Battery unit with a movable terminal

Abstract

The invention relates to a battery unit (1) for the voltage supply of vehicles, stationary and mobile machines and also installations, comprising a housing (5) having at least one battery cell (10) and two pole terminals (6, 7) in the end faces of the housing (5). In order to enable sufficient short-circuit protection and to afford the possibility of discharging and charging the battery unit (1), provision is made for a battery unit (1) to be equipped with a stationary pole terminal (6), which projects outward from the housing (5) and is electrically connected to the negative pole of the battery cell (4), and also a movable pole terminal (7), which is guided axially movably and in an insulated manner in the housing (5). The movable pole terminal (7) is connected to the positive pole of the battery cell (4) and can be withdrawn outward from a guide sleeve by a strong magnet in order to enable contact to be made.

Description

[0001] Battery unit

[0002] The invention relates to a battery unit for the voltage supply of vehicles, stationary and mobile machines and systems, with or consisting of a housing with at least one battery cell and two pole connections in the end faces of the housing and a charging / discharging device for at least one battery unit, in particular for round battery housings, comprising at least one charging station and a means of transport.

[0003] To limit the use of combustion engines, both in automotive technology and in mobile and stationary applications, there is an increasing focus on batteries. Depending on the type of application, these batteries are subject to constant stress because they require high charging or discharging currents or continuous operation. Since these batteries are generally reusable and rechargeable, they must be connected to a charging station.

[0004] Rechargeable batteries are used in automotive engineering, for example, and can be installed in the floor panel of a motor vehicle. In this case, the batteries must be charged inside the vehicle via a plug connection.

[0005] When it comes to batteries for mobile units or stationary use, they must, on the one hand, have a high capacity and, on the other hand, offer a changing mechanism that makes removing and reinserting the batteries easier. When it comes to very large batteries, a forklift could, for example, be used if no charging station is available to charge them inside the vehicle or mobile unit. Handling the batteries must ensure that short circuits can be ruled out when removing and inserting them to prevent damage to the batteries. When it comes to mobile units, these can usually be construction machinery, for example, which requires multiple replacements during an 8-hour operation.Rapid battery discharge is caused, for example, by the use of a large number of electric motors powered by one or more batteries. To enable economically viable battery replacement, the present invention is based on the object of providing a battery that is suitable for rapid replacement in vehicles or machines and also offers the possibility of being stored and charged via an external charging station, particularly unmanned, i.e., without operating personnel. A further object of the present invention is to provide a charging device suitable for the battery unit.

[0006] The first object is achieved by proposing a battery unit having a fixed terminal connection that is electrically connected to the housing and a movable terminal connection that is insulated in the housing and mounted, i.e., guided, for axial movement between a rest position and a contact position. Further embodiments of the battery unit are listed in the subclaims.

[0007] The fixed pole connection is preferably designed as a negative pole, while the movable pole connection is designed as a positive pole and requires additional insulation to prevent a short circuit from occurring due to careless movement of the battery unit. For this reason, the movable pole connection is housed in an insulated housing and can be pulled out of the battery unit housing using a magnet, for example against a spring force, e.g. using a spiral spring, to make contact. All that is required is a strong magnet to make contact. With the help of a magnet, the positive pole is pulled out of the battery unit housing and serves to establish contact. The removal of the pole connection using a magnet must be ensured both during final discharge and subsequent charging.

[0008] In one embodiment of the invention, the movable pole connection can be moved into the housing in a contactless manner by the spring force of a spring when in its rest position, and can be moved into a contact position with contact being made by a magnetic force that counteracts the spring force. To avoid a short circuit, the spring force, for example of a spiral spring, moves the movable pole connection into the housing in its rest position so that no contact can be made. In contrast, a magnetic force, counteracting the existing spring force, moves the movable pole connection into a position in which contact is possible. This ensures that no short circuit can occur during transport of the battery unit and that a magnet enables secure and stable contact to be made when inserting the battery, either for mobile or stationary use.

