Traction battery with lifting eyes

Abstract

Traction battery (1) for a battery-electrically powered mobile work machine, in particular a counterbalance forklift truck, which is designed as a high-performance battery (4) and has a battery tray (6), wherein the battery tray (6) has lifting lugs (3) for lifting the traction battery (1) with lifting equipment, wherein the lifting lugs (3) are designed to be retractable and can be raised above the top edge of the battery tray (6) into a working position, characterized in that the lifting lug (3) is each a height-displaceable ring element (11) which is held in its working position by a stop (12, 16, 23).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a traction battery for a battery-electrically driven mobile work machine, such as a counterbalance forklift truck, which is designed as a high-performance battery and has a battery tray, wherein the battery tray has lifting eyes for lifting the traction battery with a lifting device, wherein the lifting eyes are designed to be retractable and can be raised above the upper edge of the battery tray into a working position.

[0002] Traction batteries are used to operate battery-powered mobile work machines, particularly industrial trucks such as forklifts. These batteries are typically replaceable and can be inserted into a battery compartment. Once discharged, they can be replaced with a charged traction battery. Until now, such traction batteries have typically been lead-acid accumulators, or lead-acid batteries, in which a chemical reaction between sulfuric acid and lead serves to store electrical energy. The individual battery cells of such a traction battery are installed in a container or battery tray, which can be transported and handled using appropriate means of transport, such as another forklift or industrial truck.Lifting eyes are provided on two opposite side walls at the top of the battery tray to allow handling and lifting of the traction battery with a lifting device, such as a crane. The lifting eyes are usually designed as openings in the upper, protruding part of the side wall, but can also consist of separate lifting eyes welded onto one side wall.

[0003] Thanks to newer technologies, batteries and accumulators can now be manufactured and used in industry that offer better performance data. Such batteries can be described as high-performance batteries, which are characterized by the fact that they have a higher energy density in relation to weight and / or volume than a lead-acid battery and use a technology other than a lead-acid reaction for energy storage. Another feature of many high-performance batteries is that they can deliver high power during discharge and / or can be charged with high power. The typical energy densities in relation to weight and / or volume of a high-performance battery are above and outside the corresponding parameters for lead-acid batteries for at least one of the two values.

[0004] While nickel-cadmium batteries don't offer a significant weight advantage, they do have a higher energy density relative to their volume. Other well-known technologies for accumulators or rechargeable batteries using nickel include nickel-metal hydride, nickel-iron, nickel-hydrogen, nickel-zinc, and silver-zinc. Sodium-nickel chloride and sodium-sulfur accumulators are also known.

[0005] However, lithium-ion batteries are increasingly being used on a larger scale. They have achieved a level of reliability suitable for series production, are characterized by high energy density, are subject to only a low memory effect, and enable the battery to be discharged or charged with high power. Various technologies are also known for lithium-ion batteries, such as lithium polymer, lithium cobalt dioxide, lithium air, lithium titanate, lithium iron phosphate, lithium manganese, and tin-sulfur lithium ion.

[0006] The use of such high-performance batteries is particularly advantageous in vehicles and, for example, industrial trucks, since due to the high energy density in relation to the volume, a larger amount of electrical energy can be stored in the given installation space for the battery and thus the range of a vehicle or the operating time of the industrial truck can be increased.

[0007] To allow hooks to be inserted into the lifting eyes from both the outside and inside of the battery tray, the lifting eyes must be located above the surface of the battery cells. However, this means that the entire interior volume of the battery tray up to its upper edge cannot be used for the battery cells. The height of the battery cells previously used in lead-acid batteries can be individually adjusted without great effort.

[0008] However, a disadvantage of high-performance batteries is that they are assembled from modules, which in turn consist of one or more battery cells. These modules usually have very uniform dimensions and can only be individually adapted in their external geometry with considerable effort. This often means that space at the top edge of the battery tray cannot be used if the lifting eyes must remain accessible, or there is insufficient space for the lifting eyes. Especially with high-performance batteries, it is often desirable to utilize the entire available installation space in order to achieve the highest possible capacity and performance of the traction battery. On the other hand, however, the traction battery should still be able to be lifted using a standardized lifting gear or hoist.

[0009] DE 43 00 644 A1 discloses a generic traction battery for a battery-electrically powered mobile work machine having the features of the preamble of patent claim 1.

[0010] DE 10 2012 103 734 A1 discloses an additional heat exchanger element for a LPG industrial truck.

[0011] The present invention is based on the object of providing a traction battery with lifting eyes which avoids the aforementioned disadvantages and which ensures good handling with a lifting device while at the same time having a large capacity.

[0012] This object is achieved by a traction battery having the features of independent patent claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

[0013] The object is achieved according to the invention in that in a traction battery for a battery-electrically driven mobile work machine, in particular a counterbalance forklift truck, which is designed as a high-performance battery and has a battery tray, wherein the battery tray has lifting eyes for lifting the traction battery with a lifting gear, the lifting eyes are designed to be retractable and can be lifted over the upper edge of the battery tray into a working position, wherein the lifting eye is in each case a height-adjustable ring element which is held in its working position by a stop.

