Battery pack fixing system

Abstract

The invention described herein relates to a battery housing assembly. The battery housing assembly (300) comprises a battery pack (100) and a housing (300). The battery pack (100) is housed within the housing (300). The battery pack (100) comprises a latch unit (105) and a lever (102). The latch unit (105) is operably coupled to the lever (102), and the latch unit (105) is configured to engage and disengage the battery pack (100) with the housing (300).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The invention described herein relates generally to charging batteries for vehicles. More particularly, the invention relates to a battery pack locking mechanism provided for convenient replacement by a user. [Background technology]

[0002] Typically, electric vehicles are powered by battery power. Battery electric vehicles, also known as BEVs but more often referred to as EVs, are fully electric vehicles that have a rechargeable battery and no gasoline engine. All of the energy to run the vehicle is provided by a battery pack that is recharged from the power grid. BEVs are zero-emission vehicles because they do not produce the harmful exhaust fumes or air pollution hazards generated by traditional gasoline-powered vehicles.

[0003] The most commonly known electric vehicle, which relies on off-board power, is the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, or PHEV, has both an engine and an electric motor to drive the vehicle. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle may recharge the battery through regenerative braking, just like a regular hybrid vehicle. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle differs from a regular hybrid in that it has a much larger battery and can be plugged into the power grid for recharging.

[0004] A hybrid electric vehicle, or HEV, has both a gasoline-powered engine and an electric motor to drive the vehicle. All of the battery's energy is obtained through regenerative braking, which assists the gasoline engine during acceleration by recovering energy that would otherwise be lost during braking.

[0005] Typically, the utilization of used batteries prevents harmful materials from entering the waste stream both at the end of the battery's useful life and during battery production. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop mechanisms to utilize used batteries to minimize the life cycle impacts of using lithium-ion and other types of batteries in vehicles. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Currently, the existing market for electric vehicle batteries is dominated by expensive and highly flammable materials, e.g. lithium and cobalt. Continued reliance on these materials will negatively impact the long-term prospects of the market. There is therefore an urgent need to take the lead in developing new, cost-competitive batteries with enhanced safety profiles. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference numbers are used throughout to refer to like features and components, and in which:

[0008] Typically, when a vehicle rider or driver has to travel long distances, the rider or driver faces range constraints since existing batteries can travel within a range of 10-40 miles. For long distance travel, electric vehicles are still not a viable solution. Therefore, the vehicle rider or driver must recharge the battery at a charging station after traveling a few miles. However, this increases the waiting time for the rider during the trip. Therefore, there is a need to improve the vehicle's range and reduce the rider's anxiety regarding the range. Furthermore, there is a need for an improved battery charging system that can avoid the vehicle being idle or unavailable until the discharged battery is charged.

[0009] The above problems can be solved by providing a replaceable battery configuration. By replacing the battery of an electric vehicle, it is possible to realize "peak load shifting" of the power grid, which is also useful for improving the utilization efficiency of equipment and reducing the maximum load of the power grid. Furthermore, battery replacement is convenient for battery maintenance and has a longer battery life, making it worthy of widespread use in certain fields, such as public transportation, rental cars, and logistics.

[0010] Many electric vehicles are designed to be powered by replacing batteries, which are placed on the chassis to separate the batteries from the driver and passengers. This can ensure more available space, a safer driving environment, a lower center of gravity of the vehicle, and enhanced vehicle operation performance. Therefore, the technology of installing and replacing batteries placed on the chassis is a trend in the development of electric vehicles with replaceable batteries.

[0011] The power battery is the only power source for electric vehicles, and because of its heavy weight and the risk of manual handling, which imposes a very large physical load, replacement is usually performed by an automatic control facility. The battery pack needs to be locked after installation. The more secure the battery installation, the higher the safety of the battery. Since the battery pack needs to be unlocked when replacing the battery, it is more preferable that the battery pack can be installed and removed more easily and quickly. Therefore, the on-board security and reliability of the battery pack as well as the convenience of replacement depend on the performance of the locking mechanism.

