Frame for a ride-on vehicle having a plurality of battery packs

• US 8,316,976 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2009
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mission Motor Company (Vayon Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Mission Motor Company (Vayon Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Johnson, Karl, Durkee, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Hau
• Application Number:
  US12/623,348
• Publication Number:
  US 20100133030A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,103 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.31, 180/65.51, 180/220, 180/223, 180/68.5, 429/99, 429/37
• 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: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/12 Motorcycles, Trikes; Quads; Scooters
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 43/16 on motorcycles or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 43/28 hidden within the cycle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 11/04 characterised by the engine being between front and rear wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 11/08 the beam being fabricated from sheet metal, e.g. forming fuel tank walls
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 19/30 Frame parts shaped to receive other cycle parts or accessories axle suspensions B62K25/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2204/00 Adaptations for driving cycles by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/90 Batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4207 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/244 Secondary casings; Racks; Suspension devices; Carrying devices; Holders characterised by their mounting method
• 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: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

In one embodiment, the invention is a frame for a ride-on vehicle having at least one front wheel, at least one rear wheel, and a plurality of substantially similar battery packs. The frame defines a central plane and includes a front end located adjacent to the front wheel(s), a rear end located adjacent to the rear wheel(s), and a lattice structure that extends substantially between the front end and the rear end. The lattice structure includes a first portion that includes battery pack mounts that secure a first subset of the battery packs arranged in two layers, and includes a second portion that includes battery pack mounts that secure a second subset of the batter packs arranged in a single layer. The lattice structure also defines a truss that mechanically couples the front wheel(s) to the rear wheel(s).

Claims

1. A frame for a ride-on vehicle having at least one front wheel, at least one rear wheel, and a plurality of substantially similar battery packs, comprising:

a frame defining a central plane and including a front end located adjacent to the front wheel(s), a rear end located adjacent to the rear wheel(s), and a lattice structure that extends substantially between the front end and the rear end, wherein the lattice structure includes a first portion that includes battery pack mounts that secure a first subset of the battery packs arranged in two layers, wherein the plurality of battery mounts each align and secure a battery pack transverely relative to the central plane and parallel to the ground, wherein the lattice structure includes a second portion that includes battery pack mounts that secure a second subset of the battery packs arranged in a single layer, and wherein the lattice structure defines a truss that mechanically couples the front wheel(s) to the rear wheel(s).

2. The frame of claim 1, wherein the frame is symmetric about the central plane.

3. The frame of claim 1, wherein the lattice structure defines a volume within the frame, and wherein the plurality of battery packs aligned and secured by the battery pack mounts occupy at least half of the volume defined by the lattice structure.

4. The frame of claim 3, wherein the battery packs aligned and secured by the battery pack mounts occupy at least 75% of the volume defined by the lattice structure.

5. The frame of claim 1, wherein the plurality of battery pack mounts defined by the lattice structure are each of a prismatic shape.

6. The frame of claim 5, wherein the plurality of battery pack mounts defined by the lattice structure are each of a triangular prismatic shape.

7. The frame of claim 1, wherein the lattice structure is composed of sheet metal.

8. The frame of claim 1, wherein the lattice structure includes fastening features to couple the plurality of battery packs to the plurality of battery pack mounts.

9. The frame of claim 8, wherein the fastening features include alignment features to align each of the plurality of battery packs to one of the plurality of battery pack mounts.

10. The frame of claim 1, further comprising a casing that envelops a substantial portion of the lattice structure.

11. The frame of claim 10, wherein the casing includes a first and second end cap, wherein the first end cap envelops the lattice structure on one side of the central plane and the second end cap envelops the lattice structure on the opposite side of the central plane.

12. The frame of claim 10, wherein the casing forms a hermetic seal around the plurality of battery packs.

13. The frame of claim 12, further comprising a pressure sensor contained within the casing that detects a pressure increase from a battery pack undergoing catastrophic failure.

14. The frame of claim 13, further comprising a processor that electrically decouples the battery pack undergoing catastrophic failure from the motorcycle.

15. A frame for a ride-on vehicle having at least one front wheel, at least one rear wheel, and a plurality of substantially similar battery packs, comprising:

a frame defining a central plane and including a front end located adjacent to the front wheel(s), a rear end located adjacent to the rear wheel(s), and a lattice structure that extends substantially between the front end and the rear end, wherein the lattice structure includes a first portion that includes opposing battery pack mounts that align and secure two layers of battery packs transversely relative to the central plane and parallel to the ground in opposing directions, wherein the lattice structure includes a second portion that includes battery pack mounts that secure a second subset of the battery packs arranged in a single layer, and wherein the lattice structure defines a truss that mechanically couples the front wheel(s) to the rear wheel(s).

