Fixing of energy storage on vehicle frame

Abstract

The invention relates to an assembly for fastening an energy store (101) to a vehicle frame, the assembly having a guide slot (203) and one or more slot sliders (201) which are configured to be inserted in a form-fitting manner into the guide slot (203). The assembly has one or more pressing means (205) which are arranged at least partially in the guide slot (203) and which are respectively elastically deformable by contact with the slot slider (201).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to components for securing an energy storage device to a vehicle frame. Background Technology

[0002] Components for securing a battery to a bicycle frame are known in the prior art, in which the battery can be form-fitted to the bicycle frame. A guide groove allows the energy storage device to be pushed into a correspondingly shaped retaining portion. Such a component is disclosed, for example, in printed document FR 3 091 690A1.

[0003] The shape-locking connection of the guide slots must be as gapless as possible to prevent the energy storage unit from wobbling within the bicycle frame. This, in turn, makes securing the battery difficult or causes it to jam when unavoidable dimensional deviations due to tolerances occur in the bicycle frame. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The objective of this invention is to secure an energy storage device to a vehicle frame without wobbling. This objective is achieved by a component according to the invention for securing an energy storage device to a vehicle frame. Preferred improvements are derived from the following description.

[0005] The components according to the invention are used to secure an energy storage device to a vehicle frame. The vehicle frame is preferably a bicycle frame. The energy storage device is preferably configured as a battery, i.e., configured as a rechargeable energy storage device that supplies driving energy to an electric auxiliary motor.

[0006] The component includes a guide groove. This groove is a longitudinally elongated recess on the surface. It is characterized by having a cross-section that does not change along the direction of the groove, unlike other recesses on the surface. Therefore, this cross-section remains constant relative to a cross-sectional plane orthogonally oriented to the curve describing the groove's direction.

[0007] The guide groove is configured to accommodate one or more fixing devices, referred to as slot sliders. The cross-sections of the guide groove and the slot slider are matched to achieve a form-locking connection between them.

[0008] The shape-locking connection between the guide groove and the slot slider prevents relative movement between them that is orthogonal to the curve describing the guide groove's direction. The guide groove and slot slider can move relative to each other along this curve.

[0009] Preferably, the slot slider forms a complementary shape to the groove in cross-section. Also preferably, at least one portion of each slot slider, configured to embed into and form a shape-locking connection with the guide groove, is shaped as a cylindrical body. The bottom surface of this body corresponds to the cross-section of the groove.

[0010] According to the invention, the assembly further includes one or more clamping devices. These clamping devices are arranged at least partially, preferably entirely, in the guide groove. The clamping devices contact the slot sliders respectively by being pushed in the guide grooves.

[0011] The clamping device is at least partially elastically deformable. This causes the clamping device to elastically deform upon contact with the slot slider. Due to this elastic deformation, the clamping device applies a force to its respective slot slider. This clamps the clamping device between its respective slot slider and the guide groove. In this way, any possible gaps between the guide groove and the slot slider are eliminated. This allows for a wobbly-free fixation of the energy storage device.

[0012] In a preferred improvement, the clamping devices are each made of an elastomer. This has the advantage that elastomers are relatively inexpensive and allow for a simpler construction of the clamping devices.

[0013] The guide slot can be part of the vehicle frame, while the slot slider is mounted on or part of the energy storage unit. However, preferably, the guide slot is part of the energy storage unit, and the slot slider is fixed to or part of the vehicle frame.

[0014] A preferred improvement includes a track on which the slot slider is fixed. The track can be fixed to the vehicle frame, thus also fixing the slot slider to the vehicle frame. For stability reasons, fixing via the track according to the improved design is particularly advantageous for thin-walled vehicle frames. Furthermore, it is possible to pre-assemble the slot slider onto the track and then install the track and slot slider in the vehicle in a pre-assembled state. Therefore, dimensional deviations caused by tolerances in the vehicle frame do not affect the relative positioning of the slot sliders.

[0015] Preferably, the clamping devices are modified to deform orthogonal to the direction of the guide groove or the curve describing the direction of the guide groove via their respective slot sliders. Therefore, the deformation directions and curves of each clamping device are orthogonally oriented to each other. Consequently, the force generated by the deformation of each clamping device also acts orthogonally to the curve. Therefore, this force does not cause the slot sliders to shift within the guide groove. Instead, a force-locking connection is formed between the clamping devices and the slot sliders to resist shifting of the clamping devices within the guide groove.

[0016] Preferably, the component is modified to have at least one ejector and stop protrusion. This ejector and stop protrusion is at least partially disposed in the guide groove. The ejector and stop protrusion is understood as a device that forms a stop relative to the first slot slider, restricting the displacement of the first slot slider and other slot sliders in the guide groove in a first direction, and having a surface obliquely tangent (i.e., not orthogonal and extending antiparallel) to the orientation of the guide groove or the curve describing the orientation of the guide groove. This surface is configured to allow a second slot slider, different from the first slot slider, to slide out at least partially orthogonal to the direction of movement and therefore at least partially orthogonal to the orientation of the groove or the curve describing the orientation of the groove when pushed in the guide groove in the opposite direction (i.e., opposite to the first direction). This surface can, in particular, be a flat surface.

