Device for replacing a battery that powers a motor that drives a motor vehicle

• US 9,428,154 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2010
• Issued: 08/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Renault Sas (Renault)
• Original Assignee: Renault Sas (Renault)
• Inventors: Mulato, Gilles
• Primary Examiner(s): Suarez, Ernesto
• Assistant Examiner(s): JARRETT, RONALD P
• Application Number:
  US13/509,445
• Publication Number:
  US 20120251281A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,143 Days
• Field of Search: 104/37, 180/65.1, 180/68.5, 320/104, 320/109, 414/267, 414/281, 414/331.02, 414/390, 414/398, 414/809, 414/589
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0472 from below
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• 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 53/80 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 29/53 Means to assemble or disassemble

Abstract

A tool box device for locking and/or unlocking a battery that powers a motor that drives a motor vehicle, including a support housing, a movement transmission system including at least one gear box and at least one transmission shaft, connected to at least one system for engaging a battery locking/unlocking mechanism.

Claims

1. A toolbox device for enacting locking and/or unlocking of a battery that powers a motor that drives a motor vehicle, comprising:

a planar support unit;

a plurality of grasping systems to lock and unlock the battery by contacting the battery with a top of each grasping system of the plurality of grasping systems, the plurality of grasping systems being positioned along a periphery of a top surface of the support unit; and

a movement transmission system attached to the top surface of the support unit and comprising a plurality of motors, a plurality of relay gearboxes, and a plurality of transmission shafts, connected to the plurality of grasping systems such that each motor of the plurality of motors provides movement to all of the grasping systems with respect to the support unit, at least the plurality of motors being positioned in a central area of the top surface of the support unit, the central area where the plurality of motors is positioned is within the periphery where the planarity of gasping systems is positioned such that the plurality of grasping systems contact the battery to hold the battery directly over the central area including the plurality of motors.

2. The toolbox device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of motors includes two motors.

3. The toolbox device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support unit is substantially rectangular, the plurality of grasping systems includes four grasping systems positioned in corners of the top surface of the support unit, and at least one motor of the plurality of motors is positioned in a central region of the top surface of the support unit.

4. The toolbox device as claimed in the claim 1, wherein each motor of the plurality of motors provides a different type of movement to all of the grasping systems of the plurality of grasping systems.

5. The toolbox device as claimed in the claim 4, wherein the different types of movement provided by the plurality of motors include translational movement and rotational movement.

6. The toolbox device as claimed in claim 1, wherein

a first motor of the plurality of motors drives a first transmission shaft of the plurality of transmission shafts,

a first end of the first transmission shaft is connected to a first relay gearbox of the plurality of gearboxes and a second end of the first transmission shaft is connected to a second relay gear box of the plurality of gearboxes,

the first relay gearbox is connected to a second transmission shaft of the plurality of transmission shafts, and

a first end of the second transmission shaft is connected to a first grasping system of the plurality of grasping systems and a second end of the second transmission shaft is connected to a second grasping system of the plurality of grasping systems such that rotation of the second transmission shaft moves the first grasping system and the second grasping system.

7. The toolbox device as claimed in claim 6, wherein

the second relay gearbox is connected to a third transmission shaft of the plurality of transmission shafts, and

a first end of third transmission shall is connected to a third grasping system of the plurality of grasping systems and a second end of the third transmission shaft is connected to a fourth grasping system of the plurality of grasping systems such that rotation of the third transmission shaft moves the third grasping system and the fourth grasping system.

8. The toolbox device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of grasping systems extends further above the top surface of the support unit than the plurality of relay gearboxes, the plurality of transmission shafts, and the plurality of motors.

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

a toolbox device as claimed in claim 1; and

a lifting system for lifting the toolbox device, allowing the toolbox device to be moved vertically.

10. A station for replacing a battery that powers a motor that drives a motor vehicle, comprising:

a system for replacing a battery of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 9.

11. A method for replacing a battery of a motor vehicle, comprising:

positioning a toolbox device as claimed in claim 1 under the battery of a motor vehicle;

lifting the toolbox device vertically until top ends of the plurality of grasping systems of the toolbox device connect with the battery while the top ends are positioned above the plurality of motors, the plurality of relay gearboxes, and the plurality of transmission shafts, the battery being positioned directly over the plurality of motors;

actuating the toolbox device to unlock the battery from the motor vehicle, the actuating including each motor of the plurality of motors providing movement to all of the grasping systems;

lowering the toolbox device bearing the unlocked battery; and

taking the unlocked battery away.

12. The method for replacing a battery as claimed in claim 11, wherein the actuating the toolbox device is preceded by positioning the support unit in a plane parallel to the bottom plane of the battery.

13. The method for replacing a battery of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

positioning the toolbox device bearing a new battery under the motor vehicle;

lifting the toolbox device vertically until the new battery is positioned in a housing provided within the motor vehicle;

actuating the toolbox device to lock the new battery to the motor vehicle; and

taking the toolbox device away.

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

a toolbox, comprising;

a support unit,

a plurality of grasping systems to lock and unlock the battery, a top end of each grasping system of the plurality of grasping systems being positioned to connect with locks of the battery and a bottom end of each grasping system of the plurality of grasping systems being positioned directly on a top surface of the support unit, and

a movement transmission system attached to the top surface of the support unit and comprising a plurality of relay gearboxes and a plurality of transmission shafts connected to the plurality of grasping systems; and

a plurality of motors, each motor of the plurality of motors attached to the top surface of the support unit and providing movement to all of the grasping systems with respect to the support unit,

wherein the plurality of grasping systems extends further above the top surface of the support unit than the plurality of relay gearboxes, the plurality of transmission shafts, and the plurality of motors.

15. The system as claimed in the claim 14, wherein each motor of the plurality of motors provides a different type of movement to all of the grasping systems of the plurality of grasping systems.

16. The system as claimed in the claim 15, wherein the different types of movement provided by the plurality of motors include translational movement and rotational movement.

17. The system as claimed in claim 14, wherein

a first motor of the plurality of motors drives a first transmission shaft of the plurality of transmission shafts,

a first end of the first transmission shaft is connected to a first relay gearbox of the plurality of gearboxes and a second end of the first transmission shaft is connected to a second relay gear box of the plurality of gearboxes,

the first relay gearbox is connected to a second transmission shaft of the plurality of transmission shafts, and

a first end of the second transmission shaft is connected to a first grasping system of the plurality of grasping systems and a second end of the second transmission shaft is connected to a second grasping system of the plurality of grasping systems such that rotation of the second transmission shall moves the first grasping system and the second grasping system.

18. The system as claimed in claim 17, wherein

the second relay gearbox is connected to a third transmission shaft of the plurality of transmission shafts, and

a first end of the third transmission shaft is connected to a third grasping system of the plurality of grasping systems and a second end of the third transmission shaft is connected to a fourth grasping system of the plurality of grasping systems such that rotation of the third transmission shaft moves the third grasping system and the fourth grasping system.