WO2011157565A1

WO2011157565A1 - Electric vehicle, rechargeable battery unit, and device for charging the rechargeable battery unit

Info

Publication number: WO2011157565A1
Application number: PCT/EP2011/059103
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Calefice; Sylvia Calefice
Original assignee: Michael Calefice; Sylvia Calefice
Priority date: 2010-06-15
Filing date: 2011-06-01
Publication date: 2011-12-22
Also published as: DE102010023760B4; DE102010023760A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle (1) having at least one electric motor as the sole drive and having a plurality of rechargeable batteries (8). Such motor vehicles comprise a relatively short cruising range due to the limited capacity of the rechargeable batteries (8). Charging times are high and replacement of the rechargeable batteries (8) is difficult and time-intensive. The aim of the invention is to provide a motor vehicle (1) having at least one electric motor as the sole drive that is also suitable for long range use. The aim is achieved in that the rechargeable batteries (8) are connected in the form of a chain (16) to form a rechargeable battery unit, and in that a spiral-shaped channel (2a) is disposed in the motor vehicle (1), in which the chain (16) can be inserted and from which the chain (16) can be removed, wherein the rechargeable battery unit can be contacted in the channel (2a). The invention further relates to a rechargeable battery unit for such a motor vehicle (1) and to a charging station for the rechargeable battery unit.

Description

Electric motor vehicle, accumulator unit and device for loading the

accumulator

description

The invention relates to a motor vehicle with at least one electric motor as the only drive and with a plurality of batteries. The invention further relates to an accumulator unit for such a motor vehicle and a charging station for the accumulator unit.

Motor vehicles with electric drive, also known as electric vehicles, are known per se and are to be used increasingly for reasons of environmental protection. For energy supply, these vehicles have a variety of batteries, which have a very high total weight due to the required capacity. The accumulators are either built-in and are charged via a power cable, which is connected to the electric vehicle; the charging times last up to 15 hours depending on the discharge, whereby the motor vehicle is not ready for use during this time. Or the accumulators are grouped into packages that are removed for loading and exchanged for a second package; the replacement is complicated and possible because of the high weight only with special devices. Batteries of the lead type and more recently lithium-ion and lithium-polymer are common.

In many cases the accumulators are combined into one accumulator unit. Here, the accumulators are e.g. already switched so that only two poles are available for connection to the electric vehicle. It is also e.g. from US 345,178 or DD 2902 known to connect batteries to chains. However, the known chains are for a frequent change in which the chain is pulled and / or pushed, e.g. in an electric vehicle, not suitable.

The electric vehicles have only a short range, which is currently at a maximum of about 200 km. In connection with the long loading times or the complex replacement, they are therefore not suitable for long distances. Charging stations are e.g. from FR 2 872 470 A1 and replacement devices are known e.g. from GB 2 317 872 A.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a motor vehicle with at least one electric motor as the only drive, which is also suitable for long distances. Further objects are the provision of a suitable accumulator unit and a corresponding charging station. The first object is solved by the features of claim 1. The accumulators are connected in the form of a chain to a Akkumulatoreinheit, and in the motor vehicle, a spiral channel is arranged, in which the chain can be inserted and from which the chain can be removed, wherein the Akkumulatoreinheit is contacted in the channel. As a result, the empty accumulator unit can be quickly and easily removed from the motor vehicle and exchanged for a charged one, so that the motor vehicle is ready to drive again in a very short time. The time for the replacement corresponds approximately to the tank time of a vehicle with an internal combustion engine. The vehicle is therefore also good for long distances.

The connection of the accumulators in the form of the chain facilitates handling. There is little weight to hand over at the same time. The chain can be moved by pushing and / or pulling and does not need to be lifted. Single defective accumulators of the chain can be exchanged simply and inexpensively.

