BATTERY SWAPPING SYSTEM AND TECHNIQUES

• US 20170259675A1
• Filed: 05/30/2017
• Published: 09/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tesla Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tesla Inc.
• Inventors: Gaffoglio, Eric Orlando, Clarke, Alan, Brown, Matthew Lee
• Granted Patent: US 10,300,801 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 5/06 Supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80
• 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

Abstract

A system for exchanging an electrical energy storage system (EESS) of an electric vehicle includes. An EESS station is configured to position an electric vehicle in x and y directions. A vehicle lift raises the electric vehicle to a predetermined height. An EESS lift supports and lowers the EESS and replaces the EESS with a differing EESS. The vehicle lift may be an inboard lift and the EESS lift may be an outboard lift. The system may also include one or more rollers configured to guide the electric vehicle. The system may include a horizontal door having at least one tube positioned thereon for guiding the electric vehicle and/or at least one vehicle chock for positioning the electric vehicle in at least one of the x and y directions. The vehicle lift may include lifting arms to engage jack pads of the electric vehicle.

Claims

1. A system for exchanging an electrical energy storage system (EESS) of an electric vehicle, the system comprising:

an EESS exchange station configured to position an electric vehicle in x and y directions;

a vehicle lift configured to raise the electric vehicle to a predetermined height;

an EESS lift configured to raise toward the raised electric vehicle until the EESS lift is correctly positioned relative to a first EESS, to engage the first EESS, and to lower the first EESS; and

an EESS conveyor located underneath the EESS lift, configured to receive the first EESS after the first EESS is lowered by the EESS lift, and configured to present a second EESS to the EESS lift, wherein the EESS lift is further configured to raise the second EESS to the electric vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle lift and the EESS lift comprise inboard and outboard lifts.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the vehicle lift is the inboard lift and the EESS lift is the outboard lift.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more rollers configured to guide the electric vehicle.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a horizontal door having at least one tube positioned thereon for guiding the electric vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one vehicle chock for positioning the electric vehicle in at least one of the x and y directions.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle lift comprises lifting arms configured to engage jack pads of the electric vehicle.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the vehicle lift is configured to engage the electric vehicle at four points.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the lifting arms comprise cone locators for positioning.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more floor doors located below the vehicle lift.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more floor doors comprises one or more pivoting doors.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the EESS lift comprises ball transfer pads for engaging the EESS.

13. A system for exchanging an electrical energy storage system (EESS) of an electric vehicle, the system comprising:

an EESS exchange station configured for positioning an electric vehicle in x and y directions;

first means for raising the electric vehicle to a predetermined height;

second means to engage and lower a first EESS; and

an EESS conveyor configured to receive the first EESS is lowered onto the EESS conveyor using the second means, and wherein a second EESS is raised toward the electric vehicle using the second means

an EESS conveyor located underneath the second means, configured to receive the first EESS after the first EESS is lowered by the second means, and configured to present a second EESS to the second means, wherein the second means further for raising the second EESS to the electric vehicle.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first means and second means comprise inboard and outboard lifts.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the first means is the inboard lift and the second means is the outboard lift.

16. A system for exchanging an electrical energy storage system (EESS) of an electric vehicle, the system comprising:

an EESS exchange station configured for positioning an electric vehicle in x and y directions;

a vehicle lift configured to raise the electric vehicle to a predetermined height; and

an EESS lift configured to raise toward the raised electric vehicle until the EESS lift is correctly positioned relative to a first EESS, to engage the first EESS, and to lower the first EESS.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising an EESS conveyor configured to move the first EESS from below the vehicle and to move a second EESS to below the vehicle.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the vehicle lift and the EESS lift comprise inboard and outboard lifts on the EESS exchange station.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the vehicle lift is the inboard lift and the EESS lift is the outboard lift.

20. The system of claim 16, further comprising one or more rollers configured to guide the electric vehicle.