[0009] To prevent a short circuit within the battery unit, the movable terminal connection is further provided in an insulating axial guide. This can be a sleeve with insulating properties into which the movable terminal connection can be moved when the external magnet is removed. The insulating sleeve also serves as a guide for the terminal connection, thereby enabling secure guidance and ensuring a long service life of the battery unit. Furthermore, it is possible to cover the opening of at least the movable positive terminal with an insulating sleeve, which is slit crosswise, for example, or in the manner of a cover, to enable the terminal connection to be relocated.

[0010] In a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the movable pole connection has a conductive ring sleeve which has a core made of magnetic material, such as a ferrite core, in the center, or that the movable pole connection has a conductive core and an insulated magnetic sleeve. There are basically two ways of producing the pole connection. On the one hand, the pole connection can have a conductive ring sleeve which has a core made of magnetic material in the center. On the other hand, the movable pole connection can have a conductive core and a magnetic sleeve. The conductive ring sleeve or the conductive core are used for contact and enable a high current flow for charging and discharging the battery unit. The core made of a magnetic material orA comparable magnetic sleeve, on the other hand, is used to pull the terminal connection out of the battery unit against an existing spring force using an external magnet.

[0011] In order to enable contact, the movable terminal connection is connected to a battery terminal, usually the positive terminal, while the negative terminal is directly connected to the housing of the battery unit.

[0012] In a further embodiment of the invention, the fixed terminal connection consists of a ring contact with an undercut, which protrudes from the housing, while the inner end is connected to a battery terminal or the housing. The fixed terminal connection can consist of a ring contact with an undercut, which makes it possible to securely store the fixed terminal connection in a corresponding receptacle, namely securely until the movable terminal connection is pulled out using the magnet. The existing undercut enables the battery unit to be accommodated in, for example, a clamping scissor-shaped holder, to enable axial fixation.

[0013] In a further embodiment of the invention, the housing comprises two end caps, each of which has a conical protrusion tapering toward the terminal connections and is connected to a housing wall. The two end caps serve to close the housing in which the battery cells are accommodated, with the conical protrusions tapering toward the terminal connections simultaneously enabling axial centering of the battery unit.

[0014] In a further embodiment of the invention, the housing or the end caps have a raised, preferably elastic, peripheral ring in the transition area. Since the battery units are preferably round, it is possible for the batteries to be rolled to the charging station or moved in a rolling manner within the charging station, with the raised, elastic peripheral ring or bead serving to prevent possible damage to the housing. The elastic peripheral ring can roll over a floor surface and protects the housing of the battery unit. The housing can preferably have a round cross-section, but can also have a polygonal cross-section if required.

[0015] In a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the battery cells can be connected in series or in parallel for preferably clocked charging and discharging, and / or that several battery cells can be connected both in parallel and in series for charging and discharging. Within the housing of such a battery unit, several individual battery cells can be accommodated, which, taking into account the intended use, can be connected to one another, for example, in series, but also in parallel, wherein series and parallel connection of the battery cells is also possible. The second object is achieved by a charging device which, according to the invention, consists of a housing with at least one internal guide plane which has an angle of inclination to the horizontal, wherein movable locking means for positioning the batteries and charging contacts for at least one battery are provided.Preferably, however, several batteries are charged simultaneously. For this purpose, the movable terminal connection must be pulled out of the housing, which is achieved in each battery unit by a strong magnet that counteracts the spring force of a compression spring.

[0016] Such a charging device enables the feeding of a plurality of battery units that require charging. The batteries can be charged in a central area of ​​the charging station and, after charging, can roll along the at least one internal guide plane so that the charged batteries reach a removal opening. To enable rolling, the battery units have an elastic bead that rolls along the guide plane, thus preventing damage to the battery housing. By selecting a round battery unit, the battery units can roll along the inclined guide planes without external intervention and can each be locked in the desired position. This can either prevent further battery units from rolling along or can bring the batteries to a standstill so that charging can begin.To charge, the movable terminal must be removed from the battery housing. A powerful magnet is used to pull the terminal out of an insulating guide sleeve, for example. Once the charging process is complete, the locking mechanism for the respective batteries can be released, allowing them to roll away from the charging and transport device for removal.

