ARRANGEMENT CONSISTING OF AN ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM AND A VEHICLE CARRIER

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an arrangement with a mobile electrical energy storage device for supplying energy to at least one mobile electrical consumer. The energy storage device has a housing in which a plurality of rechargeable individual cells are accommodated. The individual cells are electrically connected to form a larger cell assembly, which can also be composed of several smaller cell assemblies forming smaller modules. The entire electrically charged cell assembly of the energy storage device has an electrical system output for an on-board electrical system. The housing of the energy storage device has at least one connection for supplying electrical power to the on-board electrical system and at least one connection for applying an external voltage. The external voltage is designed for electrically charging the cell assembly contained in the energy storage device.

[0002] Electrical energy storage devices are known per se, with the housing of the mobile energy storage device being held in a support frame that allows the energy storage device to be carried to a deployment site. To ensure the portability of the energy storage device, none of the higher system power outputs can be provided, as a higher system power output requires a large number of individual cells, which would correspondingly increase the overall weight.

[0003] The use of battery-powered tools is constantly increasing. While a single battery charge is usually sufficient for most tasks in the private sector, the limited battery capacity restricts their use in commercial settings. In commercial environments, several charged battery packs must be carried for each tool to ensure sufficient operating time. It has also been suggested that an on-site energy storage unit be used to charge the battery packs of the tools in use. To ensure the mobility of such energy storage units for charging battery packs, the available electrical power is limited due to the weight of the cell assemblies within the energy storage system.

[0004] German patent DE 10 2014 006 960 A1 describes a self-driving vehicle that has a permanently installed battery bank as its central energy storage system. When the battery bank's charge level drops to a minimum, the vehicle must be charged at a charging station. During this time, it is unavailable for use.

[0005] The invention is based on the objective of providing, particularly for the commercial sector, an energy storage device for charging the battery packs of work equipment, which on the one hand has a sufficiently high system performance, is quickly ready for use and can be easily transported to the place of use.

[0006] The problem is solved by a combination according to the invention of a mobile electrical energy storage device and a vehicle carrier designed for mounting on a vehicle. The term "vehicle" is to be understood as a generic term for any vehicle used for the transport of persons, goods, and / or tools. A vehicle is, for example, a mobile means of transport that can be moved on land, water, or in the air. It can be a vehicle without its own propulsion, e.g., a trailer, a manually pulled cart, or the like, or a vehicle with its own propulsion, e.g., a motor vehicle, a van, a flatbed truck, a bus, or the like.

[0007] The energy storage device is mounted on the vehicle's chassis in a replaceable manner. The chassis itself has a coupling terminal for electrical connection to the energy storage device's electrical terminals. When the energy storage device is mounted on the chassis, its terminals are electrically connected to the chassis's coupling terminal. Securing elements act between the energy storage device and the chassis, designed to mechanically and firmly connect the energy storage device to the chassis.

[0008] The securing element can be designed as at least one housing-mounted fastening element provided on the energy storage device, or as at least one carrier-mounted fastening element provided on the vehicle carrier. If one fastening element is provided on the housing of the energy storage device and one on the vehicle carrier, this results in a coupling of the energy storage device to the vehicle carrier that can withstand even high loads.

[0009] The vehicle carrier is permanently mounted to a vehicle, which transports the energy storage unit to the deployment site. An energy storage unit mounted on the vehicle carrier powers a charging network, which is preferably used exclusively for charging battery packs of work equipment. The charging network also has a mains connection for an external voltage, such as a 230 V mains supply. This mains connection allows the charging network to be connected to the external voltage, enabling simple charging of the mobile energy storage unit installed in the vehicle without additional cables or circuitry. Furthermore, it ensures that the vehicle's built-in chargers can operate while the energy storage unit is charging, allowing for the simultaneous charging of battery packs.

[0010] The vehicle carrier has a base with a raised edge at at least one of its edges. This raised edge determines the final position of the energy storage unit, which is slidably mounted on the vehicle carrier.

[0011] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, guide elements for the directed movement of the energy storage device are provided between the base of the vehicle carrier and the housing of the energy storage device. This simplifies the process of sliding the energy storage device onto the coupling connection of the vehicle carrier.