The helical channel is suitable for space-saving storage of the chain and provides secure guidance so that each individual accumulator is positioned at the predetermined chain at a predetermined location. This allows easy electrical contact in the channel. A targeted cooling of the accumulator is easily possible due to existing spaces by appropriate air flow.

In a first alternative embodiment of the invention, a plate with correspondingly arranged conductor tracks can be moved to contacts of the accumulators for contacting. As a result, a simple electrical connection is made possible after insertion of the accumulator unit. For replacement, all accumulators of the chain can be taken simultaneously from the electrical system of the electric vehicle, with virtually no manual effort is required. The accumulator unit can be replaced without risk of short circuits or sparking.

In a further alternative embodiment, means for reducing the friction between a bottom of the channel and the accumulator unit are arranged. This reduces the forces required to pull out and insert the chain. These agents may e.g. Material combinations with low coefficients of friction or appropriately mounted rollers or balls.

In a preferred alternative, the bottom is rotatably drivable to reduce friction. Here, a peripheral speed of the bottom in the region of an outermost turn of the spiral corresponds to a transport speed of the chain during the replacement. As a result, the friction in partial areas is substantially prevented. Farther the transport is supported, so that tensile or compressive forces are reduced. A relatively tight packing of the chain is achieved.

The second object is solved by the features of claim 5. For connecting, at least one fixed tab is arranged between two adjacent ones of the accumulators. As a result, the tensile or compressive forces required for transport can be absorbed and transmitted without damaging the accumulators. A curvature of the chain for transport in the spiral channel is ensured by articulated connections.

In an alternative embodiment of the accumulator unit, the accumulators are circular-cylindrical and of the lithium-ion or lithium-polymer type. The circular cylindrical shape prevents tilting during transport of the chain. The types offer a particularly high durability.

In a further alternative embodiment of the accumulator unit, each accumulator is partially enclosed by two protective rings, on which first tabs are fastened by means of pins. As a result, on the one hand, the accumulators are mechanically protected. On the other hand, cheap materials for low friction between the channel and the accumulator unit can be easily used.

As an alternative to the protection rings, each accumulator is surrounded by a cup-like housing which is surrounded by a second tab. This allows a particularly simple replacement of individual defective batteries.

The third object is solved by the features of claim 9. It is true that said for the motor vehicle accordingly.

The invention will be further explained with reference to the schematic drawing. Show it

FIG. 1 shows a horizontal section through a part of a motor vehicle and a charging station;

2 shows a vertical section along the line 2--2 of Figure 1

FIG. 3 a connection piece as a detail,

FIG. 4 shows a plan view of a part of an accumulator unit,

Figure 5 is a view of a charging station

Figure 6 shows an alternative fitting as detail and

Figure 7 shows an alternative embodiment of the accumulator.

As can be seen from FIGS. 1 to 3, an accumulator unit is arranged in a motor vehicle 1 with at least one electric motor as the sole drive. This is in a spiral-shaped channel 2 a arranged near the ground of the motor vehicle. The channel 2a is formed of a spirally shaped wall 3, a bottom 4 and cover plate 5. An outer winding of the channel 2a begins at an opening 6, which is recessed in an outside of the motor vehicle 1 and can be closed by means of, for example, a flap.

The wall 3 and the floor 4 are e.g. formed of sheet metal, which is coated with a low-friction material. Alternatively, they are made of low-friction plastic.

In a preferred alternative, the bottom 4 is circular disk-shaped. It is rotatably mounted about a vertical axis and coupled to a drive. The bottom 4 has a normal friction value in this alternative.

