Techni cal field

The present invention relates to a device for mount¬ ing and connecting a battery assembly in an electrically powered vehicle, wherein the battery assembly is in the shape of a unit, preferably consisting of an essentially- rectangular box having an electrical connector on one side. Background

As the demands for a cleaner environment increases so does the demand for electrically powered vehicles.

Vehicles of this kind are particularly suitable for use in urban environments where the driving distances are short, the speeds are low, and the speed changes are frequent. For instance in several places in Sweden, among them in Stockholm, the Post-Office Services have started to distribute the mail by electrically powered mopeds with very good results. Electrically powered vehicles improve not only the environment additionally, the accessibility in cities increases and the operational costs are reduced.

The central part of an electrically powered vehicle is the battery assembly. This is the component that weighs the most and which in addition plays a decisive part as regards the performance of the vehicle. When electrically powered vehicles are used, it is common to drive only short distances during the daytime, and for this reason travel distances seldom amount to more than a total of 100km per day. For larger ranges, reload of the battery and/or use of larger-capacity battery assemblies are required. This latter type of battery assemblies are, however, both heavier and more space-requiring. For this reason it may be practical to simply replace the battery assembly in a vehicle. Also in other connections, for

instance in the case of repairs and maintenance of the vehicle, it is of interest to be able to remove or re- attach the battery assembly in a simple manner.

To remove or attach the battery assembly in prior- art electrically powered vehicles is, however, a comparatively complicated task. For the removal, the electrical connection must be disconnected and, in addition, the devices holding the assembly firmly to the vehicle must be loosened. In addition, it is often difficult to lift the heavy and awkward battery assembly out of the vehicle. To mount and connect the battery assembly to the vehicle is, for obvious reasons, at least equally complicated.

Further, another problem is that the mounting may be performed in an erroneous manner, whereby the battery assembly may be electrically connected but not secured safely in position, which may lead to the battery assembly being dropped while the vehicle is moving, which not only constitute a safety risk but also may cause serious and expensive damages to the vehicle and the battery assembly. Object of the Inven tion

Consequently, one object of the present invention is to provide a device arranged to connect and to mount the battery assembly to an electrically powered vehicle in a safe and simple manner. This object is achieved by means of a device in accordance with the appended claims. Brief Description of the Drawings

For exemplifying purposes the invention will be explained in the following by way of an embodiment. This embodiment is also illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the battery assembly to be connected and mounted to an electrically powered vehicle in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an opened battery assembly compartment in an electrically powered vehicle for reception of a battery assembly;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the battery assembly in accordance with Fig. 1 while being inserted into the battery compartment illustrated in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a mounted and connected battery assembly in an electrically powered vehicle in accordance with the invention. Description of a Preferred Embodiment

Fig. 1 illustrates a battery assembly 1 which for reasons of easy handling preferably is configured as an essentially rectangular box. A number of battery cells 2 are positioned inside the battery assembly, said cells being interconnected in such a manner as to have one common electric output terminal 3. This terminal, which in accordance with the embodiment illustrated is designed as a connector, advantageously is placed on one of the end walls of the battery assembly. On the two walls that extend perpendicularly to the wall on which the terminal is provided, preferably the lengthwise walls of the battery assembly, carrier members 4 are provided. In accordance with the shown embodiment these carrier members 4 are configured as edge members extending along the entire extension of the lengthwise walls and they could be formed for instance as elongate angle irons that are attached to the walls by welding. To protect the battery cells 2 against pollution and the like the box is preferably provided with a simple lid that may be closed and opened.

To mount the battery assembly 1 a battery compart¬ ment preferably is provided for reception therein of the battery assembly of the electrically powered vehicle. Such a battery-receiving compartment is illustrated in its opened position and without the battery assembly in

