Device and method for replacement of batteries in battery driven vehicles

• US 9,352,728 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2013
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sten Corfitsen
• Original Assignee: Sten Corfitsen
• Inventors: Corfitsen, Sten
• Primary Examiner(s): Restifo, Jeffrey J
• Application Number:
  US14/395,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20150129337A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,140 Days
• Field of Search: 180/68.5
• 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 2001/0472 from below
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/18 Buses
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/36 Vehicles designed to transport cargo, e.g. trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49108 Electric battery cell making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53135 Storage cell or battery

Abstract

Method for battery replacement in a vehicle (110), which vehicle is equipped with a storage space (150;200;300;400) for a battery (120,122;220;320;420;620), where an opening (151;204;304;404) into the storage space exists under the vehicle, wherein the vehicle assumes a first and a second predetermined position in relation to first and second battery transport devices (130;140) that bring a battery out from the vehicle and a battery into the vehicle. The transport devices are installed at least partly above ground (100) and beside the positions, and in that the batteries are brought along a respective path (121,123) running from the storage space, under a side beam (112) of the vehicle and up to a respective position above ground and beside the vehicle. A device for automatic battery replacement and a storage device for use in a vehicle are also described.

Claims

1. Method for battery replacement in a vehicle (110), which vehicle is equipped with a storage space (150;

200;

300;

400) for a battery (120,122;

220;

320;

420;

620), wherein an opening (151;

204;

304;

404) into the storage space is arranged under the vehicle, wherein a battery installed in the storage space is arranged to be used to propel the vehicle, wherein the following steps are performed;

a) the vehicle is caused to assume a first predetermined position in relation to a first transport device (130), arranged at least partly above ground (100) and beside the first predetermined position, for automatic transport of a first battery (120) out and away from the vehicle;

b) the first transport device is caused to bring the first battery out and away from the vehicle along a first path (121) running from the storage space, under a side beam (112) of the vehicle and up to a position above ground and beside the vehicle;

c) the vehicle is caused to assume a second predetermined position, which may be the same as the first predetermined position, in relation to a second transport device (140), which may be the same as the first transport device and which is arranged at least partly above ground and beside the second predetermined position, for automatic transport of a second battery (122) up to and into the vehicle; and

d) the second transport device is caused to bring the second battery up to and into the vehicle along a second path (123) running from a position above ground and beside the vehicle, under a side beam of the vehicle and up to the storage space;

characterised in that, in step b), a hinged door (210;

310;

410;

510), arranged at the underside of the vehicle so that it in a closed position covers the opening, is opened downwards, whereby a part of the first battery, which in this position at least partly is supported by a support surface (213;

313;

413;

505) of the door, becomes available to an engagement device (240;

340) of the first transport device (130), and in that the first engagement device thereafter in step b) engages with or supports the first battery and brings the first battery along the support surface of the door, in a direction with a non-zero horizontal component, away from the storage space and thereafter away from the vehicle along the said first path.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that, in step b) and/or in step d), the respective battery (120,122;

220;

320;

420;

620) is caused to slide along a sliding surface comprised in the support surface (213;

313;

413;

505).

3. Method according to claim 2, characterised in that the sliding of the respective battery (120,122;

220;

320;

420;

620) is caused to be performed along a roller- or ball bed (212;

312;

412;

503).

4. Method according to claim 3, characterised in that the support surface (213;

313) in the open position of the door (210;

310) is caused to slant so much so that the first battery (220;

320) merely by the pull of gravity (G) can slide downwards along the sliding surface (212;

312) and on to a position in which the first engagement device (240;

340) can engage with or support the first battery, after which the first transport device (130) can take the first battery away from the vehicle (110).

5. Method according to claim 3, characterised in that, in step d), a second engagement device (240;

340) of the second transport device (140) engages with or supports the second battery (122;

220;

320;

420), and brings it in under the vehicle (110) along the said path (123), up to the door (210;

310;

410;

500), which is in its open position, to a position where the second battery is at least partly supported by the support surface (213;

313;

413;

505) of the door, and thereafter along the support surface, in a direction which has a non-zero horizontal component, in towards the storage space (150;

200;

300;

400) and up to a desired position, after which the door is closed, whereby the second battery is inserted completely into the storage space.

6. Method according to claim 3, characterised in that electric contact between the second battery (122;

320;

420) and the vehicle (110) is achieved by means of a respective essentially vertically arranged contact means (303,321;

403,421;

610;

630) of the second battery and the vehicle, respectively, coming into good electric contact with each other when the second battery is supported by the support surface (313;

413;

505) and the door (310;

410;

500) is closed so that the second battery is brought upwards, into the storage space (150;

300;

400).

7. Method according to claim 2, characterised in that the support surface (213;

313) in the open position of the door (210;

310) is caused to slant so much so that the first battery (220;

320) merely by the pull of gravity (G) can slide downwards along the sliding surface (212;

312) and on to a position in which the first engagement device (240;

340) can engage with or support the first battery, after which the first transport device (130) can take the first battery away from the vehicle (110).

8. Method according to claim 7 characterised in that, in step d), a second engagement device (240;

340) of the second transport device (140) engages with or supports the second battery (122;

220;

320;

420), and brings it in under the vehicle (110) along the said path (123), up to the door (210;

310;

410;

500), which is in its open position, to a position where the second battery is at least partly supported by the support surface (213;

313;

413;

505) of the door, and thereafter along the support surface, in a direction which has a non-zero horizontal component, in towards the storage space (150;

200;

300;

400) and up to a desired position, after which the door is closed, whereby the second battery is inserted completely into the storage space.

