Swappable modulated battery packs system for electrically driven vehicle

• US 8,146,694 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2009
• Issued: 04/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vahid Hamidi
• Original Assignee: Vahid Hamidi
• Inventors: Hamidi, Vahid
• Primary Examiner(s): OLSZEWSKI, JOHN
• Application Number:
  US12/321,241
• Publication Number:
  US 20100181129A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,169 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.1, 180/65.22, 180/68.5
• 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: B60K 2001/0416 Arrangement in the rear part of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0438 Arrangement under the floor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0472 from below
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/04 Arrangement of 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 system for swappable battery pack for electric vehicle is disclosed. Each battery pack units is comprising a battery compartment housing, a battery carrier rack which is slidable within the battery compartment housing via at least one linear actuator. The battery carrier rack also contains a plurality of modulated battery packs nested into its docking enclosures. In order to transfer or swap the modulated battery packs, the slidable battery carrier rack must projects out from its compartment in predetermined direction and distance and then the nested modulated battery packs can easily be detached from its docking enclosures.

Claims

1. A swappable modulated battery pack system for an electric vehicle comprising:

a battery compartment housing, said battery compartment housing is affixed to said vehicle frame structure;

a battery carrier rack, said battery carrier rack being slidable within said battery compartment housing via at least one linear actuator, said battery carrier rack being extendable in a linear direction and projecting out in a predetermined displacement away from said battery compartment housing;

at least one docking enclosure, said docking enclosure being placed and secured within said battery carrier rack, said docking enclosure being fully open at one end and partially open on an opposite end, said docking enclosure having a receptacle connector inside at said partially open end said docking enclosure including a set of rollers mounted to a bottom side thereof;

at least one detachable modulated battery pack, said modulated battery pack having plug in type connectors at oppositely-facing ends of the battery pack for electrical connection of said battery pack to the vehicle using said plug in type connector on one end of said battery pack or to a charging station using said plug in type connector on said oppositely-facing end of the battery pack, said modulated battery pack being attachably dockable into said docking enclosure from an open end thereof and said modulated battery pack plugging into said docking enclosure receptacle at the end to provide power supply to said electric vehicle, said detachable modulated battery pack being transferrable for exchanging purposes when said battery carrier rack is in an extended position and said modulated battery pack is released, said battery pack being rollable over said rollers mounted to said bottom side of said docking enclosure, said battery pack including a pair of indentations formed in opposite side faces of said battery pack and an indentation formed in a top face of said battery pack; and

a set of spring-loaded rollers mounted to an opposing pair of side panels of said docking enclosure and being configured to engage said corresponding pair of indentations formed in said opposite side faces of said battery pack and a spring-loaded roller mounted to a top panel of said docking enclosure being configured to engage docking indentation in docking top face of docking battery pack;

said set of rollers on said bottom side of said docking enclosure for rolling said battery pack and said spring-loaded rollers and corresponding indentations on said side faces and top face of said battery pack being configured to facilitate alignment of said battery pack within said enclosure and alignment of said plug in type connector of said battery pack with a receptacle connector of said docking enclosure during insertion of said battery pack into said docking enclosure.

2. The swappable modulated battery pack system according to claim 1, wherein said battery compartment housing, further includes linear tracks for said battery carrier rack.

3. The swappable modulated battery pack system according to claim 1, wherein said a battery carrier rack, further includes a separate main receptacle connector for charging said modulated battery packs.

4. A The swappable modulated battery pack system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one docking enclosure, further includes a set of guided tracks inside said docking enclosure on top and side panels thereof for guiding said modulated battery pack.

5. The swappable modulated battery pack system according to claim 1, wherein said detachable modulated battery pack further includes charging monitoring circuitry.

6. The swappable modulated battery pack system according to claim 1, wherein said detachable modulated battery pack can have an energy indicator on its frontal case.