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EP-4740262-A1 - BATTERY MOUNTING SYSTEM

EP4740262A1EP 4740262 A1EP4740262 A1EP 4740262A1EP-4740262-A1

Abstract

An assembly for a battery swap and a method for operating an assembly for a battery swap. The assembly comprises a receiving frame and a battery block insertable inside the receiving frame, a mechanical connection arrangement between the receiving frame and the battery block. The mechanical connection arrangement includes slots and protrusions arranged to cooperate respectively with the slots. Each slot and corresponding protrusion belong, one to the receiving frame and the other to the battery block. All slots respectively extend longitudinally from a first end to a second end parallel to a first axis, the first end of each slot communicating with a mouth opening parallel to a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. Each protrusion engages and move within a corresponding mouth opening and in a corresponding slot for an insertion of the battery block into the receiving frame successively in a second direction parallel to the second axis and in a first direction parallel to the first axis relative to the receiving frame, the mechanical connection arrangement includes at least one stop arrangement for stopping movement of the battery block in the first direction relative to the receiving frame when the protrusions are at a stop position in the slots. The mechanical connection arrangement further comprises a retaining arrangement for retaining the battery block opposite the first direction when the protrusions are at the stop position in the slots. The assembly further has an electrical connection arrangement having a first connector mounted to the battery block and a second connector mounted to the receiving frame. The first connector and second connector being disposed to mutually connect when the battery block moves in the first direction.

Inventors

  • CHOTOVINSKY, Ondrej
  • VESELY, TOMAS
  • JANKU, Radek

Assignees

  • Battswap, Inc.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20230707

Claims (20)