[0012] However, with the existing battery locking mechanism, the battery pack is pushed and pulled from within the battery charging unit, causing damage to the connector pins. Furthermore, due to the space constraints of pushing and pulling the battery pack within the battery charging unit, mechanical engagement and disengagement by bare hands is not recommended or feasible. Furthermore, a constraint with the existing battery charging unit is that a latch mechanism is required with the couplers to lock the pins in place between the male and female couplers. However, the engagement and disengagement of this locking mechanism is also not easy with the existing battery packs. Furthermore, lifting the battery pack to replace it requires effort to lift it from the vehicle or from the battery charging unit. Furthermore, the vehicle is prone to more vibration due to frequent battery replacement.

[0013] Furthermore, existing replaceable battery packs are flexibly fixed to the vehicle by the locking device, and are subject to some vibration relative to the vehicle during driving. This may result in a number of serious problems, such as local deformation of the battery pack, deformation of suspension points on the vehicle body, local wear of the locking device, and arcing and burning arcing of electrical connectors, resulting in serious danger to safe driving. The aforementioned problems cannot be solved by any existing replaceable battery pack. Therefore, there is a need for a battery pack locking mechanism that is not only safe, reliable, and easy to replace, but also can prevent the battery pack from loosening during long-term vehicle body vibration.

[0014] The present invention relates to a battery pack. The battery pack includes a lever. The lever is configured on a front portion of the battery pack. The lever is configured to actuate engagement and disengagement of the battery pack with a housing. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1a] FIG. 2 is an exemplary front perspective view of a battery pack. [Figure 1b] FIG. 2 is an exemplary rear perspective view of a battery pack. [Figure 1c] FIG. 2 is an exemplary top perspective view of a battery pack. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is an exemplary perspective view of a battery pack. [Figure 3a] FIG. 2 is an exemplary perspective view of a battery charging unit. [Figure 3b] FIG. 2 is an exemplary perspective view of a battery charging unit. [Figure 3c] FIG. 2 is an exemplary perspective view of a battery charging unit. [Figure 4a] 1 is an illustrative perspective view of a battery charging unit and a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4b]1 is an illustrative perspective view of a battery charging unit and a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] According to one aspect of the invention, the battery pack includes a latch unit disposed at a rear portion of the battery pack and configured to engage and disengage the battery pack from the housing.

[0017] According to another aspect of the invention, the latch unit is actuated by a lever on the battery pack, the latch unit configured to engage a lock unit, the lock unit being disposed in a first portion of the housing.

[0018] According to yet another aspect of the invention, the battery pack includes a male coupler that is engageable with a female coupler of a housing that is configured to function as one of a battery charging unit and a battery discharging unit. Engagement of the female coupler and the male coupler provides a continuous power supply required to charge the battery pack via the battery charging unit and to discharge the battery pack via the battery discharging unit. The male coupler is provided on a rear portion of the battery pack.

[0019] According to another aspect of the invention, a plurality of fins are provided on at least one side portion of the battery pack to dissipate heat generated during one of a charging and discharging operation and to act as guide members for insertion and removal of the battery pack into and from the housing. The plurality of fins are configured to correspond to the plurality of guide members configured in the housing. According to an alternative embodiment, a plurality of guide rollers are disposed on a bottom portion of the battery pack to correspond to the plurality of guide members configured in the housing.

[0020] According to one aspect of the invention, the battery pack comprises a handle on a front portion, the handle being integrated with a lever for actuating engagement and disengagement of the battery pack with the housing, the lever being operably connected to the latch unit via a force transmission member, the force transmission member being concealed inside the battery pack.

[0021] According to another aspect of the present invention, a battery housing assembly is disclosed. The battery housing assembly includes a housing and a battery pack. The battery pack includes a latch unit configured to engage a lock unit. The lock unit is disposed in an inner surface of a first portion of the housing.

