Battery Compartment Door Locking for Secure Micro-Mobility Swaps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Servicing a large fleet of micro-mobility transit vehicles, such as motorized scooters and bicycles, is labor-intensive and costly due to the need for frequent battery replacements and potential theft, which burdens transportation service managers.
Innovation Solution
A battery compartment door system for micro-mobility transit vehicles that is hingedly coupled to the frame, featuring breakaway tabs and locking cams, allowing for easy battery swap and secure locking, preventing theft by ensuring both ends of the battery remain secured even if the compartment door is removed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a battery compartment door system with locking cams and breakaway tabs is used, then battery security against theft is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is segmented into separate functional components: locking cams for securing the battery, breakaway tabs for anti-theft protection, and prongs for structural support. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining overall system security.
Solution Approach 2:
The breakaway tabs act as an intermediary element between the locking cams and the battery compartment door. These tabs provide a sacrificial component that can break away under excessive force, preventing theft while allowing normal locking operations to proceed through the cams.
2Reliability
If locking cams are used to secure the battery compartment door and battery, then battery security is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The locking cam mechanism is designed to automatically engage and disengage based on the position of the battery compartment door. When the door is closed, the cams self-lock into place; when the door is opened, the cams automatically release. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for manual locking or unlocking operations.
3Ease of operation
If the battery compartment door is hingedly coupled to the frame, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to potential door removal
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge coupling and locking cam mechanisms are merged into an integrated system. The hinge provides the necessary accessibility and movement, while the locking cams work in conjunction with the hinge motion to automatically secure the battery when the door is closed and provide anti-theft protection.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods related to securing batteries to micro-mobility transit vehicles are disclosed. For example, a micro-mobility transit vehicle may have a battery compartment and a battery compartment door having a first end and a second end. The battery compartment door may provide a floorboard surface for the micro-mobility transit vehicle where the first end of the battery compartment door is hingedly coupled to the micro-mobility transit vehicle and the second end of the battery compartment door includes at least one pair of prongs extending from the second end and at least one breakaway tab physically coupled to each pair of prongs. The battery compartment door and a battery disposed within the battery compartment may be electromechanically secured to the micro-mobility transit vehicle by engaging locking cams on the breakaway tabs.