Battery exchange system for a traction battery of a battery-electrically powered industrial truck

Abstract

The invention relates to a battery exchange system (1) for a traction battery (2) of a battery-electrically operated industrial truck (3), wherein the traction battery (2) has a battery tray (10) which can be inserted into and removed from a battery receiving space (6) of the industrial truck (3) by means of a battery exchange device (11) through a lateral opening (7) of a vehicle frame (5) of the industrial truck (1), wherein the battery tray (10) comprises a left side wall (10a), a right side wall (10b), a rear wall (10c) and a front wall (10d), wherein the battery block (10) is provided with a handling interface (20) which can be brought into positive engagement with the battery exchange device (11) for battery exchange.The left side wall (10a) and the right side wall (10b) of the battery tray (10) each have a side wall section (21a; 21b) projecting from a plane (E1) of the front wall (10d), wherein the projecting side wall sections (21a, 21b) are provided with the handling interface (20).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a battery exchange system for a traction battery of a battery-electrically operated industrial truck, wherein the traction battery has a battery tray which can be inserted into and removed from a battery receiving space of the industrial truck by means of a battery exchange device through a lateral opening of a vehicle frame of the industrial truck, wherein the battery tray comprises a left side wall, a right side wall, a rear wall and a front wall, wherein the battery block is provided with a handling interface which can be brought into positive engagement with the battery exchange device for battery exchange.

[0002] Such battery exchange systems, comprising a traction battery having a battery tray with a handling interface and a battery exchange device that can be brought into positive engagement with the handling interface of the battery tray for battery exchange, are used in industrial trucks for lateral battery exchange in a horizontal direction, in which the traction battery can be inserted into and removed from a battery receiving space of the industrial truck by means of a battery exchange device through a lateral opening in the vehicle frame of the industrial truck in a lateral and horizontal direction.

[0003] German patent DE 103 33 594 A1 discloses a generic battery exchange system in which a battery block of a traction battery can be removed from the battery compartment of a forklift truck and inserted into the truck laterally and horizontally using a forklift truck designed for battery exchange. In DE 103 33 594 A1, a profile strip is attached along a side wall of the battery tray, forming a handling interface. This profile strip can be connected to a fork carriage of a forklift truck designed for battery exchange or to a spacer connected to it, forming a battery exchange device. The profile strip can be welded to the battery tray or bolted to existing mounting lugs and supported on the opposite side by several tie rods.

[0004] From EP 2 674 389 A1, a battery exchange system of this type is also known, in which an outwardly projecting round pin is arranged on opposite side walls of the battery tray as a handling interface. The two round pins on the battery tray can be engaged with hook-shaped devices of a vehicle designed for battery exchange, forming a battery exchange device.

[0005] A disadvantage of the battery exchange systems known from DE 103 33 594 A1 or EP 2 674 389 A1 is that the handling interface of the battery tray of the traction battery, formed by the profile strip or the round pins, constitutes separate mounting parts that have to be attached to the battery tray and cause corresponding additional material, manufacturing and assembly costs.

[0006] The present invention is based on the objective of providing a battery replacement system of the type mentioned at the outset, which is improved with regard to the aforementioned disadvantage.

[0007] This problem is solved according to the invention by the fact that the left side wall and the right side wall of the battery tray each have a side wall section projecting from a plane of the front wall, wherein the projecting side wall sections are provided with the handling interface.

[0008] A side wall section of the corresponding side wall is in particular a wall section of the corresponding side wall of the battery trough, which extends the side wall of the battery trough in the wall plane of the corresponding side wall beyond the plane spanned by the front wall and thus extends beyond the front wall.

[0009] Preferably, the left side wall and / or the right side wall of the battery tray is designed as a flat metal plate which is extended at least partially beyond the front wall, so that the side wall sections projecting beyond the front wall are integrally formed and shaped on the metal plate.

[0010] According to the invention, the handling interface is thus integrated into the two side walls of the battery tray and is integrally formed, and is designed as a component of the outer contours of the support walls of the battery tray formed by the two side walls. This makes it possible to manufacture the handling interface cost-effectively during the sheet metal processing of the side walls, for example by laser beam cutting.