[0022] According to another aspect of the invention, the battery pack includes a male coupler that is capable of engaging with the female coupler of the housing, the housing being configured to function as one of a battery charging unit and a battery discharging unit. Engagement of the male and female couplers provides a continuous power supply required to charge the battery pack via the battery charging unit and to discharge the battery pack via the battery discharging unit. The male coupler is provided on an exterior surface of a rear portion of the battery pack, and the female coupler is provided on an interior surface of a first portion of the housing.

[0023] According to another aspect of the invention, the housing includes a power connector on an exterior surface of a first portion of the housing for connecting the battery pack to a wiring harness of a power receiving device when the battery pack is disposed within the housing.

[0024] According to another aspect of the invention, the battery pack includes a handle on a front portion, the handle being integrated with a lever for actuating engagement and disengagement of the battery pack with the housing.

[0025] According to another aspect of the invention, the housing includes an opening and is configured to receive the battery pack through the opening to accommodate the battery pack.

[0026] According to another aspect of the invention, the housing includes a display unit that displays a state of charge of the battery pack when the battery pack is disposed within the housing.

[0027] The present invention provides a fixing means for the battery pack, which allows for a safe and secure installation of the battery pack, and has the convenience of being replaceable whenever required by the user. The battery pack is well protected from vehicle vibrations.

[0028] The details provided above are intended to explain the basic features of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The characteristics and other features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0029] Next, with reference to the accompanying drawings, exemplary embodiments will be described that detail the features of the internal combustion engine according to the present invention. Various aspects of various embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the following description set forth below. Rather, the following description provides preferred examples for implementing the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

[0030] In the following paragraphs, in combination with the drawings, the present invention together with all its attendant embodiments and other advantages thereof will be explained in more detail.

[0031] 1a, 1b, and 1c exemplarily show a front perspective view, a rear perspective view, and a top perspective view of the battery pack 100, respectively. The battery pack 100 includes an outer portion 104, a plurality of fins 103, a handle 101, and a lever 102. The handle 101 is provided on a front portion 107 of the battery pack 100 so that a user can conveniently pull or push the battery pack 100 without causing any distortion, damage, or deformation to the battery pack 100. Furthermore, the lever 102 is provided for actuating the fixing of the battery pack 100 to a housing 300 (illustrated in FIGS. 3a-3b). The housing 300 can be a box-like structure in which the battery pack 100 is accommodated, and the housing 300 can be disposed in any power receiving device, such as a vehicle powered by the battery pack 100. The battery pack 100 includes a latch unit 105 provided on a rear portion 108. The latch unit 105 is operably connected to the lever 102, and the latch unit 105 is configured to engage and disengage the battery pack 100 with the housing 300. The latch unit 105 is actuated by the lever 102 of the battery pack 100, and the latch unit 105 is configured to engage with the lock unit 401 of the housing 300 (shown in FIGS. 4a-4b). In one embodiment, the handle 101 is integrated with the lever 102 for actuating the engagement and disengagement of the battery pack 100 with the housing 300. Furthermore, the lever 102 is operably coupled to the latch unit 105 via a force transmission member 202 (shown in FIG. 2), and the force transmission member 202 is concealed inside the battery pack 100.

[0032] The fins 103 of the battery pack 100 are useful for dissipating heat generated during operation of the battery pack 100. In addition, the fins 103 on the side portion 109 of the battery pack 100 can also function as a guide mechanism for sliding the battery pack 100 inside the housing 300 and removing the battery pack 100 from the housing 300. The fins 103 are configured to correspond to the guide members 302 (shown in FIGS. 3a-3b) configured in the housing 300. The housing 300 can be either a battery charging unit, a battery discharging unit, or both.

