Cell Disposal Patents (Class 105/51)
  • Patent number: 11542020
    Abstract: An aircraft includes fuselage, a seat, and battery compartment. Fuselage extends along a longitudinal axis. Seat is configured to support a passenger. The battery compartment that includes a battery configured to provide power to propel the aircraft. The battery compartment, including the battery, is located laterally adjacent to the seat along the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Steven R. Ivans, Kirk L. Groninga
  • Patent number: 11524612
    Abstract: An electric bus exhibiting a seat arrangement. The electric bus includes a side wall, a wheel with an electric engine disposed in the rim, a seat with a seat base and a leg area. The leg area is below the seat base and vertically level with the wheel. The electric bus also includes an electric energy storing device powering the electric engine of the wheel and arranged transversally between the side wall and the leg area of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: ALPHA EC INDUSTRIES
    Inventor: Jørgen Hallundbæk
  • Patent number: 11165116
    Abstract: A battery for an industrial truck comprises a battery body that comprises a first base body and a second base body. The second base body is positioned adjacent to the first base body. The first base body and the second base body extend a same length in one dimension and the first base body has a greater height than the second base body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Jungheinrich Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Klaus-Peter Ribbentrop, Tilman Rosenberg
  • Patent number: 11148519
    Abstract: A vehicle chassis including a vehicle frame defining an inner space and being operable to switch between a first expanded state and a collapsed state, and a loading device mounted to the inner space and removably connected to the vehicle frame. The loading device defines a first loading surface when the vehicle frame is in the first expanded state, and the loading device defines a second loading surface that is smaller than the first loading surface when the vehicle frame is in the collapsed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: NATIONAL TAIWAN NORMAL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Yi-Hsuan Hung, Ping-Hung Shih, Li-Fan Liu, Yi-Ya Liao, Kan-Yuan Tian
  • Patent number: 10780767
    Abstract: An energy absorbing and distributing side impact system for a vehicle includes first and second side sills, each of the first and second sills comprising multiple longitudinal channels, at least an upper longitudinal channel positioned above a vehicle floor panel and at least a lower longitudinal channel positioned below the vehicle floor panel, a battery enclosure mounted between front and rear suspensions of the vehicle, the battery enclosure having a first side member attached to the first side sill, and a second side member attached to the second side sill; cross-members integrated into the battery enclosure; and at least one mechanical connection securing the cross-members to the vehicle floor panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter D. Rawlinson, Alan Clarke, Hitendra L Gadhiya, Robert D. Sumpf, Jr., Bruce P. Edwards
  • Patent number: 10333372
    Abstract: A body is located between a protected component and a disturbing object and is inclined relative to a vertical direction. The protected component is located outside an interior of a vehicle. The body includes a lowermost portion in the vertical direction. The lowermost portion has a foreign matter discharge portion. An upper side of the protected component in the vertical direction is at least partially exposed from the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroyasu Sugiura
  • Patent number: 10252632
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a battery bank supply and replacement system in an electric vehicle, particularly for an electric vehicle used for the distribution of commercial goods. The system of the present invention comprises a battery bank mounted in a metal structure that is structurally coupled to a metal mounting structure arranged on the electric vehicle and a handling device consisting of a movable base. The movable base is aligned and secured to the metal mounting structure of the vehicle for removal of the battery bank from the vehicle towards the handling device or the other way round.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: GRUPO BIMBO, S.A.B. DE C.V.
