Device for fastening an energy accumulator to a vehicle frame by means of a lever - Patents.com
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2024501931
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2021-07-14
- Filing Date
- 2022-07-12
- Publication Date
- 2025-05-21
AI Technical Summary
Existing technologies face challenges in effectively securing and electrically connecting energy storage devices to vehicle frames, particularly bicycles, while accommodating varying device sizes and ensuring stable fixation and electrical contact.
A device comprising a preassembled basic module with a pivotable lever that functions as a cam mechanism, allowing for secure fastening and electrical connection of energy storage devices to vehicle frames, accommodating different sizes and compensating for dimensional tolerances through a spring-loaded design.
Enables stable, rattle-free fixation and electrical connection of energy storage devices to vehicle frames, accommodating varying sizes and ensuring reliable electrical contact, with enhanced assembly efficiency and theft prevention.
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Abstract
Description
[Technical field]
[0001] The invention relates to a device according to the preamble of claim 1 and to an energy accumulator according to claim 17. [Background technology]
[0002] DE102019204572B3 discloses a lever mechanism for fixing a battery to a bicycle frame. The lever engages a recess in the battery and axially biases the battery away from the lever mechanism towards the opposite end face of the battery. Correspondingly, the battery is electrically contacted at the opposite end face. Therefore, the lever mechanism and the battery electrical contact must be constructed structurally separate from each other. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]
[0003] [Patent Document 1] DE102019204572B3 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0004] The object of the present invention is to improve the fastening of an energy accumulator on a vehicle frame. This object is achieved by a device according to claim 1 and by an energy accumulator according to claim 17. Advantageous further developments are contained in the dependent claims and emerge from the following description. [Means for solving the problem]
[0005] The device according to the invention serves to fasten an energy accumulator, which may in particular be a bicycle frame, to a vehicle frame, the energy accumulator being preferably designed as an electrical energy accumulator or a battery.
[0006] The apparatus includes a basic module. An apparatus of means connected to form a structural unit is called a module. It is thus an apparatus of means, each of which is connected to one or more of the means of the module. The module is characterized in that it is pre-assembled. The basic module can therefore be mounted on the vehicle frame as a pre-assembled unit.
[0007] Furthermore, the device includes a lever, which is pivotally supported on the basic module, the basic module thus forming a support position for the lever, in which the lever is fixed in a pivotable manner.
[0008] Swivelability refers to the ability to rotate through an angle that may be less than 360°. In particular, the angle may be less than 270°, less than 180°, or less than 90°. Preferably, the pivoting is performed around exactly one axis. This means that the lever is not pivotable or rotatable around an axis oriented perpendicular to it.
[0009] The lever can be brought into engagement with the energy accumulator by pivoting, whereby the lever and the energy accumulator form a cam mechanism.
[0010] A cam mechanism is a mechanism whose output movement is generated with the aid of a rotatably supported or linearly guided pick-up element by the constant scanning of a rotatably supported or linearly guided cam carrier.
[0011] In this case, the lever constitutes a rotatably supported cam carrier. The linearly guided pick-up element is constituted by the energy accumulator. The cam mechanism converts the further pivoting of the lever into a movement of the energy accumulator. Further pivoting of the lever in this case refers to the pivoting of the lever from the position where it engages with the energy accumulator. The lever is thus pivoted from the start position. As a result, the lever engages with the energy accumulator and pivots further without changing the direction of rotation. The resulting movement of the energy accumulator takes place relative to the basic module. The energy accumulator is thus moved from the start position to the end position relative to the basic module. In the process, the distance between the energy accumulator and the basic module is reduced. When the energy accumulator is in the end position, this distance is therefore smaller than in the start position. As a measure for the distance, preferably the distance between an arbitrarily selectable reference point of the energy accumulator and an arbitrarily selectable reference point of the basic module serves. Preferably, both reference points are on a straight line running parallel to the direction of movement.