[0033] In one embodiment, the battery pack 100 further includes a male coupler 106 at the rear portion 108 for power transmission / reception. The male coupler 106 is provided below the latch unit 105 at the rear portion 108 of the battery pack 100. The male coupler 106 can be engaged with a female coupler 402 (shown in FIGS. 4a-4b) of the housing 300. The engagement of the female coupler 402 and the male coupler 106 provides a continuous power supply required for charging the battery pack 100 through the housing 300 when the housing 300 is a battery charging unit. The engagement of the female coupler 402 and the male coupler 106 allows discharging of the battery pack 100 through the housing 300 when the housing 300 is a battery discharging unit.

[0034] In one embodiment, a plurality of guide rollers or guide members in the form of grooves are configured on the bottom portion of the battery pack 100 to correspond to a plurality of guide members 302 configured in the housing 300.

[0035] FIG. 2 exemplarily illustrates an exploded view of the battery pack 100. In one embodiment, the battery pack 100 is configured to have a container 203 that contains a number of battery cells, and the container 203 is closed by a lid 201. The container 203 is a rectangular box formed with five walls and open at one end, and the open end is closed by the lid 201. A force transmission member 202 is disposed inside the container 203 of the battery pack 100. The force transmission member 202 connects the lever 102 to the latch unit 105. The force transmission member 202 helps to operate the latch unit 105. When the lever 102 is pulled, the force transmission member 202 is also pulled. The force transmission member 202 pulls the gate of the lock unit 105, which is used to lock the battery pack 100 to the housing 300. When the force transmission member 202 is pulled, the gate is then also pulled, thereby unlocking the battery pack 100 from the housing 300. Thus, the lever 102 is used to actuate the engagement and disengagement of the battery pack 100 with the housing 300. The force transmission member 202 may be a cable connecting the lever 102 and the locking unit 105.

[0036] 3a, 3b, and 3c exemplarily show perspective views of the housing 300 with or without the battery pack 100 therein. The housing 300 has a display unit 301 for indicating the charging state of the battery pack 100 when the battery pack 100 is disposed in the housing 300. A plurality of guide members 302 are provided inside the housing 300 for proper and easy placement of the battery pack 100 in the housing 300 or removal of the battery pack 100 from the housing 300. When the housing 300 is a battery charging unit, a power plug 303 is connected to the housing 300 for receiving power supply. In one embodiment, when the housing 300 is a battery discharging unit, the housing 300 can be connected to a wiring harness of a power receiving device for discharging the battery pack 100 to an electrical load in the power receiving device through the housing 300. Engagement of the male coupler 106 and the female coupler 402 allows for a continuous power supply required for charging the battery pack 100 via the battery charging unit. Engagement of the male coupler 106 and the female coupler 402 allows for discharging the battery pack 100 via the battery discharging unit. In FIG. 3b, a user can push the battery pack 100 into the housing 300. The male coupler 106 and the latch unit 105 of the battery pack 100 are respectively connected to the female coupler 402 and the locking unit 401 of the housing 300. In one embodiment, the positions of the male coupler and the female coupler may be swapped; that is, the male coupler is provided in the inner surface of the first portion 304 of the housing 300, and the female coupler is provided in the rear portion 108 of the battery pack 100. The locking unit 401 is provided in the inner surface of the first portion 304 of the housing 300 (shown in FIGS. 4a-4b). In one embodiment, the housing 300 includes a power connector on an exterior surface of the first portion 304 of the housing 300 for connecting the battery pack 100 to a wiring harness of a powered device when the battery pack 100 is disposed within the housing 300. The powered device can be a vehicle.The housing 300 can be one of a utility space, a battery charging unit, or a battery discharging unit. The housing 300 may or may not be provided in a vehicle. In one embodiment, the housing 300 may simply be a mechanical housing that accommodates the battery pack in the power receiving device without electrical connections. The housing 300 is configured to receive the battery pack 100 through the opening 305 to accommodate the battery pack 100.