The cover plate 5 is arranged parallel to the bottom 4 and perpendicular to this movable. It is made of electrically non-conductive material and includes tracks and contact surfaces. The contact surfaces are arranged on a channel 2a facing side of the cover plate 5 and interconnected with the conductor tracks, that from the accumulator unit, a current with the required voltage and strength is removable. The contact surfaces are positioned on the cover plate 5 in such a way that they correspond to contacts 7 of accumulators 8 of the accumulator unit inserted into the channel 2a. The conductor tracks are conductively connected to a control unit of the motor vehicle 1; They are further connected to a plug contact on the outside of the motor vehicle 1, to which an external charger for the accumulator unit can be connected.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, the channel 2a of the motor vehicle 1 is connected by means of a connecting piece 9 to a charging station 10 having a plurality of charging points 11. The connector 9 is attached to the charging station 10. Each of the charging points 1 1 has a channel 2 b, which essentially corresponds to the channel 2 a of the motor vehicle 1. The spirals of the channels 2a, 2b are either in the same direction or in opposite directions. Each of the charging points 1 1 is connected to a power source and includes a device for testing and charging the batteries 8. The cover plate 5 is electrically connected to this device.

As is particularly clear from FIG. 3, the connecting piece 9 comprises a telescoping proboscis 12, the free second end of which is detachably fastened to the outside of the motor vehicle 1 in the region of the opening 6. The proboscis 12 comprises, as a tube-like casing, a bellows 13, which is firmly connected with its first end to the charging station 10. As a transport device 13 two drivable identical impellers 14 are arranged in the region of the free second end of the bellows. Each of the impellers 14 is rotatably mounted about an axis which is perpendicular to the trays 4 and extends through the second end of the bellows 13. A distance of the axes corresponds to the diameter of the impeller 14 plus a small clearance. Each impeller 14 has four radially outgoing from the axis wings, which are arranged in cross section in the form of a right-angled cross. Transitions between two adjacent blades are rounded according to a shape of the accumulators 8.

Furthermore, 12 guide elements 15 are arranged as a continuation of the channel 2b of the loading station 1 1 within the trunk. The guide elements 15 comprise two side elements and a bottom element. The side elements have a distance corresponding to the width of the channels 2a, 2b and extend between an envelope of the associated impeller 14 and the channel 2b of the loading station 1 first The bottom member extends from the second end of the bellows 13 to this channel 2b.

The charging station 10 is shown in FIG. It has the form of a tubular ring in which the loading points 1 1 to e.g. Chains or ropes are guided paternosterartig movable. The ring is upright and partly underground; According to a viewer, he presents himself as a bow through which the motor vehicles 1 can drive. The proboscis 12 is placed above ground level at one side of the arch. A service station includes a plurality of charging stations 10.

The accumulator unit is formed in the form of a chain 16, in which the accumulators 8 are connected in succession articulated by means of first lugs 17. The accumulators 8 are of the lithium type with a voltage of e.g. 3.7V and with a size optimized for this invention. The contacts 7 are arranged centrically on an upper end face of each accumulator 8. They are concentric with each other and isolated from each other, wherein a first of the contacts 7 is formed like an annular disk and the other surrounds the first annular. The chain 16 includes e.g. about 200 to 250 pieces of accumulators 8.

Each first tab 17 has an elongated, substantially rectangular shape with rounded narrow sides in plan view. A cross section of the first tab 17 is rectangular. Parallel to a longitudinal axis are mirror-symmetrically inserted into a main surface of the first tab 17, two through slots 18. Each one of the first tabs 17 is at each end face (which are in the installed state top and bottom) of two adjacent accumulators 8 by a respective pin 19, an associated of the Slotted holes 18 penetrates, rotatably mounted. The pin 19 has at its free end a head 20 for securing the first tab 17 on the accumulators 8.

Alternatively, the first tab 17 only a single slot 18. So that the first tab 17 can not be pushed over only one of the accumulators 8 when the chain 16 is pushed, corresponding boundaries are arranged on housings of the accumulators 8.

At each accumulator 8, an upper guard ring 20a and a lower guard ring 20b is attached. Each of the protective rings 20a, 20b surrounds the accumulator 8 in a corresponding edge region and is made of low-friction material. In the lower guard ring 20b balls or rollers are optionally rotatably supported as a means for reducing friction.