[0017] With a corresponding design, a charging device can also be used in the power supply of vehicles, with the majority of battery units then delivering the charge to the vehicle, and the battery units being replaced when the end of their capacity is reached in the same way as when they were charged. A backup battery can help reduce or bridge voltage fluctuations when changing battery units.

[0018] In a further embodiment of the invention, the guide levels each have two guide elements that support the battery housing. The battery units are supported by the existing rotating rings opposite the guide elements and thus rest on the guide elements with only a small contact surface, allowing independent rolling once a locking mechanism has been released.

[0019] In a further embodiment of the invention, several guide levels are arranged one above the other and have a transition area, wherein the battery units are mounted so that they can roll along the guide level and switch to a lower guide level in the transition area. Several guide elements arranged in pairs form a guide level, wherein a corresponding number of guide levels can be formed depending on the number of battery units to be accommodated within the loading and transport device. The advantage of this solution is that the battery units can roll independently over the respective rotating rings without any risk of damage within the loading and transport device.

[0020] In a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that multiple battery units can be charged simultaneously via the charging contacts in a timed manner, and / or that the battery units resting on at least one guide level can be charged simultaneously in multiple charging positions, and / or that one to six battery units can be charged simultaneously. By allowing a larger number of battery units to be charged simultaneously, the capacity of the charging and transport device is increased during a charging cycle, ensuring sufficient power supply to the mobile or stationary units.

[0021] In a further embodiment of the invention, the loading device is constructed in a box-like manner, each having an input and output opening. The loading device can also comprise a storage device in which a plurality of battery units can be accommodated. These units are fed through an input opening and roll through the various guide levels until they finally reach an output opening, where they can be removed again.

[0022] The battery units can be secured using locking devices, for example, to enable contact in the loading area. Furthermore, further rolling of the battery units after being fed through the input opening is prevented. A further embodiment of the invention provides that the discharged battery units are first fed to a storage facility for storage, then transported via a conveyor belt to the loading device and transferred into the input opening by means of a shifting unit.To store the battery units, it is also possible to choose a larger storage facility in which a large number of battery units are accommodated and transferred to a storage facility after a loading process, for example via a conveyor belt and, after the loading process, are again stored in a storage facility, whereby for this purpose the battery units can be moved from the first storage facility using a shifting unit onto a conveyor belt which leads to the loading device.

[0023] In a further embodiment of the invention, the charged battery units are transferred from the charging device to a conveyor belt by means of a transfer unit, and can then be transferred to a further storage facility for storage. Similarly, the charged battery units can be transferred from the charging device to a conveyor belt by means of a transfer unit, which then feeds the battery units to a storage facility for storage.

[0024] In a particular embodiment of the invention, the locking means prevent the battery units from rolling, and / or the conveyor belts have trough-shaped recesses in which the battery units rest. The locking means can impede or prevent the battery units from rolling. This option is preferably used in the area of ​​the charging points so that contact can be made between both the negative and positive terminals in a precise position. However, the locking means also prevent the battery units from rolling in front of and behind the charging device, so that only a desired number of battery units can roll on at any one time.

[0025] An alternative embodiment consists in the charging device having a rotating drum into which battery units are each mounted so that they can be pushed in and out through an opening, whereby the drum rotates after each battery unit change. Instead of an inclined plane for rolling the battery units, a rotating drum can be provided into which the battery unit can be pushed in or out through an opening. As soon as a battery unit has been replaced, a new battery unit can be removed or added by rotating the drum, so that when the drum is completely full, for example, a charging cycle can be started. Alternatively, however, it is also possible here for only some of the battery units accommodated in the drum to be charged at the same time.It is intended that the battery units are picked up and removed from the charging station one after the other by gradually turning the battery drum until the next receiving opening is reached, whereby, for example, two to four battery units can be replaced one after the other and the charging process for the replaced battery units then takes place.

[0026] In a further embodiment of the invention, the displacement unit comprises a motor- or hydraulically actuated ram equipped with an insulating plate for contacting the front of the battery unit and displacing it in the axial direction of the batteries. A hydraulically actuated ram enables both the battery units to be inserted into the corresponding charging device and also pushed out of the battery unit, preferably using a hydraulic ram.

