Fork truck battery charging system
First Claim
1. A battery charging system for supporting and interconnecting industrial storage batteries and associated chargers, said system comprising:
- rack means defining a plurality of battery locations, battery support means at each of said battery locations for supporting only a single battery thereat in a charging position, charger support means for supporting a plurality of chargers equal in number to said battery locations, first connector means electrically connectable to each associated battery, and a plurality of second connector means respectively disposed at said battery locations and respectively electrically connected to associated chargers on said charger support means, said first and second connector means being arranged for electrical interconnection in response to movement of a battery to its charging position at a selected one of said battery locations and for electrical disconnection in response to movement of the battery from said charging position.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A battery charging system includes a highrise storage rack system for holding a plurality of battery chargers and defining a plurality of battery locations. Each battery to be charged is placed on a pallet which has a connection block with a cable connectable to the battery and a male connector. A load carrier carries the pallet and the battery to a selected battery location in the rack and deposits it thereat in a charging position, thereby connecting the male connector to a female connector on the rack connected to one of the chargers. The load carrier also retrieves charged batteries on their pallets from the rack, the retrieval motion effecting disconnection of the pallet from the charger. Each pallet has a fluid receiving trough provided with a drain which cooperates with fluid inlets of a fluid collection system on the rack for collecting fluids emitted during the charging process.
19 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A battery charging system for supporting and interconnecting industrial storage batteries and associated chargers, said system comprising:
- rack means defining a plurality of battery locations, battery support means at each of said battery locations for supporting only a single battery thereat in a charging position, charger support means for supporting a plurality of chargers equal in number to said battery locations, first connector means electrically connectable to each associated battery, and a plurality of second connector means respectively disposed at said battery locations and respectively electrically connected to associated chargers on said charger support means, said first and second connector means being arranged for electrical interconnection in response to movement of a battery to its charging position at a selected one of said battery locations and for electrical disconnection in response to movement of the battery from said charging position.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A battery charging system for supporting and interconnecting industrial storage batteries and associated chargers, said system comprising:
- rack means defining a plurality of battery locations and a plurality of charger locations, one or more pallets, each of said pallets being adapted for supporting an associated battery thereon, first connector means carried by each of said pallets and electrically connectable to a battery supported on said pallet, pallet support means at each of said battery locations for supporting a pallet thereat in a charging position, charger support means at each of said charger locations for supporting a charger thereat, and a plurality of second connector means respectively disposed at said battery locations and respectively electrically connected to associated chargers at said charger locations, said first and second connector means being arranged for electrical interconnection in response to movement of a pallet to its charging position at a selected one of said battery locations to charge the battery on said pallet and for electrical disconnection in response to movement of said pallet from said charging position.
- View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A battery charging system for supporting and interconnecting industrial storage batteries and associated chargers, said system comprising:
- rack means defining a plurality of battery locations and a plurality of charger locations;
one or more pallets, each of said pallets including a body having a support surface for supporting an associated battery thereon, a plurality of recesses in said support surface communicating with one another to form a trough for receiving fluids from the associated battery, said trough having an outlet, and a connection block mountable on said body, said connection block including coupling means electrically connectable to a battery supported on said support surface and a first connector electrically connected to said coupling means;
pallet support means at each of said battery locations for supporting a pallet thereat in a charging position;
charger support means at each of said charger locations for supporting a charger thereat;
fluid connection means on said rack having a plurality of fluid inlets respectively disposed at said battery locations for cooperation with the fluid outlet of said pallet when disposed in a charging position thereof in a selected one of said battery locations for collecting fluids from said fluid receiving means on said pallet; and
a plurality of second connectors respectively disposed at said battery locations and respectively electrically connected to associated chargers at said charger locations, said first and second connectors being arranged for electrical interconnection in response to movement of a pallet to its charging position at a selected one of said battery locations to charge the battery on said pallet and for electrical disconnection in response to movement of said pallet from said charging position.
- rack means defining a plurality of battery locations and a plurality of charger locations;
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15. A battery charging system for supporting and interconnecting industrial storage batteries and associated chargers, said system comprising:
- rack means defining a plurality of battery locations, battery support means at each of said battery locations for supporting only a single battery thereat in a charging position, charger support means for supporting a plurality of chargers equal in number to said battery locations, first connector means electrically connectable to each associated battery, a plurality of second connector means respectively disposed at said battery locations and respectively electrically connected to associated chargers on said charger support means, and transport means for moving batteries with said first connector means connected thereto to and from charging positions at selected ones of said battery locations, said first and second connector means being arranged for electrical interconnection in response to movement of a battery to its charging position at a selected one of said battery locations and for electrical disconnection in response to movement of the battery from said charging position.
- View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A battery charging system for supporting and interconnecting industrial storage batteries and associated chargers, said system comprising:
- rack means defining a plurality of battery locations and a plurality of charger locations, one or more pallets, each of said pallets being adapted for supporting an associated battery thereon, first connector means carried by each of said pallets and electrically connectable to a battery supported on said pallet, pallet support means at each of said battery locations for supporting a pallet thereat in a charging position, charger support means at each of said charger locations for supporting a charger thereat, a plurality of second connector means respectively disposed at said battery locations and respectively electrically connected to associated chargers at said charger locations, and transport means engageable with said pallets for moving said pallets and the batteries thereon with said first connector means connecting thereto to and from charging positions at selected ones of said battery locations, said first and second connector means being arranged for electrical interconnection in response to movement of a pallet to its charging position at a selected one of said battery locations to charge the battery on said pallet and for electrical disconnection in response to movement of said pallet from said charging position.
- View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. A battery pallet for use in a battery charging system comprising:
- a body having a support surface for supporting an associated battery thereon, a plurality of recesses in said support surface communicating with one another to form a trough for receiving fluids from the associated battery, and electrical connection means carried by said body and adapted to be electrically connected to a battery disposed on said support surface.
- View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A battery pallet for use in a battery charging system comprising:
- a body having a support surface for supporting an associated battery thereon, and a connection block mountable on said body, said connection block including coupling means electrically connectable to a battery disposed on said support surface and a connector electrically connected to said coupling means and adapted to be electrically connected to an associated battery charger.
- View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36)
Specification