[0011] The invention therefore does not require separate mounting parts that need to be attached to the battery tray to form the handling interface of the battery tray, so that the invention does not incur any additional material, manufacturing and assembly costs for the handling interface of the battery tray.

[0012] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the handling interface is formed by a vertically downward-opening cutout in the projecting side wall section. Such a cutout can be easily produced in the corresponding side wall, for example, when the side wall is designed as a flat metal plate during sheet metal processing of the corresponding side wall, for example, by laser beam cutting.

[0013] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the cutout is circular in each case. This allows for favorable force transmission to the side walls when handling the traction battery with the battery changing device.

[0014] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the projecting side wall sections are formed in the vertically upper region of the left and right side walls. This allows the traction battery to be easily hooked onto and lifted by the handling interface formed on the side wall sections, which is created by the corresponding vertically downward open cutouts, when handling the traction battery with the battery changing device.

[0015] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the left side wall and / or the right side wall of the battery tray has a wall section projecting from a plane of the front wall, on the front of which a support surface is formed. The torque acting on the battery tray when lifting the battery changing device can be easily supported on the battery changing device by means of such a support surface projecting from the front wall, which is formed on the right side wall and / or on the left side wall.

[0016] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the support surface is arranged vertically downwards from the handling interface.

[0017] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a support base of the battery tray has a wall section projecting from a plane of the front wall, on the front of which a support surface is formed. The torque acting on the battery tray when lifting the battery changing device can be easily supported on the battery changing device by means of such a support surface of the support base projecting from the front wall of the battery tray.

[0018] A wall section of the supporting floor is, in particular, a wall section that extends the supporting floor of the supporting floor in the floor plane of the supporting floor beyond the plane spanned by the front wall and thus extends beyond the front wall.

[0019] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the support surface on the base is arranged essentially centrally to the side walls.

[0020] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the battery changing device is provided with counterparts that can be brought into positive engagement with the handling interface formed in the projecting side wall sections for battery changing. With such counterparts, which can be brought into positive engagement with the cutouts of the battery tray formed in the projecting side wall sections, the traction battery can be easily handled and lifted by the battery changing device for battery replacement.

[0021] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the counterparts are each designed as cylindrical receiving bolts. Such counterparts have a simple design. With such cylindrical bolts as counterparts, which can engage with the circularly shaped, downwardly open cutouts on the side wall sections of the battery tray's side walls, a virtually notch-free stress on the side walls and a favorable force transmission into the side walls can be achieved when lifting the traction battery by the battery changing device.

[0022] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the battery changing device is provided with a contact surface that interacts with the support surface. Through the interaction of the support surface of the battery tray with the contact surface on the battery changing device, for example, by the support surface bearing against the contact surface, the torque acting on the battery tray when the battery changing device is lifted can be easily supported on the battery changing device by the mutual contact between the support surface and the contact surface.

[0023] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the battery changing device has a support structure which is provided with the counterparts and the contact surface. The counterparts and the contact surface can be easily formed on a corresponding support structure, which can be plate-shaped.

[0024] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the battery changing device is provided with a receptacle for the forks of a material handling vehicle designed for battery changing. The battery changing device can be easily picked up by a pallet truck, for example a low-lift pallet truck, or a forklift truck using such forklift forks, for changing the traction battery.

[0025] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the battery changing device is provided with fork hooks for a fork carriage of a material handling vehicle designed for battery changing. The battery changing device can be easily and temporarily attached to a fork carriage of a material handling vehicle, for example a forklift, using such fork hooks for changing the traction battery.

[0026] The invention has a number of advantages.

[0027] The downward-facing cutouts formed in the side wall sections of the left and right side walls of the battery block, which project beyond the front wall, create two laterally spaced lifting points located in the plane of the left and right side walls. Similarly, the support surface is located in the plane of the left and / or right side wall, or in the plane of the battery tray's base. The arrangement of the two lifting points and the lower support surface in the plane of the battery tray's walls results in virtually bend-free loading of the tray walls. This reduces deformations and stresses that occur in the battery tray during battery changes, allowing for a thinner-walled and therefore more cost-effective battery tray design.

[0028] The vertical distance between the two lateral lifting points to the lower support surface is preferably made as large as possible in order to minimize the forces acting on the trough walls and the battery changing device.