[0014] This advantageously makes it possible to utilize the entire available installation space for battery cells or modules of the high-performance battery, as specified by the standardized size of the battery tray. At the same time, it is possible to meet all the requirements for lifting and handling the traction battery with the familiar and previously used lifting equipment, such as that used for a lead-acid battery. The individual lifting eye can be designed so that, in the lowered or retracted position, it protrudes far enough that it can either be grasped by a person or a hook of the lifting equipment can be directly hooked onto it. When the traction battery is lifted, the lifting eye automatically moves into its working position and transfers the lifting force to the traction battery.

[0015] The lifting force is transmitted via the stop. The weight of the lifting eyes can cause them to automatically fall back into a lowered position. If necessary, this effect can be further enhanced by adding additional weight.

[0016] At least the upper part of the ring element can consist of an elastic material, in particular steel cable.

[0017] Such an elastic material, such as a steel cable at least in the upper part, although the ring element can also be made entirely of this material, prevents bending loads from being exerted on the lifting eyes when lifting forces are not applied vertically, thus preventing deformation or damage. Because the material is elastic, bending loads are only elastic, not plastic. The bending element is not damaged despite the bending loads.

[0018] In a favorable further development, a cross element is arranged on the underside of the ring element, which in the working position rests on the right and left sides against two stop elements that form the stop.

[0019] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the stop is inside the ring element.

[0020] The ring element can be a ring with an elongated O-shape.

[0021] For example, the ring can be designed like a chain link element.

[0022] Advantageously, the ring is guided on its sides by guide surfaces.

[0023] The elongated shape creates parallel areas on the sides, which can be used to guide the lifting eyelet using appropriate guide surfaces.

[0024] The ring can be guided in a closed groove.

[0025] By guiding the ring in a groove with the stop located in the middle of the ring, defined and secure guidance of the lifting eye can be achieved. At the same time, the lifting eye is well protected in the groove when retracted or in the lowered position. The lower end of the groove can serve as the lower stop onto which the ring rests in the lowered position. The groove can be covered by a removable cover to allow easy removal and installation of the ring, for example to replace it in the event of wear or damage. An opening can be provided in the lower area of ​​the groove, for example in such a cover, perhaps as a slot, through which water and contaminants can drain out of the groove.With such a design, it can be achieved that the ring can still be easily grasped in the lowered position, the ring slides down into the lowered position under its own weight and is automatically raised to the stop in the working position when lifted.

[0026] In a favorable design, the stop is rounded so that the ring can be tilted from the vertical in the working position.

[0027] For example, by making the stop circular or at least rounded at the bottom with a corresponding counter-shape of the ring, and by ensuring that the ring is not guided laterally, at least in the raised working position, it can be ensured that the ring can rotate in the event of a lateral force component. This prevents deformation and damage to the ring.

[0028] The ring element can rest against a lower stop in a lowered position.

[0029] This ensures that the ring can still be grasped and raised in the lowered, lowered position. The lower stop can, for example, be provided on the underside of the ring so that it rests against the stop in the lowered, lower position. Alternatively, it is also conceivable for the stop to be designed accordingly on the inside of the ring on its upper side and to be positioned vertically so that it acts as a lower stop.

[0030] Advantageously, the ring element is held in a lowered position by a clamping force and / or a magnet.

[0031] This prevents rattling or unwanted noise when the lifting eyes are not in use by securing the ring element in the lowered position.

[0032] In a further development, the lifting eye is pulled into a lowered position by an elastic pulling element, in particular a spring or a band made of elastomer and / or rubber.

[0033] The lifting eyelet can be a belt loop in which a central section is pulled together by the pulling element.

[0034] It is also conceivable in principle for the lifting eyes to be implemented using simple belt loops that can be pressed flat onto the top of the battery tray and the battery cells or a lid for the battery tray. Alternatively, such belt loops can also simply be pressed down on the side walls of the battery tray. Such belt loops can be threaded into the corresponding holder on the side walls. However, by pulling a belt loop together at least over a certain section of its length using a tension element when the load is removed, it can be achieved that the belt loop retracts downwards to the side of the battery tray when the load is released. The tension element can be arranged parallel to a section of the belt loop and connected to it at both ends.It is also conceivable that the tension element is attached to the battery tray at one end and is only connected to the belt loop at the other end.

[0035] Alternatively, a weight element can be used to ensure that the belt loop slides downwards when the load is removed.

[0036] It is advantageous for the belt loop to rest on a holder in a lowered position.

[0037] This keeps the belt loop in a defined, easily accessible position when not in use and ensures that it can be easily grasped.

[0038] The high-performance battery is advantageously a lithium-ion battery.

[0039] Especially for lithium-ion batteries, there are commercially available, standardized formats for battery cells and modules. Therefore, the inventive solution advantageously results in greater usability of the available space within the battery compartment.

[0040] Further advantages and details of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the schematic figures. Fig. 1 a traction battery according to the invention in perspective view, Fig. 2 a detailed view of a lifting eye from the Fig. 1, Fig. 3 another embodiment of a lifting eye, Fig. 4 another embodiment of a lifting eye, Fig. 5 another embodiment of a lifting eye and Fig. 6 the lifting eye of the Fig. 5 in assembly position.

