Patent · US11996577B2 · B2 · US

Battery retention blocks for a battery receiving space of a materials handling vehicle, and materials handling vehicles incorporating the same

(11) Publication number

US11996577B2

(21) Application number

17/673,213

(22) Filing date

2022-02-16

(30) Priority date

2021-10-22

(43) Publication date

2024-05-28

(45) Date of grant

2024-05-28

(51) IPC

B66F 9/075; H01M 50/244; H01M 50/249; H01M 50/256

(52) CPC

H01M Processes or means, e.g. batteries, for the direct conversion of chemical energy into electrical energy: 50/249, 50/244, 50/256
B60L Propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles; supplying electric power for auxiliary equipment of electrically-propelled vehicles; electrodynamic brake systems for vehicles in general; magnetic suspension or levitation for vehicles; monitoring operating variables of electrically-propelled vehicles; electric safety devices for electrically-propelled vehicles: 50/64, 50/66, 53/16, 53/80
B62B Hand-propelled vehicles, e.g. hand carts or perambulators; sledges: 3/0612
B66F Hoisting, lifting, hauling or pushing, not otherwise provided for, e.g. devices which apply a lifting or pushing force directly to the surface of a load: 9/07531, 9/07536

(73) Assignee

Crown Equipment Corp

(72) Inventors

Roland Müller; Martin Ma; Jack Yang; Andy Chen; Bruce Xia; Luying Sun

(54) Title

Battery retention blocks for a battery receiving space of a materials handling vehicle, and materials handling vehicles incorporating the same

(57) Abstract

A materials handling vehicle including a battery receiving space, and a removable battery assembly, wherein: the removable battery assembly includes lateral battery faces, each including a longitudinal guide structure; the battery receiving space includes opposing retention blocks, each arranged on opposite sides of the battery receiving space, and each comprising a retention lever including a fixed end and a distal end; and the longitudinal guide structure of each lateral battery face includes a lever-receiving detent that is configured to receive the distal end of one of the retention levers.

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Claims (14)