[0012] The vehicle carrier is designed in such a way that an energy storage device placed on the base of the vehicle carrier can be moved parallel to the base towards the raised edge into the final position of the energy storage device.

[0013] In the final position of the energy storage unit on the vehicle carrier, its connections mechanically interlock with the coupling connection of the vehicle carrier. This mechanical interlock secures the energy storage unit to the vehicle carrier perpendicular to the direction of movement.

[0014] The locking elements securing the end position are preferably mechanically lockable, in particular lockable without tools. This allows for easy operation without tools.

[0015] The charging network is a 230 V network, primarily powered by a DC / AC inverter of the energy storage system. This allows the use of standard power supplies for charging battery packs. Complex modifications for use with the mobile electrical energy storage system are unnecessary. The charging network preferably has an external electrical connection for connection to the external voltage, which is typically 230 V. Without complex switching operations, the chargers can remain connected to the charging network regardless of whether the energy storage system is powering the network or an external voltage.

[0016] The preferred choice is individual lithium-ion cells installed in the housing of the energy storage device.

[0017] Further features of the invention will become apparent from the further claims, the description, and the drawing, which schematically illustrates an embodiment of the invention. The drawing shows: Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a vehicle with an arrangement according to the invention consisting of an energy storage device and a vehicle carrier for charging battery packs of work equipment; Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a schematic view of a vehicle carrier and an energy storage device; Fig. 3 shows a side view of the vehicle carrier and an energy storage device according to the invention. Fig. 2 Fig. 4 shows a schematic perspective view of the placement of the energy storage unit on the base of the vehicle carrier for carrier-fixed mounting of the energy storage unit on the vehicle carrier. Fig. 5 shows a side view of the representation for placing the energy storage unit on the base of the vehicle carrier. Fig. 4 Fig. 6 shows a schematic perspective view of the energy storage unit being slid onto the vehicle carrier parallel to its base; Fig. 7 shows a side view of the representation of sliding the energy storage unit onto the vehicle carrier. Fig. 6Fig. 8 a perspective, schematic representation of the energy storage unit mounted on the vehicle carrier and mechanically secured, Fig. 9 a side view of the representation of the energy storage unit mounted on the vehicle carrier according to Fig. 8 .

[0018] In Fig. 1 The diagram schematically shows a vehicle 1, using a panel van as an example, on whose loading platform 2 an exemplary installation in the form of a shelving system 3 is shown. The vehicle 1 shown is an example of a vehicle as a mobile means of transport, used for transporting people, goods and / or tools.

[0019] In the shelf arrangement 3 shown, chargers 4, 5, 6 are permanently installed, each having a battery compartment 7 for receiving a battery pack 17 of electrical consumers 15 to be charged, e.g., a battery-operated work device such as the one shown in Fig. 1A schematic representation of a motorized chainsaw 16, a hedge trimmer, a blower, a brush cutter, or similar work equipment. Accordingly, further chargers 8, 9 may be installed on other shelf levels, which have appropriately adapted battery compartments 7 for accommodating battery packs of other consumers, such as other work equipment.

[0020] Chargers 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9 have a mains connection, specifically a 230 V mains connection, and operate independently of each other. Chargers 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9 are advantageous because they can also be used by a single user on a 230 V power supply.

[0021] The chargers 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9 are operated in vehicle 1 via a charging network 10, which is independent of the vehicle 1's own on-board electrical system 11. The charging network 10 is a 230 V network, thus corresponding to the standard household voltage used throughout Europe.

[0022] For the operation of the chargers 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9, an external connection 12 is advantageously provided in the body of the vehicle 1, which is connected to the charging network 10. If the vehicle 1 is located near a mains connection, the chargers 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9 can be charged with mains power on the loading platform 2 of the vehicle 1.

[0023] To ensure mobile use of the chargers 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9, at least one energy storage device 20 is provided, which is to be mounted on a vehicle carrier 21 in the vehicle 1. The vehicle carrier 21 has a coupling connection 22, which is preferably directly electrically connected to the charging network 10. If a mains voltage of, for example, 230 V is present at the external connection 12, the entire charging network 10 is supplied with the operating voltage of the external connection 12. Since the coupling connection 22 is electrically connected to the charging network 10, the operating voltage of the external connection 12 is also present at the coupling connection 22. In the illustrated embodiment, this is a voltage of 230 V.