[0027] The particular advantage of the present invention lies in the use of a replaceable, reusable battery unit that can be charged in advance and is available in such large quantities that vehicles, stationary and mobile machines, and systems can be operated with alternating battery units. Furthermore, a charging and transport device is proposed for the battery units. This device, in addition to storing empty and charged battery units, also offers the possibility of charging multiple battery units simultaneously, ensuring that a sufficient number of battery units is available at all times.

[0028] The invention is explained again below with reference to the figures.

[0029] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view, a side view and a sectional view along section line AA of a battery unit according to the invention with the positive pole in the rest position, Fig. 2A shows an enlarged view along section line AA of a battery unit according to the invention with the positive pole in the rest position

[0030] Fig. 2B in an enlarged view along the section line AA a battery unit according to the invention with the positive pole in contact position

[0031] Fig. 3A in an enlarged view from Fig. 2A a partial view of a battery unit according to the invention according to the section line AA with the positive pole in the rest position,

[0032] Fig. 3B in an enlarged view from Fig. 2B a partial view of a battery unit according to the invention according to the section line AA with the positive pole in contact position,

[0033] Fig. 4 in two perspective views and a detailed drawing of the loading device, and

[0034] Fig. 5 in two side views and two top views of the loading device according to Fig. 4.

[0035] Figure 1 shows an example of a battery unit 1 in a perspective view, a side view, and a sectioned side view along section line AA. The battery unit 1 is round in shape and has two elastic anti-friction rings 2, 3, so that the battery unit 1 is designed to be rollable, particularly on an inclined plane. Other designs are conceivable if the transport of the battery unit 1 is ensured.

[0036] The sectional view shows the internal battery cell 10, which is accommodated in a housing 5, wherein the housing 5 has a terminal connection 6 as the negative pole and a terminal connection 7 as the positive pole. The terminal connection 6 is firmly connected to the housing 5 and is in electrical contact with the housing 5 and the negative pole of the battery cell 10. The terminal connection 7 is in electrical contact with the positive pole of the battery cell 10 and lies in an insulating guide sleeve 8 and is pulled into the housing by a spring 9, which is designed as a tension spring. In this way, contact of the positive pole is prevented from leading to a short circuit. In order to enable contact between the terminal connection 7 and suitable devices or a charging station, the terminal connection 7 has a magnetic core which is surrounded by a conductive, pot-shaped annular sleeve 18.An iron core, for example, can be used as the core, while the pot-shaped annular sleeve 18 can be designed as a copper sleeve. Using a magnet (not shown), the terminal connection 7 can be moved out of the housing 5 against the spring force of the spring 9, thus enabling electrical contact. This measure ensures a high level of safety for the battery unit 1.

[0037] The housing 5 is generally cylindrical or polygonal in shape and has two curved end caps 11, 12, which form the closure of the housing 5. The end caps 11, 12 are screwed together via several threaded rods 13, with the spacing determined by the cylindrical shell. The battery cell 10, which can be a single cell or a multi-cell structure, is located within the housing 5. The movable terminal connection 7 is connected to the positive terminal of the battery cell 10, while the negative terminal is electrically connected to the housing 5 and the terminal connection 6.

[0038] With the help of the spring 9, the positive pole connection 7, also called the pole sleeve here, is pulled into the housing 5, thus preventing electrical contact and thus a short circuit. Only during loading and unloading is the positive pole connection 7 pulled out of the housing 5 with the help of a magnet (not shown) to enable contact. The movable pole connection 7 is mounted in an insulator guide sleeve 8, which is designed on the one hand as a sliding sleeve in order to be able to pull out the pole connection 7 with as little friction as possible, and on the other hand the guide sleeve 8 is not electrically conductive, thus ensuring insulation from the housing 5.

[0039] Figures 2A and B show, in an enlarged view along section line AA of Figure 1, a battery unit according to the invention with the positive pole in the rest position (Fig. 2A) and in the contact position (Fig. 2B).