When the motor vehicle 1 is on the way, it consumes power from the accumulator unit, with the accumulators 8 being emptied.

If the motor vehicle 1 is traveling only for a short distance, in order then to stand for a longer time, the accumulator unit can be connected to the external charger by means of the plug-in contact.

If the motor vehicle 1 is used on long-haul routes, the capacity of the accumulator unit is exhausted according to a route dependent on the driving conditions. The accumulator unit must then be replaced in good time. For this purpose, the driver controls a service station and positions the motor vehicle 1 at the charging station 10. It opens the flap, fixes the trunk 12 at the opening 6 and optionally enters a code for an access authorization at a terminal. The charging station 10 automatically sets the drive for the impellers 14, so that the chain 16 is pulled out of the channel 2a of the motor vehicle 1 and pushed into the channel 2b of the waiting free loading station 11. Once the chain 16 has reached an intended end position, the drive is turned off; All charging points 1 1 are moved in the charging station so that the next loading point 1 1 is ready with a fully loaded chain 16 on the trunk 12. The drive for the impellers 14 is turned on so that the chain 16 is pulled out of the loading point 1 1 and pushed into the channel 2a of the motor vehicle 1. As soon as the chain 16 has reached the prescribed end position, the drive is switched off and a signal is emitted. The driver removes the trunk 12 from the opening 6 and closes the door. The motor vehicle 1 is ready for use again. In the loading station 1 1, the chain 16 is first checked; if one of the accumulators 8 of this chain 16 is defective, it is automatically discarded and repaired, if the chain 16 is ok, it is loaded and ready for a next collection. This removal takes place when the chain 16 returns to the trunk 12 after one revolution in the charging station 10.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the bottom 4 is drivable. For this purpose, the bottom 4 is rotatably mounted about an axis perpendicular to its main surfaces. When the drive is switched on, a circumferential speed of the bottom 4 in the region of an outer turn of the channel 2 a, 2 b corresponds to a transport speed of the chain 16 when pulled or pushed by the impellers 14. One direction of rotation corresponds to the transport direction of the chain 16. In operation, the drive of both trays 4 is switched on simultaneously with the drive of the impellers 14 and turned off a little later than the latter. In this way, a dense packing of the accumulators 8 in the channel 2 is achieved.

An alternative accumulator unit is shown in FIG. Here each accumulator 8 is surrounded by a cup-shaped housing 21. On inner walls of the housing 21 are regularly distributed elastic knobs attached; These prevent play between see the accumulator 8 and the housing 21 and / or dampen vibrations. A cup bottom of the housing 21 is perforated like a sieve. The accumulator is designed as described above.

Each two of the housing 21 are connected by means of two second tabs 22 to a pair. Here, the second tabs 22 are fixedly connected to the housings 21 of the pair, one in an upper and the other in a lower portion of the housing 21st Two third tabs 23 pivotally connect two adjacent pairs of the pairs in the upper and lower regions. Here, the third tabs 23 are connected by means of e.g. Ball or roller bearings attached to the adjacent housings 21 of the associated pairs. Overall, the accumulator unit is thus constructed in the manner of a sleeve chain. In the cup bottom, balls or rollers may additionally be rotatably mounted externally as a means for reducing the friction.

An alternative transport device is shown in FIG. This transport device comprises two endless belts 24.

Each belt 24 is guided around two pulleys 25 and tensioned. Centrally between the pulleys 25, a drive roller 26 is mounted for the belt 24, which is also designed as a tension roller. The belts are eg wedge or toothed belts; the pulleys 25 and the drive rollers 26 are formed accordingly. Rotary axes of all pulleys 25 and drive rollers 26 are perpendicular, wherein the axes of rotation belonging to one of the belt 24 pulleys 24 are arranged on straight lines parallel to a transport direction of the chain 16. At least two strands of the two belts 24, which are adjacent to strands and a transport path of the chain 16, run parallel. A distance of these strands is slightly smaller than a width of the chain 16, so that it is feasible under slight pressure between the Trumen. (A width of the chain 16 corresponds to the diameter of the accumulator 8 or of the housing 21.)

