Power supply assembly for motorized vehicles
First Claim
1. A vehicle of the type having at least one front wheel disposed in combination with a steering column, a pair of aft wheels, means for driving at least one of the wheels, a main structural frame having a forward frame portion for mounting the front wheel and the steering column, an aft frame portion for mounting the aft wheels, and a central support for structurally interconnecting the forward and aft frame portions, a seat-support mounted to the frame, and a system for distributing power to the driving means, the vehicle comprising:
- a power supply assembly for delivering power to said power distribution system, the power supply assembly including a battery and a housing structure surrounding the battery, the power supply assembly removeably supported on the frame; and
a combined lifting and latching assembly comprisinga lifting handle pivotally mounted on the housing, the handle having a first position flush with the housing and a raised lifting position, the handle pivoting outboard from the housing from the first position to the raised lifting position;
an actuator operatively connected to the handle, the actuator movable between a locking position corresponding to the first position of the handle and a release position corresponding to the raised lifting position of the handle,the actuator operatively connected to an elongated pin, the pin slidingly disposed for linear movement within the housing, the pin engaged by the actuator for movement between the locking position, wherein the pin fixedly engages the frame, and the release position, wherein the pin disengages from the frame and permits the power supply assembly to be removed from the frame by a lifting motion operatively supplied to the handle in the raised lifting position,wherein the actuator comprises a cam surface formed as part of the handle and positioned in contact with the pin, the pivoting of the handle moving the cam surface and displacing the pin into and out of engagement with the frame.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle having a plurality of wheels and elements, to drive at least one wheel to propel the vehicle is provided with a frame and a power supply assembly for delivering power to the drive elements. The power supply assembly includes a battery and a housing structure surrounding the battery. The power supply assembly is removeably supported on the vehicle frame. A latching mechanism is provided having a pivoting actuator. The actuator moves between a locking position and a release position. The actuator movement displacing a pin disposed in combination with the housing between a locking position, wherein the pin fixedly engages the power supply assembly to the frame, and a release position, wherein the pin disengages and permits the power supply assembly to be removed from the frame.
41 Citations
27 Claims
-
1. A vehicle of the type having at least one front wheel disposed in combination with a steering column, a pair of aft wheels, means for driving at least one of the wheels, a main structural frame having a forward frame portion for mounting the front wheel and the steering column, an aft frame portion for mounting the aft wheels, and a central support for structurally interconnecting the forward and aft frame portions, a seat-support mounted to the frame, and a system for distributing power to the driving means, the vehicle comprising:
-
a power supply assembly for delivering power to said power distribution system, the power supply assembly including a battery and a housing structure surrounding the battery, the power supply assembly removeably supported on the frame; and a combined lifting and latching assembly comprising a lifting handle pivotally mounted on the housing, the handle having a first position flush with the housing and a raised lifting position, the handle pivoting outboard from the housing from the first position to the raised lifting position; an actuator operatively connected to the handle, the actuator movable between a locking position corresponding to the first position of the handle and a release position corresponding to the raised lifting position of the handle, the actuator operatively connected to an elongated pin, the pin slidingly disposed for linear movement within the housing, the pin engaged by the actuator for movement between the locking position, wherein the pin fixedly engages the frame, and the release position, wherein the pin disengages from the frame and permits the power supply assembly to be removed from the frame by a lifting motion operatively supplied to the handle in the raised lifting position, wherein the actuator comprises a cam surface formed as part of the handle and positioned in contact with the pin, the pivoting of the handle moving the cam surface and displacing the pin into and out of engagement with the frame. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A vehicle of the type having at least one front wheel disposed in combination with a steering column, a pair of aft wheels, means for driving at least one of the wheels, a main structural frame having a forward frame portion for mounting the front wheel and the steering column, an aft frame portion for mounting the aft wheels, and a central support for structurally interconnecting the forward and aft frame portions, a seat-support mounted to the frame, and a system for distributing power to the driving means, the vehicle comprising:
-