[0037] FIG. 4a exemplarily illustrates a cross-sectional view of a battery housing assembly 400 having a housing 300 with a battery pack 100 therein along line A-A' in FIG. 3c. FIG. 4b exemplarily illustrates a cross-sectional view of a battery housing assembly 400 having a housing 300 with a battery pack 100 therein along line B-B' in FIG. 3c. The battery pack 100 includes a male coupler 106 that can engage with a female coupler 402 of the housing 300. The engagement of the male coupler 106 and the female coupler 402 allows for a continuous power supply required for charging the battery pack 100 via the battery charging unit and discharging the battery pack 100 via the battery discharging unit.

[0038] These latching mechanisms and couplers, when provided in any application, such as a vehicle, aid in engaging and disengaging the battery pack from the vehicle without physical effort by a user to lift and position the battery pack. The battery charging unit may be located within the vehicle for on-board charging of the battery pack or may be located outside the vehicle for availability at a charging station. The electrical connections of the battery located within the container extend to the male coupler of the battery pack. Guide members inside the housing can receive the rollers of the battery pack to facilitate sliding of the battery pack in and out of the housing.

[0039] Furthermore, the present invention is applicable to vehicles when the housing is mounted on the vehicle, and the housing acts as either a battery charging unit, a battery discharging unit, or both. This allows the user to use the vehicle all the time without waiting to charge the battery pack, the user only needs to replace the discharged battery pack, place it inside the housing that acts as a battery charging unit, and use the already fully charged battery pack. This allows equipping the vehicle for long distance driving without waiting periods between charging. This is a cost-effective method with environmental benefits since the user can reuse the battery pack once purchased. Furthermore, actuating the latch mechanism, i.e., the engagement between the lever, the latch unit, and the lock unit, is very simple and easy to perform by the user of the power receiving device. Also, the simpler latch mechanism allows easy removal and insertion of the battery pack from within the housing. Furthermore, the heat dissipation of the battery pack is handled by the fins of the battery pack in contact with the housing, and the heat transferred to the housing may be dissipated by any known heat transfer mechanism.

[0040] Numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above disclosure, and therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 100 Battery Packs 101 Handle 102 Lever 103 Finn 104 External part 105 Latch unit 106 Battery pack connector 107 Front part of battery pack 108 Rear part of battery pack 109 Side of battery pack 201 Battery pack lid 202 Force transmission member 203 Container 300 Case 301 Display 302 Guide on the housing 303 Power supply 304 First part of the housing 305 Housing opening 401 Lock Unit 402 Housing Female Coupler

Claims

1. A battery pack (100), a lever (102) configured on a front portion (107) of the battery pack (100); and a latch unit (105) operably connected to the lever (102); Equipped with The lever (102) is configured to activate engagement and disengagement of the battery pack (100) with a housing (300), and the latch unit (105) is disposed at a rear portion of the battery pack (100), and the latch unit (105) is configured to engage and disengage the battery pack (100) with the housing (300).

2. 2. The battery pack (100) of claim 1, wherein the latch unit (105) is actuated by the lever (102) of the battery pack (100), and the latch unit (105) is configured to engage with a lock unit (401), and the lock unit (401) is provided in an inner surface of the first portion (304) of the housing (300).

3. 2. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the battery pack includes a male coupler that is engageable with a female coupler of the housing, the housing being configured to function as one of a battery charging unit and a battery discharging unit, and the engagement of the female coupler and the male coupler enables a continuous supply of power required to charge the battery pack via the battery charging unit and to discharge the battery pack via the battery discharging unit.

4. 4. The battery pack (100) of claim 3, wherein the male coupler (106) is provided on the rear portion (108) of the battery pack (100).

5. 10. The battery pack (100) of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of fins (103) on at least one side portion (109) of the battery pack (100) that dissipate heat generated during one of a charging operation and a discharging operation and function as guide members for inserting the battery pack (100) into the housing (300) and removing the battery pack (100) from the housing (300).

