DE102012202163A1 - Device for e.g. lifting traction battery in under floor-side installation space of electric car, has lever mounted at battery tray with spindle and nut, and holding unit mounted at vehicle, where force arm of lever is connected with nut - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a battery tray (2) for retaining a traction battery, and actuators (22) comprising a spindle that is provided with a spindle head, where drive torque is transferable on the spindle over the spindle head. A threaded nut is connected with the spindle in a direction of a spindle axis. A force arm of a lever is connected with the nut. A holding unit is fastened at the battery tray, and the lever is mounted at a vehicle with the spindle and the spindle head. The lever is mounted at the battery tray with the spindle and the nut. The holding unit is mounted at the vehicle. The holding unit is designed as a bolt.

Description

The invention relates to a device for the exchange-side replacement of replaceable batteries in an electrically driven vehicle, wherein the device supports both the inclusion of a bottom side mounted in the vehicle battery trough and fixed captive battery trough in the vehicle. Furthermore, the invention relates to a vehicle that is equipped for a battery change with the help of the generic device and a battery tray designed for this purpose.

In the course of the scarcity of fossil fuels and increased pollutant pollution by an increasing individual traffic worldwide, the search for alternative drive concepts for internal combustion engines is gaining in importance. For example, electrically powered vehicles are currently being treated as the future of individual transport. In particular, if the primary energy used for the operation of the electric vehicles of regenerative nature such as sun, wind or tides, a significant improvement in the environmental performance of individual transport can be achieved by its electrification.

However, a nationwide collection of electrically powered vehicles are still the high cost of the energy storage required battery and their limited storage capacity and their compared to a refueling long charging time. The currently available battery technology does not allow the energy density of fossil fuels, so that the range of purely electrically powered vehicles does not meet the needs of many consumers. Since charging the battery can take several hours, the electric vehicle is not easily suitable for long-distance travel.

However, one approach to the upgrading of electric vehicles for long-distance travel are battery replacement systems, as for example US2009082957A1 are known. Thereafter, the vehicles are equipped with replaceable batteries, which can be replaced in a nationwide network of battery changing stations against fully charged batteries, if required by their state of charge. For this purpose, batteries charged in the battery replacement station are kept in stock. The change process takes much less time than charging the battery, so that the long charging time for the driver loses relevance. The discharged battery removed from the vehicle is recharged at the change station and is then available for further replacement.

In such a model, the driver does not purchase the expensive traction battery, which significantly reduces the initial investment for an electric vehicle. Rather, for example, the operator of the changing station or another service provider owner of the battery, which in turn can finance through appropriate user fees.

The attractiveness of such an infrastructure depends crucially on whether it makes it possible to make available a battery replacement system at a reasonable cost, which allows a rapid change of the accumulator comparable to a current refueling process. Here, it is important to coordinate the mechanical and electrical interfaces between the vehicle, battery and changeover station under optimal technical and economic aspects.

From the US20100071979A1 a battery replacement system is known in which the traction battery is mounted in a frame construction. On the vehicle there are four snap locks, which are actuated by also mounted on the vehicle electric motors and various transmission components. The latches each engage with a bolt attached to the battery to lift the battery from the vehicle underbody side into the vehicle and fix it there.

The invention has for its object to simplify a battery change in an electric vehicle with Wechselakkumulator.

• – einen Batterietrog zur Aufnahme der Traktionsbatterie,
• – eine Spindel mit einem Spindelkopf, über den ein Antriebsmoment von einem Aktuator auf die Spindel übertragbar ist,
• – eine mit der Spindel formschlüssig verbundene, in Richtung der Spindelachse bewegliche und drehfest gelagerte Gewindemutter,
• – einen drehbar gelagerten Hebel, dessen Kraftarm mit der Gewindemutter unmittelbar verbunden ist derart, dass eine Bewegung der Gewindemutter in Richtung der Spindelachse eine Schwenkbewegung des Hebels um seinen Angelpunkt bewirkt, und
• – ein Haltemittel, in das der Hebel während der Schwenkbewegung eingreifen kann, um das Heben des Batterietroges in das Fahrzeug und dessen Fixierung zu bewirken,

wobei

• – das Haltemittel am Batterietrog befestigt ist und der Hebel mit der Spindel und der Mutter am Fahrzeug montierbar sind oder
• – der Hebel mit der Spindel und der Mutter am Batterietrog befestigt sind und das Haltemittel am Fahrzeug montierbar ist.