[0012] The invention is advantageous since it allows the integration of functions related to the energy accumulator in the basic module. According to a preferred development, it is therefore possible to integrate one or more electrical contacts for contacting the energy accumulator in the basic module, which contacts serve to establish a conductive connection to the corresponding contacts of the energy accumulator when the energy accumulator is in the end position. Furthermore, it is also possible to fasten energy accumulators of different axial lengths to the same device.
[0013] According to a preferred development, the movement of the energy accumulator brings the contacts of the energy accumulator and the contacts of the basic module into contact with each other.
[0014] Furthermore, the basic module may comprise one or more electrical contacts for establishing an electrical connection with the vehicle, which are integrated into one or more plug connectors, each of which is connected with a corresponding counterpart of the vehicle when the basic module is installed in the vehicle.
[0015] Preferably, the basic module is further developed with one or more spring-loaded pins. These are loaded against the energy accumulator by the movement of the energy accumulator from the start position to the end position. The spring force exerted by the pins thus acts against the movement of the energy accumulator respectively. This can be used to at least partially compensate for the gravity of the energy accumulator when the latter is mounted tilted to the horizontal. Preferably, the energy accumulator comprises one or more recesses. A pin engages in the respective recess. In this way, the energy accumulator is guided by the spring-loaded pins during the movement.
[0016] In a preferred development, one or more holding elements are provided for holding the energy accumulator on the vehicle frame. The holding elements form-lockingly engage with the energy accumulator by means of the movement or form-lockingly engage with the energy accumulator during the movement. Preferably, the holding elements are not engaged with the energy accumulator in the start position. The start position corresponds to a position at which the energy accumulator can be inserted into the vehicle frame and removed from the vehicle frame. In this case, the holding elements only engage with the energy accumulator by means of the movement. In particular, the holding elements engage when the energy accumulator reaches an end position.
[0017] The holding element is preferably constructed in a constructive manner so as to form a structural unit with the basic module. This can be achieved, for example, by means of a connecting rail which is connected to the holding element on the one hand and to the basic module on the other hand. The constructive construction simplifies assembly, since the holding element can be preassembled together with the basic module. It is also possible to optimize the tolerances within the basic module relative to the battery, independent of the tolerances of the vehicle frame.
[0018] The direction of movement of the above-mentioned energy accumulator and the longitudinal axis of the pipe of the vehicle frame are oriented parallel to one another in a preferred development. The pipe of the vehicle frame can in particular be the pipe to which the energy accumulator is fixed.
[0019] The axis about which the lever pivots and the direction of movement are likewise oriented perpendicular to one another in a preferred development.
[0020] The lever constitutes the guide surface in a preferred development. The lever therefore constitutes the cam carrier of the above-mentioned cam mechanism. The energy accumulator constitutes the pick-up element in the form of a counter surface. When the lever is engaged with the energy accumulator, the guide surface comes into contact with the counter surface according to a development, i.e. the guide surface comes into contact with the counter surface. When the lever is pivoted further, the guide surface slides on the counter surface. This results in the above-mentioned movement of the energy accumulator.
[0021] In a further preferred development, the guide surface is arranged as follows: it is a surface which is oriented parallel to the direction of movement and which runs through or intersects with the counter surface and at different axial positions depending on the pivot angle of the lever, the axial position being the position in the direction of movement. In a development, the above-mentioned movement of the energy accumulator occurs by the change in axial position depending on the pivot angle.
[0022] The above-mentioned design of the guide surface occurs, for example, when the guide surface is configured to be spirally progressive. In particular, at least one part of the lever that constitutes the guide surface can be configured to be spirally progressive.
[0023] The lever is preferably constructed in two parts, having a first part and a second part. At the first part, the lever is pivotally supported on the basic module. This means, on the one hand, that the first part is pivotally supported on the basic module. On the other hand, the pivoting of the lever as described above is synonymous with the pivoting of the first part. The second part is in turn pivotally supported on the first part. The pivot axis about which the second part can be pivoted relative to the first part preferably runs parallel to the pivot axis about which the first part can be pivoted relative to the basic module.
