Battery

• US 9,653,719 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2013
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PAG Limited
• Original Assignee: PAG Limited
• Inventors: Lavender, John Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Eggerding, Alix
• Application Number:
  US14/046,093
• Publication Number:
  US 20150099151A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,320 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/244 Secondary casings; Racks; Suspension devices; Carrying devices; Holders characterised by their mounting method
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/264 for cells or batteries, e.g. straps, tie rods or peripheral frames
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/517 by fixing means, e.g. screws, rivets or bolts
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery includes a first mechanical coupling unit and a second mechanical coupling unit. The first coupling unit includes a plurality of mechanical coupling pins (18). Each of the mechanical coupling pins (18) includes a pin head (22) and a pin shaft (20). The pin heads (22) have a greater diameter than the pin shafts (20). The second mechanical coupling unit includes a plurality of capture elements (24, 26) configured to capture heads of mechanical coupling pins of a first mechanical coupling unit.

Claims

1. A battery including a first mechanical coupling unit and a second mechanical coupling unit, the first mechanical coupling unit including a plurality of mechanical coupling pins, each of the mechanical coupling pins including a pin head and a pin shaft, the pin head having a greater diameter than the pin shaft, and the second mechanical coupling unit including a plurality of capture elements configured to capture the pin heads of the mechanical coupling pins of the first mechanical coupling unit of a second such battery;

the battery including a first electrical connector unit associated with the first mechanical coupling unit, and a second electrical connector unit associated with the second mechanical coupling unit, the second electrical connector unit being configured to cooperate with the first electrical connector unit of a second such battery to form an electrical connection therebetween upon cooperation of the second mechanical coupling unit with the first mechanical coupling unit of a second such battery;

the first electrical connector unit including a first locking element and the second electrical connector unit including a second locking element; and

the second locking element being configured to mechanically cooperate with the first locking element of a second such battery to lock the battery to a second such battery.

2. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the first mechanical coupling unit and the second mechanical coupling unit are located on opposite sides of the battery.

3. The battery according to claim 1, wherein each one of the capture elements includes a base, a ridge, and a slot at least partially between the base and the ridge;

and each slot is arranged to receive one of the pin heads of a second such battery with part of that pin head covered by the ridge and part of that pin head uncovered by the ridge.

4. The battery according to claim 3, wherein each slot is arranged to receive one of the pin heads of a second such battery with part of a circumference of that pin head covered by the ridge and part of the circumference of that pin head uncovered by the ridge.

5. The battery according to claim 1, wherein each one of the capture elements includes a base, a ridge, and a slot between the base and the ridge;

and wherein the ridges are proud of a first surface of the battery.

6. The battery according to claim 5, wherein each base is flush with or proud of the first surface of the battery.

7. The battery according to claim 6, wherein each base includes a path section leading from the first surface of the battery via an opening in the respective capture element into the slot of the respective capture element, wherein the opening has a width at least as great as a diameter of one of the pin heads, thereby allowing that pin head to be slid from the first surface of the battery into the slot of the respective capture element.

8. The battery according to claim 7, wherein each path section includes a guide section to guide one of the pin heads of a second such battery through the opening of the respective capture element.

9. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the first mechanical coupling unit includes a first mechanical coupling pin located on a first part of the battery and a second mechanical coupling pin on a second part of the battery, wherein the first locking element is located closer to the first mechanical coupling pin than the second mechanical coupling pin is, and closer to the second mechanical coupling pin than the first mechanical coupling pin is.

10. The battery according to claim 1, wherein one of the first and second locking elements includes a detent and the other includes a protrusion arranged so it can be held by the detent of a second such battery.

11. The battery according to claim 10, including a release button for decoupling the first locking element from the second locking element of a second such battery or for decoupling the second locking element from the first locking element of a second such battery.

12. The battery according to claim 11, wherein the release button is configured to move the detent to release the protrusion of a second such battery.

13. The battery according to claim 12, wherein the detent includes a detent channel, the detent channel including an open end for receiving the protrusion of a second such battery into the detent channel, a closed end opposite the open end, and a tab moveable between a holding position in which it closes the open end of the detent channel and a releasing position in which it opens the open end of the detent channel, the release button being configured to move the tab from the holding position to the releasing position.