  1. 1. An assembly for a battery swap, the assembly comprising: a receiving frame and a battery block (5, 206) insertable inside the receiving frame; a mechanical connection arrangement between the receiving frame and the battery block, the mechanical connection arrangement including n slots (16, 18, 23, 34) and n protrusions (31, 36) arranged to cooperate respectively with the slots, n being an integer and being at least 2, wherein each slot and corresponding protrusion belong, one to the receiving frame and the other to the battery block, wherein all slots respectively extend longitudinally from a first end to a second end (111, 112) parallel to a first axis (X), the first end of each slot communicating with a mouth opening (42, 44, 47, 91, 92, 95, 97) parallel to a second axis (Z) perpendicular to the first axis (X), wherein each protrusion is configured to engage and move within a corresponding mouth opening and in a corresponding slot for an insertion of the battery block into the receiving frame successively in a second direction (Zl, 41, 223) parallel to the second axis (Z) and in a first direction (XI, 61) parallel to the first axis (X) relative to the receiving frame, the mechanical connection arrangement includes at least one stop arrangement for stopping movement of the battery block in the first direction (XI) relative to the receiving frame when the protrusions are at a stop position (71, 72) in the slots, the mechanical connection arrangement further comprising a retaining arrangement (170, 194) for retaining the battery block opposite the first direction (XI) when the protrusions are at the stop position in the slots; and an electrical connection arrangement having a first connector 94 mounted to the battery block and a second connector (96, 202) mounted to the receiving frame, the first connector and second connector being disposed to mutually connect when the battery block moves in the first direction (XI).
  2. 2. The assembly according to Claim 1, wherein the stop arrangement includes the second end of at least one slot of the slots.
  3. 3. The assembly according to any one of preceding Claims, wherein the retaining arrangement includes a first moveable element (164) elastically biased to protrude at least partially into at least one slot of the slots between the first end and the second end of the at least one slot.
  4. 4. The assembly according to any one of preceding Claims, wherein the retaining arrangement comprises a second moveable element (192) positioned between the battery block and the receiving frame when the battery block is inserted inside the receiving frame, wherein the second moveable element is moveable in the second direction (Zl) relative to the battery block in between a battery block retaining position and a battery block releasing position and the second moveable element is elastically biased towards the battery block retaining position in a direction opposite to the second direction (Zl).
  5. 5. The assembly according to any one of preceding Claims, wherein at least two slots further extend their respective second ends in a third direction (Z2) parallel to the second axis (Z) and opposite to the second direction (Zl) so that for the insertion of the battery block into the receiving frame respective protrusions are further configured to move relative to the receiving frame in the at least two slots in the third direction (Z2).
  6. 6. The assembly according to any one of preceding Claims, wherein each mouth has a width parallel to the first axis (X), the width gradually decreasing from an open end of the mouth up to the slot.
  7. 7. The assembly according to any one of preceding Claims, wherein n is at least 4, and the n slots form at least a first pair of slots and a second pair of slots, the slots of the first pair being aligned parallel to the first axis (X) and the second pair being aligned parallel to the first axis (X).
  8. 8. The assembly according to Claim 7, each of first pair of slots further extends its respective second end in a third direction (Z2, 81) parallel to the second axis (Z) and opposite to the second direction (Zl), wherein the first pair of slots is spaced apart from the second pair of slots in the first direction (XI).
  9. 9. The assembly according to any one of preceding Claims, wherein all slots belong to one of the receiving frame and battery block and all protrusions belong to the other of the receiving frame and battery block, all slots extending in the first direction (XI) from the first end to the second end.
  10. 10. The assembly of Claim 9, wherein all slots belong to the receiving frame and all protrusions belong to the battery block.
  11. 11. The assembly according to Claim 10, wherein the receiving frame includes two frame sides (17, 24, 144) extending parallel to the first axis (X) and the battery block comprises two battery block sides (153, 157) extending parallel to the first axis (X), wherein the slots are formed in the frame sides and the protrusions extend from the battery block sides.
  12. 12. The assembly according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the receiving frame includes two frame sides extending parallel to the first axis (X) and the battery block comprises two battery block sides extending parallel to the first axis (X), wherein the receiving frame has a first crosspiece (21, 203) fixed to the two frame sides and the battery block has a front side (37) facing the first crosspiece when the battery block is inserted inside the receiving frame, the first connector being borne by the front side of the battery block and the second connector being borne by the first crosspiece.
  13. 13. The assembly according to Claim 12, wherein the first connector is elastically coupled to the front side of the battery block.
  14. 14. The assembly according to Claim 12 or 13, wherein the second connector is elastically coupled to the first crosspiece.
  15. 15. The assembly according to anyone of Claims 12 to 14, wherein the receiving frame has a second crosspiece (21, 211) fixed to the two frame sides and the battery block has a back side (30) opposite to the front side, the back side of the battery block facing the second crosspiece when the battery block is inserted inside the receiving frame.
  16. 16. A vehicle (1) having a vehicle frame (2) and an assembly according to any one of preceding Claims, the receiving frame being unitary with the vehicle frame, the first axis (X) being substantially horizontal when the vehicle is in use and the second direction (Zl) extending substantially vertically upward when the vehicle is in use.
  17. 17. A receiving frame for an assembly according to any one of Claims 12 to 15, comprising: the two frame sides extending parallel to a first axis (X); the first crosspiece fixed to the two frame sides; the second connector being borne by the first crosspiece; wherein the slots are formed in the frame sides.
  18. 18. A battery block (5) for an assembly according to any one of Claims 12 to 15, having the first connector borne by the front side of the battery block, wherein the protrusions extend from the battery block sides.
  19. 19. A method for operating an assembly for a battery swap, the method comprising inserting a battery block (5, 206) inside a receiving frame by using a mechanical connection arrangement between the receiving frame and the battery block, wherein mechanical connection arrangement including n slots (16, 18, 23, 34) and n protrusions (31, 36) arranged to cooperate respectively with the slots, n being an integer and being at least 2, wherein each slot and corresponding protrusion belong, one to the receiving frame and the other to the battery block, wherein all slots respectively extend longitudinally from a first end to a second end (111, 112) parallel to a first axis (X), the first end of each slot communicating with a mouth opening (42, 44, 47, 91, 92, 95, 97) parallel to a second axis (Z) perpendicular to the first axis (X), wherein the inserting comprising: engaging and moving each protrusion within a corresponding mouth opening and in a corresponding slot for an insertion of the battery block into the receiving frame successively in a second direction (Zl, 41, 233) parallel to the second axis (Z) and in a first direction (XI, 61) parallel to the first axis (X) relative to the receiving frame; creating an electrical connection between a first connector (94) mounted to the battery block and a second connector (96, 202) mounted to the receiving frame, wherein the first connector and second connector being disposed to mutually connect when the battery block moves in the first direction (XI); stopping via at least one stop arrangement the movement of the battery block in the first direction (XI) relative to the receiving frame when the protrusions are at a stop position (71, 72) in the slots; and retaining by a retaining arrangement (170, 194) the battery block inside the receiving frame opposite in the first direction (XI) when the protrusions are at the stop position in the slots.
  20. 20. The method according to Claim 19, wherein at least two slots further extend their respective second ends in a third direction (Z2, 81) parallel to the second axis (Z) and opposite to the second direction (Zl) and the inserting further comprising: moving respective protrusions relative to the receiving frame in the at least two slots in the third direction (Z2).

