POSITIONING OF A MOTOR VEHICLE AND VEHICLE POWER SUPPLY BATTERY EXCHANGE

• US 20140248108A1
• Filed: 06/05/2012
• Published: 09/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Renault Sas (Renault)
• Original Assignee: Renault Sas (Renault)
• Inventors: Bachir, Alain, Jardel, Florent
• Application Number:
  US14/130,194
• Publication Number:
  US 20140248108A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 414/222.01
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/60 using power supplied by batteries in combination with fuel cells B60L50/75
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/36 by positioning the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 13/00 Vehicle-manoeuvring devices separate from the vehicle vehicle lifting , e.g. liftable turntables or pushing devices B66F; workshop equipment B25H
• 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

Abstract

A positioning of a motor vehicle in absence of action of a motor or engine that drives the motor vehicle includes centering the vehicle transversely with respect to a longitudinal-vertical reference plane that is invariable in a fixed frame of reference until a center of a first axle of the vehicle coincides or more or less coincides with the reference plane whatever the gauge width of the first axle of the vehicle.

Claims

1-19. -19. (canceled)

20. :

A method for positioning a motor vehicle including a longitudinal axis, a transverse axis, and a vertical axis with respect to a fixed frame of a reference including a reference longitudinal axis, a reference transverse axis, and a reference vertical axis in absence of action of a motor or engine that drives the motor vehicle, the method comprising;

a first centering of transversely centering the vehicle with respect to a reference longitudinal-vertical plane that is invariable in the fixed frame of reference until a center of a first axle of the vehicle coincides or substantially coincides with the reference plane, whatever a track width of the first axle of the vehicle.

21. :

The positioning method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the first centering comprises a provision of a free movability of the vehicle with respect to the fixed frame of reference along the reference transverse axis.

22. :

The positioning method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the first centering comprises an application of forces to the vehicle to displace the vehicle transversely.

23. :

The positioning method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the forces are applied over two elements of the vehicle that are symmetrical relative to a median longitudinal-vertical plane associated with the vehicle by two centering elements forced to be displaced symmetrically to one another relative to the reference plane.

24. :

The positioning method as claimed in claim 23, wherein the symmetrical vehicle elements are two wheels of the first axle.

25. :

The positioning method as claimed in claim 20, further comprising second positioning the vehicle with respect to the fixed frame of reference, comprising;

positioning the vehicle with respect to the fixed frame of reference along the reference longitudinal axis, and/or

positioning the vehicle with respect to the fixed frame of reference about the reference vertical axis to make a median longitudinal-vertical plane of the vehicle coincide with the reference longitudinal-vertical plane.

26. :

The positioning method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the second positioning comprises placing two wheels of the first axle of the vehicle in a longitudinal positioning element by lowering a support element on which the wheels rest during the first centering.

27. :

The positioning method as claimed in claim 25, further comprising immobilizing the vehicle with respect to the fixed frame of reference.

28. :

The positioning method as claimed in claim 27, wherein the immobilizing is combined with the second positioning.

29. :

The positioning method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the second positioning and the immobilizing comprise establishment of a relative sliding of the wheels not cooperating with the longitudinal positioning element along the reference longitudinal axis with respect to the floor, which is fixed in the fixed frame of reference.

30. :

The positioning method as claimed in claim 20, further comprising leveling the vehicle with respect to the floor fixed in the fixed frame of reference, comprising;

positioning the vehicle body with respect to the floor along the reference vertical axis, and/or

positioning the vehicle body with respect to the floor about its longitudinal axis, and/or

positioning the vehicle body with respect to the floor about its transverse axis.

31. :

A method for exchanging a battery that supplies power to a motor that drives an electric or hybrid motor vehicle, comprising;

positioning the vehicle with respect to a battery exchange system, by implementing a positioning method as claimed in claim 20.

32. :

The exchange method as claimed in claim 31, further comprising pre-positioning the vehicle by a driver with respect to the exchange system prior to the positioning, comprising active guidance of the driver thanks to a driver/exchange system interface.

33. :

The exchange method as claimed in claim 32, wherein the pre-positioning comprises a determination of an actual position of the vehicle with respect to the fixed frame of reference, at least along the reference transverse and longitudinal axes.

34. :

The exchange method as claimed in claim 31, wherein establishment of relative sliding of the wheels along the reference longitudinal axis with respect to the floor is controlled during opening of a hatch arranged beneath the vehicle to a right of the battery to enable the battery to be assembled and disassembled relative to the vehicle.

35. :

The exchange method as claimed in claim 34, further comprising a removable arrangement of refueling elements between the vehicle body and the floor surrounding a hole that the hatch is intended to close.

36. :

A device for positioning a motor vehicle with respect to a fixed frame of reference, comprising hardware means and/or software means for implementing a positioning method as claimed in claim 20.

37. :

A system for exchanging a battery that supplies power to a motor that drives an electric or hybrid motor vehicle, comprising a positioning device as claimed in claim 36.

38. :

The exchange system as claimed in claim 37, comprising hardware and/or software means for implementing an exchange method.