pack (14, 20, 42) is supported by the lug (56).

32. Battery changing system according to claim 27, characterized in that the inner roller pair (38a, 38b) of the second end (40) is supported on the end sections (72a, 72b), which are arranged on the lug (56), of the guideways (36a, 36b).

33. Battery changing system according to claim 16, wherein the second coupling apparatus (258) is designed in such a way that the coupling between the changeable adapter (122) and the battery pack (114) can be produced when the changeable adapter (122) is raised relative to the base, which bears the battery pack (114), of the industrial truck and can be released when the changeable adapter (122) is lowered, the coupling and alignment between the changeable adapter (22) and the industrial truck (12) is provided by means of engagement of a centring pin (58) arranged on the changeable adapter (22) into an opening (62) formed on the battery compartment base (48).

34. Battery changing system according to claim 33, characterized in that downwardly protruding centring means (64) are provided in the region of the opening (62) in the battery compartment base (48), by means of which centring means the centring pin (58) can be guided into the opening (62), as a result of which the predetermined relative position between the changeable adapter (22) and the industrial truck (12) can be produced.

35. Battery changing system according to claim 16, characterized in that the transport device of the changeable adapter (22) is a further industrial truck, in particular a manually-operated lift truck (24), on whose load pickup means (26a, 26b) the changeable adapter (22) is accommodated.

36. Battery changing system according to claim 35, characterized in that the changeable adapter (22) is accommodated on the load pickup means (26a, 26b) in such a way that, during the battery changing operation, the load pickup means (26a, 26b) bears with end sections (26a, 26b), which are not covered by the changeable adapter (22), against the lower side of the battery compartment base (48).

37. (canceled)