Electric Vehicle Battery System
First Claim
1. A battery bay configured to be disposed at an underside of an at least partially electric vehicle, the battery bay comprising:
- a frame defining a cavity configured to at least partially receive a battery pack therein;
at least three latches rotatably coupled to the frame; and
at least one drive system coupled to the latches, the at least one drive system configured to substantially simultaneously rotate all of the latches to substantially simultaneously engage and to vertically lift the battery pack at least partially into the cavity.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The electric vehicle includes a battery pack that can be exchanged at a battery exchange station. At the battery exchange station, an at least partially spent battery pack is exchanged for an at least partially charged battery pack. A battery bay is configured to be disposed at an underside of the electric vehicle. The battery bay includes a frame which defines a cavity. The cavity is configured to at least partially receive the battery pack therein. The battery bay comprises at least one latch rotatably pivoted about an axis substantially parallel with a plane formed by the underside of the vehicle. The latch is configured to lift, retain the battery pack at least partially within the cavity.
28 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A battery bay configured to be disposed at an underside of an at least partially electric vehicle, the battery bay comprising:
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a frame defining a cavity configured to at least partially receive a battery pack therein; at least three latches rotatably coupled to the frame; and at least one drive system coupled to the latches, the at least one drive system configured to substantially simultaneously rotate all of the latches to substantially simultaneously engage and to vertically lift the battery pack at least partially into the cavity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A battery system for an electric vehicle, comprising:
a battery bay, for receiving a battery pack, located on an underside of the electric vehicle, said battery bay comprising; a first latch at the underside of the electric vehicle, the first latch comprising a first hook configured to mechanically engage a first striker at a first end of the battery pack; and a second latch at the underside of the electric vehicle, the second latch comprising a second hook configured to mechanically engage a second striker at a second end of the battery pack, wherein the first latch and the second latch are configured to mechanically couple the battery pack to the underside of the electric vehicle by engaging, vertically lifting, and locking the first and second strikers of the battery pack to the electric vehicle substantially simultaneously.
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17. A battery bay configured to be disposed at an underside of an at least partially electric vehicle, the battery bay comprising:
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a frame defining a cavity configured to at least partially receive a battery pack therein; a latch comprising a hook configured to engage a striker coupled with the battery pack, the latch configured to retain the battery pack at least partially within the cavity; a first rotational member including a first pivot point and a second pivot point, wherein the first rotational member is configured to rotate about the first pivot point; and a coupler link rod including a first rod end and a second rod end, wherein the first rod end is pivotably coupled to the second pivot point of the first rotational member, wherein the latch includes a third pivot point and a fourth pivot point, the third pivot point is pivotably coupled to the second rod end of the coupler link rod, and the latch is configured to rotate about the fourth pivot point. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification