Patent Description:
The present disclosure relates broadly to electric machines and vehicles, and more specifically to electric machines and vehicles used in subsurface mines.

An overview of a sub-surface mine environment and general description of electric vehicles for mining is described in <CIT>, titled "System And Method For Providing Power To A Mining Operation. The present disclosure relates to heavy duty electric powered machines or vehicles that may operate in a continuous work environment such as a sub-surface mine. The battery packs employed in electric mining machines are heavy-duty, high powered battery packs which are comprised of multiple battery modules contained in a pack housing. Each module is comprised of multiple cells. The modules are equipped with an array of operational sensors and are provided with electronic components to provide data from the sensors to a separate maintenance network. Sensors can include temperature sensors, timing devices, charge level detection devices, and other monitoring devices which can be employed to provide an operations center with accurate, real-time data regarding the performance of the module and its performance history. Details of exemplary battery packs and battery management systems and the associated data generation and monitoring can be found in commonly owned <CIT>, titled "Module Backbone System;" and <CIT>, titled "Module Maintenance System.

Co-pending and commonly owned <CIT>, titled "Electrically Powered Mining Vehicle;" <CIT>, titled "Electric Haul Truck;" <CIT>, titled "Mounting and Dismounting System for a Replaceable power source;" <CIT>, titled "Method and System for Mounting and Dismounting Batteries in a Vehicle;" and <CIT>, titled "Alignment and Locking Mechanism for Removable Replaceable power source" contain descriptions of electric mining machines, the batteries, and the sub-surface mining environment.

<CIT> discloses a vehicle comprising an onboard mounting and dismounting system for raising and lowering a replaceable power source for powering the vehicle.

In one aspect, a mounting and dismounting system for a replaceable power source is attached to a chassis of a vehicle and includes a rack member. The rack member includes a lifting portion configured to engage the replaceable power source. The system also includes an actuator for lifting the rack member. The rack member has a lowest position and a highest position. The rack member moves along a linear direction between the lowest position and the highest position.

In another aspect, a system for swapping replaceable power sources includes a mounting and dismounting system. The mounting and dismounting system includes a rack member with a lifting portion and an actuator for lifting the rack member. The system for swapping replaceable power sources also includes a replaceable power source further comprising an outer casing with a shaft. The lifting portion is configured to engage the shaft and the actuator moves the rack member in a linear direction between a lowest position and a highest position.

In another aspect, a vehicle includes a replaceable power source for powering the vehicle, the replaceable power source including an outer casing with a shaft, an onboard mounting and dismounting system for raising and lowering the replaceable power source and a mounting and dismounting system. The mounting and dismounting system further includes a rack member with a lifting portion and an actuator for lifting the rack member along a linear direction between a lowest position and a highest position. The lifting portion engages the shaft to raise and lower the replaceable power source.

Electric mining machines are generally powered by onboard battery packs. The machines can be load-haul-dump (LHD) machines, scalers, graders, scoops, rock breakers, cutters, haulers or a combination. In general, electric mining machines are heavy duty vehicles engineered for the challenging subsurface environments and limited spaces powered by an onboard battery or other power source. The machines generally include a tool end, heavy-duty wheels and tires, an operator area, controls, and may include a removable power source mounted onboard the machine.

This disclosure is directed to a mounting and dismounting system for a replaceable power source, such as a replaceable battery assembly. Using a replaceable power source allows a vehicle to swap energy sources quickly, rather than waiting for the power source to recharge. This saves time and improves operating efficiency, especially in underground mining operations. Power sources for electric vehicles, such as batteries, may be very heavy and cannot be mounted or dismounted by a human operator. The exemplary system includes features that allow a replaceable power source to be automatically mounted and dismounted from a vehicle, without the need for a separate off-board lifting and lowering system. The system uses a lift rack assembly to raise and lower a replaceable power source (such as a battery assembly) in the vertical direction. By moving the replaceable power source only along the vertical direction, the system may help reduce the tendency of the replaceable power source to swing or tilt during mounting or dismounting. Lifting and lowering in only the vertical direction may also eliminate collisions between the replaceable power source and the vehicle in the horizontal direction that could occur in some battery lift systems that swing a battery up and towards the vehicle simultaneously. The system also includes hook shaped lifting portions and hook shaped retaining members that are oriented in opposite directions. The lifting portions receive graspable elements (e.g., bars) on the replaceable power source and lift the replaceable power source until the graspable elements are engaged by the retaining members from above. Because the exemplary system described below and shown in the figures does not require manually aligning a replaceable power source with a vehicle prior to mounting, this system facilitates the transition to fully autonomous mining vehicles.

<FIG> is a schematic view of an electrically powered mining vehicle <NUM>. In this exemplary embodiment, vehicle <NUM> may be a load haul dump (LHD) mining vehicle. However, in other examples, the provisions described below could be incorporated into various other kind of electric vehicles.

Vehicle <NUM> may include standard provisions for a mining vehicle, such as wheels <NUM> and scoop <NUM>. Vehicle <NUM> may also include provisions for powering wheels <NUM> and scoop <NUM>. Vehicle <NUM> is also provided with various standard vehicular mechanisms and capacities, such as passenger cab <NUM> for receiving one or more operators.

For purposes of reference, vehicle <NUM> may be identified with three different axes. These include a lengthwise axis <NUM> extending through a lengthwise dimension of vehicle <NUM>, a widthwise axis <NUM> extending through a widthwise dimension of vehicle <NUM>, and a vertical axis <NUM> extending through a dimension associated with the height of vehicle <NUM>. The widthwise axis <NUM> may extend between opposing side surfaces of vehicle <NUM>, while vertical axis <NUM> extends between an opposing bottom surface and top surface of vehicle <NUM>.

