Vehicle Battery Pack Service Tool for Floor-Access Translation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing service tools for electrified vehicles require specialized equipment and are inefficient for removing and installing battery packs, as they often necessitate complex setups and specialized tools for translation and support.
Innovation Solution
A service tool assembly with a rotatable head and threaded rod extending through an access hole in the vehicle floor, engaging with the battery pack's threaded holes, allowing for translation of the battery pack relative to the vehicle by rotating the service tool, which supports the battery pack's weight and facilitates easy removal and installation without specialized equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If specialized equipment such as battery lifting jacks is used to lower and raise battery packs, then the battery pack can be supported and moved, but the device complexity and service cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of battery pack support and translation from complex specialized equipment (battery lifting jacks) to a simple service tool consisting of a threaded rod, head, and thrust bearing that can be inserted through access holes in the vehicle floor. This eliminates the need for heavy external lifting equipment while maintaining the ability to support and move the battery pack.
Solution Approach 2:
The service tool acts as an intermediary mechanism between the battery pack and the vehicle floor. By threading into holes in the battery pack and extending through access holes in the floor, it mediates the support and translation functions that previously required complex specialized equipment.
2Reliability
If specialized equipment is required for battery pack servicing, then proper support and translation can be achieved, but service time and expenses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the time-consuming aspect of setting up complex specialized equipment by extracting the essential translation function to a simple tool that can be quickly inserted through existing access holes and used to move the battery pack without elaborate setup procedures.
3Device complexity
If uniform service tools are used for all vehicle configurations, then tool inventory and complexity are reduced, but adapting to various vehicle heights and configurations becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The service tool is designed with universal applicability - the same basic tool design (threaded rod, head, thrust bearing) can be used across different vehicle configurations and heights. The tool adapts to various situations through its simple geometry and the positioning of access holes, eliminating the need for multiple specialized tools for different vehicle types.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient and cost-effective removal and installation of battery packs using uniform service tools, reducing service time and expenses, and accommodating various vehicle configurations and heights without the need for specialized equipment.
Implementation Method 1
The service tool is rotatable to translate the battery pack relative to the electrified vehicle
Implementation Method 2
a thrust bearing is included. The thrust bearing sits on the floor on top of the access hole. The head sits on top of the thrust bearing
Data Source
AI summary
A service tool assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a service tool that extends through an access hole in a floor of an electrified vehicle and is adapted to engage a threaded hole of a battery pack. The service tool is rotatable to translate the battery pack relative to the electrified vehicle.