Electric vehicle battery system
First Claim
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 from an underside of an at least partially electric vehicle;
at least three latches each being mounted on the frame for rotation with respect to the frame and being engageable with respective strikers of the battery pack to mechanically couple the battery pack from the underside of the vehicle, wherein said at least three latches are mounted for rotation towards engaged positions such that when engaged with the respective strikers they vertically lift and fasten the battery pack in the battery bay; and
at least one drive system coupled to the latches, the at least one drive system being configured for substantially simultaneously rotating all of the latches to substantially simultaneously engage with the respective strikers and vertically lift the battery pack from the underside of the vehicle, securing the battery pack at least partially into the cavity such that during Normal and Exceptional Operating Conditions of the electric vehicle, the battery pack does not substantially rock, rattle, or otherwise move.
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Accused Products
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.
226 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A battery bay configured to be disposed at an underside of an at least partially electric vehicle, the battery bay comprising:
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a frame defining a cavity configured to at least partially receive a battery pack therein from an underside of an at least partially electric vehicle; at least three latches each being mounted on the frame for rotation with respect to the frame and being engageable with respective strikers of the battery pack to mechanically couple the battery pack from the underside of the vehicle, wherein said at least three latches are mounted for rotation towards engaged positions such that when engaged with the respective strikers they vertically lift and fasten the battery pack in the battery bay; and at least one drive system coupled to the latches, the at least one drive system being configured for substantially simultaneously rotating all of the latches to substantially simultaneously engage with the respective strikers and vertically lift the battery pack from the underside of the vehicle, securing the battery pack at least partially into the cavity such that during Normal and Exceptional Operating Conditions of the electric vehicle, the battery pack does not substantially rock, rattle, or otherwise move. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. 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 for rotation in opposite directions to thereby engage with the respective strikers, and when engaged vertically lift the battery pack until the latches are in a geometric lock position at which any movement of the battery pack being held by the first and second latches is converted into compression or tensile forces on pivot points of the battery bay without rotating any of said pivot points, thereby locking the first and second strikers of the battery pack to the electric vehicle substantially simultaneously, and secure the battery pack at least partially into the battery bay such that during Normal and Exceptional Operating Conditions of the electric vehicle, the battery pack does not substantially rock, rattle, or otherwise move. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
Specification