[0029] By means of a circular design of the downwardly open cutouts on the side wall sections of the two side walls, which form corresponding lifting points, in conjunction with the counterparts designed as cylindrical receiving bolts on the battery changing device, the side walls of the battery tray are subjected to almost no notch stress at the handling interface.

[0030] With the battery exchange system according to the invention, the battery-operated industrial truck, for example a forklift, can be provided with a continuous, closed base plate in the area of ​​the battery compartment of the vehicle frame, thereby achieving a high bending and torsional stiffness of the vehicle frame of the industrial truck.

[0031] Further advantages and details of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the schematic figures. Here, it is shown that Fig. 1 a traction battery and a battery changing device of a battery changing system according to the invention in a perspective view, Fig. 2 a side view of the Fig. 1, Fig. 3 A perspective view of a battery change in a forklift truck using the battery change system according to the invention, Fig. 4 A side view illustration of a battery change in a forklift truck using the battery change system according to the invention and Fig. 5 a battery replacement system according to the invention with an alternative embodiment of the battery replacement device.

[0032] In the Fig. Figures 1 to 5 show a battery exchange system 1 according to the invention for a traction battery 2 of a battery-electrically operated industrial truck 3.

[0033] The industrial truck 3 is depicted as a counterbalance forklift in the illustrated embodiment. The industrial truck 3 has a vehicle frame 5 that encloses a battery compartment 6. The vehicle frame 5 is provided with a lateral opening 7 in the area of ​​the battery compartment 6, which is located in the Fig. 3 at the in the Fig. The battery compartment 6 is formed on the right side of the industrial truck 3, as shown in the front. The battery compartment 6 is closed off at the bottom by a continuous and closed floor plate 8 on the vehicle frame side.

[0034] The traction battery 2 has a battery tray 10 which can be inserted into and removed from the battery compartment 6 of the industrial truck 3 by means of a battery changing device 11 through the side opening 7 of the vehicle frame 5 of the industrial truck 3 in a horizontal and lateral direction.

[0035] The battery trough 10 has a left side wall 10a, a right side wall 10b, a rear wall 10c, a front wall 10d, and a bottom support base 10e. The side wall 10a, the side wall 10b, the rear wall 10c, the front wall 10d, and the support base 10e are preferably designed as flat metal plates (sheet metal) which are welded together to form the battery trough 10.

[0036] The battery block 10 is provided with a handling interface 20 which can be brought into positive engagement with the battery changing device 11 for battery replacement.

[0037] The front wall 10d spans a plane E1.

[0038] The left side wall 10a and the right side wall 10b of the battery tray 10 each have a side wall section 21a, 21b projecting from a plane E1 of the front wall 10d. The side wall sections 21a, 21b of the two side walls 10a, 10b projecting beyond the plane E1 of the front wall 10d are provided with the handling interface 20.

[0039] In the illustrated embodiment, the side wall sections 21a, 21b are formed in the vertically upper area of ​​the corresponding side wall 10a, 10b and thus of the battery trough 10.

[0040] In the illustrated embodiment, the side wall section 21a of the left side wall 10a represents a wall section of the left side wall 10a that extends the side wall 10a, designed as a flat metal plate, in the plane of the side wall 10a beyond the plane E1 spanned by the front wall 10d. The side wall section 21a is thus formed by a projection or extension of the left side wall 10a, designed as a flat metal plate, that extends beyond the plane E1 of the front wall 10d.

[0041] In the illustrated embodiment, the side wall section 21b of the right side wall 10b represents a wall section of the right side wall 10b that extends the side wall 10b, designed as a flat metal plate, in the plane of the side wall 10b beyond the plane E1 spanned by the front wall 10d. The side wall section 21b is thus formed by a projection or extension of the right side wall 10b, designed as a flat metal plate, that extends beyond the plane E1 of the front wall 10d.

[0042] In the illustrated embodiment, the handling interface 20 is formed by a vertically downward-opening cutout 22 in each of the projecting side wall sections 21a, 21b.

[0043] The cutout 22 in the corresponding side wall section 21a, 21b is preferably circular in shape.

