Battery changing system

• US 5,820,331 A
• Filed: 02/10/1997
• Issued: 10/13/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fairchild International, Inc. (Envela Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Fairchild International, Inc. (Envela Corp.)
• Inventors: Odell, Michael S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Young, Karen M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MORSE, GREGORY ALLAN
• Application Number:
  US08/798,150
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 414/680, 414/685, 414/458, 414/546, 180/68.5, 180/298
• US Class Current: 414/685
• 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: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations

Abstract

A battery changing system in combination with a battery holder is provided. The battery changing system includes a mobile frame, a battery lift assembly including a pair of lifting arms forming an opening for receiving the battery holder. Mounting structure pivotally connects battery lift assembly to an end portion of the frame. Actuating structure extends between the battery lift assembly and the end portion of the frame to pivot the battery lift assembly between an initial position engaging the battery holder positioned on the ground and an operative position wherein the battery holder is raised to a selected elevation above the ground. The battery holder includes hanger structure fixed to opposing sidewalls thereof. Each hanger structure includes a rearwardly extending wall defining a rearward edge and a downwardly facing fulcrum surface disposed forwardly of the rearwardly extending wall. Each of the lifting arms includes a forwardly facing surface disposed rearwardly of a forward end thereof and an upwardly facing surface disposed forwardly of the forwardly facing surface, such that in the initial position of the battery lift assembly, the forwardly facing surfaces engage with respective rearward edges of the rearwardly extending walls to initially interrelate the lifting arms with the battery holder. Upward pivotal movement of the battery lift assembly towards the operative position thereof causes the upwardly facing surface of each lifting arm to engage the downwardly facing fulcrum surface of the associated hanger structure permitting the battery holder to be stably moved with the mobile frame.

Claims

1. A battery changing system in combination with a battery holder,

the battery changing system comprising:

a mobile frame,

a battery lift assembly including a pair of lifting arms extending in spaced relation so as to form an opening for receiving the battery holder,

mounting structure constructed and arranged to pivotally connect said battery lift assembly to an end portion of said frame, and

actuating structure extending between said battery lift assembly and said end portion of said frame, said actuating structure being constructed and arranged to pivot said battery lift assembly between an initial position engaging the battery holder positioned on the ground and an operative position wherein the battery holder is raised to a selected elevation above the ground,

said battery holder being constructed and arranged to be received in said opening and including hanger structures fixed to opposing sidewalls thereof, each of said hanger structures including a rearwardly extending wall defining a rearward edge, and a downwardly facing engaging surface disposed forwardly of said rearwardly extending wall, said downwardly facing engaging surface having a fulcrum edge, said battery holder including engaging structure at a lower rearward portion thereof,

each of said lifting arms including a forwardly facing surface disposed rearwardly of a forward end thereof, an upwardly facing surface disposed forwardly of the forwardly facing surface and a downwardly facing surface on a rearward portion thereof, such that in said initial position of said battery lift assembly, said forwardly facing surfaces engage with respective rearward edges of said rearwardly extending walls to initially interrelate said lifting arms with said battery holder, upward pivotal movement of said battery lift assembly towards the operative position thereof causes the upwardly facing surfaces of said lifting arms to engage the fulcrum edges of said hanger structures so that said battery holder is tilted relative to said upwardly facing surfaces of said lifting arms about said fulcrum edges until said upwardly facing surfaces of said lifting arms are engaged with the downwardly facing engaging surfaces of said hanger structures and the downwardly facing surfaces of the lifting arms are engaged with the engaging structure of said battery holder, thereby permitting the battery holder to be stably moved with the mobile frame.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein each of said rearwardly extending walls extends at an upward inclination with respect to an upper wall of an associated hanger structure.

3. The combination according to claim 2, wherein each of said hanger structures is a generally U-shaped hanger having said upper wall, a lower wall and a connecting wall joining the upper and lower walls thereby defining a channel between a side wall of the battery holder and the U-shaped hanger, a rearward edge of said upper wall defines said fulcrum edge and a downwardly facing surface of said upper wall defining said downwardly facing engaging surface.

4. The combination according to claim 3, wherein each of said lifting arms includes an elongated member, an upper surface of each elongated member defining said upwardly facing surface of each said lifting arm.

5. The combination according to claim 4, wherein said battery holder includes a locking pin mounted to a side wall thereof and at least one of said elongated members includes a bore therein sized and configured to receive the locking pin for securing the battery holder with respect to the lift assembly.

6. The combination according to claim 4, wherein each of said elongated members terminates in a flange end defining a stop surface, said flange end being constructed and arranged such that when said lift assembly is in the operative position thereof, forward movement of said holder with respect to said arms is limited as the forwardly extending walls of said hangers engage with associated stop surfaces.

7. The combination according to claim 2, wherein said downwardly facing engaging surface inclines in a direction opposite a direction of inclination of said rearwardly extending wall.

8. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said engaging structure includes a tubular member fixed to said lower rearward portion of the battery holder and extending beyond an extent of said sidewalls of said battery holder.

9. The combination according to claim 8, wherein each of said downwardly facing surfaces of said lifting arms is defined by a generally U-shaped recess.

10. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said actuating structure includes a piston-cylinder assembly constructed and arranged with respect to said lift assembly to generate pivotal movement of said lift assembly about said mounting structure.

11. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said mounting structure includes pin connections between said frame and said lift assembly.

12. A battery changing system in combination with a battery holder,

the battery changing system comprising:

a mobile frame,

a battery lift assembly including a pair of lifting arms extending in spaced relation so as to form an opening for receiving the battery holder,

mounting structure constructed and arranged to pivotally connect said battery lift assembly to an end portion of said frame, and

actuating structure extending between said battery lift assembly and said end portion of said frame, said actuating structure being constructed and arranged to pivot said battery lift assembly between an initial position engaging the battery holder positioned on the ground and an operative position wherein the battery holder is raised to a selected elevation above the ground,

said battery holder being constructed and arranged to be received in said opening and including hanger structures fixed to opposing sidewalls thereof so as to define a channel sized to receive a forward end of said lifting arms, each of said hanger structures including a rearwardly extending wall defining a rearward edge, and a downwardly facing engaging surface disposed forwardly of said rearwardly extending wall, said downwardly facing surface having a fulcrum edge, said battery holder including engaging structure at a lower rearward portion thereof,

each of said lifting arms including a forwardly facing surface disposed rearwardly of a forward end thereof, an upwardly facing surface disposed forwardly of the forwardly facing surface, and a downwardly facing surface on a rearward portion thereof, such that in said initial position of said battery lift assembly, said forwardly facing surfaces engage with respective rearward edges of said rearwardly extending walls to initially interrelate said lifting arms with said battery holder, upward pivotal movement of said battery lift assembly towards the operative position thereof causes the upwardly facing surfaces of said lifting arms disposed within said channels defined by said hanger structures to engage the fulcrum edges of the hanger structures so that said battery holder is tilted relative to said upwardly facing surfaces of said lifting arms about said fulcrum edges until said upwardly facing surfaces of said lifting arms are engaged with the downwardly facing surfaces of said hanger structures and the downwardly facing surfaces of the lifting arms are engaged with the engaging structure of said battery holder, thereby permitting the battery holder to be stably moved with the mobile frame.