System for replacing batteries in electric cars

• US 8,858,152 B1
• Filed: 05/06/2010
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steven D. Mcdaniel
• Original Assignee: Steven D. Mcdaniel
• Inventors: McDaniel, Steven D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodriguez, Saul
• Assistant Examiner(s): BERRY JR, WILLIE WENDELL
• Application Number:
  US12/775,450
• Time in Patent Office: 1,622 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 414/809
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/30 Trolleys
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/52 characterised by DC-motors
• 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: B60L 53/30 Constructional details of charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/21 having the same nominal voltage
• 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 replacing a discharged battery in a vehicle featuring a trolley with wheels operatively connected to a driving mechanism, the trolley can be directed to a battery tunnel of a vehicle via sensors; a moving battery tray mounted atop the trolley via a hydraulic cylinder, which functions to move the moving battery tray upwardly and downwardly; a charged battery removably disposed atop the moving battery tray; a locking system for locking the charged battery into the battery tunnel of the vehicle. The system allows the trolley to deliver the charged battery from a charging station to the vehicle. The discharged battery is removed from the vehicle in the same process the charged battery is installed in the vehicle. The trolley can carry the discharged battery back to the charging station for recharging.

Claims

1. A system for replacing a discharged battery in an electric vehicle with a charged battery, said system comprising:

(a) a trolley with wheels, the wheels are each operatively connected to a driving mechanism which functions to move or steer the wheels;

(b) a moving battery tray mounted atop the trolley via a hydraulic cylinder, the hydraulic cylinder functions to move the moving battery tray upwardly and downwardly with respect to the trolley, the moving battery tray is divided into a first position and a second position;

(c) a charged battery removably disposed atop the moving battery tray in the first position; and

(d) a locking system disposed in the battery, the locking system functions to lock the charged battery in a battery tunnel of a vehicle, wherein the locking system comprises;

(i) a cam pivotally attached in the battery, the cam can pivot in a first direction and a second direction;

(ii) a locking piston pivotally attached to a first end of the cam, the locking piston can move between an extended position wherein the locking piston extends out of the battery and retracted position wherein the locking piston is housed inside the battery; and

(iii) a tray piston pivotally attached to the cam, the tray piston can slide through a first aperture disposed in the first position of moving battery tray, the tray piston can move between an up position wherein the tray piston is pushed upwardly with respect to the moving battery tray and a down position wherein the tray piston is pushed downwardly with respect to the moving battery tray, wherein the tray piston is biased in the down position, wherein the locking piston is pivotally attached to the cam via a locking piston axle; and

(e) a first dowel disposed on the trolley, the dowel can move between an up position wherein the dowel contacts the tray piston in the first aperture and moves the tray piston to the up position and a down position wherein the dowel does not contact the tray piston;

wherein when the dowel is in the down position the tray piston is in the down position causing the cam to move in the first direction causing the locking piston to move to the extended position; and

wherein when the dowel is moved to the up position the tray piston is moved to the up position causing the cam to move in the second direction causing the locking piston to move to the retracted position, wherein the hydraulic cylinder is operatively connected to the dowel.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the driving mechanism comprises a hydraulic pump.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the driving mechanism comprises a drive motor and a hydraulic motor.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the cam is pivotally attached in the battery via a main axle.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a contactor assembly disposed on the battery, the contactor assembly functions to help prevent contacts of the battery from contacting a tunnel wall of a battery tunnel of a vehicle.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the contactor assembly comprises ultra high molecular weight polyethylene.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the contactor assembly comprises a base through which two conductive terminal extensions span, wherein first ends of the conductive terminal extensions are for engaging terminals of the battery and second ends of the conductive terminal extensions are for engaging a solenoid of the vehicle;

and one or more spacer wheels disposed on an outer end of the base, the spacer wheels temporarily provide space between the second ends of the conductive terminal extensions and a tunnel wall of the vehicle.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a sensor disposed on the trolley or the moving battery tray, the sensor is configured to detect a battery tunnel sensor disposed in a battery tunnel of a vehicle such that the trolley can be aligned in a certain position under the battery tunnel of the vehicle.

9. A system for replacing a discharged battery in an electric vehicle with a charged battery, said system consisting of:

(a) a trolley with wheels, the wheels are each operatively connected to a driving mechanism which functions to move or steer the wheels;

(b) a moving battery tray mounted atop the trolley via a hydraulic cylinder, the hydraulic cylinder functions to move the moving battery tray upwardly and downwardly with respect to the trolley, the moving battery tray is divided into a first position and a second position;

(c) a charged battery removably disposed atop the moving battery tray in the first position; and

(d) a locking system disposed in the battery, the locking system functions to lock the charged battery in a battery tunnel of a vehicle, wherein the locking system consists of;

(i) a cam pivotally attached in the battery, the cam can pivot in a first direction and a second direction;

(ii) a locking piston pivotally attached to a first end of the cam, the locking piston can move between an extended position wherein the locking piston extends out of the battery and retracted position wherein the locking piston is housed inside the battery; and

(iii) a tray piston pivotally attached to the cam, the tray piston can slide through a first aperture disposed in the first position of moving battery tray, the tray piston can move between an up position wherein the tray piston is pushed upwardly with respect to the moving battery tray and a down position wherein the tray piston is pushed downwardly with respect to the moving battery tray, wherein the tray piston is biased in the down position, wherein the locking piston is pivotally attached to the cam via a locking piston axle; and

(e) a first dowel disposed on the trolley, the dowel can move between an up position wherein the dowel contacts the tray piston in the first aperture and moves the tray piston to the up position and a down position wherein the dowel does not contact the tray piston;

wherein when the dowel is in the down position the tray piston is in the down position causing the cam to move in the first direction causing the locking piston to move to the extended position; and

wherein when the dowel is moved to the up position the tray piston is moved to the up position causing the cam to move in the second direction causing the locking piston to move to the retracted position, wherein the hydraulic cylinder is operatively connected to the dowel.