[0041] The Fig. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a traction battery 1 according to the invention. Lifting eyes 3 are arranged on two opposite side walls 2. The traction battery 1 is a high-performance battery 4 in the form of a lithium-ion battery 5. A battery compartment 6 is closed by a cover 7.

[0042] The Fig. 2 shows a detailed view of a lifting eye 3 from the Fig. 1. A groove 8 formed in the side wall 2 has lateral guide surfaces 9 in which the lifting eye 3, designed as a ring 10 with an elongated O-shape as a ring element 11, is guided. The ring 10 is shown in its upper working position, in which it rests against a stop 12 arranged inside. A cover 13 is shown with a slot 14, which serves to cover the groove 8. The cover 13 can be removed using screws 15 and the lifting eye 3 can be replaced if damaged or worn. Water and dirt can drain out of the groove 8 through the slot 14. Under its own weight, the ring 10 slides down in the groove 8 until it rests against a lower stop 17. In this position, the top side of the ring 10 can still be grasped.

[0043] The Fig. 3 shows a further embodiment of a lifting eye 3. The illustration in the Fig. Components corresponding to Figure 1 are provided with the same reference numerals as in the following exemplary embodiments. The lifting eye 3, as a ring 10 with an elongated O-shape or ring element 11, is shown raised in the working position, in which it rests against a stop 16 that is semicircular in the lower area and designed at the top so that the ring 10 can tilt sideways under lateral forces. In the illustrated working position, the ring 10 is also free of guide surfaces 18, which guide it during a downward movement.

[0044] The Fig. Figure 4 shows another embodiment of a lifting eye 3, in which the upper part of a ring element 11 is designed as a steel cable 19. The ring element 11 is closed by a cross element 20, which, in the upper working position, rests against a left stop element 21 and a right stop element 22 as a stop 23. When the lifting eye 3 is lowered further, the cross element 20 rests against a lower stop element 24. The steel cable 19 prevents the lifting eye 3 from being deformed or damaged by transverse forces.

[0045] The Fig. Figure 5 shows a further embodiment of a lifting eyelet 3, which is designed as a belt loop 25, wherein a tension element 26 in the form of a rubber band 27 is arranged on a central portion 28 of the belt loop 25, which is connected at both ends to the central portion 28 of the belt loop 25. In the unloaded state, the central portion 28 of the belt loop 25 is thereby contracted as shown.

[0046] The Fig. 6 shows the lifting eye 3 of the Fig. 5 in the mounting position on the side wall 2 or the lid 7 of the battery tray 1. The middle section 28 of the belt loop 25 is pulled together by the rubber band 27. This allows the belt loop 25 to rest on a holder 29 and can be easily grasped by a person. When the battery tray 1 is lifted, the rubber band 27 is stretched until the belt loop 25 transmits the lifting force.

Claims

[1] Traction battery (1) for a battery-electrically driven mobile work machine, in particular a counterbalance forklift truck, which is designed as a high-performance battery (4) and has a battery tray (6), wherein the battery tray (6) has lifting eyes (3) for lifting the traction battery (1) with a lifting device, wherein the lifting eyes (3) are designed to be retractable and can be raised above the upper edge of the battery tray (6) into a working position, characterized by that the lifting eye (3) is a height-adjustable ring element (11) which is held in its working position by a stop (12,16,23). [2] Traction battery (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that at least the upper part of the ring element (11) consists of an elastic material, in particular steel cable (19). (1) [3] Traction battery (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized bythat on the underside of the ring element (11) a transverse element (20) is arranged, which in the working position rests laterally on the right and left against two stop elements (21, 22) which form the stop (23). [4] Traction battery (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the stop (12,16) is arranged inside the ring element (11). [5] Traction battery (1) according to claim 4, characterized by that the ring element (11) is a ring (10) with an elongated O-shape. [6] Traction battery (1) according to claim 5, characterized by that the ring (10) is guided on its sides by guide surfaces (9,18). [7] Traction battery (1) according to claim 6, characterized by that the ring (10) is guided in a closed groove (8). [8] Traction battery (1) according to claim 5, characterized by that the stop (16) is rounded so that the ring (10) can be tilted from the vertical in the working position. [9] Traction battery (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that the ring element (11) rests against a lower stop (24,17) in a lowered position. [10] Traction battery (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by that the ring element (11) is held in a lowered position by a clamping force and / or a magnet. [11] Traction battery (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by that the lifting eye (3) is pulled into a lowered position by an elastic pulling element (26), in particular a spring or a band made of elastomer and / or rubber (27). [12] Traction battery (1) Claim 11, characterized by that the lifting eye (3) is a belt loop (25) in which a central section is pulled together by the pulling element (26). [13] Traction battery (1) according to claim 11 or 12, characterized bythat the belt loop (25) rests on a holder (29) in a lowered position. [14] Traction battery (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the high-performance battery (4) is a lithium-ion battery (5).

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