[0024] The second part can be engaged with the energy accumulator by pivoting the first part in the basic module. In this case, the second part constitutes the energy accumulator and the above-mentioned cam mechanism. As a result, further pivoting of the first part is converted into a movement of the energy accumulator as described at the beginning. The pivotability of the second part in this case makes it possible to compensate for tolerance-related dimensional deviations within the device.
[0025] Furthermore, the lever is preferably progressively configured with a spring element, which is operatively connected to the first and second parts, such that a spring force exerted by the spring element acts between the first and second parts, the spring force causing a torque acting between the first and second parts, the torque leading to or opposing a pivoting of the second part relative to the first part.
[0026] According to a further development, the spring element biases the second part against the energy accumulator upon further pivoting of the lever, i.e. further pivoting of the first part. In particular, further pivoting leads to a tolerance-related pivoting of the second part relative to the first part. This causes a biasing of the spring element between the first part and the second part. This results in a firm, rattle-free fixation of the energy accumulator.
[0027] Advantageously, the device is also configured with a fastening means, for example a lock, by means of which the first part can be fixed in the position which the first part takes when the second part is biased against the energy accumulator. By fixing the first part by means of the fastening means, the above-mentioned biasing of the second part against the energy accumulator is maintained. The lock as fastening means simultaneously serves as an anti-theft device.
[0028] Preferably, the lever is configured to engage in a recess of the energy accumulator by the above-mentioned pivoting. The recess or a part of the recess in this case constitutes a pick-up element of the above-mentioned cam mechanism. Preferably, the recess is at least partially present on a side surface of the energy accumulator.
[0029] The above-described energy accumulator is an energy accumulator according to the invention, which is preferably constructed with a plate attached to the end face of the energy accumulator, the plate covering part of the above-mentioned recess, and preferably constructed with the plate in order to form the above-mentioned counter surface for the guide surface of the lever.
[0030] Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]
[0031] [Figure 1] FIG. 13 is a diagram of a fixation device having energy stores of different axial lengths. [Figure 2a] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a mechanism having a lever. [Figure 2b]FIG. 1 is a diagram of a mechanism having a lever. [Figure 2c] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a mechanism having a lever. [Figure 2d] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a mechanism having a lever. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the structure of a lever. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a diagram of the battery interface. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0032] The fixing device 101 shown in Fig. 1 comprises a base module 103, a holding element 105 and a rail 107. The base module 103 and the holding element 105 are fixed to the rail 107. The rail 107 is in turn screwed to the bicycle frame.
[0033] The fastening device 101 serves to receive electric batteries 109a, 109b. The batteries 109a, 109b each comprise a guide groove 111. The batteries 109a, 109b are pressed against the fastening element 105 in the guide groove 111. The fastening element 105 engages in the guide groove 111 in a form-locking manner.
[0034] Depending on the structure of the fixing device 101, it is possible to use batteries 109a and 109b having different axial lengths. Thus, the battery 109a has an axial length A, and the battery 109b has an axial length B. The axial length A is longer than the axial length B.
[0035] The lever 113 is pivotably supported on the base module 103. The lever 113 serves to fix the batteries 109a, 109b. The lever 113 is shown in the closed position in FIG.
[0036] 2a-d show the function of the lever 113. In fig. 2a-d it is shown how the battery 109 is inserted into the fastening device 101 and fastened by means of the lever 113. The battery 109 is first inserted into the fastening device 101 so that the holding element 105 engages in the guide groove 111. This is shown in fig. 2a. In this position the battery 109 is axially spaced from the basic module 103. The space between the basic module 103 and the battery 109 thus extends along the longitudinal axis 201.
[0037] From the arrangement shown in Fig. 2a, the battery 109 is moved axially, i.e. along the longitudinal axis 201, in the direction of the basic module 103. This reduces the axial distance between the battery 109 and the basic module 101. By means of the movement, the holding element 105 engages form-fittingly in the guide groove 111. A corresponding arrangement is shown in Fig. 2b.
[0038] The lever 113 is provided with a closure hook 203 which is aligned with a recess 205 in the battery 209. The recess 205 is constituted by a recess in an end face of the battery 109. This recess is partially closed by a plate 207 which leaves an opening for the recess 205 which is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 201.