9. Method according to claim 7, characterised in that electric contact between the second battery (122;

320;

420) and the vehicle (110) is achieved by means of a respective essentially vertically arranged contact means (303,321;

403,421;

610;

630) of the second battery and the vehicle, respectively, coming into good electric contact with each other when the second battery is supported by the support surface (313;

413;

505) and the door (310;

410;

500) is closed so that the second battery is brought upwards, into the storage space (150;

300;

400).

10. Method according to claim 2, characterised in that, in step d), a second engagement device (240;

340) of the second transport device (140) engages with or supports the second battery (122;

220;

320;

420), and brings it in under the vehicle (110) along the said path (123), up to the door (210;

310;

410;

500), which is in its open position, to a position where the second battery is at least partly supported by the support surface (213;

313;

413;

505) of the door, and thereafter along the support surface, in a direction which has a non-zero horizontal component, in towards the storage space (150;

200;

300;

400) and up to a desired position, after which the door is closed, whereby the second battery is inserted completely into the storage space.

11. Method according to claim 10, characterised in that the second transport device (140) pushes the second battery (122;

220;

320;

420) upwards along the support surface (213;

313;

413;

505) of the door (210;

310;

410;

500) up to a position from which the second battery is brought upwards and into the storage space (150;

200;

300;

400) when the door is completely closed.

12. Method according to claim 11, characterised in that electric contact between the second battery (122;

220;

320;

420) and the vehicle (110) is achieved by means of the second transport device (140) pushing the second battery along the support surface (213;

313;

413;

505) up to a position in which respective contact means (203,221;

610,630) of the second battery and the vehicle, respectively, come into contact with each other, and thereafter pushes the second battery an additional distance in substantially the same direction, whereby adequate electric contact is achieved by a male contact (613) engaging with a corresponding female contact (632) as a consequence of the motion of the second battery in relation to the storage space (150;

200).

13. Method according to claim 2, characterised in that electric contact between the second battery (122;

320;

420) and the vehicle (110) is achieved by means of a respective essentially vertically arranged contact means (303,321;

403,421;

610;

630) of the second battery and the vehicle, respectively, coming into good electric contact with each other when the second battery is supported by the support surface (313;

413;

505) and the door (310;

410;

500) is closed so that the second battery is brought upwards, into the storage space (150;

300;

400).

14. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the storage space (150;

200;

300;

400) in an initial step is achieved by a space, which is closed everywhere but at the said opening (151;

204;

304;

404), is arranged in the underside of the vehicle (110), so that the opening is arranged essentially in line with the underside of the vehicle and at a distance from all side beams (112) of the vehicle.

15. Device (130;

140) for automatic battery replacement in a vehicle (110) equipped with a storage space (150;

200;

300;

400) for a battery (120,122;

220;

320;

420), wherein an opening (151;

204;

304;

404) to the storage space is arranged under the vehicle, and wherein a battery installed in the storage space is arranged to be used to propel the vehicle, which device is arranged to, after the vehicle has assumed a first predetermined position in relation to the device, bring a first battery out and away from the vehicle, and to, after the vehicle has assumed a second predetermined position in relation to the device, which may be the same as the first predetermined position, bring a second battery up to and into the vehicle, whereby the device is arranged to be installed at least partly above ground (100) and beside the first and second, respectively, predetermined position, and in that the device is arranged to bring the first and second batteries away from and up to, respectively, the vehicle along a respective path (121,123) which runs from the storage space, under a side beam (112) of the vehicle and up to a respective position above ground and beside the vehicle, characterised in that a first engagement device (240;

340) of the device is arranged to, after a hinged door (210;

310;

410;

500), arranged at the underside of the vehicle and to be opened downwards and in a closed position cover the said opening, has been opened, and a part of the first battery (120;

220;

320;

420), which in this position of the door at least partly is supported from below of a support surface (213;

313;

413;

505) of the door, to engage with or support the first battery and to bring the first battery along the support surface of the door in a direction with a non-zero horizontal component, away from the storage space and thereafter away from the vehicle along said path.

16. Device (130;

140) according to claim 15, characterised in that a second engagement device (240;

340) of the automatic battery replacement device is arranged to engage with or support the second battery (122;

220;

320;

420), and to bring it in under the vehicle (110), along the said path (123), up to the door (210;

310;

410;

500), which is then in an open position, to a position in which the second battery is supported by the support surface (213;

313;

413;

505) of the door, and thereafter along the support surface, in a direction which has a non-zero horizontal component, inwards towards the storage space (150;

200;

300;

400) and on to a desired position from which the second battery can be inserted completely into the storage space when the door is closed.

17. Storage device for use in a vehicle (110) arranged to receive and accommodate a battery (120,122;

220;

320;

420), which when installed in a storage space (150;

200;

300;

400) comprised in the storage device is arranged to be used for propulsion of the vehicle, where the storage device comprises an opening (151;

204;

304;

404) into the storage space under the vehicle, characterised in that the storage device comprises a hinged door (210;

310;

410;

500) which is arranged at the underside of the vehicle, in that the door is arranged to be opened downwards and to in a closed position cover the said opening, and in that an upper support surface (213;

313;

413;

505) of the door is arranged to at least partly and slidably support the battery when the door is in an open position.

18. Storage device according to claim 17, characterised in that the support surface (213;

313;

413;

505) comprises a sliding surface (212;

312;

412;

503) along which the battery (120;

122;

220;

320;

420) can slide.

19. Storage device according to claim 18, characterised in that the door (210;

310;

500) has a free end (502) and a hinged end, whereby the free end can be folded downwards when opening the door so that the support surface (213;

313;

505) as a consequence thereof becomes slanted.

20. Storage device according to claim 18, characterised in that the door (410;

500) engages with the remaining parts of the storage device via a slewing bracket system (411) so that the door, when opening the door, can be displaced downwards while the supporting surface (413;

505) is held essentially horizontal during the whole process of opening the door.