ENERGY STORAGE DEVICE, EXCHANGE APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR EXCHANGING AN ENERGY STORAGE DEVICE
First Claim
1. A battery exchange apparatus comprising:
- a receptacle mounted to at least one rail for lateral movement along the rail and for pivotal movement around a working axis generally orthogonal to the rail, the receptacle having an open end for receiving a battery from a direction generally orthogonal to the working axis; and
a recharge connector provided within the receptacle and opposite the open end of the receptacle;
wherein the open end of the receptacle includes at least two laterally flared surfaces, which are configured to impose at least one of lateral motion or pivotal motion on the receptacle in order to align the receptacle to the battery that is at least one of laterally or angularly misaligned from a lateral midline of the receptacle.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A battery exchange apparatus (e.g., for a battery exchange station positioned at a wayside location of a vehicle route) includes a receptacle mounted to at least one rail for lateral movement along the rail and for pivotal movement around a working axis generally orthogonal to the rail. The receptacle has an open end for receiving a battery from a direction generally orthogonal to the working axis. The apparatus further includes a recharge connector provided within the receptacle and opposite the open end of the receptacle. The open end of the receptacle includes at least two laterally flared surfaces, which are configured to impose at least one of lateral motion or pivotal motion on the receptacle in order to align the receptacle to the battery that is at least one of laterally or angularly misaligned from a lateral midline of the receptacle.
28 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A battery exchange apparatus comprising:
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a receptacle mounted to at least one rail for lateral movement along the rail and for pivotal movement around a working axis generally orthogonal to the rail, the receptacle having an open end for receiving a battery from a direction generally orthogonal to the working axis; and a recharge connector provided within the receptacle and opposite the open end of the receptacle; wherein the open end of the receptacle includes at least two laterally flared surfaces, which are configured to impose at least one of lateral motion or pivotal motion on the receptacle in order to align the receptacle to the battery that is at least one of laterally or angularly misaligned from a lateral midline of the receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A vehicle battery comprising:
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a casing that is formed as an orthogonal prism or cylinder having first and second opposed and congruent ends joined by at least one side that extends parallel to a line between the ends; energy storage media housed in the casing; a first power connector attached to the first end of the casing, and fully operable to receive power to charge and discharge the battery; and a second power connector attached to the second end of the casing, and fully operable to receive power to charge and discharge the battery independent of the first power connector. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system comprising:
a battery interface apparatus comprising; a compartment attached to a vehicle; a plunger that has a proximal end that is mounted in the compartment, and a distal end that is configured to be actuated to protrude away from the proximal end and that is configured to be actuated to retract toward the proximal end; a platform that is mounted to the distal end of the plunger; a first recharge connector that is mounted on or into the platform, the first recharge connector comprising charging connections facing away from the plunger; a flexible power connector that is connected from the first recharge connector to the vehicle for transferring power from the first recharge connector to the vehicle; and a latch that is mounted in the vehicle adjacent a stroke path of the plunger, and is operable to engage into a latch of a battery that is carried by the platform and operably connected to the first recharge connector. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21-26. -26. (canceled)
Specification