6. 6. The battery pack (100) according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of fins (103) are configured to correspond to a plurality of guide members (302) configured on an inner surface of the housing (300).

7. 7. The battery pack (100) of claim 6, comprising a plurality of guide rollers arranged on a bottom portion of the battery pack (100) to correspond to the plurality of guide members (302) configured in the housing (300).

8. 2. The battery pack (100) of claim 1, further comprising a handle (101) on the front portion (107) of the battery pack (100), the handle (101) being integrated with the lever (102) for actuating engagement and disengagement of the battery pack (100) with the housing (300).

9. 2. The battery pack (100) of claim 1, wherein the lever (102) is operably connected to the latch unit (105) via a force transmission member (202), and the force transmission member (202) is concealed inside the battery pack (100).

10. A battery housing assembly (400) comprising: A housing (300); A battery pack (100) housed in the housing (300); Equipped with the battery pack (100) comprises a latch unit (105) and a lever (102), the latch unit (105) is operably coupled to the lever (102), and the latch unit (105) is configured to engage and disengage the housing (300) with the battery pack (100); The battery pack (100) has a front portion (107) on which the lever (102) is provided, and a rear portion (108) on which the latch unit (105) is disposed, and the latch unit (105) is actuated by the lever (102) of the battery pack (100) to engage and disengage the battery pack (100) with the housing (300).

11. 11. The battery housing assembly (400) of claim 10, wherein the lever (102) is operably connected to the latch unit (105) via a force transmission member (202), the force transmission member (202) being concealed inside the battery pack (100).

12. 11. The battery housing assembly (400) of claim 10, wherein the latch unit (105) is configured to engage with a locking unit (401), the locking unit (401) being provided in an inner surface of the first portion (304) of the housing (300).

13. 11. The battery housing assembly (400) of claim 10, wherein the housing (300) comprises a plurality of guide members (302) configured on an inner surface of the housing (300), the plurality of guide members (302) corresponding to at least one of a plurality of fins (103) and a plurality of guide rollers of the battery pack (100).

14. 14. The battery housing assembly (400) of claim 13, wherein the plurality of fins (103) are provided on at least one side portion (109) of the battery pack (100) to dissipate heat generated during one of a charging operation and a discharging operation and to function as guide members for inserting and removing the battery pack (100) into and from the housing (300).

15. 11. The battery housing assembly of claim 10, wherein the battery pack includes a male coupler that can engage with a female coupler of the housing, the housing being configured to function as one of a battery charging unit and a battery discharging unit, and the engagement of the male coupler and the female coupler enables a continuous supply of power required to charge the battery pack via the battery charging unit and to discharge the battery pack via the battery discharging unit.

16. 16. The battery housing assembly (400) of claim 15, wherein the male coupler (106) is provided on an exterior surface of a rear portion (108) of the battery pack (100) and the female coupler (402) is provided on an interior surface of a first portion (304) of the housing (300).

17. 17. The battery housing assembly of claim 16, wherein the housing includes a power connector on an exterior surface of the first portion of the housing for connecting the battery pack to a wiring harness of a powered device when the battery pack is disposed within the housing.

18. 11. The battery housing assembly (400) of claim 10, wherein the battery pack (100) comprises a handle (101) on the front portion (107) of the battery pack (100), the handle (101) being integrated with the lever (102) for actuating engagement and disengagement of the battery pack (100) with the housing (300).

19. 11. The battery housing assembly (400) of claim 10, wherein the housing (300) includes an opening (305) and is configured to receive the battery pack (100) through the opening (305) to accommodate the battery pack (100).

20. 11. The battery housing assembly (400) of claim 10, wherein the housing (300) comprises a display unit (301) for displaying a charging state of the battery pack (100) when the battery pack (100) is disposed in the housing (300).

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