16. The frame of claim 15, wherein the frame is symmetric about the central plane.

17. The frame of claim 15, wherein the lattice structure defines a volume within the frame, and wherein the plurality of battery packs aligned and secured by the battery pack mounts occupy at least half of the volume defined by the lattice structure.

18. The frame of claim 17, wherein the battery packs aligned and secured by the battery pack mounts occupy at least 75% of the volume defined by the lattice structure.

19. The frame of claim 15, wherein the plurality of battery pack mounts defined by the lattice structure are each of a prismatic shape.

20. The frame of claim 19, wherein the plurality of battery pack mounts defined by the lattice structure are each of a triangular prismatic shape.

21. The frame of claim 15, wherein the lattice structure is composed of sheet metal.

22. The frame of claim 15, wherein the lattice structure includes fastening features to couple the plurality of battery packs to the plurality of battery pack mounts.

23. The frame of claim 22, wherein the fastening features include alignment features to align each of the plurality of battery packs to one of the plurality of battery pack mounts.

24. The frame of claim 15, further comprising a casing that envelops a substantial portion of the lattice structure.

25. The frame of claim 24, wherein the casing includes a first and second end cap, wherein the first end cap envelops the lattice structure on one side of the central plane and the second end cap envelops the lattice structure on the opposite side of the central plane.

26. The frame of claim 24, wherein the casing forms a hermetic seal around the plurality of battery packs.

27. The frame of claim 26, further comprising a pressure sensor contained within the casing that detects a pressure increase from a battery pack undergoing catastrophic failure.

28. The frame of claim 27, further comprising a processor that electrically decouples the battery pack undergoing catastrophic failure from the motorcycle.

29. A frame for a ride-on vehicle having at least one front wheel, at least one rear wheel, and a plurality of substantially similar battery packs, comprising:

a frame defining a central plane and including a front end located adjacent to the front wheel(s), a rear end located adjacent to the rear wheel(s), and a lattice structure that extends substantially between the front end and the rear end, wherein the lattice structure includes a first portion that includes battery pack mounts that secure a first subset of the battery packs arranged in two layers, wherein the lattice structure includes a second portion that includes battery pack mounts that secure a second subset of the batter packs arranged in a single layer, and wherein the lattice structure defines a truss that mechanically couples the front wheel(s) to the rear wheel(s), wherein the lattice structure includes a primary lattice structure and a secondary lattice structure that is coupled to the primary lattice structure at the first portion of the lattice structure, wherein the primary lattice structure and the secondary lattice structure cooperate to align and secure two layers of battery packs.

30. The frame of claim 29, wherein the secondary lattice structure includes two segments, wherein one segment is coupled to the primary lattice structure on one side of the central plane and the other segment is coupled to the primary lattice structure on the opposite side of the central plane.

31. The frame of claim 30, wherein the two segments of the secondary lattice structure are substantially identical.

32. The frame of claim 30, wherein the lattice structure defines a volume within the frame, and wherein the plurality of battery packs aligned and secured by the battery pack mounts occupy at least half of the volume defined by the lattice structure.

33. The frame of claim 32, wherein the battery packs aligned and secured by the battery pack mounts occupy at least 75% of the volume defined by the lattice structure.

34. The frame of claim 29, wherein the frame is symmetric about the central plane.

35. The frame of claim 29, wherein the plurality of battery pack mounts defined by the lattice structure are each of a prismatic shape.

36. The frame of claim 35, wherein the plurality of battery pack mounts defined by the lattice structure are each of a triangular prismatic shape.

37. The frame of claim 29, wherein the lattice structure is composed of sheet metal.

38. The frame of claim 29, wherein the lattice structure includes fastening features to couple the plurality of battery packs to the plurality of battery pack mounts.

39. The frame of claim 38, wherein the fastening features include alignment features to align each of the plurality of battery packs to one of the plurality of battery pack mounts.

40. The frame of claim 29, further comprising a casing that envelops a substantial portion of the lattice structure.

41. The frame of claim 40, wherein the casing includes a first and second end cap, wherein the first end cap envelops the lattice structure on one side of the central plane and the second end cap envelops the lattice structure on the opposite side of the central plane.

42. The frame of claim 40, wherein the casing forms a hermetic seal around the plurality of battery packs.

43. The frame of claim 42, further comprising a pressure sensor contained within the casing that detects a pressure increase from a battery pack undergoing catastrophic failure.

44. The frame of claim 43, further comprising a processor that electrically decouples the battery pack undergoing catastrophic failure from the motorcycle.