[0044] The supporting floor 10e of the battery trough 10 has a wall section 25 projecting from a plane E1 of the front wall 10d, on the front face of which a support surface 26 is formed.

[0045] In the illustrated embodiment, the wall section 25 of the support floor 10e represents a wall section of the support floor 10e that extends the support floor 10e, designed as a flat metal plate, in the wall plane of the support floor 10e beyond the plane E1 spanned by the front wall 10d. The wall section 25 is thus formed by a projection or extension of the support floor 10e, designed as a flat metal plate, that extends beyond the plane E1 of the front wall 10d.

[0046] In the illustrated embodiment, the wall section 25 with the support surface 26 is arranged on the supporting base 10e essentially centrally between the left side wall 10a and the right side wall 10b.

[0047] The battery changing device 11 is provided with counterparts 30a, 30b which can be brought into positive engagement with the cutouts 22 formed in the projecting side wall sections 21a, 21b for battery changing. The counterpart 30a can be brought into positive engagement with the cutout 22 of the side wall section 21a of the left side wall 10a and the counterpart 30b with the cutout 22 of the side wall section 21b of the right side wall 10b.

[0048] The counterparts 30a, 30b are each designed as cylindrical receiving bolts 31a, 31b, the radius of which essentially corresponds to the radius of the circular cutout 22.

[0049] The battery changing device 11 is further provided with a contact surface 27 that interacts with the support surface 26.

[0050] The battery changing device 11 preferably has a support structure 35 which is provided with the two counterparts 30a, 30b and the contact surface 27.

[0051] The battery tray 10, which can be removed laterally from the battery compartment 6, thus has circular cutouts 22 in its two opposing side walls 10a, 10b. These cutouts project beyond the front wall 10d and open downwards, forming lifting points for the battery tray 10 and engaging with the cylindrical counterparts 30a, 30b of the battery changing device 11. The torque acting on the battery tray 10 when the battery changing device 11 is lifted is supported by the mutual contact of the support surface 26, which is formed on the wall section 25 of the support base 10e projecting from the front wall 10d, and the support surface 27 on the battery changing device 11, as shown in the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 is evident.

[0052] The handling interface 20 of the battery tray 10 formed by the cutouts 22 in the side wall sections 21a, 21b of the side walls 10a, 10b is thus designed according to the invention as a component of the side walls 10a, 10b and thus as a component of the outer contours of the battery tray walls, wherein the cutouts 22 and thus the handling interface 20 of the battery tray 10 can be produced in a simple and cost-effective manner during the sheet metal processing of the side walls 10a, 10b designed as metal plates, for example by laser beam cutting.

[0053] In the Fig. 3 and Fig. Figure 4 shows a first embodiment of the battery changing device 11, wherein the battery changing device 11 is provided with a receptacle 40 for forks 41 of a forklift truck 45 intended for battery changing.

[0054] In the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 is the industrial truck 45 used for changing the battery on the industrial truck 1, designed as a pallet truck, for example a low-lift pallet truck.

[0055] The battery changing device 11 has an essentially L-shaped structure with a horizontal section and a vertical section, wherein the horizontal section has the receptacle 40, which is preferably designed as a fork shoe, for the fork tines 41 of the industrial truck 45 intended for battery changing, and the vertical section is designed as the support structure 35, which is provided with the two counterparts 30a, 30b and the contact surface 27.

[0056] The battery changing device 11 of the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 is preferably designed as a welded sheet metal construction which, as an interface to the forks of the industrial truck 45, has a receptacle 40 designed as a fork shoe, which can be inserted under the forks 41 of the industrial truck 45, so that the battery changing device 11 can be lifted with the forks 41 of the industrial truck 45. The supporting structure 35 is in the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 preferably a rigidly designed support structure connected to the receptacle 40, which forms the interfaces to the battery trough 10 and is connected to the two counterparts 30a, 30b, which are designed as cylindrical receiving bolts 31a, 31b, and the contact surface 27 is equipped to apply the counter-moment.

[0057] The battery changing device 11, mounted on the fork tines 41 of the industrial truck 45, can be used - as in the Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the industrial truck 3 is driven underneath and, by raising the fork tines 41, the counterparts 30a, 30b are brought into engagement with the cutouts 22, so that the battery tray 10 can be lifted off the base plate 8 of the industrial truck 1 with the industrial truck 45 and pulled out of the battery compartment 6.