This object is achieved by a device for lifting and fixing a traction battery of an electrically driven vehicle in an underbody space of the vehicle with the features according to claim 1. This includes

• A battery tray for holding the traction battery,
• A spindle with a spindle head, via which a drive torque can be transmitted from an actuator to the spindle,
• A threaded nut connected in a form-fitting manner with the spindle and movable in the direction of the spindle axis, and non-rotatably mounted,
• - A rotatably mounted lever whose power arm is directly connected to the threaded nut such that a movement of the threaded nut in the direction of the spindle axis causes a pivotal movement of the lever about its pivot point, and
• A holding means, in which the lever can engage during the pivoting movement, in order to bring about the lifting of the battery trough into the vehicle and its fixation,

in which

• - The holding means is attached to the battery tray and the lever with the spindle and the nut are mounted on the vehicle or
• - The lever with the spindle and the nut are attached to the battery tray and the retaining means is mounted on the vehicle.

The object is also achieved by a vehicle with the features of claim 9 and by a battery tray according to claim 10.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims.

The inventive device provides a simple and inexpensive solution for a quick battery change. It is preferably proposed a passive system in which no electromotive or hydraulic drive on board the vehicle or directly to the battery or to the serving for its holder battery tray are needed , Rather, the actuation of the spindle can be done by an external drive, which is assigned to a battery changing station. This allows the vehicle or battery side built-in device for changing the battery can be made significantly cheaper. The external drive engages the spindle head to transmit its drive torque to the spindle and to set it in a rotational movement about the spindle axis. This rotational movement is converted into a translational movement of the rotatably mounted on the spindle threaded nut, wherein the direction of movement of the threaded nut depends on the direction of rotation of the spindle and is always oriented in the direction of the spindle axis.

Immediately in contact with the nut is the pivoting lever. Immediately means in this context that between the nut and the lever no further in the direction of the lever arms ersteckende force or torque transmitting, hinged to the lever and / or the threaded nut components are arranged.

During the translational movement of the threaded nut, the lever undergoes a rotational movement about its suspension point, i. H. its pivot. In order to lift the battery in the vehicle, the load arm of the lever engages in the holding means and thus converts the pivoting movement of the lever in turn into a translational movement of the battery tray in the lower-side space.

According to the invention, at least three, preferably four such devices are provided to lift the traction battery in the vehicle and to clamp it captive. Here are basically two different arrangements for the lever with the spindle and the threaded nut on the one hand and the hereby interacting holding means on the other conceivable and equally encompassed by the invention. Thus, the holding means can be attached to the battery tray and the lever with the spindle and the threaded nut are fastened to the vehicle. However, it may also be reversed, the lever with the spindle and the threaded nut to be attached to the battery tray and the holding means on the vehicle.

A simple, yet functional design of the holding means is a bolt. This can be grasped when lifting the lever, lifted and braced. For this purpose, the lever preferably has a blade-like functional contour in the region of its load arm.

The lifting and tensioning process introduced via the spindle head is particularly easy in a change station with an actuator arranged outside the vehicle, when the spindle head is moved from below - d. H. at the bottom of the vehicle - easily accessible, so that a z. B. electric motor drive torque can be transmitted directly to the spindle head without any angle drives. Accordingly, an embodiment of the device according to the invention designed as particularly advantageous, in which the spindle has a substantially vertical axis of rotation and the spindle head has an inner or outer contour over which the spindle can be rotated by means of an actuator disposed outside of the vehicle in rotation. Essentially important in this context that the orientation of the spindle depending on the lever position can vary quite a few degrees, for example, a maximum of 5, preferably a maximum of 3, more preferably not more than 2 degrees, from the exact vertical. The smaller the deviation from the vertical, the more favorable the load or momentum transfer ratios in the system.

Each lever can be characterized by a power arm and a load arm, which adjoin each other at the pivot point of the lever. According to the invention, the power arm is directly coupled to the threaded nut, ie without further space-accommodating, articulated transmission means, while the load arm engages in the holding means for lifting and bracing the battery. An advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the lever with the threaded nut are connected in a fixed point, so that the power arm of the lever during its pivotal movement about the pivot point of the lever is constant and wherein the spindle about the vertical axis of rotation in a measure is pivotally mounted, that a required for the pivoting movement of the lever pivoting space remains. In this case, only a comparatively slight pivoting movement of the spindle during the lifting movement is required, which does not take up any appreciable installation space. This pivoting movement is preferably characterized by a pivoting angle of at most 5 °, preferably at most 3 °, particularly preferably not more than 2 °.

