Device for moving and attaching a component between two positions

• US 8,863,911 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2010
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Renault Sas (Renault)
• Original Assignee: Renault Sas (Renault)
• Inventors: Ecochard, Michel
• Primary Examiner(s): Dondero, William E
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRUONG, MINH D
• Application Number:
  US13/264,282
• Publication Number:
  US 20120097489A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,645 Days
• Field of Search: 187/240, 187/259, 187/262, 187/401, 254/337, 254/338, 414/249, 414/281, 414/391, 414/399, 414/427, 414/428, 414/443
• US Class Current: 187/401
• 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: B66F 17/00 Safety devices, e.g. for limiting or indicating lifting force
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 7/02 with platforms suspended from ropes, cables, or chains or screws and movable along pillars
• 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 device for moving and attaching a component between an operating position in which the component is rigidly connected to a structure and a non-operating position below the operating position and in which the component is detached from the structure. The device includes: a frame rigidly secured to the ground and including vertical guiding columns; a lifting table for moving the component from the operating position to the non-operating position and vice versa, the lifting table being guided vertically along the guiding columns; a mechanism locking and unlocking the component on and outside the structure and rigidly connected to the lifting table; and an assembly of four cables associated with return pulleys, wherein one end of the cables is mounted to a winch that can raise and lower the lifting table between the non-operating position and the operating position, while the other cable end is rigidly connected to the lifting table.

Claims

1. A device for moving and fixing a component between two positions, respectively of an operational position in which the component is attached to a structure, and a non-operational position underneath the operational position, in which the component is detached from the structure, the device comprising:

a fixed chassis secured to ground and including vertical guide pins;

a moving chassis configured to move with respect to the fixed chassis and including vertical guide pins;

a lifting platform configured to bear the component from the operational position into the non-operational position and vice versa, the lifting platform being guided vertically by directly contacting the guide pins of the fixed chassis and the guide pins of the moving chassis;

locking and unlocking means for locking and unlocking the component onto and from the structure, and being attached to the lifting platform; and

a set of four cables associated with return pulleys, a first end of each of the cables is mounted on a winch configured to raise and lower the lifting platform between the non-operational position and the operational position, and a second end of each of the cables is attached to the lifting platform.

2. The device for moving and fixing a component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the moving chassis is configured to move in two directions of a plane parallel to the ground, the moving chassis being positioned, relative to the structure within which or from which the component is to be inserted or extracted, by sensors attached to the moving chassis and bearing against determined zones of the structure.

3. The device for moving and fixing a component as claimed in claim 2, wherein the guide pins attached to the fixed chassis are substantially aligned with the guide pins attached to the moving chassis to allow the lifting platform to pass from the fixed chassis when it is in the non-operational position into the moving chassis when the lifting platform rises so that the component can be inserted into the structure.

4. The device for moving and fixing a component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide pins of the fixed chassis each end in a point and the guide pins of the moving chassis each end in a point.

5. A device for moving and fixing a battery between two positions, respectively being an operational position in which the battery is attached to a motor vehicle, and a non-operational position underneath the operational position, in which the battery is detached from the vehicle, the device comprising:

a fixed chassis secured to ground and including vertical guide pins;

a moving chassis configured to move with respect to the fixed chassis and including vertical guide pins;

a lifting platform configured to bear the battery from the operational position into the non-operational position and vice versa, the lifting platform being guided vertically by directly contacting the guide pins of the fixed chassis and the guide pins of the moving chassis;

locking and unlocking means for locking and unlocking the battery onto and from the vehicle, and being attached to the lifting platform; and

a set of four cables associated with return pulleys, a first end of each of the cables is mounted on a winch configured to raise and lower the lifting platform between the non-operational position and the operational position, and a second end of each of the cables is attached to the lifting platform.

6. The device for moving and fixing a battery as claimed in claim 5, wherein the moving chassis configured to move in two directions of a plane parallel to the ground, the moving chassis being positioned, relative to the vehicle within which or from which the battery is to be inserted or extracted, by sensors attached to the moving chassis, the sensors including rigid rods which bear against an external flat surface of rear wheels of the vehicle, the moving chassis being capable of sliding along slideways in the two directions of the plane parallel to the ground.

7. The device for moving and fixing a battery as claimed in claim 5, wherein the guide pins are substantially aligned with the guide pins attached to the moving chassis to allow the lifting platform to pass from the fixed chassis when it is in the lower non-operational position into the moving chassis when the lifting platform rises so that the battery can be inserted into the vehicle.

8. The device for moving and fixing a battery as claimed in claim 5, wherein the guide pins of the fixed chassis each end in a point and the guide pins of the moving chassis each end in a point.