Patent · US Active

Battery exchange station

US8164300B2 · kind B2 · utility

100Cited by
145References
24Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 18, 2009
Grant dateApr 24, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 22, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T29/49815
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

At a battery exchange station a discharged battery is removed and a charged battery is inserted into an electric vehicle. The battery exchange station has various mechanisms to make this exchange. In some embodiments, the batteries are stored in a warehouse, where they are given an appropriate amount of charge. The charged batteries are moved from the warehouse by an automated robotic mechanism. The automated robotic system provides the charged battery to a battery exchange system which inserts the charged battery into the vehicle after it removes the discharged battery from the vehicle. The insertion and removal of the battery is done vertically, i.e., into and out of the bottom of the vehicle. The battery exchange system is located in a service bay under the vehicle. A sliding door system creates an opening above the service bay. The opening is of variable size depending on the size of the vehicle.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.