In an advantageous embodiment of this embodiment, the spindle has a pivotally mounted spindle head with a crowned head contact surface, which is mounted in a conically shaped counter surface. This allows the spindle head to go along with the required pivoting movement and still have a largely stable bearing in the direction of the spindle axis.

As an alternative to the aforementioned pivotability but also an embodiment of the invention is conceivable and includes of the invention, wherein the lever is connected to the threaded nut via a sliding seat with a movable pivot, so that the power arm of the lever during its pivoting movement undergoes a change in length. Accordingly, a slot for receiving a pin connected to the threaded nut can be provided here, for example, in the lever.

The battery can weigh up to 500 kg and must be securely fixed in the compartment-side installation space when accelerating in vehicles of up to 8 g. In order to prevent inadvertent loosening of the threaded nut even under dynamic load, therefore, in an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the spindle with the threaded nut via a thread form-fitting engagement, the slope generates a self-locking nut threaded connection.

Furthermore, the device can advantageously have a sensor for detecting a locked position of the battery trough in the vehicle and thus also a warning message are generated when the lock is not done completely and thus a secure locking of the battery in the vehicle is not given.

In the following the invention with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the figures will be described and explained in more detail.

Show it:

1 a battery tray and an underbody space of an electrically driven vehicle for receiving the battery trough,

2 the battery tray after 1 when installed,

3 a view of one side of the lower-level installation space,

4 a side view of the battery trough,

5 a side view of the built-in in the bottom space space battery tray,

6 an embodiment of the device according to the invention in a first lever position,

7 the embodiment according to 6 in a back view,

8th the embodiment according to 6 in a second lever position,

9 a rear view of the embodiment in the second lever position,

10 the embodiment according to 6 in a third lever position,

11 a rear view of the embodiment in the third lever position,

12 a three-dimensional representation of the embodiment of the device,

13 the three-dimensional representation of the embodiment according to 12 after removing a side cover and

14 an embodiment of the device with a sensor for detecting the locking state.

For identical or equivalent elements of the invention, identical reference numerals are used.

1 shows a battery tray 1 and an underbody space 1 an electrically powered vehicle for receiving the battery trough 2 , For the sake of simplicity, the representation of the vehicle is here on its lower-side space 1 reduced to accommodate the traction battery. At the bottom-side space are two passive actuators on the long sides 22 for lifting and fixing the battery trough 2 shown. The actors 22 comprise a spindle, a threaded nut connected in a form-fitting manner and non-rotatably mounted, and a pivotable lever connected to the threaded nut. The actor 22 is referred to as passive, since he himself has no motor drive for its operation. Details about the here proposed Aktorik are in the 5 to 13 explained in more detail.

The actors 22 are operated vertically from the underbody side with a suitable tool. In the battery tray 2 are through holes 15 provided, through which the tool can be introduced to a head of the spindle in the lower space space 1 to grab and transmit over this one generated by an electric motor torque to the spindle. Tool and electric motor are arranged in a changing station, in which the vehicle enters for a battery change. Accordingly, these components do not need to be carried on board the vehicle, thereby saving costs and space.

By turning the spindle, levers coupled with the spindle pull the battery tray 2 in the installation space 1 one, so that the in 2 shown state results.

3 shows a view on one side of the bottom-side space 1 , where no battery tray 2 is installed. Accordingly, they are located on the spindle 3 over the threaded nut attached lever 6 in a relaxed state. The installation space 1 also includes four shots 17 for on the battery tray 2 correspondingly arranged guide pins 16 (please refer 4 ) as well as a socket 19 , which are for inclusion of in 4 illustrated plug 18 are provided. Rifle 19 and plugs 18 cause the electrical connection between the battery and the vehicle. The electrical connection system contacts both the power cables and signal lines, which transmit state signals from the battery to an in-vehicle controller, thus enabling condition monitoring of the battery, for example.

4 shows a side view of the battery trough 2 , In addition to the elements already mentioned are on two opposite side surfaces in each case in the vicinity of the corners and just above the surface facing the ground in the form of bolts designed holding means 9 provided in which the levers 6 intervene to the battery tray 2 in the lower-level space 1 to pull and fix him there. Overall, the battery trough includes 2 thus four bolts distributed over the two opposite side surfaces, which interact with vehicle-mounted levers 6 are provided.

5 shows a side view of the in the bottom-side space 1 built-in battery tray 2 , The spindle 3 has the threaded nut attached to it and thus the force application point of the lever 6 each pulled down, leaving the battery tray 2 firmly in the compartment-side space 1 is braced against the bolt.

A detailed representation of an advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention is shown in the following figures.

