Battery charging system

• US 4,334,819 A
• Filed: 03/27/1980
• Issued: 06/15/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Julius G. Hammerslag
• Original Assignee: Julius G. Hammerslag
• Inventors: Hammerslag, Julius G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rowland, James L.
• Application Number:
  US06/134,648
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 414/373, 414/390, 414/391, 414/392, 414/395, 414/399, 414/400, 104/34, 320/2, 198/482, 198/476
• US Class Current: 414/395
• 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 2001/0466 from above
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0483 from the front
• 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

Abstract

A battery charging system for battery-powered vehicles has a battery transfer station, at which a vehicle is positioned for removal and replacement of the spent and charged battery. The spent battery is removed from the vehicle and transferred to a charging system, and a charged battery is transferred from the charging system to the vehicle. In one form, the batteries are conveyed through a continuous charging system, upon removal from the vehicle, and a fully charged battery is deposited in the vehicle. In another form, batteries are transferred from and to the vehicle by a battery transfer system which transfers the batteries to and from storage and charging bays. In all cases, the discharged battery is removed from the vehicle, and a charged battery is installed in the vehicle.

Claims

1. A battery charging system for electric vehicles comprising:

a battery transfer station for receiving a vehicle;

means operable at said transfer station to remove a spent battery from the vehicle and for installing a charged battery in said vehicle, means providing a plurality of charging stations;

in a continuous path from and to said transfer station and means for moving spent batteries from said battery transfer station through said charging stations and returning charged batteries to said transfer stations;

including an endless conveyor connectable to said batteries, and extending along said path, said charging stations being spaced along the path of said endless conveyor, said conveyor having means to engage and transport the batteries through said path.

2. A battery charging system as defined in claim 1, said means for moving batteries being an endless conveyor connectable to said batteries, said charging stations being spaced along the path of said endless conveyor.

3. A battery charging system as defined in claim 1, said means operable to remove and install a battery including a receiver for a battery and a grapple to support the battery when disconnected from said conveyor, and shifting means to move the grapple to the vehicle.

4. A battery charging system as defined in claim 1, said conveyor having means to automatically connect the spent battery to the conveyor responsive to movement of the conveyor past the battery.

5. A battery charging system as defined in claim 1, said conveyor having means to automatically connect the spent battery to the conveyor responsive to movement of the conveyor past the battery, said means operable to remove and install a battery including a receiver for a battery and a grapple to support the battery when disconnected from said conveyor, and shifting means to move the grapple to the vehicle.

6. A charging system for the battery of electric vehicles comprising, in combination, a vehicle having a battery compartment, a battery in said compartment having symetrically arranged pairs of manipulator pins on each lateral side adjacent to its top and bottom, and centrally located contact posts, said compartment having contacts engageable with said posts, an endless conveyor having manipulator pin engaging means to engage one pair of pins and carry a battery on said conveyor, a battery transfer station to receive the vehicle, battery transfer means at said transfer station means to shift a spent battery from said compartment to said conveyor for engagement of one pair of pins by said manipulator pin engaging means, and battery transfer means at said transfer station to engage the other pair of pins and move a battery from said conveyor to said compartment.