Apparatus for removing and installing a battery for an electrically driven vehicle and related method

An apparatus for removing and installing a battery for an electrically driven vehicle comprising:

• a guide system comprising:
• a first track attached to a first location on a chassis of the electrically driven vehicle, said first track having a first track length and a first track width, and
• a second track attached to a second location on the chassis of the electrically driven vehicle, said second track having a second track length and a second track width;
• a battery containment structure comprising:
• a first side having a first side outer surface, a first side inner surface opposite the first side outer surface, and a first lip extending from the first side inner surface along at least a portion of a first side bottom edge,
• a second side having a second side outer surface, a second side inner surface opposite the second side outer surface, and a second lip extending from the second side inner surface along at least a portion of a second side bottom edge,
• a lower cross-member extending between the first side inner surface at a first side lower corner and the second side inner surface at a second side lower corner,
• an upper cross-member extending between the first side inner surface along a first side top edge and the second side inner surface along a second side top edge,
• a plurality of first bearings connected to the first side outer surface, and
• a plurality of second bearings connected to the second side outer surface;
• and
• a linear motion device attached to a third location on the chassis of the electrically driven vehicle, said linear motion device having a linear motion distance;
• and
• wherein
• the first track length and the second track length are each oriented substantially perpendicular to a force of gravity;
• the battery containment structure is configured to receive and hold the battery between the first side inner surface and the second side inner surface;
• the plurality of first bearings are arranged in at least a first column along the first side outer surface;
• a first subset of the plurality of second bearings are arranged in at least a second column along the second side outer surface;
• a second subset of the plurality of second bearings are arranged in at least a third column along the second side outer surface;
• each of the first bearings has a first bearing diameter which is substantially similar to the first track width;
• the plurality of first bearings are disposed within the first track;
• the plurality of second bearings are disposed within the second track;
• the linear motion device is connected to the upper cross-member;
• and
• the first track length, the second track length, and the linear motion distance are substantially equal to one another.