[0024] In the Figures 2 and 3 is the in Fig. 1The energy storage device 20, together with its associated vehicle carrier 21, is shown enlarged. The energy storage device 20 has a housing 23 in which a plurality of rechargeable individual cells are accommodated. The rechargeable individual cells can be directly combined to form a cell array 18, which, when charged, has an electrical system output of 1 kWh or more, preferably 2 kWh, and in particular 3.5 kWh or higher, e.g., 15 kWh.

[0025] Alternatively, the individual cells can first be installed in a smaller array (e.g., of 6 cells) and then combined into larger modules, which then form the cell array 18 of the energy storage system 20. The individual cells can also be combined directly into a single array, namely the cell array 18, without subdividing them into subgroups and modules. In one embodiment, with a system output of approximately 2.05 kWh, 144 cells can be mechanically grouped and electrically interconnected in modules of 6 cells each and in 4 grids of 6 modules each. Other configurations in modules and grids may also be suitable.

[0026] The energy storage device 20 has a connection 24 for supplying electrical power to the charging network 10, preferably via a DC / AC inverter. Furthermore, the energy storage device 20 has an electrical connection 25 for applying an external voltage, e.g., the operating voltage applied via the external connection 12 of the vehicle 1. In the illustrated embodiment of the energy storage device 20, the connections 24 and 25 are combined and form a socket 26, to which the coupling connection 22 of the vehicle carrier 21 is assigned. The vehicle carrier 21 has a base 27, with a raised edge 29 formed at a base edge 28. Fig. 9 As shown, the raised edge 29 determines the end position E of the energy storage device 20 on the vehicle carrier 21. The raised edge 29 serves to hold the coupling connection 22 on the vehicle carrier 21, which is associated with the socket 26.

[0027] In the illustrated embodiment, the vehicle carrier 21 is L-shaped in side view, with the base 27 having a surface 30 that corresponds to the base surface 31 of the housing 23. The raised edge 29, which is enlarged towards the end wall 32, has an end face 33 facing the energy storage device 20, which approximately corresponds to the surface area of ​​the end face 34 of the energy storage device 20.

[0028] For mounting the energy storage unit 20 on the vehicle carrier 21, the energy storage unit 20 is positioned according to the Figures 4 and 5 first placed on the floor 27 of the vehicle carrier 21 and then, as the Figures 6 and 7 show, placed on the ground 27. Advantageously, guide elements 35 are arranged between the ground 27 of the vehicle carrier 21 and the housing 23 of the energy storage device 20, as shown in Fig. 6 are shown schematically. The guide elements 35 support the displacement of the energy storage device 20 in the direction of arrow 36 ( Fig. 7) in the direction of the raised edge or in the direction of the front wall 32 of the vehicle carrier 21. Advantageously, under the action of the guide elements 35, the energy storage device 20 on the floor 27 of the vehicle carrier 21 is moved parallel to the floor 27 in the direction of arrow 36 into its end position E ( Fig. 9 ) delay.

[0029] In the final position E, the coupling terminal 22 engages in the socket 26 of the energy storage device 20, whereby the coupling terminal 22 establishes an electrical connection on the one hand with the terminal 24 for supplying electrical power to the charging network 10 and on the other hand with the terminal 25 for applying an external voltage. The energy storage device 20 is in its final position E ( Fig. 9 ) is electrically connected to the charging network 10.

[0030] In the final position E ( Fig. 9The coupling connector 22 of the energy storage device 20 on the vehicle carrier 21 engages mechanically firmly in the socket 26. The terminals 24, 25 of the energy storage device 20 are mechanically firmly connected to the coupling connector 22 of the vehicle carrier 21.