    Inventors: Luis Angel Hernandez Lopez, Hugo Pichardo Anaya, Jose De Jesus Hernandez Jimenez, Leonardo Daniel Ortega Nolasco, Arturo Martinez Dorantes, Jorge Alejandro Garcia Mendez, Carlos Nava Ortiz
  • Patent number: 10150357
    Abstract: A vehicle (52) is provided having at least one battery (35) for supplying at least one drive of the vehicle (52) with electricity, and having at least one gas storage device (33). At least one part of the gas storage device (33) and at least one part of the battery (35) are combined in a structural unit (32) and arranged on an underbody (31) of the vehicle (52). A method for charging a battery (35) in a vehicle (52) is also provided, in which method at least one part of a battery (35) combined in a structural unit (32) with at least one part of a gas storage device (33) is supplied with electricity by a fuel cell comprised by the vehicle (52).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Johannes Landgraf, Walter Schmidt
  • Patent number: 10135046
    Abstract: In a temperature regulation structure according to the invention, the power storage element includes a power generation element for charging and discharging, and has a case body having an opening portion for incorporating the power generation element, and a lid that closes up the opening portion of the case body. Air for temperature regulation that comes into contact with the power storage element is supplied from a direction substantially perpendicular to a bottom face of the case body, which is opposed to the lid across the power generation element. The temperature of the power storage element can be efficiently regulated by bringing the air for temperature regulation into contact with the bottom face of the case body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirotaka Watanabe, Tuyoshi Hayashi, Junta Katayama
  • Patent number: 10118572
    Abstract: A case structure of a power equipment unit which contains power equipment mounted in a vehicle includes: a case body which contains the power equipment and an upper portion of which is open; a lid member which covers the upper portion of the case body; and a cover member which is attached to the lid member and which covers at least an opening part formed in the lid member, wherein: an intake port for taking in air from outside is formed in the cover member; a space part is formed between the cover member and the lid member; the opening part of the lid member is surrounded by a circumferential wall having a cylindrical shape; and a drain passage communicating with a drain port is connected with an outer circumference of the circumferential wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuta Tsumura, Jun Ogawa
  • Patent number: 9987912
    Abstract: A vehicle body rear structure is provided with a battery pack disposed in a floor recess of a rear floor panel. The battery pack includes battery modules, a pair of front suspended frame and rear suspended frame that hold the battery modules at the front and rear ends in such a manner that the battery modules are suspended from a vehicle body, and load path members through which the front suspended frame and the rear suspended frame are coupled to each other. The front suspended frame and the rear suspended frame have flanged collars and through-holes that are fastened to rear frames and fragile portions that are provided in the vicinity of the flanged collars and the through-holes and at which the front suspended frame and the rear suspended frame are bent forward when the vehicle body is subjected to an impact load in a rear-end collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryo Shinoda, Tomoyuki Okada, Ryo Fujii
  • Patent number: 9861018
    Abstract: A wiring protective cover structure for an electric drive vehicle is provided that can be used to cool a battery while effectively blocking noise that is generated from wiring for connecting an electric power converter and the battery disposed on a floor panel. A DC line cable 23 and a control line cable 25 that connect a battery 21 and an electric power converter 22 are disposed on a top surface of a center tunnel 37 of a vehicle 1, and a metallic wiring protective cover 35 has a cooling passage 30 disposed therein and is disposed on a floor panel 36 so as to cover the DC line cable 23 and the control line cable 25.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidemi Seki, Keisuke Itou
  • Patent number: 9828031
    Abstract: A motor vehicle includes a body, which body has at least two rear longitudinal members each forming a primary load path for collision forces, wherein the motor vehicle has a rear-end module that can be pre-assembled as a sub-assembly, which rear-end module can be connected to the body as part of the vehicle assembly after the completion of the body-in-white and has at least a supporting structure for fastening chassis components of a rear wheel suspension and a beam structure extending from the supporting structure toward the motor-vehicle rear for absorbing collision forces, wherein the supporting structure and the beam structure form at least one second load path for collision forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Hans-Jürgen Langhoff, Stefan Rugies, Tobias Urban, Dennis Decker, Sebastian Enderle, Pascal Schlichter
  • Patent number: 9821850
    Abstract: An impact load reduction structure includes a battery frame, a load reduction frame, and a load absorber. The battery frame is fixed to a vehicle body frame of an electrically-powered vehicle and supports a battery. The load reduction frame extends in a front-rear direction on a front side of the battery frame and is disposed in a substantially same plane as the battery frame. The load absorber is disposed between the load reduction frame and the battery frame and absorbs an impact load to be transmitted from the load reduction frame to the battery frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takehisa Tsukada, Hiroshi Matsuda
