초록 ▼

A battery transfer and charging system for electrically powered vehicles includes a conveyor loop for conveying batteries from a battery receiving station to a battery delivery station. A displacement assembly removes spent batteries of electric vehicles by placing charged batteries into position wi

A battery transfer and charging system for electrically powered vehicles includes a conveyor loop for conveying batteries from a battery receiving station to a battery delivery station. A displacement assembly removes spent batteries of electric vehicles by placing charged batteries into position within the vehicles so as to laterally displace spent batteries. Spent batteries displaced from vehicles are received by the receiving station, where the batteries are tested both electrically and by comparing battery status data against predetermined criteria. Batteries which fail the battery test are automatically removed from the conveyor loop by a elevator assembly. Batteries are automatically charged as they pass through the conveyor loop in an assembly-line fashion. Following recharge, batteries are conveyed to the displacement station for installation within later vehicles. In one embodiment of the system, vehicles are processed through the system in sequential order, stopping at a specified location for battery installation/removal.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed:] [1.] A battery charging and transfer station for replacing a battery of an electrically powered vehicle, and for monitoring the usage of batteries, the vehicle including a battery compartment which extends through at least a portion of the vehicle, the station comprising:a drive-

[ What is claimed:] [1.] A battery charging and transfer station for replacing a battery of an electrically powered vehicle, and for monitoring the usage of batteries, the vehicle including a battery compartment which extends through at least a portion of the vehicle, the station comprising:a drive-through vehicle bay having an entrance end and an exit end to permit the vehicle to enter the bay, stop within the bay, and exit from the bay along a predetermined path without reversing direction;a continuous battery transfer conveyor, the conveyor having a battery receiving end which receives a partially discharged battery from a first end of the battery compartment, and having a battery delivery end which delivers a charged battery to a second end of the battery compartment, the conveyor having multiple battery positions for storing multiple batteries between the receiving and delivery ends;at least one battery charger positioned along the conveyor;a computer coupled to the conveyor such that the computer programmably moves batteries along the conveyor from the receiving end to the delivery end;at least one electronic sensing device coupled to the computer, the sensing device positioned along the conveyor to read unique ID codes of batteries on the conveyor; anda database coupled to the computer, the database storing historical data for a plurality of batteries, said historical data stored in association with the unique ID codes of the batteries.