Description

BATTERY MOUNTING SYSTEM FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure generally relates to a battery mounting system. BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Growing interest in battery replacement technologies as a fast way to improve utilization of electrically powered devices, such as for instance electrical vehicles, has brought many challenges in handling and manipulation of battery blocks providing the electrical power to such devices. The handling and manipulation of a battery block typically involves a removal of a depleted battery block from the device, moving the depleted battery block to a dedicated battery storage area, collecting a charged battery block, moving and mounting the charged battery block back into the device. As a battery block may weigh up to hundreds of kilograms it is desirable to have a reliable battery block mounting system that enables a safe insertion of such charged battery block into the electrically powered device. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE One aspect of the present disclosure is directed to an assembly for a battery swap. The assembly for a battery swap comprises a receiving frame and a battery block insertable inside the receiving frame, a mechanical connection arrangement between the receiving frame and the battery block, the mechanical connection arrangement including n slots and n protrusions arranged to cooperate respectively with the slots, n being an integer and being at least 2. Each slot and corresponding protrusion belong, one to the receiving frame and the other to the battery block. All slots respectively extend longitudinally from a first end to a second end parallel to a first axis, the first end of each slot communicating with a mouth opening parallel to a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. Each protrusion is configured to engage and move within a corresponding mouth opening and in a corresponding slot for an insertion of the battery block into the receiving frame successively in a second direction parallel to the second axis and in a first direction parallel to the first axis relative to the receiving frame. The mechanical connection arrangement includes at least one stop arrangement for stopping movement of the battery block in the first direction relative to the receiving frame when the protrusions are at a stop position in the slots, the mechanical connection arrangement further comprising a retaining arrangement for retaining the battery block opposite the first direction, when the protrusions are at the stop position in the slots. The assembly for a battery swap also comprises an electrical connection arrangement having a first connector mounted to the battery block and a second connector mounted to the receiving frame, the first connector and second connector being disposed to mutually connect when the battery block moves in the first direction. Additionally, the stop arrangement may include the second end of at least one of the slots. Additionally, each slot may include a first edge which opens to the corresponding mouth at the first end of at least one of the slots, and the retainer arrangement may include a boss protruding from the first edge into the at least one of the slots, the boss may be located between the mouth and the second end of the at least one of the slots. The boss may be located adjacent the mouth. Additionally, the retaining arrangement may include a first moveable element elastically biased to protrude at least partially into at least one of the slots between the first end and the second end of the at least one of the slots. Additionally, the retainer arrangement may include a second moveable element that may be positioned between the battery block and the receiving frame when the battery block is inserted inside the receiving frame. The second moveable element may be moveable in the second direction relative to the battery block in between a battery retaining position and a battery releasing position. The second moveable element may be elastically biased towards the retaining position in a direction opposite to the second direction. Additionally, the retaining arrangement may include only the first moveable element, only the second moveable element or a combination thereof. Additionally, at least two slots may further extend their respective second ends in a third direction parallel to the second axis and opposite to the second direction so that for the insertion of the battery block into the receiving frame respective protrusions may be further configured to move relative to the receiving frame in the at least two slots in the third direction. Additionally, each mouth may have a width parallel to the first axis, the width may be gradually decreasing from an open end of the mouth up to the slot. Additionally, n may be at least 4, and the n slots may form at least a first pair of slots and a second pair of slots, the slots of the first pair may be aligned parallel to the first axis and the second pair being aligned parallel to