Battery enclosure system for motive power in hazardous service environments

• US 6,494,279 B1
• Filed: 06/11/1998
• Issued: 12/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Exide Technologies
• Original Assignee: GNB Technologies Inc.
• Inventors: Hutchens, John D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Restifo, Jeffrey J.
• Application Number:
  US09/096,145
• Time in Patent Office: 1,650 Days
• Field of Search: 180/68.5, 180/65.1, 187/222, 429/96, 429/97, 429/99, 429/100, 200/50.19, 200/50.03
• US Class Current: 180/68.5
• 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: B60R 16/04 Arrangement of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/15 Fork lift trucks, Industrial trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/07531 Battery compartments
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/06 Lead-acid accumulators semi-lead accumulators H01M10/20
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/204 Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/249 specially adapted for aircraft or vehicles, e.g. cars or trains constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles B60L50/64
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/271 Lids or covers for the racks or secondary casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/296 characterised by terminals of battery packs terminals of batteries H01M50/543
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/578 in response to pressure
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/583 in response to current, e.g. fuses
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An integrated system for providing the motive power for trucks working in a hazardous environment including an explosion-proof enclosure having a body receiving the battery system and a separate fuse box compartment to which the battery system is connected, and the truck electrical system is connected to the battery system through the fuse box compartment.

Claims

1. A motive-powered truck for hazardous environments having an area for receiving a motive power source and an electrical connector for electrically connecting the truck and a motive power source which comprises an explosion-proof enclosure comprising a body having a base, side walls, a back wall, a front wall and a cover, said body defining an area for receiving a plurality of lead-acid batteries electrically connected together to provide the motive power for said truck and having a positive and negative terminal, said batteries not satisfying the safety standards for service in hazardous environments, and a fuse box compartment adjacent the front wall of said body having a fuse box, a switch and leads therefrom to an electrical receptacle, the truck electrical connection being connected to said electrical receptacle, and said motive power, positive and negative terminals being electrically connected to said fuse box.

2. The truck of claim 1 wherein said fuse box compartment is separate from said enclosure, integral with said front wall, at least part of said front wall being undercut to provide a path between said body and said fuse box compartment, and the electrical connections between the positive and negative terminals being through the undercut part of said front wall.

3. The truck of claim 1 wherein said batteries are flooded electrolyte lead-acid batteries.

4. The truck of claim 1 wherein said fuse box compartment has a cover having a primary flap which deactivates said switch when said primary flap is disengaged and a secondary flag which prevents said fuse compartment box cover from being opened when said primary flap and said electrical receptacle disengage.