A materials handling vehicle comprising a materials handling mechanism, a drive mechanism, a battery receiving space, and a removable battery assembly, wherein: the materials handling mechanism is configured to engage goods in a warehouse environment and cooperates with the drive mechanism, under power from the removable battery assembly, to move goods along an inventory transit surface in the warehouse environment; the removable battery assembly and the battery receiving space cooperate to define a battery insertion and removal axis along which the removable battery assembly is inserted into and removed from the battery receiving space; the removable battery assembly comprises lateral battery faces, each comprising a longitudinal guide structure that is oriented along the battery insertion and removal axis; the battery receiving space comprises opposing retention blocks, each arranged on opposite sides of the battery receiving space, and each comprising a retention lever comprising a fixed end and a distal end; and the longitudinal guide structure of each lateral battery face comprises a lever-receiving detent that is configured to receive the distal end of one of the retention levers, with the removable battery assembly seated in the battery receiving space.
The materials handling vehicle of claim 1, wherein each retention lever is configured to lie in a state of flexion when received in the lever-receiving detent of the longitudinal guide structure.
The materials handling vehicle of claim 2, wherein: each retention block comprises a planar guiding surface facing an opposing surface of the longitudinal guide structure; the planar guiding surface of the retention block comprises a retention lever recess; and each retention lever is configured for increased flexion as it moves progressively towards the retention lever recess.
The materials handling vehicle of claim 1, wherein: each retention block comprises a planar guiding surface facing an opposing surface of the longitudinal guide structure; the planar guiding surface of the retention block comprises a retention lever recess; and the fixed end of each retention lever is positioned in the retention lever recess to avoid contact with the opposing surface of the longitudinal guide structure.
The materials handling vehicle of claim 1, wherein: the distal end of each retention lever comprises a terminal lobe; and the lever-receiving detent and the terminal lobe define mating rounded profiles.
The materials handling vehicle of claim 1, wherein each retention block comprises a metal backing plate and a plastic retention lever plate.
The materials handling vehicle of claim 1, wherein: the removable battery assembly comprises a leading face and an electrical socket on the leading face of the removable battery assembly; the battery receiving space comprises an electrical connector that complements the electrical socket of the removable battery assembly; each retention lever is positioned such that each of the lever-receiving detents receives a distal end of one of the retention levers simultaneously with engagement of the electrical socket on the leading face of the removable battery assembly with the electrical connector in the battery receiving space, as the removable battery assembly is inserted into the battery receiving space.
The materials handling vehicle of claim 1, wherein each longitudinal guide structure of the lateral battery faces comprises a one-sided channel portion that comprises the opposing surface facing the guiding surface of the retention block, with the removable battery assembly seated in the battery receiving space.
The materials handling vehicle of claim 8, wherein: the one-sided channel portion terminates in a channel shoulder of the longitudinal guide structure; and each guide block comprises a chamfered leading portion that faces the channel shoulder of the longitudinal guide structure, with the removable battery assembly seated in the battery receiving space.
The materials handling vehicle of claim 1, wherein: each retention lever is configured to lie in a state of flexion when received in the lever-receiving detent of the longitudinal guide structure; each retention block comprises a planar guiding surface facing an opposing surface of the longitudinal guide structure; the planar guiding surface of the retention block comprises a retention lever recess; each retention lever is configured for increased flexion as it moves progressively towards the retention lever recess; the fixed end of each retention lever is positioned in the retention lever recess to avoid contact with the opposing surface of the longitudinal guide structure.
The materials handling vehicle of claim 10, wherein: each longitudinal guide structure of the lateral battery faces comprises a one-sided channel portion that comprises the opposing surface facing the guiding surface of the retention block, with the removable battery assembly seated in the battery receiving space; the one-sided channel portion terminates in a channel shoulder of the longitudinal guide structure; and each guide block comprises a chamfered leading portion that faces the channel shoulder of the longitudinal guide structure, with the removable battery assembly seated in the battery receiving space.
The materials handling vehicle of claim 11, wherein: the removable battery assembly comprises a leading face and an electrical socket on the leading face of the removable battery assembly; the battery receiving space comprises an electrical connector that complements the electrical socket of the removable battery assembly; each retention lever is positioned such that each of the lever-receiving detents receives a distal end of one of the retention levers simultaneously with engagement of the electrical socket on the leading face of the removable battery assembly with the electrical connector in the battery receiving space, as the removable battery assembly is inserted into the battery receiving space.
A removable battery assembly comprising a battery body, wherein: the battery body defines a longitudinal battery insertion and removal axis along which the battery assembly can be inserted into and removed from a battery receiving space of a materials handling vehicle; the removable battery assembly comprises lateral battery faces, each comprising a longitudinal guide structure that is oriented along the battery insertion and removal axis; the longitudinal guide structure of each lateral battery face comprises a one-sided channel portion that terminates in a channel shoulder of the longitudinal guide structure; and the one-sided channel portion of the longitudinal guide structure comprises a lever-receiving detent that is configured to receive the distal end of a retention lever, with the removable battery assembly seated in the battery receiving space.
A materials handling vehicle configured to move along an inventory transit surface and engage goods in a warehouse environment, the materials handling vehicle comprising a battery receiving space, and a removable battery assembly, wherein: the removable battery assembly and the battery receiving space cooperate to define a battery insertion and removal axis; the removable battery assembly comprises lateral battery faces, each comprising a longitudinal guide structure; the battery receiving space comprises opposing retention blocks, each arranged on opposite sides of the battery receiving space, and each comprising a retention lever comprising a fixed end and a distal end; and the longitudinal guide structure of each lateral battery face comprises a lever-receiving detent that is configured to receive the distal end of one of the retention levers, with the removable battery assembly seated in the battery receiving space.

Description

Although the concepts of the present disclosure are described herein with primary reference to electric pallet trucks where the drive motor of the pallet truck is integrated with the hub of the pallet truck's single drive wheel, it is contemplated that particular concepts of the present disclosure will enjoy applicability to pallet trucks with other types of motor configurations, or to other types of battery-powered materials handling vehicles including, for example, forklift trucks, tuggers, etc.

In accordance with the present disclosure, an object of the invention can be seen in providing an improved materials handling vehicle as well as an improved removable battery assembly.

An aspect relates to a materials handling vehicle. The materials handling vehicle may comprise a materials handling mechanism and a drive mechanism. The materials handling vehicle may comprise a battery receiving space and a removable battery assembly.

The materials handling vehicle may be configured to move along an inventory transit surface and engage goods in a warehouse environment. The materials handling mechanism may be configured to engage goods in a warehouse environment and may cooperate with the drive mechanism, under power from the removable battery assembly, to move goods along an inventory transit surface in the warehouse environment. The removable battery assembly may comprise a battery body and a battery locking mechanism. The removable battery assembly and the battery receiving space may cooperate to define a battery insertion and removal axis.