a power supply assembly for delivering power to said power distribution system, the power supply assembly including a battery and a housing structure surrounding the battery, the power supply assembly removably supported on the frame; and a combined lifting and latching assembly comprising a lifting handle pivotally mounted on the housing, the handle having a first position flush with the housing and a raised lifting position, the handle pivoting outboard from the housing from the first position to the raised lifting position; an actuator operatively connected to the handle, the actuator movable between a locking position corresponding to the first position of the handle and a release position corresponding to the raised lifting position of the handle, the actuator operatively connected to an elongated pin, the pin slidingly disposed for linear movement within the housing, the pin engaged by the actuator for movement between the locking position, wherein the pin fixedly engages the frame, and the release position, wherein the pin disengages from the frame and permits the power supply assembly to be removed from the frame by a lifting motion operatively supplied to the handle in the raised lifting position, wherein the pin in the locking position engages the frame to secure the housing to frame, and wherein the pin is mounted within a bore within the housing, the pin having an outboard end projecting from the housing to engage the frame in the locking position. - View Dependent Claims (11)
-
-
12. A vehicle of the type having at least one front wheel disposed in combination with a steering column, a pair of aft wheels, means for driving at least one of the wheels, a main structural frame having a forward frame portion for mounting the front wheel and the steering column, an aft frame portion for mounting the aft wheels, and a central support for structurally interconnecting the forward and aft frame portions, a seat-support mounted to the frame, and a system for distributing power to the driving means, the vehicle comprising:
-
a power supply assembly for delivering power to said power distribution system, the power supply assembly including a battery and a housing structure surrounding the battery, the power supply assembly removably supported on the frame; and a combined lifting and latching assembly comprising a lifting handle pivotally mounted on the housing, the handle having a first position flush with the housing and a raised lifting position, the handle pivoting outboard from the housing from the first position to the raised lifting position; an actuator operatively connected to the handle, the actuator movable between a locking position corresponding to the first position of the handle and a release position corresponding to the raised lifting position of the handle, the actuator operatively connected to an elongated pin, the pin slidingly disposed for linear movement within the housing, the pin engaged by the actuator for movement between the locking position, wherein the pin fixedly engages the frame, and the release position, wherein the pin disengages from the frame and permits the power supply assembly to be removed from the frame by a lifting motion operatively supplied to the handle in the raised lifting position, wherein the operative engagement of the pin and the actuator comprises a cam surface, wherein the movement of the actuator cam by means of the pivoting movement of the handle into the first position causes the pin to project from the housing into the locking position, and wherein the movement of the actuator cam during movement of the handle to the raised lifting position causes the pin to retract toward the housing into the release position.
-
-
13. A vehicle having a plurality of wheels for rolling support of the vehicle, a frame supporting to plurality of wheels, a seat mounted on the frame, means for driving at least one of the wheels for propelling the vehicle, and a system for controlling the distribution of electrical power to drive means, the vehicle comprising
a power supply assembly for delivering electrical power to said power distribution system, the power supply assembly comprising a housing encapsulating a battery therein; a retention assembly for releaseably retaining the power supply assembly on the frame, the retention assembly comprising an aperture formed on the frame, and a latching mechanism for selectively engaging the aperture, the latching mechanism comprising a pin slidingly disposed within a bore formed in the housing, the pin having an outboard end aligned with the aperture on the frame when the housing is supported on the frame, the pin engaging the frame in a first position wherein the outboard end of the pin is inserted into the aperture and wherein the pin is movable to a second position wherein the outboard end is withdrawn from the aperture, a lifting handle pivotally connecting to the housing, the handle operatively connected to the pin, wherein the pivoting of the handle causes movement of the pin between the first and second positions, into and out of engagement with the frame aperture, wherein the pivotal position of the handle corresponding to the first position of the pin causes engagement of the housing to the frame, and a spring biasing the pin into operative connection with the lifting handle and the lifting handle movement into the first position moves the pin opposite the bias of the spring. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
-
17. A power supply assembly for a vehicle having a frame, the power supply assembly comprising:
first and second housing structures for supporting and retaining first and second battery units, each of the housing structures being mountable on the frame of the vehicle and defining an inner cavity sized to accommodate a power supply unit inserted therein, the first housing structure including a central body portion and a first overlapping portion of the housing structure extending outwardly from the central body portion of the housing structure, and the second housing structure having a second body portion and a second overlapping portion of the housing structure formed within the second body portion of the housing structure, the second overlapping portion formed for vertically receiving and engaging the first overlapping portion, and the first overlapping portion vertically overlapping with the second overlapping portion, wherein the first housing structure vertically retains the second housing structure by means of vertical engagement of the first and second overlapping portions when the first and second housing structures are mated together, and wherein the first housing structure is vertically removable from the second housing structure to release the second housing structure. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
Specification