[0058] For the battery changing device 11 to pass under the vehicle frame 3 of the battery-powered industrial truck 1 and for the required lifting distance to raise the battery tray 10, the industrial truck 1 requires a correspondingly designed ground clearance, as shown in the Fig. 4 is evident.

[0059] In the Fig. Figure 5 shows a second embodiment of the battery changing device 11, wherein the battery changing device 11 is equipped with fork hooks 50 for a fork carrier 51 of a device intended for battery changing, in the Fig. 5. (The text abruptly shifts to a seemingly unrelated sentence fragment: "is equipped with a forklift truck, for example, a forklift, not shown in detail.")

[0060] The supporting structure 35 of the battery exchange device 11 is in the Fig. 5 is designed as an adapter plate, which is provided with fork hooks 50 for positive locking connection with the fork carrier 51 and in a vertically upper area with the two counterparts 30a, 30b, which are designed as cylindrical receiving bolts 31a, 31b, and in a vertically lower area with the contact surface 27 for applying the counter moment. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 103 33 594 A1 [0003, 0005] EP 2 674 389 A1 [0004, 0005]

Claims

[1] Battery exchange system (1) for a traction battery (2) of a battery-electrically powered industrial truck (3), wherein the traction battery (2) has a battery tray (10) which can be inserted into and removed from a battery compartment (6) of the industrial truck (3) through a side opening (7) of a vehicle frame (5) by means of a battery exchange device (11), wherein the battery tray (10) comprises a left side wall (10a), a right side wall (10b), a rear wall (10c) and a front wall (10d), wherein the battery block (10) is provided with a handling interface (20) which can be brought into positive engagement with the battery exchange device (11) for battery exchange, characterized by, that the left side wall (10a) and the right side wall (10b) of the battery tray (10) each have a side wall section (21a; 21b) projecting from a plane (E1) of the front wall (10d), wherein the projecting side wall sections (21a, 21b) are provided with the handling interface (20). [2] Battery replacement system according to claim 1, characterized by , that the handling interface (20) is formed by a vertically downward open cutout (22) formed in the projecting side wall section (21a; 21b). [3] Battery replacement system according to claim 2, characterized by , that the section (22) is in each case circular. [4] Battery replacement system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by , that the protruding side wall sections (21a, 21b) are formed in the vertical upper area of ​​the left side wall (10a) and right side wall (10b). [5] Battery replacement system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by , that the left side wall (10a) and / or the right side wall (10b) of the battery trough (10) have a wall section projecting from a plane (E1) of the front wall (10d), on the front of which a support surface is formed. [6] Battery replacement system according to claim 5, characterized by , that the support surface is arranged vertically downwards from the handling interface (20). [7] Battery replacement system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by , that a supporting floor (10e) of the battery trough (10) has a wall section (25) projecting from a plane (E1) of the front wall (10d), on the front of which a support surface (26) is formed. [8] Battery replacement system according to claim 7, characterized by , that the support surface (26) on the supporting base (10e) is arranged essentially centrally to the side walls (10a, 10b). [9] Battery replacement system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by , that the battery changing device (11) is provided with counterparts (30a, 30b) which can be brought into positive engagement with the handling interface (20) formed in the projecting side wall sections (21a, 21b) for battery changing. [10] Battery replacement system according to claim 9, characterized by , that the counterparts (30a, 30b) are each designed as cylindrical receiving bolts (31a, 31b). [11] Battery replacement system according to any one of claims 5 to 10, characterized by that the battery changing device (11) is provided with a contact surface (27) that interacts with the support surface (26). [12] Battery replacement system according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized by , that the battery changing device (11) has a support structure (35) which is provided with the counterparts (30a, 30b) and the contact surface (27). [13] Battery replacement system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized by , that the battery changing device (11) is provided with a receptacle (40) for forklift tines (41) of a forklift truck (45) intended for battery changing. [14] Battery replacement system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized by , that the battery changing device (11) is equipped with fork hooks (50) for a fork carriage (51) of a forklift truck intended for battery changing.

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