Energy storage unit mounting arrangement and device comprising said energy storage unit mounting arrangement and a plurality of electrical energy storage units

Abstract

To provide an energy storage unit mounting facility (10), comprising a rack-like or frame-like basic body (12).SOLUTION: An energy storage unit mounting facility (10) defines multiple mounting regions (16) where basic bodies (12) are arranged vertically on top of one another for at least one energy storage unit (11) each. The respective electric energy storage unit is introducible into the respective mounting region (16) in the horizontal direction and removable from the respective mounting region (16) in the horizontal direction. The energy storage unit mounting facility includes securing devices (14, 15, 18) in order to secure the respective electric energy storage unit (11) introduced into the respective mounting region (16) in its respective mounting region (16).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an energy storage unit mounting facility and an apparatus including the energy storage unit mounting facility and a plurality of electrical energy storage units.

Background Art

[0002] In facilities stationary at sea, the need to store electrical energy and use the stored electrical energy, for example, as traction energy, or to supply it to the installed electrical system, is increasing. In particular, when relatively large and heavy electrical energy storage units are used, it has been found that such electrical energy storage units are difficult to handle. For this reason, only relatively small and light electrical energy storage units have been used until now to handle such electrical energy storage units comfortably. Until now, it has not been possible to appropriately handle large and heavy electrical energy storage units, particularly those used as traction batteries for motor vehicles.

[0003] Therefore, there is a need for an energy storage unit mounting facility that enables handling of large and heavy electrical energy storage units.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Based on this, the present invention is based on the object of creating a new type of energy storage unit mounting facility.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] This object is achieved by the electrical energy storage unit mounting facility according to claim 1.

[0006] The energy storage unit mounting facility in the present invention includes a base in the form of a rack or a frame, and the base has a plurality of mounting areas arranged in a vertically stacked state, and forms a mounting area for each of at least one energy storage unit. The electrical energy storage unit can be introduced into each of the mounting areas in the horizontal direction and can be removed from each of the mounting areas.

[0007] The energy storage unit mounting facility in the present invention further has a fixing device for fixing the electrical energy storage unit introduced into each mounting area to the mounting area.

[0008] In the present invention, the mounting area of the electrical energy storage unit enables the safe handling of a relatively large and relatively heavy electrical energy storage unit that has been used as a traction battery for electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles, such as an automotive battery. A plurality of such electrical energy storage units can be received and arranged in the mounting areas of the energy storage unit mounting facility in a vertically stacked state. In order to realize access to each of the electrical energy storage units, each electrical energy storage unit can be removed from each mounting area in the horizontal direction and can be introduced into each mounting area in the horizontal direction.

[0009] Preferably, the energy storage unit mounting facility includes a conveyor for introducing each electrical energy storage unit into each mounting area in the horizontal direction or for removing each electrical energy storage unit from each mounting area in the horizontal direction. The conveyor supports the horizontal movement of each electrical energy storage module when the electrical energy module is introduced into the mounting area or when the electrical energy module is removed from the mounting area. Thereby, the handling of the energy storage unit inside the energy storage unit mounting facility becomes easy.

[0010] Preferably, the fixing device fixes each electrical energy storage unit to a base body in the form of a rack or a frame. Alternatively or preferably further, the fixing device holds each electrical energy storage unit in each mounting area, even when the fixing device is fixed to the base body or when it is not fixed to the base body in each mounting area. The electrical energy storage unit arranged in the corresponding mounting area of the energy storage unit mounting facility is fixed to its predetermined position by the fixing device. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the electrical energy storage unit from accidentally falling off from each mounting area.

[0011] A plurality of electrical energy storage units are communicable via a control unit by means of a so-called energy management system (EMS). The control device combines the signals of each electrical energy storage unit and transmits the combined signals to the EMS. Further functions of the control device are turning on and off the power supply of each individual electrical energy storage unit and simulating the vehicle environment via signals.

[0012] The arrangement of the energy storage unit mounting facility and the plurality of electrical energy storage units is defined in claim 11.

[0013] Preferred further developments of the present invention can be obtained from the dependent claims and the detailed description of the invention. A typical embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the said drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014]

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BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0015] FIGS. 1 to 9 show various drawings of the first embodiment of the energy storage unit mounting facility 10 in the present invention. That is, FIGS. 1, 4, 5, and 6 each show the energy storage unit mounting facility 10 to which the electrical energy storage unit 11 is not attached, and FIGS. 2, 7, 8, and 9 each show the energy storage unit mounting facility 10 to which a plurality of electrical energy storage units 11 are attached. FIG. 3 shows the electrical energy storage unit 11 alone.

[0016] The energy storage unit mounting facility 10 includes a base body 12 in the form of a rack or a frame. The base body 12 has a plurality of columns 13 extending in the vertical direction and a plurality of cross beams 14, 15 extending in the horizontal direction between the columns 13. Between the columns 13 extending in the vertical direction, the cross beams 14, 15 extend parallel to each other and extend on both sides respectively.

