Energy storage device, exchange apparatus, and method for exchanging an energy storage device

• US 9,987,938 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2015
• Issued: 06/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Salasoo, Lembit
• Primary Examiner(s): Rossoshek, Helen
• Application Number:
  US14/959,424
• Publication Number:
  US 20170158070A1
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/39 Battery swapping
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/86 Land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4207 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/48 for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• 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

Abstract

A battery exchange apparatus (e.g., for a battery exchange station positioned at a wayside location of a vehicle route) includes a receptacle mounted to at least one rail for lateral movement along the rail and for pivotal movement around a working axis generally orthogonal to the rail. The receptacle has an open end for receiving a battery from a direction generally orthogonal to the working axis. The apparatus further includes a recharge connector provided within the receptacle and opposite the open end of the receptacle. The open end of the receptacle includes at least two laterally flared surfaces, which are configured to impose at least one of lateral motion or pivotal motion on the receptacle in order to align the receptacle to the battery that is at least one of laterally or angularly misaligned from a lateral midline of the receptacle.

Claims

1. A battery exchange apparatus comprising:

a receptacle mounted to at least one rail for lateral movement along the rail and for pivotal movement around a working axis generally orthogonal to the rail, the receptacle having an open end for receiving a battery from a direction generally orthogonal to the working axis; and

a recharge connector provided within the receptacle and opposite the open end of the receptacle;

wherein the open end of the receptacle includes at least two laterally flared surfaces, which are configured to impose at least one of lateral motion or pivotal motion on the receptacle in order to align the receptacle to the battery that is at least one of laterally or angularly misaligned from a lateral midline of the receptacle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receptacle is mounted to the rail by way of a platform that has a rotary connection to the receptacle and has a sliding connection to the rail.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the platform includes a return actuator for at least one of moving the receptacle to a rest position on the rotary connection or moving the platform to a rest position on the rail.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the recharge connector is supplied with power by a flexible energy transfer connector from a power source.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a latch module operable to extend a latch to secure the battery into the receptacle.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the latch module is operatively connected with the recharge connector to secure the battery into the receptacle in response to a power connector of the battery engaging with the recharge connector of the receptacle.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the latch module is disposed to secure the battery into the receptacle in response to the battery reaching a fully installed position.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one rail is connected to a support surface of a vehicle battery exchange station for receiving the battery from a vehicle.

9. A battery exchange apparatus comprising:

a receptacle mounted to at least one rail for lateral movement along the rail and for pivotal movement around a working axis generally orthogonal to the rail, the receptacle having an open end for receiving a battery from a direction generally orthogonal to the working axis;

a recharge connector provided within the receptacle and opposite the open end of the receptacle; and

a latch module operable to extend a latch to secure the battery into the receptacle;

wherein the open end of the receptacle includes at least two laterally flared surfaces, which are configured to impose at least one of lateral motion or pivotal motion on the receptacle in order to align the receptacle to the battery that is at least one of laterally or angularly misaligned from a lateral midline of the receptacle; and

wherein the receptacle is mounted to the rail by way of a platform that has a rotary connection to the receptacle and has a sliding connection to the rail, the platform including a return actuator for at least one of moving the receptacle to a rest position on the rotary connection or moving the platform to a rest position on the rail.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the recharge connector is supplied with power by a flexible energy transfer connector from a power source.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the latch module is operatively connected with the recharge connector to secure the battery into the receptacle in response to a power connector of the battery engaging with the recharge connector of the receptacle.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the latch module is disposed to secure the battery into the receptacle in response to the battery reaching a fully installed position.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one rail is connected to a support surface of a vehicle battery exchange station for receiving the battery from a vehicle.

14. A battery exchange apparatus comprising:

a receptacle mounted to at least one rail for lateral movement along the rail and for pivotal movement around a working axis generally orthogonal to the rail, the receptacle having an open end for receiving a battery from a direction generally orthogonal to the working axis;

a recharge connector provided within the receptacle and opposite the open end of the receptacle; and

a latch module operable to extend a latch to secure the battery into the receptacle;

wherein the open end of the receptacle includes at least two laterally flared surfaces, which are configured to impose at least one of lateral motion or pivotal motion on the receptacle in order to align the receptacle to the battery that is at least one of laterally or angularly misaligned from a lateral midline of the receptacle;

wherein the receptacle is mounted to the rail by way of a platform that has a rotary connection to the receptacle and has a sliding connection to the rail, the platform including a return actuator for at least one of moving the receptacle to a rest position on the rotary connection or moving the platform to a rest position on the rail;

wherein the at least one rail is connected to a support surface of a vehicle battery exchange station for receiving the battery from a vehicle;

wherein the recharge connector is supplied with power by a flexible energy transfer connector from a power source; and

wherein the latch module is operatively connected with the recharge connector to secure the battery into the receptacle in response to one of a power connector of the battery engaging with the recharge connector of the receptacle, and a flow of power through the recharge connector to the power connector of the battery.