Method and system for automatically connecting and disconnecting batteries for electric vehicles
AssigneeArtisan Vehicle Systems, Inc.
InventorKyle Hickey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automated connection and disconnection system for a battery assembly is disclosed. The system may be implemented by a first component of an electric vehicle and a second component of the battery assembly. The first component includes a linear actuator that is configured to push a set of electrical connectors associated with the electric vehicle outward and establish a connection with a corresponding set of electrical connectors associated with the battery assembly. The process of connecting or docking the battery assembly to the electric vehicle is thereby automated and the time needed to exchange batteries is reduced. The system further includes provisions for ensuring the two components remain aligned relative to one another during docking.
Claims20
A battery docking component for an electric vehicle, the battery docking component comprising:
- a body portion disposed along an outermost portion of the electric vehicle, the body portion including a forward-facing surface, the forward-facing surface comprising a male interface configured to connect to a female interface of a battery assembly;
- an active component including a linear actuator and a linkage assembly disposed behind and movably connected to the body portion, the linear actuator being configured to push the body portion distally outward in order to automatically connect the male interface to the female interface;
- and
- a first rail to which the body portion is movably connected, wherein the body portion is guided along the first rail when the linear actuator transitions between a retracted state and an extended state.
A battery docking system comprising:
- a first docking component connected to an electric vehicle, the first docking component including:
- a body portion disposed along an outermost portion of the electric vehicle, the body portion including a male interface configured to connect to a female interface of a battery assembly, the male interface further including a first set of electrical connectors, and
- a linear actuator;
- a second docking component connected to a battery assembly, the second docking component including the female interface configured to connect to the male interface, the female interface further including a second set of electrical connectors;
- and
- wherein the first set of electrical connectors is configured to automatically connect to the second set of electrical connectors when the linear actuator transitions from a retracted state to an extended state during docking, and the second set of electrical connectors includes a first connector panel and a second connector panel, the first connector panel being configured to provide power from a first battery pack and the second connector panel being configured to provide power from a second battery pack.
A method of automatically connecting a battery assembly to an electric vehicle, the method comprising:
- receiving a request to perform an automated docking operation;
- causing, in response to the request, a linear actuator to transition from a retracted state to an extended state, thereby pushing a body portion disposed along an outermost portion of the electric vehicle distally outward;
- automatically connecting a first set of electrical connectors disposed on the body portion to a second set of electrical connectors disposed on the battery assembly, thereby providing power to the electric vehicle;
- determining that a first protruding portion of the body portion has been received by a first receptacle of the battery assembly based on linear telemetry provided by the linear actuator;
- and
- generating a signal indicating that the battery assembly has successfully docked with the electric vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.