Device for replacing a power battery of a drive motor or a motor vehicle

• US 9,162,653 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2011
• Issued: 10/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Renault Sas (Renault)
• Original Assignee: Renault Sas (Renault)
• Inventors: Escande, Bruno, Lombarte, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Paul D
• Application Number:
  US13/578,398
• Publication Number:
  US 20130031776A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,714 Days
• Field of Search: 297/21, 297/24, 297/29, 297/30, 297/57, 297/60, 297/62, 141/104, 141/231, 320/109, 320/13, 414266-267, 414/273, 414/277, 41433101-33106
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2001/0455 Removal or replacement of the energy storages
• 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: 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: 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5313 Means to assemble electrical device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53274 Means to disassemble electrical device

Abstract

A toolbox device for actuating locking and/or unlocking of a power battery of a drive motor of a motor vehicle, the device including a supporting structure supporting a plurality of separate modules, each including at least one system for gripping a mechanism for locking/unlocking the battery and at least one actuator, a number of actuators being relative to a number of movements to be performed to implement the locking/unlocking the battery.

Claims

1. A toolbox device for actuating locking and/or unlocking of a power supply battery of a drive motor of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a support structure; and

a plurality of distinct modules supported by the support structure, each of the modules comprising;

at least one gripping system for gripping a mechanism for locking and/or unlocking the battery, an end face of the at least one gripping system including a link element and openings; and

at least one actuation means,

wherein the at least one actuation means of each of the modules moves the at least one gripping systems in a first movement such that the openings receive a portion of the battery within the openings to fix the at least one gripping system to the battery, and

wherein the at least one actuation means of each of the modules is linked to a second movement to move the link element to implement the locking and/or the unlocking of the battery.

2. The toolbox device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of modules includes four modules each comprising one gripping system of the at least one gripping system.

3. The toolbox device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one module of the plurality of modules includes a link interface allowing the at least one of the plurality of modules at least one degree of freedom relative to the support structure.

4. The toolbox device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one module of the plurality of modules includes a first actuation means of the at least one actuation means, the first actuation means being configured to perform a disengagement of the at least one gripping system.

5. The toolbox device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least one module of the plurality of modules comprises a cam system positioned at an end of the first actuation means to allow for transfer and gearing down of forces needed.

6. The toolbox device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first actuation means includes a motor and a screw jack.

7. The toolbox device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one module of the plurality of modules includes a second actuation means of the at least one actuation means, the second actuation means being configured to lock and/or unlock the end face of the at least one gripping system on a corresponding lock of the battery of the motor vehicle.

8. The toolbox device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the openings on the end face of the at least one gripping system are configured to link with a mushroom-shaped link element of the lock of the battery of the motor vehicle.

9. The toolbox device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second actuation means includes a screw jack.

10. The toolbox device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one module of the plurality of modules includes a third actuation means allowing for actuation of the locking and/or the unlocking of the battery of the motor vehicle.

11. The toolbox device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the actuation of the locking and/or the unlocking of the battery of the motor vehicle is obtained by a translational movement and a rotational movement of the at least one gripping system.

12. The toolbox device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the third actuation means includes a screw jack.

13. The toolbox device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one module of the plurality of modules includes a roller system for limiting forces on the support structure and avoiding a deterioration of the toolbox device.

14. The toolbox device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one actuation means includes at least one screw jack.

15. A system for replacing a battery of a motor vehicle, comprising:

the toolbox device as claimed in claim 1; and

a lifting device for lifting the toolbox device, allowing for a vertical displacement of the toolbox device.

16. A station for replacing a power supply battery of a drive motor of a motor vehicle, comprising:

the toolbox device as claimed in claim 1, for replacement of the battery of the motor vehicle.