[0017] By using ejector and stop protrusions according to the improved design, the energy storage device is fixed in its final position as the slot slider moves relative to the guide groove in the first direction. If the energy storage device moves from its final position in the opposite direction, the beveled surfaces of the ejector and stop protrusions will contact the second slot slider, causing the energy storage device to slide out orthogonally to the moving direction. This makes it easier to remove the energy storage device.

[0018] Preferably, the clamping device is arranged to undergo elastic deformation according to the invention during final positioning. This secures the energy storage device in the final positioning without wobbling. Furthermore, the energy storage device preferably makes electrical contact during final positioning, thereby supplying electrical energy to the motor, particularly the aforementioned auxiliary motor.

[0019] In a preferred improvement, at least one ejector and stop protrusion is integrated integrally with the clamping device. This results in a particularly simple structure. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings. Consistent reference numerals here denote the same or functionally identical features. Specifically:

[0021] Figure 1 A bicycle battery with rails is shown.

[0022] Figure 2 The clamping device is shown;

[0023] Figure 3 Showing the ejector and stop protrusions; and

[0024] Figure 4 The stop protrusion is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0025] Figure 1The battery 101 shown can be secured to the bicycle frame using a fixing device 103. This securing is achieved by inserting the battery 101 into the fixing device 103 and (from...) Figure 1 (From the perspective of) it moves to the right.

[0026] Fixed equipment 103 includes Figure 2 The slot slider 201 is shown in the section. To secure the battery 101 to the bicycle frame, the slot slider 201 is inserted into a guide groove 203 formed by the battery 101. The slot slider 201 can move within the guide groove 203.

[0027] A clamping device 205 is arranged at the bottom of the guide groove 203. This clamping device is capable of elastic deformation when it contacts the slot slider 201. The distance between the slot slider 201 and the bottom of the guide groove 203 is less than the height of the clamping device 205 relative to the bottom of the guide groove 203 by a value D1. Therefore, when the slot slider 201 is pushed above the clamping device 205 or the clamping device 205 is pushed below the slot slider 201, the clamping device 205 undergoes the aforementioned elastic deformation.

[0028] The slot slider 201 is fixed on the track 207.

[0029] and Figure 3 The clamping device 301 shown has an integrally formed ejector and stop protrusion 303. Figure 3 The image also shows two slot sliders 201. When the battery 101 (from...) Figure 3 From the perspective of moving to the right, (from) Figure 3 From the perspective of [viewing angle], the slot slider 305 shown on the right establishes a force-locked connection with the clamping device 301, thereby causing the clamping device 301 to elastically deform when it contacts the first slot slider 305. Then, the stop formed by the ejector and stop protrusion 303 impacts the first slot slider 305 and prevents the battery 101 from being pushed further to the right.

[0030] When pushed to the left, the beveled surface of the ejector and stop protrusion 303 contacts the second slot slider 307 shown on the left side, and then the ejector and stop protrusion 303 slides out of the second slot slider 307 using the beveled surface, thereby ejecting the battery 101 from the fixing device 103 orthogonally to the pushing direction.

[0031] Figure 4 A stop protrusion 401 is shown. This stop protrusion forms a stop relative to the first slot slider 305. If the battery 101 (e.g.) Figure 4If the battery 101 is inserted into the fixing device 103 in the wrong position (as shown), the stop protrusion 401 will come into contact with the first slot slider 305. The stop protrusion 401 prevents the battery 101 from being pushed into the fixing device 103 from this position.

[0032] List of reference numerals

[0033] 101 storage battery

[0034] 103 Fixed Equipment

[0035] 201 Slot Slider

[0036] 203 Guide slot

[0037] 205 Clamping Device

[0038] 207 Fixing part

[0039] 301 clamping device

[0040] 303 Ejector and Stop Protrusion

[0041] 305 slot slider

[0042] 307 Slot Slider

[0043] 401 Stop Protrusion

Claims

1. An assembly for securing an energy storage device (101) to a vehicle frame, the assembly having a guide groove (203) and one or more slot sliders (201) configured to be form-fitted into the guide groove (203); characterized in that have One or more clamping devices, said clamping devices being at least partially disposed in the guide groove (203) and elastically deformable by contact with the slot slider (201), The component has at least one ejector and stop protrusion (303) arranged in the guide groove (203); wherein, The ejector and stop protrusion (303) forms a stop relative to the first slot slider (201, 305), the stop restricting the displacement of the first slot slider (201, 305) in the guide groove (203) in a first direction; wherein, The ejector and stop protrusion (303) has a chamfered surface that is configured to allow the second slot slider (201, 307) to slide out at least partially orthogonal to the direction of movement as it moves in opposite directions in the guide groove (203).

2. The component according to claim 1; characterized in that, The clamping device is made of an elastomer.

3. The component according to claim 1 or 2; characterized in that have The track (207) is fixed to the slot slider (201).

4. The component according to claim 1 or 2; characterized in that, The clamping device can be deformed by its respective slot slider (201) in a manner orthogonal to the orientation of the guide groove (203).

5. The component according to claim 1 or 2; characterized in that, The at least one ejector and stop protrusion (303) is integrated with the clamping device.

Images