SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE TRACTION BATTERY

• US 20120228245A1
• Filed: 09/02/2010
• Published: 09/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Renault Sas (Renault)
• Original Assignee: Renault Sas (Renault)
• Inventors: Bachir, Alain
• Granted Patent: US 9,579,986 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 211/26.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0472 from below
• 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: 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 29/49815 Disassembling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A supporting structure for transporting a traction battery of a vehicle having an electric power train. The supporting structure includes a frame on which a plate is mounted, whereby the plate can hold a traction battery in place by at least one first linking element that can geometrically align the traction battery in relation to the structure. The supporting structure is particularly suitable for managing the different batteries to be found at a battery exchange station.

Claims

1-12. -12. (canceled)

13. A supporting structure configured to convey a traction battery of a vehicle including an electric traction system, comprising:

a frame on which a tray is installed that is configured to retain a traction battery, by at least three first connecting elements installed on the tray and configured to perform a geometric reference positioning of the traction battery relative to the supporting structure,

wherein at least one of the connecting elements is configured to allow a correction of the reference positioning of the battery.

14. The supporting structure as claimed in claim 13, wherein the tray is installed in a removable manner on the frame.

15. The supporting structure as claimed in claim 13, further comprising at least one second connecting element configured to perform a reference positioning of the structure on a handling device on which it rests, of conveyor or lift-table type.

16. The supporting structure as claimed in claim 15, wherein the second connecting element is situated on the tray to perform a reference positioning of the tray relative to the handling device on which the structure rests.

17. The supporting structure as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first connecting elements and second connecting elements are installed in a removable manner on the supporting structure.

18. The supporting structure as claimed in claim 13, wherein the frame includes eyelets so that the supporting structure can be handled with aid of a pallet-handling truck.

19. A method for removing a battery from a housing formed in a vehicle, comprising:

placing a supporting structure as claimed in claim 13 on a handling device, of lift-table type, by making second connecting elements interact with corresponding guide fingers of the handling device;

bringing the handling device closer until the first connecting elements of the supporting structure interact with the battery;

unlocking the battery from its housing in the vehicle;

moving the handling device away from the vehicle so that the battery is extracted from its housing.

20. A method for installing a battery in a housing formed in a vehicle, comprising:

placing a supporting structure as claimed in claim 13 on a handling device, of lift-table type, so that second connecting elements interact with the corresponding guide fingers of the handling device;

carrying the battery up to its housing in the vehicle by actuating the handling device;

locking the battery in the housing of the vehicle.

21. The method for installing a battery as claimed in claim 20, wherein first the battery is placed on the supporting structure so that the first connecting elements interact with the battery.

22. A method for exchanging a battery in a battery-exchange station, comprising:

removing a discharged battery housed in a vehicle received according to the removal method of claim 19;

then installing a recharged battery in the housing of the vehicle according to the installation in a removal-installation zone; and

wherein the discharged and recharged batteries are conveyed respectively from the removal-installation zone to a recharging zone provided in the station, and from the recharging zone to the removal-installation zone while resting on supporting structures.