Transportion, storage and installation rack for battery packs

• US 9,214,654 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2013
• Issued: 12/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NGK Insulators Limited
• Original Assignee: NGK Insulators Limited
• Inventors: Nagatani, Yuta, Takeyama, Mikine, Kamiya, Hitoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Alejandro, Raymond
• Application Number:
  US13/756,762
• Publication Number:
  US 20130143092A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/00 Racks for dispensing merchandise racks in general A47B; storing means for workshops B25H; Containers for dispensing merchandise show or display aspects A47F3/00; for workshop fittings B25H3/00; containers in general B65D ; for liquids B67D; coin-freed dispensers G07F
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/204 Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/258 Modular batteries; Casings provided with means for assembling
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/262 with fastening means, e.g. locks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A rack for battery packs for transporting battery modules which are stored therein, and includes a bottom frame and struts located at four corners of the bottom frame. A fitting projection is formed at an upper end of each of the struts, a fitting hole into which the fitting projection is fitted is formed in a bottom part of each of the struts. When the rack is stacked one on top of another by fitting the fitting projection of each of the struts of a lower rack into the projection hole of each of the struts of an upper rack, the rack for battery pack can be used as an installation rack. Accordingly, a separate installation rack is not necessary, and returning a transportation rack is not necessary, either.

Claims

1. A rack for battery pack comprising:

struts erected at four corners of a bottom frame, the rack storing therein battery modules to be transported,

wherein a fitting projection is formed at an upper end of each of the struts and a fitting hole is formed at a lower end of each of the struts;

during transportation or storage in a warehouse, the rack for battery pack is stacked one on top of another by inserting a spacer, having a structure in which a fitting projection is formed at an upper end and a fitting hole is formed in a bottom plate thereof, between the fitting projection at the upper end of each of the struts of a lower rack and the fitting hole of each of the struts of an upper rack;

during installation, the spacer is removed, and the rack for battery pack can be used as an installation rack; and

the rack for battery pack includes a cushioning material that is sandwiched between upper and lower battery modules during transportation or storage in the warehouse, and is removed during installation, with the spacer having a height corresponding to a thickness of the cushioning material sandwiched between the upper and lower battery modules, when inserted between each of the struts of the lower rack and each of the struts of the upper rack.

2. The rack for battery pack according to claim 1, wherein an upper portion of the fitting projection is tapered.

3. The rack for battery pack according to claim 1,

wherein a plate member for load distribution is arranged between lower ends of the struts that make a pair.

4. The rack for battery pack according to claim 3,

wherein the plate member has a U-shaped cross section with rounded bottom corners thereof.