[0039] When the lever 113 is closed, the closing hook 203 engages in the opening, as shown in FIG. 2c. The closing hook 203 is formed in a spiral shape. The closing hook 203 has the shape of a part of a spiral, i.e. a helix, and its center line runs parallel to the longitudinal axis 201. The closing hook 203 thereby forms a cam mechanism together with the plate 207. The pivoting movement of the lever 113 is converted by the cam mechanism into a movement of the battery 109 towards the base module 103. By closing the lever 113, the battery 109 is pulled towards the base module 103, i.e. by the closing hook 203.
[0040] Fig. 2d shows the lever 113 in the closed position. The closure hook 203 is in this position inside the recess 205, thus securing the battery 109. The lever 113 is locked in the closed position by means of a lock 209, which also protects the battery 109 from unauthorized access.
[0041] In order to compensate for tolerance-related dimensional deviations and to secure the battery 109 without rattle, the lever 113 is constructed in two parts. The lever 113 thus consists of a first part 113a and a second part 113b, as shown in Fig. 3. At the first part 113a, the lever 113 is pivotally supported on the basic module 103, while the second part 113b is pivotally supported on the first part 113a. The closing hook 203 is formed on the second part 113b.
[0042] The pivoting of the second part 113b on the first part 113a is limited by the elastomer 301 shown in FIG. 3. This connects the first part 113a and the second part 113b to each other in such a way that the pivoting of the second part 113b on the first part 113a is accompanied by an elastic deformation of the elastomer 301. In particular, when the closure hook 203 fully engages in the recess 205 and the first part 113a is further pivoted from this position of the lever 113 to its end position, the elastomer 301 is deformed. The deformation of the elastomer 301 generates a moment acting between the first part 113a and the second part 113b. This moment biases the second part 113b against the battery 109a, 109b or against the plate 207.
[0043] The base module 103 comprises an electrical interface in the form of a plug connector 401a as shown in Fig. 4. A plug connector 401b as a counterpart of the plug connector 401a of the base module 103 is present at the above-mentioned end face of the battery 109. When the battery is inserted into the fastening device 101 and fastened by means of the lever 113 as described above, the plug connectors 401a, 401b engage with each other and thus establish electrical contact of the batteries 109a, 109b.
[0044] The base module 103 further comprises two guide pins 403a, 403b, which are adapted to engage with corresponding recesses 405a, 405b of the battery 109. The recesses 405a, 405b are on the same end face as the plug connector 401a of the battery 109. The engagement of the guide pins 403a, 403b in the recesses 405a, 405b prevents the battery 109 from moving perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 201. Such movement could damage the plug connectors 401a, 401b.
[0045] The guide pin 403a is movable longitudinally, i.e. along the longitudinal axis 201, and is spring loaded. The spring force causes the guide pin 403a to act against the gravity of the battery 109. This facilitates insertion and removal of the battery 109.
[0046] 101 Fixation device 103 Basic Module 105 Holding Element 107 Rail 109a Battery 109b Battery 111 Guide groove 113 Lever 113a First part of lever 113b Second part of lever 201 Longitudinal axis 203 Closure hook 205 Recess 207 Plate 209 Rock 301 Elastomer 401a plug connector 401b plug connector 403a Guide pin 403b Guide pin 405a Recess 405b Recess
Claims
1. A device (101) for fastening an energy accumulator (109a, 109b) to a vehicle frame, the device having a basic module (103) and a lever (113) pivotably supported on the basic module (103), The lever (103) can be engaged with the energy accumulators (109a, 109b) by pivoting, whereby the lever (103) and the energy accumulators (109a, 109b) form a cam mechanism, which converts further pivoting of the lever (103) into movement of the energy accumulators (109a, 109b), in the device (101): Apparatus (101), characterized in that said movement is performed in the direction of said base module (103).
2. 2. The device (101) according to claim 1, Apparatus (101), characterized in that said basic module (103) comprises one or more electrical contacts (401a) for contacting said energy accumulators (109a, 109b).