  • Patent number: 9821645
    Abstract: A motor vehicle includes a floor panel, a battery pack, a battery pack-associated component, a first tray, a first flange portion, a second tray, and a second flange portion. The battery pack is arranged on the first tray. The first tray is arranged on the floor panel of the motor vehicle. The first flange portion is provided on a first peripheral edge. The first peripheral edge is a peripheral edge of the first tray. The battery pack-associated component is arranged on the second tray. The second tray is arranged on the floor panel of the motor vehicle. The second flange portion is provided on a second peripheral edge. The second peripheral edge is a peripheral edge of the second tray. The second flange portion is located above the first flange portion in a vertical direction of the motor vehicle. The second flange portion overlaps with the first flange portion in the vertical direction of the motor vehicle. The first flange portion projects toward the second tray side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Hayashi, Atsushi Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 9802498
    Abstract: A subframe of a front or rear region of a motor vehicle, includes two longitudinal members which are spaced apart from each other in a transverse direction of the motor vehicle and are connected with each other via at least one cross member; a stiffening structure for increasing a torsion stiffness of the subframe; and a charging module for contactless energy transfer, wherein the charging module is integrated in the stiffening structure, and is connected with the stiffening structure exclusively via decoupling bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventor: Christian Isakiewitsch
  • Patent number: 9630486
    Abstract: A vehicle including a mounted object, which is supported by a framework member of the vehicle with a supporting member and which is disposed offset to one side of the vehicle with respect to a center of the vehicle in a front-rear direction, wherein the mounted object includes an extending portion that extends from the mounted object while inclined to a vertical direction or that extends from the mounted object in a horizontal direction, and that is formed such that, when an external force of a predetermined value or larger is exerted on the mounted object from the one side to displace the mounted object to the other side by a predetermined amount or larger, the extending portion abuts on a surface of the right-left framework member, the surface facing upward in the vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Yamada, Manabu Yazaki, Koichi Ono
  • Patent number: 9611003
    Abstract: An electric bicycle frame includes a seat tube, a down tube, a top tube, a battery box, and a battery body. The seat tube includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The down tube includes a first end and a second end. The second end is connected to the lower portion. The top tube includes a third end, an expanding tube, and a fourth end. The fourth end is connected to the upper portion. The expanding tube is between the third end and fourth end. The expanding tube includes a tube diameter varying portion and a top opening. The tube diameter varying portion includes continuously varying cross-sections. The battery box is assembled inside the top opening of the expanding tube. The battery body is received in the battery box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: FAIRLY BIKE MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yu-Chi Yu, Shu-Siou Ye
  • Patent number: 9540055
    Abstract: An underbody unit for a motor vehicle body has a floor body (12) connectable to the motor vehicle body for dissipating static and/or dynamic loads. Reinforcing ribs (14) protrude up from the floor body (12). The reinforcing ribs (14) together with the floor body (12) delimit receiving pockets (16) for receiving battery cell units (18) of a traction battery for driving the motor vehicle. First and second connections (34, 36) supply and remove a liquid cooling medium for cooling the floor body (12). The battery cell units (18) are above the floor body (12) and can be inserted into the underbody unit (10). Thus, the underbody unit (10), the reinforcing ribs (14) and the connections (34, 36) for the coolant define a supporting plate that can support the heavy battery cell units (18), form armor plating for protection and a heat exchanger for active and/or passive cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Dennis Berger, Reyk Bienert
  • Patent number: 9352728
    Abstract: Method for battery replacement in a vehicle (110), which vehicle is equipped with a storage space (150;200;300;400) for a battery (120,122;220;320;420;620), where an opening (151;204;304;404) into the storage space exists under the vehicle, wherein the vehicle assumes a first and a second predetermined position in relation to first and second battery transport devices (130;140) that bring a battery out from the vehicle and a battery into the vehicle. The transport devices are installed at least partly above ground (100) and beside the positions, and in that the batteries are brought along a respective path (121,123) running from the storage space, under a side beam (112) of the vehicle and up to a respective position above ground and beside the vehicle. A device for automatic battery replacement and a storage device for use in a vehicle are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Inventor: Sten Corfitsen