Citations (36)

US4756978A
JP2629787B2
US6004690A
US20070052389A1
JP5478853B2
DE102007034747A1
EP2018989B1
US8347995B2
US20120037437A1
US8413947B2
CN102358156A
CN102358156B
KR20130130921A
EP2674389B1
US9586605B2
DE202014004558U1
US20180366703A1
US9718661B1
CN205873810U
US9908762B1
US9966712B1
EP3309001A1
US20190322509A1
CN208819918U
US20200331733A1
US10836620B2
CN211255144U
WO2021133919A1
CN213738432U
CN213242755U
US20230129162A1
US20230131492A1
US20230129896A1
US20230131139A1
US20230129917A1
US11673736B1

Record as JSON

{
  "publication_number": "US11996577B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Battery retention blocks for a battery receiving space of a materials handling vehicle, and materials handling vehicles incorporating the same",
  "abstract": "A materials handling vehicle including a battery receiving space, and a removable battery assembly, wherein: the removable battery assembly includes lateral battery faces, each including a longitudinal guide structure; the battery receiving space includes opposing retention blocks, each arranged on opposite sides of the battery receiving space, and each comprising a retention lever including a fixed end and a distal end; and the longitudinal guide structure of each lateral battery face includes a lever-receiving detent that is configured to receive the distal end of one of the retention levers.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A materials handling vehicle comprising a materials handling mechanism, a drive mechanism, a battery receiving space, and a removable battery assembly, wherein: the materials handling mechanism is configured to engage goods in a warehouse environment and cooperates with the drive mechanism, under power from the removable battery assembly, to move goods along an inventory transit surface in the warehouse environment; the removable battery assembly and the battery receiving space cooperate to define a battery insertion and removal axis along which the removable battery assembly is inserted into and removed from the battery receiving space; the removable battery assembly comprises lateral battery faces, each comprising a longitudinal guide structure that is oriented along the battery insertion and removal axis; the battery receiving space comprises opposing retention blocks, each arranged on opposite sides of the battery receiving space, and each comprising a retention lever comprising a fixed end and a distal end; and the longitudinal guide structure of each lateral battery face comprises a lever-receiving detent that is configured to receive the distal end of one of the retention levers, with the removable battery assembly seated in the battery receiving space.",
    "2. The materials handling vehicle of claim 1, wherein each retention lever is configured to lie in a state of flexion when received in the lever-receiving detent of the longitudinal guide structure.",
    "3. The materials handling vehicle of claim 2, wherein: each retention block comprises a planar guiding surface facing an opposing surface of the longitudinal guide structure; the planar guiding surface of the retention block comprises a retention lever recess; and each retention lever is configured for increased flexion as it moves progressively towards the retention lever recess.",
    "4. The materials handling vehicle of claim 1, wherein: each retention block comprises a planar guiding surface facing an opposing surface of the longitudinal guide structure; the planar guiding surface of the retention block comprises a retention lever recess; and the fixed end of each retention lever is positioned in the retention lever recess to avoid contact with the opposing surface of the longitudinal guide structure.",
    "5. The materials handling vehicle of claim 1, wherein: the distal end of each retention lever comprises a terminal lobe; and the lever-receiving detent and the terminal lobe define mating rounded profiles.",
    "6. The materials handling vehicle of claim 1, wherein each retention block comprises a metal backing plate and a plastic retention lever plate.",
    "7. The materials handling vehicle of claim 1, wherein: the removable battery assembly comprises a leading face and an electrical socket on the leading face of the removable battery assembly; the battery receiving space comprises an electrical connector that complements the electrical socket of the removable battery assembly; each retention lever is positioned such that each of the lever-receiving detents receives a distal end of one of the retention levers simultaneously with engagement of the electrical socket on the leading face of the removable battery assembly with the electrical connector in the battery receiving space, as the removable battery assembly is inserted into the battery receiving space.",
    "8. The materials handling vehicle of claim 1, wherein each longitudinal guide structure of the lateral battery faces comprises a one-sided channel portion that comprises the opposing surface facing the guiding surface of the retention block, with the removable battery assembly seated in the battery receiving space.",
    "9. The materials handling vehicle of claim 8, wherein: the one-sided channel portion terminates in a channel shoulder of the longitudinal guide structure; and each guide block comprises a chamfered leading portion that faces the channel shoulder of the longitudinal guide structure, with the removable battery assembly seated in the battery receiving space.",
    "10. The materials handling vehicle of claim 1, wherein: each retention lever is configured to lie in a state of flexion when received in the lever-receiving detent of the longitudinal guide structure; each retention block comprises a planar guiding surface facing an opposing surface of the longitudinal guide structure; the planar guiding surface of the retention block comprises a retention lever recess; each retention lever is configured for increased flexion as it moves progressively towards the retention lever recess; the fixed end of each retention lever is positioned in the retention lever recess to avoid contact with the opposing surface of the longitudinal guide structure.",