14. The battery according to claim 13, wherein the release button includes a securing element movable between a secured position and a non-secured position, wherein in the secured position, the securing element inhibits movement of the tab from the holding position to the releasing position, and wherein in the non-secured position, the securing element allows movement of the tab;

and wherein the release button is configured to move the securing element into the non-secured position.

15. The battery according to claim 11, wherein the first locking element includes a locking button arranged to be actuated by the protrusion of a second such battery, actuation of the locking button being configured to move the detent to a holding position in which it can hold the protrusion of a second such battery.

16. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the second electrical connector unit includes a guard member, at least one side of the guard member being sloped to guide a mechanical coupling pin of the first mechanical coupling unit of a second such battery away from the battery thereby to aid separation of the battery from a second such battery.

17. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the first and/or second electrical connector units are distinct components and are removable from the battery.

18. A battery including a first mechanical coupling unit and a second mechanical coupling unit, the first mechanical coupling unit including a plurality of mechanical coupling pins, each of the mechanical coupling pins including a pin head and a pin shaft, the pin head having a greater diameter than the pin shaft, and the second mechanical coupling unit including a plurality of capture elements configured to capture the pin heads of the mechanical coupling pins of the first mechanical coupling unit of a second such battery;

the battery including a first electrical connector unit associated with the first mechanical coupling unit, and a second electrical connector unit associated with the second mechanical coupling unit, the second electrical connector unit being configured to cooperate with the first electrical connector unit of a second such battery to form an electrical connection therebetween upon cooperation of the second mechanical coupling unit with the first mechanical coupling unit of a second such battery;

one of the first and second electrical connector units being a male connector unit and the other of the first and second electrical connector units being a female connector unit;

the male connector unit including electrical connector pins and the female connector unit including sockets configured for receiving the electrical connector pins of the male connector unit of a second such battery; and

the electrical connector pins of the male connector unit being shielded to inhibit or prevent unintentional contact by a shroud around each of the electrical connector pins.

19. A battery including a first mechanical coupling unit and a second mechanical coupling unit, the first mechanical coupling unit and the second mechanical coupling unit being located on opposite sides of the battery, the first coupling unit including a plurality of mechanical coupling pins, each of the mechanical coupling pins including a pin head and a pin shaft, the pin head having a greater diameter than the pin shaft, and the second mechanical coupling unit including a plurality of capture elements configured to capture the pin heads of the mechanical coupling pins of the first mechanical coupling unit of a second such battery, wherein each capture element includes a base, a ridge, and a slot at least partially between the base and the ridge;

each ridge being proud of a first surface of the battery, and each slot being arranged to receive one of the pin heads of a second such battery with part of that pin head covered by the ridge and part of that pin head uncovered by the ridge;

the battery including a first electrical connector unit associated with the first mechanical coupling unit, and a second electrical connector unit associated with the second mechanical coupling unit, the second electrical connector unit being configured to cooperate with the first electrical connector unit of a second such battery to form an electrical connection therebetween upon cooperation of the second mechanical coupling unit with the first mechanical coupling unit of a second such battery;

the first electrical connector unit including a first locking element and the second electrical connector unit including a second locking element; and

the second locking element being configured to mechanically cooperate with the first locking element of a second such battery to lock the battery to a second such battery.

20. A battery casing including a first mechanical coupling unit and a second mechanical coupling unit, the first coupling unit including a plurality of mechanical coupling pins, each of the mechanical coupling pins including a pin head and a pin shaft, the pin head having a greater diameter than the pin shaft, and the second mechanical coupling unit including a plurality of capture elements configured to capture the pin heads of the mechanical coupling pins of the first mechanical coupling unit of a second such battery casing;

the battery casing including a first electrical connector unit associated with the first mechanical coupling unit, and a second electrical connector unit associated with the second mechanical coupling unit, the second electrical connector unit being configured to cooperate with the first electrical connector unit of a second such battery casing to form an electrical connection therebetween upon cooperation of the second mechanical coupling unit with the first mechanical coupling unit of a second such battery casing;

the first electrical connector unit including a first locking element and the second electrical connector unit including a second locking element; and

the second locking element being configured to mechanically cooperate with the first locking element of a second such battery casing to lock the battery to a second such battery casing.