BATTERY SYSTEM FOR ELECTRICAL VEHICLE

• US 20100025137A1
• Filed: 02/05/2008
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ultima Networks, PLC (N4 Pharma Plc)
• Original Assignee: Ultima Networks, PLC (N4 Pharma Plc)
• Inventors: Mughal, Humayun Akhter
• Application Number:
  US12/525,948
• Publication Number:
  US 20100025137A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/68.500
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 7/04 arranged above or behind the rear wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/90 Batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/02 Details of electrodes H01M4/00; of non-active parts H01M50/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/204 Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple 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 50/258 Modular batteries; Casings provided with means for assembling
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/262 with fastening means, e.g. locks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/296 characterised by terminals of battery packs terminals of batteries H01M50/543
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/517 by fixing means, e.g. screws, rivets or bolts
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

The present invention provides an electrical vehicle battery system comprising a battery base unit (20) and one or more stackable supplemental battery unit (30) that may be joined thereto. The base unit (20) has a housing, an electrical storage cell within that housing, and mounting means (22, 23) to connect the base unit to the electrical vehicle and to provide electrical power. The base unit further comprises connection means (25, 35, 36) by which one or more supplemental battery unit may be attached to an upper surface of the base unit to supply electrical energy thereto. The supplemental battery unit has connection means (33, 34, 38, 40, 42) which cooperate with those of the base unit. Further equivalent supplemental battery units may be attached to the top of the supplemental battery unit (30). A load bearing surface (21, 31) is defined by the battery system thereby to support cargo on the vehicle.

Claims

1. An electrical vehicle battery system comprising a battery base unit having a housing, an electrical storage cell within that housing, mounting means to connect the base unit to the electrical vehicle and to provide electrical power, and connection means by which one or more supplemental battery unit may be attached to an upper surface of the base unit to supply electrical energy thereto, and wherein a load bearing surface is defined by the battery system thereby to support cargo on the vehicle.

2. An electrical vehicle battery system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the load bearing surface is defined by the upper surface of the base unit or an upper surface of the top supplemental battery unit.

3. An electrical vehicle battery system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mounting means comprise fixings to connect the base unit to a frame of the vehicle.

4. An electrical vehicle battery system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one supplemental battery unit is provided.

5. An electrical vehicle battery system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the or each supplemental battery unit is provided with lower connection means that cooperate with the connection means of the base unit and upper connection means equivalent to the connection means of the base unit so that a supplemental battery unit can be connected on top of another supplemental battery unit or the base unit.

6. An electrical vehicle battery system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection means include pairs of mating electrical contacts to electrically interconnect the base unit and a supplemental battery unit, or two supplemental battery units.

7. An electrical vehicle battery system as claimed in claim 1, wherein connection means include a releasable fastening mechanism so that the or each supplemental battery units may be selectively connected to and removed from the base battery unit.

8. All electrical vehicle battery system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the supplemental battery unit engages with the base unit or another supplemental battery unit by sliding.

9. An electrical vehicle battery system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the supplemental battery unit is locked in place by a spring loaded button that engages in a depression on the underside thereof.

10. An electrical vehicle battery system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a bicycle that is electrically powered, electrically assisted or electricity generating.

11. An electrical vehicle battery system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the base unit is connected to the rear of the bicycle above a rear wheel thereof.

12. An electrical vehicle battery system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the base unit and supplemental battery units if present provide a pannier rack.

13. An electrical vehicle battery system as claimed in claim 1, which is further provided with a power input jack to receive electrical current from an external charging source.

14. An electrical vehicle battery system as claimed in claim 1, which is further provided with a lock to prevent unauthorised removal of a supplemental battery unit and/or the base unit from a vehicle.