  • Patent number: 9315093
    Abstract: A battery module configuration structure for an articulated electric bus includes a vehicle body, a plurality of wheel shafts and a plurality of battery modules. The wheel shafts are respectively disposed on a bottom of the vehicle body. The battery modules are disposed in an interior of the vehicle body and correspondingly located at an upper area of at least one of the wheel shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: ALEEES ECO ARK CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Hsun-Sheng Lee, Neng-Han Yu, Chung-Wei Wen, Ching-An Shu
  • Patent number: 9242540
    Abstract: In a vehicular battery mounting structure, a rear suspension beam has a beam main body portion extending in a vehicle width direction, and a beam end portion formed on an outside of the beam main body portion in the vehicle width direction. A sectional area of the beam end portion viewed from a side is larger than the beam main body portion. Also, a backboard forming a rear portion of a battery frame has a board main body portion that extends in the vehicle width direction and is arranged in front of the beam main body portion. A vehicle body attaching portion attached to a vehicle body frame is provided on an end portion on the outside of the board main body portion. The vehicle body attaching portion is arranged in front of the end portion on the outside of the beam main body portion, and opposing the end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masakazu Shirooka
  • Patent number: 8511237
    Abstract: Structure for mounting batteries in a guideway electric vehicle driven by a battery-driven motor is provided, with which balancing in weight of the vehicle is properly achieved, batteries can be cooled enough, battery rooms are completely sealed from the passenger room, and running stability of the vehicle is ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuaki Morita, Masaya Mitake, Mitsuaki Hoshi, Kousuke Katahira
  • Patent number: 8376076
    Abstract: An apparatus for storing a device for a railway vehicle, comprises a storage case having an opening at a front side, a tray accommodated into the storage case, the tray being movable forward and backward with the device mounted thereon, a lever disposed at an upper side of the tray to extend along a forward and backward direction, the lever being vertically pivotable around a pivot forward relative to a center of the tray in the forward and backward direction, an operation member coupled to a front end portion of the lever and disposed at a front side of the tray, an engagement portion provided at a rear end portion of the lever and protruding downward outside the tray, and a recess provided in the storage case, the engagement portion being fitted into the recess from above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shin Kataoka, Kunihiko Takagi, Yutaka Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 7966945
    Abstract: A hydrogen hybrid locomotive driven by a set of electric traction motors powered by at least one hydrogen fuel cell power module and plurality of batteries includes a chassis, an isolation structure disposed on the chassis for isolating the at least one hydrogen fuel cell power module from shock and vibration and a battery rack disposed on the chassis for supporting the plurality of batteries. A hydrogen containment module is disposed above the battery rack and includes a support rack supporting a plurality of hydrogen tanks and a manifold coupled to each of the plurality of hydrogen tanks for allowing charging and discharging of the hydrogen tanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: BNSF Railway Company
    Inventors: Arnold R. Miller, Kris S. Hess, Timothy L. Erickson, James L. Dippo
  • Publication number: 20100212539
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a container-based locomotive power source that can be readily interchanged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: Union Pacific Railroad Company
    Inventor: Michael E. Iden
  • Patent number: 7770525
    Abstract: A system is provided for segregating an energy storage system from at least one of at least one air pipe and at least one electric cable of a hybrid energy vehicle. The energy storage system includes at least one energy storage device and at least one hybrid cable. The system includes a pair of first regions proximately positioned below a respective pair of walkways extending along opposing sides of the vehicle, and a second region positioned between the pair of first regions. The energy storage system and at least one of the at least one air pipe and at least one electric cable are respectively positioned within one of the pair of first regions and the second region to segregate the energy storage system from at least one of the at least one air pipe and at least one electric cable of the hybrid energy vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Stephen Pelkowski, Harold Alan Ellsworth
  • Publication number: 20090320715
    Abstract: Structure for mounting batteries in a guideway electric vehicle driven by a battery-driven motor is provided, with which balancing in weight of the vehicle is properly achieved, batteries can be cooled enough, battery rooms are completely sealed from the passenger room, and running stability of the vehicle is ensured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Katsuaki Morita, Masaya Mitake, Mitsuaki Hoshi, Kousuke Katahira
  • Publication number: 20090293759
