Battery retention device
AssigneeHyster-Yale Group, Inc.
InventorMartin Clark
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A battery-retention system employs a retention jaw assembly and a battery-retention mechanism to secure a battery within a battery compartment of a material-handling vehicle. The retention jaw includes a battery-contact portion operatively associated with a barrier portion that is movable between a battery-retention position when the battery contacts the battery-contact portion and a battery-release position when the battery does not contact the battery-contact portion. The battery-retention mechanism includes a stopper block that is operable to be positioned within the battery compartment when the battery compartment door is in a closed position and operable to be positioned external to the battery compartment when the battery compartment door is in an open position.
Claims24
A system for retaining a battery in a battery compartment of a material-handling vehicle, wherein the battery compartment includes a plurality of side walls, an upper structure, and a bottom structure configured to receive a battery, wherein a battery receptacle spans between the side walls, the bottom structure, and the upper structure, and wherein the battery receptacle includes a battery opening sized to allow a battery to pass through the battery opening, the system comprising:
- a retention jaw positioned in proximity to the battery opening, wherein the retention jaw includes a battery-contact portion operatively associated with a barrier portion, wherein the barrier portion is movable between a battery-retention position and a battery-release position, wherein the barrier portion is at the battery-retention position when a battery contacts the battery-contact portion, and wherein the barrier portion is at the battery-release position when a battery does not contact the battery-contact portion;
- a battery compartment door operable to provide an open position in which the battery opening is unobstructed and operable to provide a closed position in which the battery opening is obstructed;
- and
- a battery-retention mechanism operatively associated with the battery compartment door, the battery-retention mechanism comprising a stopper block that is operable to be positioned within the battery compartment when the battery compartment door is in the closed position and operable to be positioned at least substantially external to the battery compartment and to provide substantially unobstructed access to the battery compartment when the battery compartment door is in the open position.
A method for retaining a battery in a material-handling vehicle, wherein the battery has a battery weight, a battery height from a battery base to a battery top, a battery width between first and second battery sides, and a battery depth between a battery front and a battery back, wherein the material-handling vehicle has a battery compartment with a battery compartment door, wherein the battery compartment includes first and second side retainers, an upper structure, and a battery-receiving surface, wherein the battery compartment includes a receptacle that spans between the first and second side retainers and between the battery-receiving surface and the upper structure, wherein the battery compartment has a compartment height between the battery-receiving surface and the upper structure, wherein the battery compartment has a compartment width between the first and second side retainers, the method comprising:
- causing a battery-retention mechanism comprising a stopper block to move the stopper block from within the battery compartment to a position that is at least substantially external to the battery compartment thus providing substantially unobstructed access to the battery compartment by opening the battery compartment door to an open position;
- inserting the battery into the receptacle so that the front and back of the battery are completely within the battery compartment;
- causing a barrier portion of a retention jaw to move to a battery-retention position by engaging the battery with a battery-contact portion of the retention jaw wherein the battery-contact portion is operatively associated with the barrier portion;
- and
- causing the battery-retention mechanism to position the stopper block in the battery compartment by closing the battery compartment door to a closed position.
A material-handling vehicle, comprising:
- a frame;
- a drive wheel connected to the frame;
- a seat;
- a battery compartment supported by the frame, wherein the battery compartment includes a plurality of side walls, an upper structure, and a bottom structure configured to receive a battery, wherein a battery receptacle spans between the side walls, the bottom structure, and the upper structure, wherein the battery receptacle includes a battery opening sized to allow a battery to pass through the battery opening, and wherein the battery compartment is located at least partly under the seat;
- a retention jaw positioned in proximity to the battery opening, wherein the retention jaw includes a battery-contact portion operatively associated with a barrier portion, wherein the barrier portion is movable between a battery-retention position and a battery-release position, wherein the barrier portion is at the battery-retention position when a battery contacts the battery-contact portion, and wherein the barrier portion is at the battery-release position when a battery does not contact the battery-contact portion;
- a battery compartment door operable to provide an open position in which the battery opening is unobstructed and operable to provide a closed position in which the battery opening is obstructed;
- and
- a battery-retention mechanism operatively associated with the battery compartment door, the battery-retention mechanism comprising a stopper block that is operable to be positioned within the battery compartment when the battery compartment door is in the closed position and operable to be positioned at least substantially external to the battery compartment and provide substantially unobstructed access to the battery compartment when the battery compartment door is in the open position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.