So shows 6 an embodiment of the device according to the invention in a first lever position. 7 shows the embodiment according to 6 in a back view.

The device includes a spindle 3 with a spindle head 4 , Which in a rotational movement about its axis of symmetry with a form-fitting connected and rotatably mounted threaded nut 5 moves in the vertical direction.

The rotary movement is initiated via the spindle head 4 , which forms the mechanical interface to an external actuator and is sealed by a round cord ring not shown here against moisture and dirt. The actuator is preferably designed as an electric motor, whose rotor shaft is coupled drive-proof, in particular via a reduction gear with a tool. The tool has one to the spindle head 4 opposite inner or outer contour so that it can transmit a torque generated by the electric motor to the spindle.

Extern is here as well as in the entire document in relation to the actuator interpreted in such a way that it is not part of the device and thus is not intended to be attached to the battery tray still on the vehicle body. For example, it is part of a change station and therefore does not have to be carried in the vehicle. In contrast to known designs with active alternating systems on the body or battery tray, this saves costs, weight and installation space on board the electric vehicle. At four anchoring points of the battery in the vehicle can be such. B. also four electric motors in the vehicle compared to solutions known from the prior art can be saved.

The threaded nut 5 is directly with the power arm 7 a lever 6 connected. An example of such a direct connection is in 9 recognizable where the nut is 5 over one pin each 12 on two opposite sides of the nut 5 each with a wing 14 of the power arm 7 of the lever 6 is coupled. There is no further articulated element in the direction of the lever extension. Due to this direct coupling not only space is saved. Rather, the structure shown is particularly reliable and robust due to its simplicity.

The lever 6 has load arm side a blade-like contour, with which he in a bolt executed holding means 9 can engage when threaded nut 5 by appropriate rotation of the spindle 3 moves down and so a pivotal movement of the lever 6 clockwise around its pivot 8th triggers.

The pivoting movement of the lever 6 and the associated state changes within the device can be seen in the following figures. To show 8th the embodiment according to 6 in a second lever position, 9 a rear view of the embodiment in the second lever position, 10 the embodiment according to 6 in a third lever position and 11 a rear view of the embodiment in the third lever position.

Clearly recognizable is that the spindle 3 during the pivotal movement of the lever 6 passing through the threaded nut downwards 5 is initiated, also a slight pivoting movement about the junction between the power arm 7 of the lever 6 with the threaded nut 5 experiences. The orientation of the spindle 3 while remaining substantially vertical, it deviates from an exact vertical by a few degrees, for example not more than 3 degrees, preferably less than 2 degrees.

In 8th is the lever 6 pivoted so far that it engages in the bolt. Because threaded nut 5 and levers 6 at a fixed pivot, defined by the in 13 illustrated pin 12 , Are connected and therefore the length of the power arm 7 can not change, the spindle pivots 3 from their vertical clockwise a little off. For this purpose, the spindle head 4 pivoted. It comprises a crowned head support surface 10 , which are in a conically shaped counter surface 11 is stored such that enough pivoting space remains for the lever rotation.

In 10 and 11 Finally, a position of the device in the clamped state can be seen. The trained as a bolt holding means 6 is now fully preloaded with the mechanics associated with the spindle-nut-lever-lever design. This mechanism is advantageously formed by the body of the vehicle. That is, said construction is over in 6 and 7 recognizable screws 13 fastened to the vehicle body while the bolt on the battery tray 2 is arranged. The lever 6 lifts the bolt with its blade-like contour. Four levers arranged on the vehicle body 6 so can a battery tray 2 on the underside of the vehicle lift or support at least one initiated from the outside lifting and fix under application of a biasing force.

However, it is also conceivable, the device in the reverse manner on vehicle body and battery tray 2 to distribute. In this case, the bolts are arranged on the body while the spindle-threaded nut lever constructions in a corresponding number on the battery tray 2 are mounted. The lever 6 with its shovel-shaped load arm is in this case rotated by 180 ° to mount, so that the blade of the load arm on top of the bolt engages around the battery tray 2 upwards into the compartment-side space 1 to pull the vehicle.

