Battery Exchange Station

• US 20110303509A1
• Filed: 08/12/2011
• Published: 12/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Shai Agassi, Yoav Heichal
• Original Assignee: Shai Agassi, Yoav Heichal
• Inventors: Agassi, Shai, Heichal, Yoav
• Application Number:
  US13/209,351
• Publication Number:
  US 20110303509A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 198/604
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0438 Arrangement under the floor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0472 from below
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 characterised by AC-motors
• 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 53/11 DC charging controlled by the charging station, e.g. mode 4
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/202 Casings or frames around the primary casing of a single cell or a single battery
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/204 Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/242 adapted for protecting batteries against vibrations, collision impact or swelling
• 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: 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 10/92 Energy efficient charging or discharging systems for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors specially adapted for vehicles
• 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: Y10T 29/49815 : Disassembling

Abstract

At the battery exchange station a discharged battery is removed and a charged battery is inserted into an electric vehicle. The battery is inserted and removed along a vertical axis, i.e., into and out of the bottom of the vehicle. The battery exchange system is located in a service bay under the vehicle. A sliding door system creates an opening above the service bay. A vehicle is received over the sliding door system, such that at least one wheel of the vehicle rests on the conveyor system. The door slides in a first direction while allowing the conveyor system to slide in a direction opposite the first direction. The conveyor system also supports the at least one wheel of the vehicle while the door and conveyor slide in opposite directions. The sliding of the door and the sliding of the conveyor system occur at least partially simultaneously.

Claims

1. A sliding door system for exposing an opening above a bay, comprising:

a door at least partially covering a bay, the door configured to slide in a first direction; and

a support system in the door configured to allow the door to slide in the first direction in order to expose an opening above the bay while an object supported by the support system remains substantially stationary.

2. The sliding door system of claim 1, wherein the door is slidably coupled to at least one rail.

3. The sliding door system of claim 1, wherein the object is a vehicle.

4. The sliding door system of claim 3, wherein the opening exposed is of variable size, and is sizable with respect to one or more of the vehicle'"'"'s wheelbase and track.

5. The sliding door system of claim 3, wherein the opening exposed is sized to receive a battery for the vehicle there through.

6. The sliding door system of claim 3, wherein the support system is one or more conveyor belts each configured to support a distinct wheel of the vehicle.

7. The sliding door system of claim 6, wherein the one or more conveyor belts include a first conveyor belt and a second conveyor belt, wherein the first conveyor belt is larger than the second conveyor belt to support differently sized vehicles.

8. The sliding door system of claim 6, wherein the one or more conveyor belts each have an upper supporting surface, wherein the upper supporting surface is flush with the door.

9. The sliding door system of claim 6, wherein the one or more conveyor belts are free to rotate without power.

10. The sliding door system of claim 6, further comprising:

one or more electric motors, wherein each electric motor rotates a respective conveyor belt.

11. The sliding door system of claim 3, wherein the support system is configured to alter the yaw of the vehicle.

12. The sliding door system of claim 1, wherein the support system is one or more roller pads each for supporting a distinct portion of the object.

13. A method of exposing an opening above a bay, comprising:

providing a sliding door system comprising;

a door at least partially covering a bay; and

a support system in the door;

receiving an object over the sliding door system such that a portion of the object rests on the support system; and

sliding the door in a first direction while supporting the object such that the object remains substantially stationary while an opening above the bay is exposed.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the object is a vehicle.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the opening above the bay is located below the object.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

providing a first guide positioned on the door adjacent to the support system, and

stopping the sliding when the portion of the object contacts the first guide.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

providing a second guide positioned adjacent to the door;

providing a second support system positioned adjacent to the second guide remote from the door for supporting a second portion of the object; and

while the object is supported by the second support system, allowing the object to move relative to the second guide until the second portion of the object contacts the second guide.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

providing a support system and corresponding guide for each of a plurality of portions of the object; and

altering the yaw of the object while the support systems support the object in a substantially stationary position relative to the sliding door.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

providing one or more rising supports, and

lifting the object on the one or more rising supports to alter the object'"'"'s roll and pitch.

20. A sliding door system, comprising:

a door configured to slide in a first direction; and

a support system in the door configured to allow the door to slide in the first direction while an object supported by the support system remains substantially stationary.