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to hybrid versions of diesel-electric locomotives and improves the previous art by placing such batteries in standard intermodal containers which can easily be moved by readily available cranes built for the purpose of moving freight containers. The containers housing the batteries are standardized, so that different operators can use them by way of purchase or rental. The invention produces the following advantages. (1) After a descent from high altitudes, a full battery unit can be removed from a train and put in storage to reduce the weight of the train should no extra power be needed for the next leg of the journey. On particular long descents, full battery units can be replaced by empty ones several times to enable further energy recovery as the train continues its way down the mountain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventor: Rudolf Hardy Schmitz
  • Patent number: 5592883
    Abstract: A monorail transportation system has an elongated, overhead monorail (12) with a vehicle (14) having a coupler (16) that movably travels along the upper surface of monorail (12) and a drive wheel (20) that engages the lower surface or underside of monorail (12) to propel vehicle (14) therealong. The coupler (16) and drive wheel (20) are recessed in the top of the vehicle (14) during road travel and extended for travel along the monorail (12). The vehicle includes a movable sled (130) that carries the vehicles batteries (56) to balance the vehicle (14) about its longitudinal centerline during travel along the monorail (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Inventor: F. Jay Andress, III
  • Patent number: 5390754
    Abstract: A battery box, which is suitable for use in an electric vehicle, comprises a box body and a reinforcement member. The box body accommodates therein a plurality of batteries for powering the electric vehicle and is mounted to the electric vehicle. The reinforcement member is provided with the box body and supports at least respective portions of all the batteries in the box body. The reinforcement member is mounted to the frame of the electric vehicle whereby the weight of each of the batteries is reliably supported by the reinforcement member on the vehicle frame. The weight is reduced and yet the rigidity of the battery box is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1995
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio Masuyama, Masami Suzuki, Hiroyuki Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 5040627
    Abstract: A mounting apparatus for a pair of batteries is provided that utilizes a centrally located fastener. The clamping force is spread over the entire upper surface of the batteries by a plurality of normally arcuate engagement surfaces that are defined by a non-metallic member. As the clamping force is increased during assembly, the engagement surfaces tend to flatten out, thus transferring the load over a larger area. The mounting apparatus also includes a cover member to protect the battery terminals and cable connections from damage due to incidental contact with tools and the like. The cover member is mounted separately from the battery mounting so as to be quickly removable for service without disturbing the mounting of the batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1991
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: L. Duane Swayze
  • Patent number: 4779692
    Abstract: An improved tractor battery enclosure of the type having a service opening, including walls forming an enclosure, a suspended battery-support floor approximating the size of a battery base and movable between a battery use position and an at least partially offset position, and a door along the lead edge of the floor movable between a closed position and an open position coplanar with the floor, such that a battery may readily be moved with the floor and then along the floor to a full service position in which it is at least partially supported by the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1988
    Assignee: J. I. Case Company
    Inventors: Jon R. Hagarty, Alfred J. Joscher
  • Patent number: 4397365
    Abstract: A loading vehicle operated by electric battery power includes a chassis, a loading bucket mounted at the front end of the chassis. The chassis also carries an electric traction motor, a battery box and a battery lifting device pivotally mounted to the rear of the chassis and movable relative to the chassis by power. The battery box is supported by the chasis and is removable therefrom by power actuation of the battery lifting device. The battery lifting device has a lifting frame forming a part thereof which projects rearwardly from the chassis so as to provide a seat for the battery box, the lifting frame being pivotally movable relative to the chassis by application of the power to lift the battery box relative to the chassis. The battery box is then placed on a pallet and a fresh battery box is arranged on the battery lifting device and moved in place on the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1983
    Assignee: Atlas Copco Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Erik O. E. Harbe, Kurt A. R. Sundberg
  • Patent number: 4365681
    Abstract: A structure for supporting a plurality of rows of batteries includes a frame having side rails and cross members releasably supported beneath the vehicle. Aligned pairs of I-type beams are cantilevered from the side rails of the frame. The lower flanges of parallel aligned pairs of beams underlie and support a respective edge of a row of batteries placed therebetween with the top flanges of the beams located below the upper edges of the batteries. The top flanges of the beams are narrower than would be necessary for an equivalent simple beam, thus maximizing the number of batteries containable in the available space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1982
