MOBILE APPARATUS FOR HANDLING A TRACTION BATTERY OF AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE

A mobile apparatus for handling a traction battery (100) of an electric vehicle is provided. The mobile apparatus may have a crane (109) for moving the traction battery (100). The apparatus includes a structure (101) of a truck or a trailer. A system (102, 103, 105, 107) for handling and/or analyzing the traction battery (100) is arranged in the interior of the structure (101).

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority on German Patent Application No 10 2022 111 428.7 filed May 9, 2022, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a mobile apparatus for handling a traction battery of an electric vehicle.

Related Art

Traction batteries are high-voltage batteries that, in the event of a fault, are transported to special battery analysis centers with great effort.

US 2012010894 A1 discloses a service station with a capability of analyzing a battery of an electric vehicle with respect to functionality. However, the electric vehicle must be moved to the service station for analysis.

An object of the invention is to provide a mobile apparatus for handling a high-voltage battery.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An apparatus for handling a traction battery of the electric vehicle comprises a structure of a truck or a trailer, and a system for handling the traction battery is arranged in the interior of the structure.

A holding apparatus for the traction battery is arranged in the structure. Thus, the traction battery is securely stored in a structure for deactivation, analysis, and/or repair.

In some embodiments, a crane is arranged in or on the structure. More particularly, the structure comprises a side wall that is at least partially openable, and the crane is configured to load the traction battery into the structure through the at least partially opened side wall. Thus, the traction battery can be brought safely brought into the structure.

Some embodiments have a fire safety system arranged in the structure. The fire safety may be an extinguishing system, such as an extinguishing system that is configured to be connectable to a fire safety device outside the structure and/or a basin that is fillable or filled with water. The basin can be filled from the outside and unloaded or activated. A cooling circuit and a water filtration apparatus can be provided.

The holding apparatus and the basin may be arranged such that the traction battery can be unloaded from the holding apparatus into the basin. The crane and the basin may be arranged such that the traction battery is pivotable with the crane over the basin and can be unloaded into the basin.

Some embodiments have at least one support apparatus arranged on the structure and configured to statically secure the structure in case of a filled basin.

A terminal for a protective conductor may be arranged on the outside of the structure, and the terminal may be connected electrically to electrically conductive grounding points mounted on the inside of the structure.

The structure of some embodiments comprises a region secured against electrostatic discharges. This embodiment allows for safe work with electronics.

A discharge electric or discharge electronics for charging and/or discharging the traction battery or a cell module of the traction battery may be arranged in the interior of the structure. As a result, the traction battery can be charged or completely deactivated.

The structure of some embodiments comprises an air-conditioning system in a hermetically lockable region of the structure. The air-conditioning system is configured to generate and/or control defined temperature and humidity conditions, to generate and/or control a defined negative pressure against an ambient environment of structure, to generate and/or control a defined air flow to avoid the escape of pollutants with air filtration, and/or to produce defined ambient conditions for technical cleanliness when working in the structure.

The structure may comprise a personnel airlock.

The structure of some embodiments is air-tightly connectable to a trailer comprising containers for used metal or hazardous goods. As a result, portions of the traction battery can be safely removed after deactivation, disassembly and transformation into a defined state.

Some embodiments of the structure comprise a storage space for a temperature change chamber, a microscope, high-voltage safety equipment, an explosion-protected metal shredder, and/or a container or several containers for collecting liquids.

The structure may comprise externally mounted hooks or ears for attaching sun screens and/or privacy screens.

A communication device for video conferencing or data transfer may be in or communicate with the structure.

The structure of some embodiments comprises a region for high voltage. This region can be used to disable, analyze and/or repair the traction battery. More particularly, the structure may comprise a region for high voltage and low voltage and may be configured to analyze a cell module of the traction battery. This part of the structure may comprise a laboratory region that is configured to analyze a cell of the cell module. The structure also may comprise a region for analyzing an electrical component of the traction battery, the cell module, or the cell, and/or the structure may comprise a region configured as an office.

Further embodiments will emerge from the following description and the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG.1schematically shows a mobile apparatus for handling a traction battery100of an electric vehicle. The mobile apparatus will be described using the example of a structure101of a trailer for a truck. The mobile apparatus also can be a structure of a truck.

The structure101comprises a high-voltage and low-voltage region103configured to analyze a cell module104of the traction battery100.

The structure101also comprises a laboratory region105configured to analyze a cell106of the cell module104.

The structure101comprises a region107for analyzing an electrical component108of the traction battery100, the cell module104, or the cell106. In this example, the region107is configured to be secured against electrostatic discharge.

The structure101also has a region configured as an office107. A separate region for the office can be provided. A different division of the regions or a structure101without different regions can be provided. Thus, the structure101forms a system for handling the traction battery100.

A crane109is arranged in or on the structure101.

The structure101comprises a side wall110that is at least partially openable, and the crane109is configured to load the traction battery100into the structure101through the at least partially opened side wall110.

A holding apparatus for the traction battery100can be arranged in the structure101. The crane109can be the holding apparatus or can be configured to move the traction battery100towards the holding apparatus.

In one example, the structure101comprises a fire safety system. In the example, the structure101comprises a basin111in the structure101. The basin111is fillable with water, and is filled with water in the illustrated example.

The holding apparatus and the basin111can be arranged such that the traction battery100can be unloaded from the holding apparatus into the basin111.

The crane109and the basin111are arranged such that the traction battery100is pivotable with the crane109over the basin111and can be unloaded into the basin111.

The fire safety system can comprise an extinguishing system (not shown inFIG.1). For example, the extinguishing system is configured to be connectable to a fire safety device outside of the structure101.

In the illustrated example, at least one support apparatus112is arranged on the structure101and is configured to statically secure the structure101with a filled basin111. In the example, the support apparatus112comprises several lateral supports.

A terminal for a protective conductor, in particular a PE protective conductor, can be arranged on the outside of the structure101. The terminal can be connected in an electrically conductive manner to grounding points mounted on the inside of the structure101.

A discharge electric or discharge electronics for charging and/or discharging the traction battery100or a cell module104of the traction battery100is arranged in the interior of the structure101.

The structure101may comprise a hermetically lockable region. In the illustrated example, the interior of the structure101or the region107is the hermetically lockable region.

The structure101of some embodiments comprises an air-conditioning system113. For example, the air-conditioning system113is configured to generate and/or control defined temperature and humidity conditions in the hermetically lockable region of the structure101. The air-conditioning system113also may be configured to generate a defined negative pressure in the hermetically lockable region of the structure101in relation to an ambient environment of the structure101. In some embodiments, the air-conditioning system113is configured to generate a defined air flow in the hermetically lockable region of the structure101. In one example, the air-conditioning system113is configured to avoid a leakage of pollutants with air filtration. In one example, the air-conditioning system113is configured so as to produce defined ambient conditions for technical cleanliness when working in the structure101.

In one embodiment, the structure101comprises a personnel airlock (not shown inFIG.1).

In one example, the structure101is air-tightly connectable to a trailer114. The trailer114may comprise containers for used metal or hazardous goods. In the example, the trailer114comprises a container115for copper, a container116for aluminum, and a container117for solvent.

In one example, the structure101comprises a storage space for a temperature change chamber, a microscope, high-voltage safety equipment, an explosion-protected metal shredder, and/or a container or several containers for collecting liquids.

In some embodiments, the structure101comprises hooks or ears mounted externally on the structure101for attaching sun screens and/or privacy screens.

The structure101may further comprise a communication device for video conferencing or data transfer.