As an alternative to the drive roller 26, at least one of the deflection rollers 25 associated with one of the belts 24 can be driven and one designed as a tensioning roller. In this case, eliminates the drive roller 26 and all runs are parallel.

The replacement of the chain 16 differs from the above described as follows: The belts 24 are driven according to the transport direction, and the chain 16 is transported between the two adjacent dreams, eg pulled out of the channel 2a of the motor vehicle 1 and into the loading station 11 pushed. In this case, the belts 24 engage the accumulators 8 or housings 21 located between the trays.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 motor vehicle

2 channel

5 3 wall

4 floor

5 cover plate

6 opening

7 contact

10 8 accumulator

9 connection piece

10 charging station

1 1 loading point

12 proboscis

15 13 bellows

14 impeller

15 guide element

16 chain

17 first tab

20 18 slot

19 pen

20 head

21 housing

22 second tab

25 23 third tab

24 straps

25 pulleys

26 drive roller

Claims

claims

1 . Motor vehicle with at least one electric motor as the only drive and with a plurality of accumulators (8), characterized in that the Akkumula- gates (8) in the form of a chain (16) are connected to a battery unit and that in the motor vehicle (1) helical channel (2a) is arranged, in which the chain (16) can be inserted and from which the chain (16) can be removed, wherein the accumulator unit in the channel (2a) is contactable.

2. Motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that for contacting a cover plate (5) with correspondingly arranged conductor tracks on contacts (7) of

Accumulators (8) is movable.

3. Motor vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that means for reducing the friction between a bottom (4) of the channel (2) and the accumulator unit are arranged.

4. Motor vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that for reducing the friction of the bottom (4) is rotatably driven.

5. accumulator unit for a motor vehicle (1) with at least one electric motor as the only traction drive, wherein a plurality of the accumulators (8) in the form of a chain (16) are connected, characterized in that for connecting at least one fixed tab (17, 22, 23) is attached directly or indirectly to two adjacent ones of the accumulators (8).

6. accumulator unit according to claim 5, characterized in that the accumulators (8) are circular cylindrical and of the type lithium ions or lithium polymer.

7. Akkumulatoreinheit according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that each accumulator (8) of two protective rings (20) is partially embraced, on the first of the

Tabs (17) by means of pins (19) are rotatably and / or slidably mounted.

8. accumulator unit according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that each accumulator (8) by a cup-shaped housing (21) is surrounded by a second and a third of the tabs (22, 23) is embraced.

9. Charging station with at least one loading point (1 1) for a Akkumulatoreinheit of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the loading point (1 1) a spiralför- in which the chain (16) can be inserted and from which the chain (16) can be removed, the accumulators (8) being contactable in the channel (2b).

10. Loading station according to claim 9, characterized in that a transport device for inserting the chain (16) into the loading station (1 1) and for simultaneous removal from a motor vehicle (1) and vice versa is arranged.

1 1. Loading station according to claim 10, characterized in that the transport device comprises at least one impeller (14).

12. Loading station according to claim 10, characterized in that the transport device comprises two endless belts (24) whose adjacent strands are guided parallel opposite one another.

13. Charging station according to one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that in the loading station (1 1) for contacting a cover plate (5) with correspondingly arranged conductor tracks on contacts (7) of the accumulators (8) is movable.

14. Loading station according to one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that means for reducing the friction between a bottom (4) of the channel (2b) and the accumulator unit are arranged.

15. Loading station according to one of claims 9 to 14, characterized in that for reducing the friction of the bottom (4) is rotatably driven.

16. Loading station according to one of claims 9 to 15, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of charging points (1 1), the paternoster-like movable and in this case are connected to a power supply.