    "11. The materials handling vehicle of claim 10, wherein: each longitudinal guide structure of the lateral battery faces comprises a one-sided channel portion that comprises the opposing surface facing the guiding surface of the retention block, with the removable battery assembly seated in the battery receiving space; the one-sided channel portion terminates in a channel shoulder of the longitudinal guide structure; and each guide block comprises a chamfered leading portion that faces the channel shoulder of the longitudinal guide structure, with the removable battery assembly seated in the battery receiving space.",
    "12. The materials handling vehicle of claim 11, wherein: the removable battery assembly comprises a leading face and an electrical socket on the leading face of the removable battery assembly; the battery receiving space comprises an electrical connector that complements the electrical socket of the removable battery assembly; each retention lever is positioned such that each of the lever-receiving detents receives a distal end of one of the retention levers simultaneously with engagement of the electrical socket on the leading face of the removable battery assembly with the electrical connector in the battery receiving space, as the removable battery assembly is inserted into the battery receiving space.",
    "13. A removable battery assembly comprising a battery body, wherein: the battery body defines a longitudinal battery insertion and removal axis along which the battery assembly can be inserted into and removed from a battery receiving space of a materials handling vehicle; the removable battery assembly comprises lateral battery faces, each comprising a longitudinal guide structure that is oriented along the battery insertion and removal axis; the longitudinal guide structure of each lateral battery face comprises a one-sided channel portion that terminates in a channel shoulder of the longitudinal guide structure; and the one-sided channel portion of the longitudinal guide structure comprises a lever-receiving detent that is configured to receive the distal end of a retention lever, with the removable battery assembly seated in the battery receiving space.",
    "14. A materials handling vehicle configured to move along an inventory transit surface and engage goods in a warehouse environment, the materials handling vehicle comprising a battery receiving space, and a removable battery assembly, wherein: the removable battery assembly and the battery receiving space cooperate to define a battery insertion and removal axis; the removable battery assembly comprises lateral battery faces, each comprising a longitudinal guide structure; the battery receiving space comprises opposing retention blocks, each arranged on opposite sides of the battery receiving space, and each comprising a retention lever comprising a fixed end and a distal end; and the longitudinal guide structure of each lateral battery face comprises a lever-receiving detent that is configured to receive the distal end of one of the retention levers, with the removable battery assembly seated in the battery receiving space."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Although the concepts of the present disclosure are described herein with primary reference to electric pallet trucks where the drive motor of the pallet truck is integrated with the hub of the pallet truck's single drive wheel, it is contemplated that particular concepts of the present disclosure will enjoy applicability to pallet trucks with other types of motor configurations, or to other types of battery-powered materials handling vehicles including, for example, forklift trucks, tuggers, etc.\n\nIn accordance with the present disclosure, an object of the invention can be seen in providing an improved materials handling vehicle as well as an improved removable battery assembly.\n\nAn aspect relates to a materials handling vehicle. The materials handling vehicle may comprise a materials handling mechanism and a drive mechanism. The materials handling vehicle may comprise a battery receiving space and a removable battery assembly.\n\nThe materials handling vehicle may be configured to move along an inventory transit surface and engage goods in a warehouse environment. The materials handling mechanism may be configured to engage goods in a warehouse environment and may cooperate with the drive mechanism, under power from the removable battery assembly, to move goods along an inventory transit surface in the warehouse environment. The removable battery assembly may comprise a battery body and a battery locking mechanism. The removable battery assembly and the battery receiving space may cooperate to define a battery insertion and removal axis.",
  "cpc": [
    "H01M 50/249",
    "B60L 50/64",
    "B60L 50/66",
    "B60L 53/16",
    "B60L 53/80",
    "B62B 3/0612",
    "B66F 9/07531",
    "B66F 9/07536",
    "H01M 50/244",
    "H01M 50/256"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B66F 9/075",
    "H01M 50/244",
    "H01M 50/249",
    "H01M 50/256"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Crown Equipment Corp"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Roland Müller",
    "Martin Ma",
    "Jack Yang",
    "Andy Chen",
    "Bruce Xia",
    "Luying Sun"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2022-02-16",
  "publication_date": "2024-05-28",
  "grant_date": "2024-05-28",
  "priority_date": "2021-10-22",
  "application_number": "US-202217673213-A",
  "family_id": "86055574",
  "cited_by_count": 6,
  "citations": [
    "US4756978A",
    "JP2629787B2",
    "US6004690A",
    "US20070052389A1",
    "JP5478853B2",
    "DE102007034747A1",
    "EP2018989B1",
    "US8347995B2",
    "US20120037437A1",
    "US8413947B2",
    "CN102358156A",
    "CN102358156B",
    "KR20130130921A",
    "EP2674389B1",
    "US9586605B2",
    "DE202014004558U1",
    "US20180366703A1",
    "US9718661B1",
    "CN205873810U",
    "US9908762B1",
    "US9966712B1",
    "EP3309001A1",
    "US20190322509A1",
    "CN208819918U",
    "US20200331733A1",
    "US10836620B2",
    "CN211255144U",
    "WO2021133919A1",
    "CN213738432U",
    "CN213242755U",
    "US20230129162A1",
    "US20230131492A1",
    "US20230129896A1",
    "US20230131139A1",
    "US20230129917A1",
    "US11673736B1"
  ]
}

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