Battery changer on a mobile machine

• US 5,275,525 A
• Filed: 01/21/1992
• Issued: 01/04/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sandvik Intellectual Property AB (Sandvik AB)
• Original Assignee: Tamrock World Corporation NV
• Inventors: Grumblatt, Shawn P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Werner, Frank E.
• Application Number:
  US07/823,312
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 414/680, 414/685, 414/687, 414/722, 414/727, 414/729, 414/458, 414/459, 414/546, 414/346, 104/34, 180/68.5, 248/503
• US Class Current: 414/458
• 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: 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

Abstract

A battery holder for containing an electric storage battery is transported by a lift unit on a mobile vehicle. The lift unit is pivotally mounted at a rearward end portion of the vehicle to move into surrounding relation with the battery holder positioned on the ground. The lift unit is pivoted upwardly to raise the battery holder to a preselected elevation within the minimal lateral and overhead clearance available in an underground mine. The lift unit includes a pair of lifting forks extending in spaced parallel relation from the vehicle within the lateral dimensions of the vehicle. The lifting forks have a configuration adapted to permit downward movement of the forks into engagement with the ground to pick up a battery holder positioned on the ground. The lifting forks extend laterally of the battery holder and engage the holder for vertical movement to an elevated position that does not exceed the uppermost position for transportation of the battery in areas of minimal overhead clearance. Piston cylinder assemblies are operable to raise and lower the lifting forks in a manner that assures secure positioning of the battery holder on the lifting forks once the lifting forks engage the holder and raise the holder to an operating height that does not exceed the maximum vertical dimension of the mobile vehicle.

Claims

1. A mobile battery changer comprising,

a mobile frame including means for propelling said frame on ground and having a front end portion and a rearward end portion,

a battery lift unit,

mounting means for pivotally connecting said battery lift unit to said frame rearward end portion,

actuation means extending between said battery lift unit and said frame rearward end portion for pivoting said battery lift unit on said mobile frame between a first position for engaging a battery holder having peripheral surfaces and positioned on the ground and a second position for raising the battery holder to a preselected elevation above the ground,

said battery lift unit having a pair of lifting arms extending in spaced parallel relation from said mobile frame rearward end portion to form an opening for receiving the battery holder;

said lifting arms each including an upper surface positioned horizontally when said lift unit is in said second position and a recessed portion positioned below said upper surfaces for supporting the battery holder on said lift unit,

guide means on said upper surface for receiving the weight of the battery holder to direct the battery holder to a stabilized position on said battery holder, and

said guide means including an inclined load bearing surface extending from said lifting arm upper surface downwardly to said recessed portion to initially receive the battery holder upon upward movement of said battery lift unit and guide the battery holder upon upward pivotal movement of said battery lift unit downwardly to a position firmly engaged on said lift unit to support the battery holder as the battery holder is raised from said first position to said second position for transport of the battery holder.

2. A mobile battery changer as set forth in claim 1 which includes,

a longitudinal axis extending on said mobile frame, and

said pair of arms positioned in spaced parallel relation and extending from said mobile frame symmetrically about said longitudinal axis.

3. A mobile battery changer as set forth in claim 1 in which,

said lifting arms each having an inboard surface extending closely adjacent to the periphery of the battery holder for receiving and supporting the weight of the battery holder for movement between said first and second positions.

4. A mobile battery changer as set forth in claim 3 in which,

said mobile frame has laterally spaced side walls, and

said lifting arms each having an outboard surface positioned in alignment with said frame lateral side walls such that said lifting arms do not extend laterally beyond said side walls.

5. A mobile battery changer as set forth in claim 1 in which,

said mounting means and said actuation means are positioned in overlying relation at said rearward end portion of said mobile frame, and

said lift unit includes a pair of lift brackets extending between said mounting means and said actuation means.

6. A mobile battery changer as set forth in claim 1 in which,

said actuation means is horizontally supported on said mobile frame and includes a piston cylinder assembly having a piston movable in a horizontal plane to generate pivotal movement of said lift unit about said mounting means.

7. A mobile battery changer as set forth in claim 1 in which,

said lift unit includes a support plate connected to and extending transversely on said frame rearward end portion,

said lifting arms connected to opposite end portions of said support plate, and

said lifting arms extending in parallel relation from said support plate to form said opening for receiving the battery holder.

8. A mobile battery changer as set forth in claim 7 in which,

said arms each include a lower surface with an angled portion for expanding the range of pivotal movement of said arms between a lowermost pivoted position on the ground and an upper pivoted position at a preselected elevation above the ground.

9. A mobile battery changer as set forth in claim 1 in which,

said guide means on said upper surface includes a camming surface for guiding the battery holder to a final position in said recessed portion.

10. A mobile battery changer as set forth in claim 1 in which,

said mobile frame has a preselected height, and

said battery lift unit being pivotally connected to said mobile frame for movement between a lowermost position adjacent to the ground to pick-up the battery holder and an uppermost position within said height of said mobile frame for transporting the battery holder.

11. A battery lift unit comprising,

a frame movable relative to ground and including an elongated support plate having opposite end portions,

a pair of lift arms connected to said plate opposite end portions and extending forwardly in spaced parallel relation therefrom to form an opening for receiving a battery holder,

a pair of brackets connected in spaced parallel relation to said support plate and extending therefrom in a direction oppositely of said lift arms,

means positioned on said pair of brackets for receiving a pivot pin to support said frame for pivotal movement about the pin,

actuating means connected to said pair of brackets for actuating pivotal movement of said frame about said pivot pin to lift said pair of lift arms relative to the ground,

said pair of lift arms each having an upper surface with a camming portion extending downwardly from said upper surface for initially receiving the battery holder upon upward pivotal movement of said frame and guiding the battery holder downwardly on said camming portion to a position securely supported by said lift arms, and

said camming portion including an inclined surface for guiding the battery holder into a recess at an end of said inclined surface.

12. A battery lift unit as set forth in claim 11 in which,

said lift arms each include a lower surface extending upwardly at an angle from the ground to permit pivoting said lift arm to a lowermost position adjacent to the ground to pick-up the battery holder.

13. A battery lift unit as set forth in claim 11 in which,

said pair of lift arms extend forwardly in close adjacency to the periphery of the battery holder to laterally support the battery holder through a range of pivotal movement from adjacent to the ground to a horizontal position above the ground.