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Harmahendar Singh
  • Patent number: 4355695
    Abstract: A restraining device for removable components of vehicles, such as the battery unit (26) of an electrically powered lift truck. The vehicle has an enclosure frame (14) having opposite sides (16,20) each of which has an aperture (30,28) through which passes in a longitudinally slidable fashion a restraining bar (34) positionable to a locked position preventing dislocation of the removable component (26). The restraining bar (34) may be fixed against longitudinal movement by affixing it to the enclosure frame (14) with a locking means (42). If the restraining bar (34) is not in its locked position a pivotably positional cover (52) overlying both the removable component (26) and the restraining bar (34) cannot be placed in an operating position owing to contact between the restraining bar (34) and a downwardly extending edge portion (58) of the cover (52).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1982
    Assignee: Towmotor Corporation
    Inventor: Edward V. Leskovec
  • Patent number: 4339015
    Abstract: An electrically driven motor vehicle having an electric motor 31 arranged to drive the vehicle through a transmission system 29, 33 and a battery pack 22 to provide power for driving the electrical motor 31, the battery pack being provided with a charging unit 25, 26 including an internal combustion engine 26 and the battery pack 22 and the charging unit 25, 26 being mounted on the vehicle as a unit so as to be readily detachable therefrom to enable it to be replaced at suitable servicing establishments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1982
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited
    Inventors: Ronald Fowkes, Geoffrey G. Harding
  • Patent number: 4216839
    Abstract: An electrically powered vehicle achieves maximum structural strength with minimum weight by utilizing a combined body and chassis formed entirely of plastic material, molded and bonded into an integral composite structure which includes a central, hollow longitudinal beam, top, bottom, and side panels of the vehicle body portion, and a power unit supporting chamber at the forward end closing the forward end of the beam and tying it to the side panels. The beam holds the batteries, and the chamber contains all of the components of the power unit including the controlling device. The structure is thus as rigid and light as possible, in addition to eliminating any possibility of any unwanted grounding or electrical paths. The only metal in the vehicle is that of the additional components such as road wheels, suspension members, steering, and power unit and the fasteners and brackets used to retain them in mounted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1978
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1980
    Assignee: Unique Mobility Inc.
    Inventors: John S. Gould, Roger D. Winquist, William R. Eve, IV, James V. McCutchen, Anthony M. Pelcher, Richard E. Watson
  • Patent number: 4135593
    Abstract: An electrically driven vehicle has a battery pack containing batteries in a support structure, there being defined a compartment in which the battery tops are located and a further compartment in which are the battery lower casings, said structure having inlet and outlet openings for the respective compartments, for through flow of cooling air lengthwise of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1979
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited
    Inventor: Ronald Fowkes
  • Patent number: 4129194
    Abstract: A battery hold down device in the form of a frame made up of four parallel angle members engageable with opposed side edges of a pair of batteries placed side by side in a battery box. The ends of the angle members are connected by flat end plates, and the inner two angle members are attached to the end plates offset upwardly in relation to the outer angle members. Bolts extending between the batteries receive washers which engage the inner angle members. Nuts received over the washers are tightened down on the bolts, to clamp the batteries between the frame and the bottom of the battery box until the offset distance of the inner angle members is overcome, thus insuring a uniform preload along the four angle members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1978
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Howard A. Hammond, John F. Sardina
  • Patent number: 3983952
    Abstract: An electric vehicle of adequate performance and range and of low cost uses a long tray of batteries easily rolled into or from a housing which also comprises a structural backbone of the car. The body provides useful space, such as a passenger compartment on both sides of the backbone, extending down to about the level of the bottom of the backbone, thereby keeping a low center of gravity, and compactness for low wind resistance. The steering wheel is on a swing-arm standing out laterally from the backbone, the backbone supporting the steering shaft in a position not "aimed" at the driver. The steering arm swings out of the way to facilitate access, and in one form of the invention the body top swings open and there are no side doors. Separate V belt drives from the motor through automatic speed-changing pulleys for each side minimize current draw on start-up and acceleration, maximize performance, ensure driving both drive wheels in slippery weather, and permit differential wheel speed on turns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1972
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1976
    Inventor: Robert S. McKee