Electric Vehicle Battery System

• US 20110297470A1
• Filed: 08/12/2011
• Published: 12/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Charge Peak Limited
• Original Assignee: Tal Agassi, Yoav Heichal
• Inventors: Heichal, Yoav, Agassi, Tal
• Granted Patent: US 8,517,132 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/68.5
• 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 2001/0438 Arrangement under the floor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0472 from below
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 characterised by AC-motors
• 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 53/11 DC charging controlled by the charging station, e.g. mode 4
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/202 Casings or frames around the primary casing of a single cell or a single battery
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/204 Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/242 adapted for protecting batteries against vibrations, collision impact or swelling
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/244 Secondary casings; Racks; Suspension devices; Carrying devices; Holders characterised by their mounting method
• 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: 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 10/92 Energy efficient charging or discharging systems for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors specially adapted for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49815 : Disassembling

Abstract

The electric vehicle includes a battery pack that can be exchanged at a battery exchange station. At the battery exchange station, an at least partially spent battery pack is exchanged for an at least partially charged battery pack. A battery bay is configured to be disposed at an underside of the electric vehicle. The battery bay includes a frame which defines a cavity. The cavity is configured to at least partially receive the battery pack therein. The battery bay comprises at least one latch rotatably pivoted about an axis substantially parallel with a plane formed by the underside of the vehicle. The latch is configured to lift, retain the battery pack at least partially within the cavity.

Claims

1. A battery bay configured to be disposed at an underside of an at least partially electric vehicle, the battery bay comprising:

a frame defining a cavity configured to at least partially receive a battery pack therein;

at least three latches rotatably coupled to the frame; and

at least one drive system coupled to the latches, the at least one drive system configured to substantially simultaneously rotate all of the latches to substantially simultaneously engage and to vertically lift the battery pack at least partially into the cavity.

2. The battery bay of claim 1, wherein the at least one drive system comprises a transmission assembly mechanically coupling the at least three latches.

3. The battery bay of claim 2, wherein the at least one drive system further comprises an electric motor.

4. The battery bay of claim 2, wherein the transmission assembly is configured to be driven by a rotation mechanism external to the vehicle.

5. The battery bay of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one compression spring mounted to the frame so as to generate a force between the frame and the battery pack in a direction substantially opposite to the lifting force when the battery pack is at least partially retained within the cavity.

6. The battery bay of claim 1, wherein one or more vibration dampers are disposed between the frame and the at least partially electric vehicle.

7. The battery bay of claim 1, wherein the battery bay further comprises:

a latch position indicator configured to determine whether one of the latches is in an engaged position.

8. The battery bay of claim 1, further including, for at least one of the latches:

a latch housing;

a first rotational member including a first pivot point and a second pivot point, wherein the first pivot point is permanently attached to a torque bar which rotates with respect to a first portion of the latch housing;

a coupler link rod including a first rod end and a second rod end, wherein the first rod end is pivotably coupled to the second pivot point of the first rotational member; and

the at least one latch including a third pivot point and a fourth pivot point, wherein the third pivot point is pivotably coupled to the second rod end of the coupler link rod and the fourth pivot point is pivotably coupled to a second portion of the latch housing.

9. The battery bay of claim 8, wherein a length of the coupler link rod is adjustable.

10. The battery bay of claim 8, wherein when the latch is in a locked position engaged with a striker of the battery pack, the rotational member, coupler link rod, and latch form a geometric lock.

11. The battery bay of claim 9, wherein the geometric lock exists when the rotational member, coupler link rod, and the first, second, and third pivot points are all substantially along the same axis.

12. The battery bay of claim 1, further comprising:

a mechanical lock which is configured to prevent at least one of the latches from rotating when engaged.

13. The battery bay of claim 12, wherein the mechanical lock is configured to be released with a key inserted along an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane formed by the underside of the vehicle.

14. The battery bay of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one electrically activated latch lock which is configured to prevent the latch from rotating when engaged.

15. The battery bay of claim 8, wherein the rotational member is a cam shaped input link.

16. A battery system for an electric vehicle, comprising:

a battery bay, for receiving a battery pack, located on an underside of the electric vehicle, said battery bay comprising;

a first latch at the underside of the electric vehicle, the first latch comprising a first hook configured to mechanically engage a first striker at a first end of the battery pack; and

a second latch at the underside of the electric vehicle, the second latch comprising a second hook configured to mechanically engage a second striker at a second end of the battery pack,

wherein the first latch and the second latch are configured to mechanically couple the battery pack to the underside of the electric vehicle by engaging, vertically lifting, and locking the first and second strikers of the battery pack to the electric vehicle substantially simultaneously.

17. A battery bay configured to be disposed at an underside of an at least partially electric vehicle, the battery bay comprising:

a frame defining a cavity configured to at least partially receive a battery pack therein;

a latch comprising a hook configured to engage a striker coupled with the battery pack, the latch configured to retain the battery pack at least partially within the cavity;

a first rotational member including a first pivot point and a second pivot point, wherein the first rotational member is configured to rotate about the first pivot point; and

a coupler link rod including a first rod end and a second rod end, wherein the first rod end is pivotably coupled to the second pivot point of the first rotational member, wherein the latch includes a third pivot point and a fourth pivot point, the third pivot point is pivotably coupled to the second rod end of the coupler link rod, and the latch is configured to rotate about the fourth pivot point.

18. The battery bay of claim 17, further comprising:

a worm gear coupled with the rotational member.

19. The battery bay of claim 18, further comprising:

a partial gear coupled with the worm gear.

20. The battery bay of claim 18, further comprising:

a motor coupled with the worm gear and configured to rotate the worm gear.

21. The battery bay of claim 20, wherein the first rotational member is configured to be rotated by the worm gear.