# US 12,179,626 B2 · Structure for holding battery permitting rapid replacement and automated guided vehicle using structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,179,626 B2 - Document ID: US12179626B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/949,357 - Filed: 2022-09-21 - Published: 2023-04-13 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2021-10-11 - Assignees: Futaijing Precision Electronics (Yantai) Co., Ltd.; Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Futaijing Precision Electronics (Yantai) Co., Ltd.; Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Hun-Yi Chou; Chih-Cheng Lee; Yu-Sheng Chang; Yu-Cheng Zhang; Hsiu-Fu Li; Chang-Ju Hsieh; Tsung-Hsin Wu; Chiung-Hsiang Wu; Chen Chao; Chen-Ting Kao; Chi-Cheng Wen; Sheng-Li Yen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179626B2 ## CPC - B60L 53/80: Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries - B60K 1/04: of the electric storage means for propulsion - B60L 50/64: Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles - B60K 2001/0455: {Removal or replacement of the energy storages} - B60K 2001/0461: {from the side} - B60K 2001/0472: {from below} - B60K 2001/0488: {with arrangements for pivoting} - B60K 2001/0494: {with arrangements for sliding} - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A structure for holding a battery on an automated guided vehicle (AGV) so as to allow easy and convenient battery replacement includes two fixed supports and a bracket. The bracket is connected between the two supports and each support defines a vertical groove and two horizontal grooves. Two sliders at the ends of the bracket are insertable into either horizontal groove. The two sliders can move down along the vertical groove together until the bracket makes contact with the battery and holds it in place. The two sliders can move up along the vertical groove and sideways into the horizontal grooves, thereby unlatching and releasing the battery for rapid replacement. An AGV using the structure is also disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A structure configured for holding at least one battery comprising: two fixed supports; and a bracket connected between the two fixed supports and configured to position and hold the battery between the two supports; wherein each of the two fixed support defines a vertical groove and two horizontal grooves, the two horizontal grooves are connected and substantially perpendicular to a side of the vertical groove, the bracket comprises two ends, each of the two ends connects to a support, each of the two ends comprises two sliders and the two sliders are insertable into the two horizontal grooves, respectively, the two sliders are movable in the horizontal grooves and are configured to move together into the vertical groove, and wherein when the two sliders move together down in the vertical groove until the bracket contacts the battery, the battery is latched with the bracket, and wherein when the two sliders move up in the vertical groove and slide into the horizontal grooves, the battery is unlatched from the bracket and removable from the structure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The structure configured for holding battery of claim 1, wherein: the two sliders on the same end of the bracket are connected by a connecting piece. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The structure configured for holding battery of claim 2, wherein: each of the two supports comprises a spring, the spring is connected between a respective support and the connecting piece, the spring pulls on the connecting piece to maintain the sliders in the vertical groove or in the horizontal groove. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The structure configured for holding battery of claim 1, wherein: the bracket further comprises a positioning piece and two extending pieces, the positioning piece is placed horizontally, the two extending pieces are placed vertically, the two extending pieces are located on each end of the positioning piece, the positioning piece is connected to a top of the extending piece, the two sliders are located on a bottom of the extending piece, the two extending pieces are configured to lift the positioning piece. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The structure configured for holding battery of claim 4, wherein: the positioning piece comprises a first sheet, a second sheet, and two connecting sheets, the first sheet is placed vertically, the second sheet is placed horizontally, the first sheet and the second sheet are connected to position the battery, the two connecting sheets are connected on either end of the first sheet, each of the two connecting sheets is perpendicular to the first sheet, each of the two connecting sheets is connected to the extending piece. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The structure configured for holding battery of claim 5, wherein: the positioning piece further comprises an elastic gasket, the elastic gasket is located on the first sheet or on the second sheet, the elastic gasket is configured to contact with the battery elastically. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The structure configured for holding battery of claim 6, wherein: the elastic gasket is made of polyformaldehyde. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The structure for holding battery of claim 5, wherein: the positioning piece further comprises a handle, the handle is connected to the first sheet. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The structure configured for holding battery of claim 1, wherein: each of the two supports further defines two inclined grooves, each of the two inclined grooves is connected to the two horizontal grooves, respectively, the inclined grooves latch with the sliders. ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) The structure configured for holding battery of claim 3, wherein: the connecting piece comprises a third sheet and a fourth sheet, the third sheet and the fourth sheet are perpendicularly connected, the third sheet is connected to the two sliders, the fourth sheet is connected to the spring. ### Claim 11 An automated guided vehicle comprising: a car; at least one battery located on the car; and a structure configured for holding battery on the car; wherein the structure configured for holding battery comprises: two fixed supports located on the car; and a bracket connected between the two fixed supports and configured to position and hold the battery between the two supports; wherein each of the two fixed support defines a vertical groove and two horizontal grooves, the two horizontal grooves are connected and substantially perpendicular to a side of the vertical groove, the bracket comprises two ends, each of the two ends connects to a support, each of the two ends comprises two sliders and the two sliders are insertable into the two horizontal grooves, respectively, the two sliders are movable in the horizontal grooves and are configured to move together into the vertical groove, and wherein when the two sliders move together down in the vertical groove until the bracket contacts the battery, the battery is latched with the bracket, and wherein when the two sliders move up in the vertical groove and slide into the horizontal grooves, the battery is unlatched from the bracket and removable from the structure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The automated guided vehicle of claim 11, wherein: the two sliders on the same end of the bracket are connected by a connecting piece. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The automated guided vehicle of claim 12, wherein: each of the two supports comprises a spring, the spring is connected between a respective support and the connecting piece, the spring pulls on the connecting piece to maintain the sliders in the vertical groove or in the horizontal groove. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The automated guided vehicle of claim 11, wherein: the bracket further comprises a positioning piece and two extending pieces, the positioning piece is placed horizontally, the two extending pieces are placed vertically, the two extending pieces are located on each end of the positioning piece, the positioning piece is connected to a top of the extending piece, the two sliders are located on a bottom of the extending piece, the two extending pieces are configured to lift of the positioning piece. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The automated guided vehicle of claim 14, wherein: the positioning piece comprises a first sheet, a second sheet, and two connecting sheets, the first sheet is placed vertically, the second sheet is placed horizontally, the first sheet and the second sheet are connected to position the battery, the two connecting sheets are connected on either end of the first sheet, each of the two connecting sheets is perpendicular to the first sheet, each of the two connecting sheets is connected to the extending piece. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The automated guided vehicle of claim 15, wherein: the positioning piece further comprises an elastic gasket, the elastic gasket is located on the first sheet or the second sheet, the elastic gasket is configured to contact with the battery elastically. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The automated guided vehicle of claim 16, wherein: the elastic gasket is made of polyformaldehyde. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The automated guided vehicle of claim 15, wherein: the positioning piece further comprises a handle, the handle is connected to the first sheet. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The automated guided vehicle of claim 11, wherein: each of the two supports further defines two inclined grooves, each of the two inclined grooves is connected to the two horizontal grooves, respectively, the inclined grooves latch with the sliders. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The automated guided vehicle of claim 13, wherein: the connecting piece comprises a third sheet and a fourth sheet, the third sheet and the fourth sheet are perpendicularly connected, the third sheet is connected to the two sliders, the fourth sheet is connected to the spring.