Fig. 2. This drawing Figure illustrates the lower part of an electrically powered vehicle, having an open battery-

receiving compartment. In accordance with this embodi¬ ment, the battery-receiving compartment is positioned at a low level, below the platform 6 which is illustrated in dash-and-dot lines, and it is open towards the rear end of the electrically powered vehicle. Along the inner faces of the battery-receiving compartment supports 7 are provided, said supports in accordance with this embodiment being horizontal abutment edges or ledges extending along the entire lengthwise sides of the compartment on the inner face thereof. On the inner end wall of the compartment stops (not shown) are provided in order to prevent, in a predetermined position, the battery assembly from being inserted deeper into the compartment. At the other rearwardly facing end a movable bar 8 is arranged to one side of the opening. According to the shown embodiment this movable arm is mounted on a pivot shaft 9 for pivotal movement in a horizontal plane so as to allow it to be pivoted between two positions, one opened position, wherein the bar is pivoted complete- ly away from the opening of the compartment, and a closed position, wherein the bar end opposite to the pivot shaft is moved towards the other side of the opening. Because the bar is formed at said other end with an aperture 11 and because a corresponding aperture 10 is provided at the other side of the opening the bar may be secured in the closed position in a simple manner by means of a locking pin or the like.

Furthermore, the bar 8 is provided with two retain¬ ing parts 12, 13 which in spaced relationship are attached to the bar 8 in such a manner that in the closed position of the bar 8 both parts are directed away from the bar, horizontally inwards, towards the battery compartment. The retaining part 12, which is closest to the pivot shaft 9 of the bar, preferably is provided with a slightly oblique front edge. The second retaining part 13 is provided in accordance with the shown embodiment with connectors 14 corresponding to the electrical

terminal 3, leads 16 connecting said connectors 14 to the electrical system of the electrically powered vehicle. In addition, a handle 15 is formed on said latter retaining part in order to facilitate handling. In addition, it is advantageous if the battery assembly as illustrated in Fig. 1 is formed with projecting edges 18 at least on the end walls of the battery assembly on which the electrical connectors are placed. In order to insert and to remove the battery assembly preferably a vertically adjustable trolley 17 is used as illustrated in Fig. 3. By means of this trolley the battery assembly may be lifted slightly and there¬ after be inserted into the battery-receiving compartment, provided that the movable bar assumes its open position. Once the battery assembly is inserted, the trolley is lowered, the carrier members of the battery assembly then being brought to rest against the supports 7 formed on the inner faces of the compartment. In this manner the battery assembly 1 of the electrically powered vehicle is supported vertically. By now pivoting the movable bar to the closed position thereof, the retaining parts 12, 13 will be pressed against the battery assembly 1, and securing the bar by means of the locking pin results in the battery assembly being locked in position in the battery-receiving compartment of the electrically powered vehicle. In addition, the pivotal movement of the bar 8 will cause the electrical terminals on the battery assembly 1 and on the movable bar 8, respectively, to be interconnected, thus connecting the battery assembly 1 to the electrical system of the electrically powered vehicle. The oblique front end of the retaining part 12 thus permits the retaining part 12, in the inwards pivoted closed position of the bar 8, to be moved closer towards the battery assembly, securing the latter in a more stable fashion. The retaining parts in conjunction with the battery-receiving compartment thus co-operate to

secure the battery assembly horizontally. By positioning the projecting edges 18 on the battery assembly in such a manner that they will assume a position immediately underneath the retaining parts 12, 13 when the bar 8 has been moved to its closed position, the battery assembly is also prevented from vibrating as the electrically powered vehicle is driven across uneven road surfaces or the like.

The advantages inherent in this device for mounting and connection of a battery assembly in an electrically powered vehicle is the simplicity and speed with which the battery assembly may be put in position since it is inserted sideways, with the result that it need not be lifted in position and that the connection and the securement of the battery assembly are effected simultan¬ eously as the bar 8 is being moved to its closed position. Accordingly, when the locking mechanisms are loosened the electrically connections of the electrically powered vehicle are automatically disconnected, which improves the safety of the vehicle.

Several modifications of the above described embodi¬ ment are possible. For instance, the carrier members 4 of the battery assembly and the supports 7 corresponding thereto in the battery compartment may be configured differently, for instance as hooks and loops, without changing the function, and the movable bar 8 need not be pivotable but could be displaceable for instance across the direction of insertion of the battery assembly or else be pivotable in another plane than the horizontal plane, for instance in a vertical plane transversely to the direction of insertion of the battery assembly. The battery assembly need not be inserted from the rear but could in principle be inserted from any side of the electrically powered vehicle. The box of the battery assembly need not have a rectangular shape, the movable bar may be secured in its closed position in another way than by means of a locking pin and so on. These and

similar modifications must be considered to fall within the scope of the subject invention as the latter is defined and delimited by the appended claims.