14 shows an embodiment of the device with a sensor 20 for detecting the locking state. Via a signal line 21 A signal is sent to a higher-level control, which controls and monitors the lifting and fixing process.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Underbody space of the vehicle

2

battery tray

3

spindle

4

spindle head

5

threaded nut

6

lever

7

power arm

8th

crucial point

9

holding means

10

Head contact surface

11

conically shaped counter surface

12

spigot

13

screw

14

wing

15

Through holes

16

guide pins

17

admission

18

plug

19

Rifle

20

sensor

21

signal line

22

actuator

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• US 2009082957 A1 [0004]
• US 20100071979 A1 [0007]

Claims (11)

Device for lifting and fixing a traction battery of an electrically driven vehicle in an under-floor space ( 1 ) of the vehicle, the device - a battery tray ( 2 ) for holding the traction battery, - a spindle ( 3 ) with a spindle head ( 4 ), via which a drive torque from an actuator to the spindle ( 3 ) is transferable, - one with the spindle ( 3 ) positively connected, movable in the direction of the spindle axis and rotatably mounted threaded nut ( 5 ), - a rotatably mounted lever ( 6 ), whose power arm ( 7 ) with the threaded nut ( 5 ) is directly connected such that a movement of the threaded nut ( 5 ) in the direction of the spindle axis pivotal movement of the lever ( 6 ) around his pivot ( 8th ), and - a holding means ( 9 ) into which the lever ( 6 ) can engage during the pivoting movement to the lifting of the battery tray ( 2 ) into the vehicle and to fix it, wherein - the holding means ( 9 ) on the battery tray ( 2 ) and the lever ( 6 ) with the spindle ( 3 ) and the threaded nut ( 4 ) are mounted on the vehicle or - the lever ( 6 ) with the spindle ( 3 ) and the threaded nut ( 5 ) on the battery tray ( 2 ) and the retaining means ( 9 ) is mountable on the vehicle. Device according to claim 1, wherein the holding means ( 9 ) is designed as a bolt. Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the spindle ( 3 ) has a substantially vertical axis of rotation and the spindle head ( 4 ) has an inner or outer contour over which the spindle ( 3 ) can be rotated by means of an actuator disposed outside the vehicle in rotation. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the spindle ( 3 ) with the threaded nut ( 5 ) is positively engaged via a thread whose pitch produces a self-locking of the threaded nut spindle connection. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lever ( 6 ) with the threaded nut ( 5 ) are connected in a fixed point of attack, so that the force arm ( 7 ) of the lever ( 6 ) during its pivotal movement about the pivot point ( 8th ) of the lever ( 6 ) is constant and where the spindle ( 3 ) is pivotally mounted about the vertical axis of rotation to an extent that one for the pivotal movement of the lever ( 6 ) required pivoting space remains. Device according to claim 5, wherein the spindle ( 3 ) a pivotally mounted spindle head ( 4 ) with a crowned head contact surface ( 10 ), which in a conically shaped counter surface ( 11 ) is stored. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the lever ( 6 ) with the threaded nut ( 5 ) is connected via a sliding seat with a displaceable pivot point, so that the power arm ( 7 ) of the lever ( 6 ) while the pivoting movement undergoes a change in length. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device comprises a sensor for detecting a locked position of the battery trough ( 2 ) in the vehicle. Electrically operated vehicle with an installation space accessible on the lower side ( 1 ) for receiving a replaceable traction battery, wherein on the chassis of the vehicle at least three different positions each - a spindle ( 3 ) with a spindle head ( 4 ), via which a drive torque from an actuator to the spindle ( 3 ) is transferable, - one with the spindle ( 3 ) positively connected, movable in the direction of the spindle axis and rotatably mounted threaded nut ( 5 ), - a rotatably mounted lever ( 6 ), whose power arm ( 7 ) with the threaded nut ( 5 ) is directly connected such that a movement of the threaded nut ( 5 ) in the direction of the spindle axis pivotal movement of the lever ( 6 ) around its pivot point are arranged. Battery tray ( 2 ) for receiving a traction battery for an electrically driven vehicle, wherein the battery tray ( 2 ) at least three different positions each - a spindle ( 3 ) with a spindle head ( 4 ), via which a drive torque from an actuator to the spindle ( 3 ) is transferable, - one with the spindle ( 3 ) positively connected, movable in the direction of the spindle axis and rotatably mounted threaded nut ( 5 ), - a rotatably mounted lever ( 6 ), whose power arm ( 7 ) with the threaded nut ( 5 ) is directly connected such that a movement of the threaded nut ( 5 ) in the direction of the spindle axis pivotal movement of the lever ( 6 ) around his pivot ( 8th ) causes. Vehicle comprising a battery tray ( 2 ) according to claim 10, wherein on the body of the vehicle in each case a holding means ( 9 ) per lever ( 6 ) is mounted in such a way that the lever ( 6 ) can engage in this during the pivoting movement to the lifting of the battery trough ( 2 ) in the vehicle and its fixation effect.

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