[0031] The charging network 10 has an operating voltage for operating the chargers 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9, wherein this operating voltage can be provided either via the external connection 12 of the vehicle 1 or, in particular, at the place of use of the electrically powered work equipment, via the connection 24 of the energy storage unit 20. Preferably, the operating voltage of the charging network 10 corresponds to the external voltage applied to the external connection 12, in particular a voltage of 230 V.

[0032] The energy storage device 20, mounted on the vehicle carrier 21 and moved into its end position E, is advantageously secured in its end position E by means of locking elements 40, which act between the energy storage device 20 and the vehicle carrier 21. The energy storage device 20 is mechanically and firmly connected to the vehicle carrier 21 by means of the locking elements 40. Since the vehicle carrier 21, as shown in Fig. 1 As shown, the energy storage device 20 is firmly connected to the installation of the vehicle 1, and is properly secured in the vehicle 1.

[0033] The locking element 40 is in the Figures 2 to 9 The diagram is schematic only. The locking element 40 is mechanically lockable, thus preventing unintentional release of the lock. In particular, the locking element 40 can be locked without tools.

[0034] The locking element 40 can be designed as a housing-mounted fastening element 41 provided on the energy storage device 20. Alternatively or additionally, the locking element 40 can be designed as a carrier-mounted fastening element 42 provided on the vehicle carrier 21. Fasteners that can be operated without tools are preferred.

Claims

1. Arrangement having a mobile electrical energy storage unit (20) for supplying energy to at least one mobile electrical load (15), (a) wherein the energy storage unit (20) has a housing (23) in which a plurality of rechargeable individual cells, which electrically form a cell assembly (18), are accommodated, (b) and the charged electrical cell assembly (18) has an electrical system power, (c) and the housing (23) of the energy storage unit (20) has at least one connection (24) for delivering electrical power into a charging network (10) and at least one connection (25) for applying an external voltage, (d) wherein the external voltage is to be applied to electrically charge the cell assembly (18) accommodated in the energy storage unit (20), (e) and the arrangement comprises a vehicle support (21) that is designed to be mounted on a vehicle (1), (f) wherein the energy storage unit (20) is held on the vehicle support (21) in an exchangeable manner, (g) wherein the vehicle support (21) has a coupling connection (22) for electrically connecting the charging network (10) to the electrical connections (24, 25) of the energy storage unit (20), (h) wherein, when the energy storage unit (20) is held on the vehicle support (21), the connections (24, 25) of the energy storage unit (20) and the coupling connection (22) of the vehicle support (21) engage in one another so as to make electrical contact, characterized in that (i) the vehicle support (21) has a base (27) with at least one raised edge (29), and the edge (29) determines the end position (E) of the energy storage unit (20) that is held on the vehicle support (21) in a displaceable manner, wherein the vehicle support (21) is designed in such a way that the energy storage unit (20) placed on the base (27) of the vehicle support (21) is to be displaced parallel to the base (27) in the direction (36) of the edge (29) into its end position (E), (j) and at least one securing element (40), which is suitable for connecting the energy storage unit (20) to the vehicle support (21) in a mechanically fixed manner, acts between the energy storage unit (20) and the vehicle support (21), (k) wherein the securing element (40) is in the form of at least one fastening element (41) that is provided on the energy storage unit (20) and is fixed to the housing and / or of a fastening element (42) that is provided at least on the vehicle support (21) and is fixed to the support.

2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the base (27) has guide elements (35) for the directed displacement of the energy storage unit (20).

3. Arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, in the end position (E) of the energy storage unit (20) on the vehicle support (21), the connections (24, 25) of the energy storage unit (20) and the coupling connection (22) of the vehicle support (21) engage in one another in a mechanically fixed manner.

4. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the securing element (40) is able to be mechanically locked, in particular without tools.

5. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the charging network (10) is a 230 V network, which is fed in particular by a DC / AC inverter of the energy storage unit (20).

6. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the charging network (10) has an electrical external connection (12) for connecting to the external voltage.

7. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the vehicle support (21) is part of the loading area (2) of a vehicle (1), in particular of a motor vehicle.

8. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the cell assembly (18) is formed from lithium-ion cells.

9. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the charged electrical cell assembly (18) of the energy storage unit (20) has an electrical system power of more than 1.5 kWh up to 15 kWh.