Coupling between a replaceable battery and a vehicle

• US 9,132,724 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2011
• Issued: 09/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Steyr Fahrzeugtechnik AG & Company KG (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Steyr Fahrzeugtechnik AG & Company KG (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Krachler, Gerhard, Rodler, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): DEBERADINIS, ROBERT L
• Application Number:
  US13/635,413
• Publication Number:
  US 20130285444A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,642 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2001/0455 Removal or replacement of the energy storages
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0472 from below
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/005 Electrical coupling combined with fluidic coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/518 for holding or embracing several coupling parts, e.g. frames
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/631 for engagement only
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/26 for vehicles
• 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

Abstract

A coupling between a replaceable battery and a vehicle in order to produce an electrical contact between the battery and a vehicle electrical system. The coupling includes at least one vehicle-side coupling part and at least one battery-side coupling part, each coupling part having at least one electrical contact site. The contact sites of the coupling parts that are separate from each other until the battery is mechanically fastened to the vehicle can be brought into mutual contact after the battery has been mechanically fastened to the vehicle.

Claims

1. A coupling between a replaceable battery and a vehicle, the coupling comprising:

at least one vehicle-side coupling part which is subjected to a restoring force that acts in an opposite direction to a coupling direction, and at least one battery-side coupling part, each coupling part having at least one electrical contact site,

wherein in a first position in which the replaceable battery is not mechanically fastened to the vehicle, the at least one electrical contact sites of the coupling parts are separate from each other, and in a second position in which the replaceable battery is mechanically fastened to the vehicle, the at least one electrical contact sites of the coupling parts are in mutual contact, and the vehicle-side coupling part.

2. The coupling of claim 1, wherein the electrical contact sites of the coupling parts each form a plug-in connection.

3. The coupling of claim 1, wherein the vehicle-side coupling part comprises at least one bias mechanism that generates the restoring force.

4. The coupling of claim 3, wherein the bias mechanism comprises a spring.

5. The coupling of claim 4, the spring comprises a helical spring that is guided on a spring spigot.

6. The coupling of claim 1, wherein the coupling parts are configured for mechanical coupling to each other.

7. The coupling of claim 6, wherein the mechanical coupling produces the electrical contact.

8. The coupling of claim 1, further comprising at least one switch arranged on at least one of the coupling parts.

9. The coupling of claim 8, wherein the at least one switch is configured for actuation when the electrical contact sites are connected.

10. The coupling of claim 9, wherein the at least one switch is connected to an output unit, at which the status of the electrical connection is indicated.

11. The coupling of claim 1, further comprising at least one guide spigot on at least one of the coupling elements that cooperates with a corresponding receiving device of the other coupling element.

12. The coupling of claim 1, wherein the coupling between the replaceable battery and the vehicle is configured to produce an electrical contact between the replaceable battery and an electrical system of the vehicle.

13. A vehicle comprising:

an electrical drive;

an electrical system;

a battery;

a coupling provided spatially below a passenger footwell of the vehicle and which provides a mechanical fastening between the battery and the vehicle to produce an electrical contact between the battery and the electrical system, the coupling including at least one vehicle-side coupling part and at least one battery-side coupling part, each coupling part having at least one electrical contact site; and

a service orifice having a cover is arranged spatially above the coupling and which permits access to the coupling,

wherein in a first position in which the battery is not mechanically fastened to the vehicle, the at least one electrical contact sites of the coupling parts are separate from each other, and in a second position in which the battery is mechanically fastened to the vehicle, the at least one electrical contact sites of the coupling parts are in mutual contact.

14. The vehicle of claim 13, further comprising:

a plurality of positioning devices provided on the battery; and

a plurality of receiving devices which correspond to the positioning devices and provided on the vehicle.

15. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein:

the vehicle-side coupling part is subjected to a restoring force that acts in an opposite direction to a coupling direction; and

the vehicle-side coupling part comprises at least one bias mechanism guided on a spigot and that generates the restoring force.

16. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein:

the coupling parts are configured for mechanical coupling to each other; and

the mechanical coupling produces the electrical contact.

17. The vehicle of claim 13, further comprising at least one switch is arranged on at least one of the coupling parts.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein:

the at least one switch is configured for actuation when the electrical contact sites are connected; and

the at least one switch is connected to an output unit, at which the status of the electrical connection is indicated.

19. The vehicle of claim 13, further comprising at least one guide spigot on at least one of the coupling elements that cooperates with a corresponding receiving device of the other coupling element.

20. A vehicle, the vehicle comprising:

an electrical drive;

an electrical system;

a replaceable battery; and

a coupling to provide a mechanical fastening between the replaceable battery and the vehicle which produces an electrical contact between the replaceable battery and the electrical system, the coupling including;

at least one vehicle-side coupling part having at least one vehicle-side electrical contact site, and which is subjected to a restoring force that acts in an opposite direction to a coupling direction; and

at least one battery-side coupling part having at least one battery-side electrical contact site,

wherein in a first position in which the replaceable battery is not mechanically fastened to the vehicle, the at least one vehicle-side electrical contact site and the at least one battery-side electrical contact sites are separate from each other, and in a second position in which the replaceable battery is mechanically fastened to the vehicle, the at least one vehicle-side electrical contact site and the at least one electrical contact sites are in mutual contact.