[0040] Figure 3A shows a partial cross-sectional view of the movable terminal connection 7 as it is accommodated within the housing 5. The housing 5 is first closed by the end cap 12 with the circumferential ring 3, so that the internal battery cell 10 is hermetically sealed. The movable terminal connection 7 lies in an insulator guide sleeve 8, which enables axial movement and also ensures insulation of the terminal connection 7 from the housing 5. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the terminal connection 7 consists of an electrically conductive, pot-shaped sleeve, which can preferably be made of copper and is connected to the battery cell via an electrical connector 14 with a flexible fork connection. The terminal connection 7 also has a magnetic core 17 to enable the terminal connection 7 to be pulled out using a magnet. The core 17 is arranged within the electrically conductive, pot-shaped terminal sleeve 7.The pot-shaped pole sleeve 7 can be brought into contact with the stop 16 of the insulator sleeve 8 via the collar 15.

[0041] Figure 3B shows a partial sectional view of the movable pole terminal 7 in a position in which the pole terminal has been pulled out of the insulator sleeve 8 in the housing 5 by means of a schematically illustrated magnet 18.

[0042] Figure 4 shows two perspective views of an exemplary charging device 20, which can be used to store and charge battery units 1. The battery units 1 are mounted on a guide element 23, 24, 25, so that several battery units 1 can be stored. Discharged battery units 1 can be fed in via an input opening 21, and charged battery units 1 can be removed via a removal opening 22. The battery units 1 are charged within the charging device; the charging device is not shown in the example shown.

[0043] The battery units 1 themselves are held in their respective positions by means of locking means 26, which are movably mounted to allow the battery units 1 to be released so that they can be automatically transported further, rolling along the inclined plane of the guide elements 23, 24, 25. Discharged battery units 1 are fed through an input opening 21 of the loading device 20 and roll along the guide elements 23, 24, 25 from one level to the next, as long as the existing locking means 26 has been lowered. In a transition area 27, the battery units 1 can move from the uppermost level to the lower level and, via a transition area 28, to the lowest guide level. Via a further transition area 29, the battery units 1 can roll to the exit opening 30.Preferably, the battery units 1 are charged on the middle management level, whereby several battery units 1 can be charged simultaneously.

[0044] The charging device 20 is formed by a housing consisting of a stable frame 31 and side panels 32. This allows any heat generated to be released directly into the atmosphere.

[0045] Figure 6 shows the charging device 10 in two side views and two front views, wherein in particular the lower right view shows the position of the individual battery units 1, which can roll along an inclined plane after release of the locking means 14, wherein the batteries can be fed in via the inlet opening 12 and removed again via an outlet opening 13 after the charging process.

[0046] List of reference symbols

[0047] 1 battery unit

[0048] 2 circulating ring

[0049] 3 Circulating ring

[0050] 4 Seal

[0051] 5 housings

[0052] 6-pin connection

[0053] 7-pin connection

[0054] 8 Insulator guide sleeve

[0055] 9 spring

[0056] 10 battery cells

[0057] 11 end caps

[0058] 12 end caps

[0059] 13 threaded rods

[0060] 14 Electrical connector

[0061] 15 collars

[0062] 16 stops

[0063] 17 core

[0064] 18 Magnet

[0065] 20 loading device

[0066] 21 Input opening

[0067] 22 Removal opening 23 Guide element

[0068] 24 Guide element

[0069] 25 Guide element

[0070] 26 Locking device 27 Transition area

[0071] 28 Transition area

[0072] 29 Transition area

[0073] 30 Exit opening

[0074] 31 Frame 32 Side panel

Claims

Patent claims 1. Battery unit (1) for the voltage supply of vehicles, stationary and mobile machines and systems, with a housing (5) with at least one battery cell (4) and two pole connections (6, 7) preferably in the end faces of the housing (5), characterized in that a fixed pole connection (6) is electrically connected to the housing (5) and a movable pole connection (7) is insulated in the housing (5) and is guided so as to be axially movable between a rest position and a contact position.

2. Battery unit (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the movable pole connection (7) can be displaced into the housing (5) in a rest position without contact by the spring force of a spring (9) and can be transferred into a position with contact by a magnetic force counter to the spring force.

