Fastening device

• US 8,936,124 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2011
• Issued: 01/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Steyr Fahrzeugtechnik AG & Company KG (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Steyr Fahrzeugtechnik AG & Company KG (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Auer, Thomas, Rodler, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): VANAMAN, FRANK BENNETT
• Application Number:
  US13/639,900
• Publication Number:
  US 20130037337A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,383 Days
• Field of Search: 180/68.5, 903/907, 903/951
• 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 2001/0472 from below
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• 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: H01M 50/262 with fastening means, e.g. locks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/951 Assembly or relative location of components
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7007 Bayonet joint

Abstract

A fixing device for releasable fixing an electrical energy accumulator to a carrying structure of a motor vehicle includes a retaining protrusion and a locking catch which are provided on the energy accumulator and on the carrying structure (or vice versa). To fix the energy accumulator to the carrying structure, a relative movement of the retaining protrusion to the locking catch is provided along a movement track in the direction of an end position, in which the locking catch can be swiveled between a release position and a locked position such that in the release position the locking catch is outside the movement track of the retaining protrusion and in the locked position the locking catch protrudes into the movement track of the retaining protrusion and there engages behind the retaining protrusion when the retaining protrusion is in the end position.

Claims

1. A fixing device for releasable fixing a rechargeable battery to a carrying structure of a motor vehicle, the fixing device comprising:

a locking catch provided on the carrying structure; and

a retaining protrusion provided on the rechargeable battery and configured for movement relative to the locking catch along a movement track in a direction of an end position to fix the rechargeable battery to the carrying structure,

wherein the locking catch is configured for pivoting movement about a pivot axis between a release position in which the locking catch is outside the movement track of the retaining protrusion and a locked position in which the locking catch protrudes into the movement track of the retaining protrusion and there engages behind the retaining protrusion when the retaining protrusion is in the end position,

wherein the pivot axis of the locking catch is arranged outside the movement track of the retaining protrusion and spatially underneath the retaining protrusion when the retaining protrusion is in the end position.

2. The fixing device of claim 1, wherein:

the locking catch comprises a supporting segment which lies on the retaining protrusion when the retaining protrusion is in the end position and the locking catch is in the locked position; and

a distance of the supporting segment from the pivot axis of the locking catch is greater than the depth of the retaining protrusion.

3. The fixing device of claim 1, wherein:

the locking catch comprises a supporting segment which lies on the retaining protrusion when the retaining protrusion is in the end position and the locking catch is in the locked position; and

the supporting segment is oriented substantially tangentially in relation to the pivot axis of the locking catch.

4. The fixing device of claim 1, wherein the retaining protrusion is oriented obliquely in relation to the movement track.

5. The fixing device of claim 1, wherein the locking catch is pre-tensioned in the locked position.

6. The fixing device of claim 1, further comprising a chamfer provided on the retaining protrusion and configured to temporarily move the locking catch into the release position.

7. The fixing device of claim 1, further comprising an unlocking device configured to pivot the locking catch into the release position.

8. The fixing device of claim 7, wherein the unlocking device comprises a pivotable lever which, when a lever arm is pivoted in an upward direction, pivots the locking catch into the release position.

9. The fixing device of claim 7, wherein the unlocking device comprises a linearly displaceable wedge with a chamfer surface which is configured, in an unlocking movement, to press by way of the chamfer surface against a latching arm of the locking catch and thereby pivot the locking catch into the release position.

10. The fixing device of claim 9, further comprising a contact roller mounted rotateably on the latching arm and which is configured to operatively interact with the chamfer surface of the wedge.

11. The fixing device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured to detect the pivot position of the locking catch.

12. A fixing system for releasable fixing a rechargeable battery to a motor vehicle, the fixing system comprising:

a carrying structure which defines a receiving chamber for the rechargeable battery;

a fixing device including a locking catch provided on the carrying structure, and a retaining protrusion provided on the rechargeable battery and configured for movement relative to the locking catch along a movement track in a direction of an end position to fix the rechargeable battery to the carrying structure,

wherein the locking catch is configured for pivoting movement about a pivot axis between a release position in which the locking catch is outside the movement track of the retaining protrusion and a locked position in which the locking catch protrudes into the movement track of the retaining protrusion and there engages behind the retaining protrusion when the retaining protrusion is in the end position,

wherein the pivot axis of the locking catch is arranged spatially underneath the retaining protrusion when the retaining protrusion is in the end position.

13. The fixing system of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of fixing devices, wherein at least two locking catches are provided on opposing side segments of the carrying structure.

14. The fixing system of claim 12, further comprising a stop provided on the carrying structure, wherein a respective locking catch is arranged such that the rechargeable battery lies against the stop when the locking catch engages behind the retaining protrusion in the locked position.

15. A vehicle comprising:

a carrying structure which defines a receiving chamber for the rechargeable battery;

a rechargeable battery; and

a device for releasable fixing the rechargeable battery to the carrying structure, the device including;

a locking catch provided on the rechargeable battery; and

a retaining protrusion provided on the rechargeable battery and configured for movement relative to the locking catch along a movement track in a direction of an end position to fix the rechargeable battery to the carrying structure,

wherein the locking catch is configured for pivoting movement about a pivot axis between a release position in which the locking catch is outside the movement track of the retaining protrusion and a locked position in which the locking catch protrudes into the movement track of the retaining protrusion and there engages behind the retaining protrusion when the retaining protrusion is in the end position,

wherein the pivot axis of the locking catch is arranged spatially underneath the retaining protrusion when the retaining protrusion is in the end position.

16. The vehicle of claim 15, further comprising a chamfer provided on the retaining protrusion and configured to temporarily move the locking catch into the release position.

17. The vehicle of claim 15, further comprising an unlocking device configured to pivot the locking catch into the release position.

18. The vehicle of claim 15, further comprising a sensor configured to detect the pivot position of the locking catch.

19. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein:

the locking catch comprises a supporting segment which lies on the retaining protrusion when the retaining protrusion is in the end position and the locking catch is in the locked position; and

a distance of the supporting segment from the pivot axis of the locking catch is greater than the depth of the retaining protrusion.