[0017] The base body 12 in the form of a rack or a frame forms a plurality of mounting areas 16 for the electrical energy storage unit, and the mounting areas 16 are arranged in a stacked state in the vertical direction. In the illustrated typical embodiment, the base body 12 in the form of a rack or a frame includes five mounting areas 16 for the electrical energy storage unit arranged in a stacked state in the vertical direction.

[0018] Each of the electrical energy storage units 11 can be introduced into each of the mounting areas 16 in the horizontal direction and can be taken out from each of the mounting areas 16 in the horizontal direction, that is, in a direction parallel to the cross beam 14 extending in the horizontal direction.

[0019] Each of the electrical energy storage units 11 can be introduced into and taken out from each of the mounting areas 16 preferably only on a single side of the base body 12, that is, on the left side of the base body 12 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 respectively. On the single side, the cross beam 15 extending in the lateral direction with respect to the introduction and extraction directions is removable for introducing each of the electrical energy storage units 11 into each of the mounting areas 16 or for taking out each of the electrical energy storage units 11 from each of the mounting areas 16.

[0020] In contrast, on the opposite side of the base body 12, since the cross beam 15 is attached in a state of being fixed to the support column 13, on the opposite side, it is not possible to move the electrical energy storage unit 11 away from the mounting area 16, nor to introduce the electrical energy storage unit 11 into the mounting area 16.

[0021] In the typical embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, the energy storage unit mounting facility 10 of the present invention includes a conveyor for introducing each of the electrical energy storage units 11 into each of the mounting areas 16 in the horizontal direction, or for taking out each of the electrical energy storage units 11 from each of the mounting areas 16 in the horizontal direction. In the typical embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, the conveyor includes transport rollers 17 that are rotatably attached to each of two cross beams 14 of a base body 12 that extend parallel to each other. By these transport rollers 17, the electrical energy storage unit 11 can be easily moved relative to the base body 12 in the horizontal direction for introducing each of the electrical energy storage units 11 into each of the mounting areas 16, or for taking out each of the electrical energy storage units 11 from each of the mounting areas 16.

[0022] The energy storage unit mounting facility 10 includes fixing devices 14, 15, 18 for fixing each of the electrical energy storage units 11 to each of the mounting areas 16.

[0023] The first fixing element 18 acts on the cross beam 14 of the base body 12 in the form of a rack or a frame. The base body 12 extends parallel to the cross beam 14. A transport roller 17 is rotatably attached to the cross beam 14. The first fixing element 18 for fixing the electrical energy storage unit 11 positioned in each of the mounting areas 16 to a predetermined position in the mounting area 16 is disposed above the transport roller 17 for introducing the electrical energy storage unit 11 into the mounting area 16 or for taking out the electrical energy storage unit 11 from the mounting area 16.

[0024] The first fixing element 18 functions to fix each of the electrical energy storage units 11 to a base 12 in the form of a rack or a frame, and the first fixing element 18 interacts with a holder 19 fixed to each of the electrical energy storage units 11.

[0025] The holder 19 of each of the electrical energy storage units 11 that interacts with the first fixing element 18 has an angled portion 19a. Each holder 19 and thus each electrical energy storage unit 11 is screwing-engageable with each of the first fixing devices 18 via the angled portion 19a.

[0026] Furthermore, the holder 19 fixed to the electrical energy storage unit 11 functions as a connecting element for a vertical conveyor, particularly a crane.

[0027] An eyelet is formed in a portion 19b of the holder 19 that protrudes upward opposite to the electrical energy storage unit 11. The eyelet is screwing-engageable to couple the electrical energy storage unit 11 to a crane and to move the energy storage unit 11 into or out of the energy storage unit mounting facility 10 by the crane.

[0028] The second fixing device holds each of the electrical energy storage units 11 in each of the mounting areas 16, whether it is in a state fixed to the base body 12 or not fixed to the base body 12. In the typical embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, the second fixing device is disposed on the cross beams 14, 15 that hold each of the electrical energy storage units 11 in each of the mounting areas 16 in the lateral direction. FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of the energy storage unit mounting facility 10 in the first embodiment, that is, the energy storage unit mounting facility 10 loaded with the electrical energy storage units 11. FIGS. 5 and 6, and FIGS. 8 and 9 are respectively side views of the energy storage unit mounting facility 10, or side views of the device composed of the energy storage unit mounting facility 10 and the electrical energy storage units 11 offset from each other by 90°. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along section IV-IV of FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along section VII-VII of FIG. 8.

[0029] FIGS. 10 to 17 show various drawings of a second typical embodiment of the energy storage unit mounting facility 20 in the present invention. Further, the energy storage unit mounting facility 20 of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 to 17 houses a plurality of electrical energy storage units 21.

[0030] The electrical energy storage unit 20 of the typical embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 to 17 includes a base body 22 in the form of a rack or frame composed of columns 23 extending in the vertical direction and cross beams 24, 25 extending between the columns 23 in the horizontal direction. In this embodiment, the cross beam 24 positioned at the top and bottom of the base body 22 and the cross beams 25 extending to each side extend parallel to each other.