3. Battery unit (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the movable pole connection (7) is accommodated in an insulating axial guide.

4. Battery unit (1) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the movable pole terminal (7) has a conductive annular sleeve (18) which has a core (17) made of magnetic materials in the center, or that the movable pole terminal has a conductive core and a magnetic sleeve.

5. Battery unit (1) according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the movable pole connection (7) is connected to a battery pole.

6. Battery unit (1) according to one or more of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that that the fixed pole connection (6) consists of a ring contact with an undercut, which protrudes from the housing (5), while the inner end is connected to a battery pole or the housing (5).

7. Battery unit (1) according to one or more of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the housing (5) has two end caps (11, 12), each of which has a conical elevation tapering towards the pole terminals (6, 7) and is connected to a housing wall.

8. Battery unit (1) according to one or more of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the housing (5) or the end caps (11, 12) have a raised elastic bead (2, 3) in the transition region.

9. Battery unit (1) according to one or more of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the housing (5) has a round or polygonal cross-section.

10. Battery unit (1) according to one or more of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the battery cells (4) are connected in series or in parallel for charging and discharging, and / or that several battery cells (4) are connected both in parallel and in series for charging and discharging.

11. Charging device (20) for at least one battery unit (1), in particular for round battery housings, comprising at least one charging station, characterized in that the charging station consists of a housing with at least one internal guide plane which has an angle of inclination to the horizontal, wherein movable locking means (26) for positioning the battery units (1) and charging contacts for at least one battery unit (1) are provided.

12. Loading device (20) according to claim 11, characterized in that that the guide plane each has two guide elements (23, 24, 25) which support the housing (5) of the battery unit (1).

13. Charging device (20) according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that several guide elements (23, 24, 25) are arranged one above the other and have a transition region (27, 28, 29), wherein the battery units (1) are mounted so as to be able to roll along the guide plane and change to a lower guide plane in the transition region (27, 28, 29).

14. Charging device (20) according to one or more of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that several battery units (1) can be charged simultaneously via the charging contacts, and / or that the battery units (1) which rest on at least one guide plane are charged simultaneously, and / or that the simultaneous charging of one to six battery units (1) takes place.

15. Loading device (20) according to one or more of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that the storage device is constructed in a box-like manner and has an input opening (21) and an output opening (22).

16. Charging device (20) according to one or more of claims 11 to 15, characterized in that the discharged battery units (1) enter the housing via an input opening (21) and leave the housing via an output opening (22) after the charging process, wherein the number of battery units (1) fed in and removed can be controlled by means of the locking means (26).

17. Charging device (20) according to one or more of claims 11 to 16, characterized in that the discharged battery units (1) are first fed to a storage device for storage, then transported via a conveyor belt to the charging station and can be transferred into the input opening (21) by means of a displacement unit.

18. Charging device (20) according to one or more of claims 11 to 17, characterized in that the charged battery units (1) are transferred from the charging station to a conveyor belt by means of a shifting unit and can then be transferred to a further storage facility for storage.

19. Loading device (20) according to one or more of claims 11 to 18, characterized in that the locking means (26) prevent a rolling movement of the battery units (1), and / or that the conveyor belts have trough-shaped depressions in which the battery units (1) lie.

20. Loading device (20) according to one or more of claims 11 to 19, characterized in that the loading device (20) has a rotating drum into which battery units (1) are each mounted so as to be able to be pushed in and out of an opening, wherein after a change of the battery unit (1) the drum is rotated.

21. Charging device (20) according to one or more of claims 11 to 20, characterized in that the battery units (1) are picked up and removed in the charging station one after the other by gradually rotating the battery drum until the next receiving opening, wherein two to four battery units (1) are exchangeable one after the other and the charging process for the exchanged battery units (1) then takes place.

22. Loading device (20) according to one or more of claims 11 to 21, characterized in that the displacement unit has a hydraulically actuated plunger which is equipped with an insulating plate, comes into contact with the battery unit (1) on the front side and displaces it in the axial direction of the battery unit (1).

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