3. 3. The device (101) according to claim 1 or 2, The device (101), characterized in that the contacts (401a) are positioned such that the movement brings the contacts (401a) into contact with the respective electrical contacts (401b) of the energy accumulators (109a, 109b).
4. 3. The device (101) according to claim 1 or 2, The device (101), characterized in that the basic module (103) comprises one or more spring-loaded pins (403a), the spring-loaded pins (403a) being loaded by the movement of the energy accumulators (109a, 109b).
5. 3. The device (101) according to claim 1 or 2, The device (101) comprises one or more holding elements (105), characterized in that the holding elements (105) form-lockingly engage with the energy accumulators (109a, 109b) by said movement and / or form-lockingly engage with the energy accumulators (109a, 109b) during said movement.
6. 6. The device (101) according to claim 5, 1. An apparatus (101), characterized in that said holding element (105) constitutes a structural unit (103, 105, 107) together with said basic module (103).
7. 3. The device (101) according to claim 1 or 2, 4. The device (101), characterized in that the direction of movement and the longitudinal axis of the pipe of the vehicle frame are oriented parallel to one another.
8. 3. The device (101) according to claim 1 or 2, 10. An apparatus (101), characterized in that the axis about which said lever (113) pivots and said direction of movement are oriented perpendicular to one another.
9. 3. The device (101) according to claim 1 or 2, The device (101), characterized in that the lever (113) constitutes a guide surface, which contacts a mating surface of the energy accumulator (109a, 109b), and when the lever (113) is engaged with the energy accumulator (109a, 109b) and the lever (113) is further pivoted, the guide surface slides on the mating surface.
10. 10. The device (101) according to claim 9, The device (101), characterized in that the guide surface is a surface oriented parallel to the direction of movement, extending through the mating surface and intersecting the mating surface at different axial positions depending on the pivot angle of the lever (113).
11. 10. The device (101) according to claim 9, The apparatus (101), characterized in that the guide surface extends in a spiral manner.
12. 10. The device (101) according to claim 9, At least one portion (203) of the lever (113) extends helically; An apparatus (101), characterized in that said portion (203) constitutes said guide surface.
13. 3. The device (101) according to claim 1 or 2, The lever (113) comprises a first portion (113a) and a second portion (113b); The lever (113) is pivotably supported by the basic module (103) at the first portion (113a), The device (101), characterized in that the second part (113b) is pivotably supported on the first part (113a) and is engageable with the energy accumulator (109a, 109b).
14. 14. The device (101) according to claim 13, The device (101), characterized in that the lever (113) comprises a spring element (301), operatively connected to the first part (113a) and the second part (113b) and configured to bias the second part (113b) against the energy accumulators (109a, 109b) upon further pivoting of the lever (113).
15. 14. The device (101) according to claim 13, 1. An apparatus (101), comprising fixing means (209) configured to fix the first part (113a) in a position that the first part (113a) assumes when the second part (113b) is biased against the energy accumulator (109a, 109b).
16. 3. The device (101) according to claim 1 or 2, 4. The device (101), characterized in that the lever (109) is adapted to pivotally engage in a recess of the energy accumulator (109a, 109b).
17. An energy accumulator (109a, 109b) adapted to be fastened with a device (101) according to claim 1 or 2.
18. An energy accumulator (109a, 109b) adapted to be fastened using a device (101) according to claim 16, An energy accumulator (109a, 109b), comprising a plate (207) attached to an end face of the energy accumulator (109a, 109b), the plate (207) covering a portion of the recess.
19. An energy accumulator (109a, 109b) according to claim 18, which is adapted to be fastened by means of a device (101) according to claim 16, the lever (113) constitutes a guide surface, which contacts a mating surface of the energy accumulator (109a, 109b), and when the lever (113) is engaged with the energy accumulator (109a, 109b) and the lever (113) is further pivoted, the guide surface slides on the mating surface, An energy accumulator (109a, 109b), characterized in that said plate (207) constitutes said counter surface.