[0031] The rack 22 of the energy storage unit mounting facility 20 forms a plurality of mounting areas 26 that are vertically stacked for the electric energy storage units 21 to be arranged in a vertically stacked state. Each of the electric energy storage units 21 can be introduced into and removed from each of the mounting areas 26 in the horizontal direction, that is, in a direction parallel to the cross beam 25.

[0032] In the exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 10 to 17, the energy storage unit mounting facility 20 does not have a separate conveyor. However, in the exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 10 to 17 based on FIGS. 12 and 13, the electric energy storage unit 21 is attached to a support 27 in the form of a pallet, and the electric energy storage unit 21 is lifted, for example, by a lifting element via the support 27 and introduced into the mounting area 26.

[0033] Thereafter, the electric energy storage unit 21 attached to the support 27 in the form of a pallet supports itself on the cross beam 25 via the support 27 and is screwed into the cross beam 25 when the electric energy storage unit 21 is introduced into the mounting area 26, so that the electric energy storage unit 21 is fixed to each of the mounting areas 26 in this way.

[0034] Therefore, in the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the cross beam 25 is provided with a first fixing device and a second fixing device that can be connected to each of the electrical energy storage units 21 via a support 27 in the form of a pallet. The electrical energy storage unit 21 is attached to a base body 22 in the form of a rack or a frame while being in contact with the support 27. Further, the cross beam 25 holds the electrical energy storage unit 21 in each mounting area 26, whether the electrical energy storage unit 21 is fixed to the base body 22 in the form of a rack or a frame or not. In a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention (not shown), the energy storage unit mounting facility is provided with a conveyor or a drawer, and the energy storage unit is adapted to be inserted into such a drawer. By moving the drawer in the horizontal direction, the electrical energy storage unit can be moved out of its mounting area or into the interior of the mounting area.

[0035] According to the present invention, in order to position the electrical energy storage units 11, 21 in the energy storage unit mounting facilities 10, 20 in the present invention, it becomes possible to easily handle the electrical energy storage units 11, 21 that are large and heavy, particularly having a weight of 150 kg or more.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0036] 10 Energy storage unit mounting facility 11 Electrical energy storage unit 12 Base body 13 Support column 14 Cross beam / Fixing device 15 Cross beam / Fixing device 16 Mounting area 17 Conveyor roller 18 Fixing device 19 Holder 20 Energy storage unit mounting facility 21 Electrical energy storage unit 22 Base body 23 Strut 24 Crossbeam 25 Crossbeam / Fixing device 26 Mounting area 27 Support

Claims

1. An energy storage unit mounting facility (10, 20) comprising a base body (12, 22) in the form of a rack or a frame, wherein the base body (12, 22) has a plurality of mounting regions (16, 26) arranged in a vertically stacked state, and the mounting regions (16, 26) for each of at least one electrical energy storage unit (11, 21) are formed, in the energy storage unit mounting facility (10, 20), each of the electrical energy storage units is introducible into and removable from each of the mounting regions (16, 26) in the horizontal direction, the energy storage unit mounting facility (10, 20) has fixing devices (18, 25) for fixing the electrical energy storage units (11, 21) introduced into each of the mounting regions (16, 26) to the mounting regions (16, 26), the fixing devices (18, 25) fix each of the electrical energy storage units (11, 21) to the base body (12, 22) in the form of a rack or a frame, the fixing devices (18, 25) are connected to a holder (19) or a support (27) acting on the electrical energy storage units (11, 21), the holder (19) or the support (27) acting on the electrical energy storage units (11, 21) is configured as a connecting element for a vertical conveyor, the energy storage unit mounting facility is characterized by comprising a conveyor for introducing each of the electrical energy storage units (11, 21) into each of the mounting regions (16) in the horizontal direction or for removing each of the electrical energy storage units (11, 21) from each of the mounting regions (16) in the horizontal direction.

2. The base body (12, 22) in the form of a rack or a frame comprises columns (13, 23) extending in the vertical direction, cross beams (14, 15, 24) extending between the columns (13, 23) in the horizontal direction, and a cross beam (25) acting as the fixing device, and the energy storage unit mounting facility according to Claim 1 is characterized by this.

3. The energy storage unit mounting facility according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the conveyor is rotatably attached to a cross beam (14) extending parallel to each other of the base body (12) in the form of a rack or a frame, and includes a transport roller (17).

4. The energy storage unit mounting facility according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the conveyor is formed in a pull-out manner.

5. The energy storage unit mounting facility according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the fixing devices (14, 15, 25) hold the electrical energy storage units (11, 21) in the respective mounting areas (16, 26) whether they are fixed to the base body (12, 22) in the form of a rack or a frame or not fixed to the base body (1).

6. The energy storage unit mounting facility according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that each of the electrical energy storage units (11) can be introduced into and removed from each of the mounting areas (16) only on one side of each of the mounting areas (16).

7. An apparatus comprising the energy storage unit mounting facility (10, 20) according to any one of claims 1 to 6 and a plurality of electrical energy storage units (11, 21) accommodated by the energy storage unit mounting facility (10, 20).

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