Examples can incorporate a replaceable power source that powers one or more electric motors of vehicle <NUM>. As used herein, the term "replaceable power source" refers to any kind of power source that can be interchanged. In one embodiment, a replaceable power source comprises a battery pack assembly. A battery pack assembly comprises two or more battery packs. As used herein, the term "battery pack" generally refers to multiple battery modules in a heavy-duty pack housing. Each module is comprised of multiple battery cells. In this way, a battery pack also refers to a collection of individual battery cells. The battery cells, and therefore modules, are functionally interconnected together. In some examples, a battery pack assembly may also include a casing or housing (such as a cage) or similar container for holding the separate battery packs together. More broadly, a replaceable power source may comprise a casing or housing for retaining and supporting a powering system, such as a battery, engine or other power source.

In different examples, a battery pack could incorporate any suitable kind of battery cell. Examples of battery cells include capacitors, ultra-capacitors, and electrochemical cells. Examples of electrochemical cells include primary (e.g., single use) and secondary (e.g., rechargeable). Examples of secondary electrochemical cells include lead-acid, valve regulated lead-acid (VRLA), gel, absorbed glass mat (AGM), nickel-cadmium (NiCd), nickel-zinc (NiZn), nickel metal hydride (NiMH), lithium-ion (Li-ion), and the like. A battery cell may have various voltage levels. In particular, in some cases two different battery cells in a battery pack could have different voltage levels. Similarly, the battery cell may have various energy capacity levels. In particular, in some cases, two different battery cells in a battery pack could have different capacity levels.

As seen in <FIG>, vehicle <NUM> is configured with a replaceable power source <NUM>. Scoop <NUM> may be disposed at a first end <NUM> of vehicle <NUM> while replaceable power source <NUM> may be disposed at a second end <NUM>. In other embodiments, replaceable power source <NUM> could be attached to a different portion of vehicle <NUM>.

In the example shown in <FIG>, replaceable power source <NUM> includes two battery packs. These include a first battery pack <NUM> and a second battery pack <NUM>. First battery pack <NUM> and second battery pack <NUM> may be disposed in a side-by-side arrangement. Moreover, first battery pack <NUM> and second battery pack <NUM> are retained within a battery cage <NUM>.

Replaceable power source <NUM> may be removably attached to vehicle <NUM>. As used herein, the term "removably attached" refers to two components that are joined together but that can be separated without destroying one or the other component. That is, the components can be non-destructively detached from one another. Exemplary modalities of "removable attachment" include connections made using removeable fasteners, latches, locks, hooks, magnetic connections as well as other kinds of connections.

<FIG> is a schematic view of vehicle <NUM> with replaceable power source <NUM> removed. In order to facilitate interchanging replaceable power sources, vehicle <NUM> includes a mounting and dismounting system <NUM>, also referred to simply as system <NUM>. Mounting and dismounting system <NUM> is attached to vehicle chassis <NUM> (or frame) of vehicle <NUM>. In other words, system <NUM> is integrated into vehicle <NUM>.

As seen in <FIG>, replaceable power source <NUM> includes an upper shaft <NUM> and a lower shaft <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, each of these shafts may comprise a bar or tube that extends horizontally across one side of battery cage <NUM>. System <NUM> may include features to engage these shafts and use them to lift and retain replaceable power source <NUM> in place against vehicle <NUM>.

<FIG> depicts an enlarged view of mounting and dismounting system <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, system <NUM> comprises a lift rack assembly <NUM> and a plurality of retaining members <NUM>. For purposes of illustration, the pieces of lift rack assembly <NUM> are depicted with shading in <FIG>, to distinguish the lift rack assembly from the plurality of retaining members. Lift rack assembly <NUM> includes a pair of rack members. Specifically, a first rack member <NUM> and a second rack member <NUM>. Each rack member is further comprised of two lifting portions. First rack member <NUM> includes a first upper lifting portion <NUM> and a first lower lifting portion <NUM>. Second rack member also includes a second upper lifting portion <NUM> and a second lower lifting portion <NUM>.

The rack members are arranged to provide four points of contact with the replaceable power source. The rack members may be spaced in a horizontal direction (for example, along the widthwise axis <NUM> of vehicle <NUM> shown in <FIG>). Also, the lifting portions on each rack member may be set at different vertical heights (for example, with respect to the vertical axis <NUM> of vehicle <NUM> shown in <FIG>). With this arrangement, first upper lifting portion <NUM> and second upper lifting portion <NUM> are configured to engage and lift upper shaft <NUM> of replaceable power source <NUM>. Likewise, first lower lifting portion <NUM> and second lower lifting portion <NUM> are configured to engage and lift lower shaft <NUM> of replaceable power source <NUM>.

Each lifting portion is shaped and designed to hold part of a shaft as the rack members are raised and lowered. To this end, each lifting portion may be shaped like a hook. As an example, referring to <FIG>, first upper lifting portion <NUM> has a curved geometry with a concave engaging surface <NUM>. As upper lifting portion <NUM> engages a shaft (e.g., a bar), the shaft will slide down into the U-shaped opening formed by concave engaging surface <NUM>. This prevents the shaft from disengaging with, or falling off of, lift rack assembly <NUM>. Each of the remaining lifting portions may be seen to have a similar hook-like shape that helps cradle the shafts as they are engaged and lifted. Additionally, this concave shape helps guide the shafts (and the replaceable power source) towards the vehicle chassis <NUM> as the concave surfaces are sloped down towards the vehicle.

The rack members of lift rack assembly <NUM> may be actuated by one or more hydraulic cylinders that act to raise and lower the rack members. In the views of <FIG>, the hydraulic cylinders are hidden by the frame and/or chassis of vehicle <NUM>. However, the schematic side views of <FIG> depict a hydraulic cylinder <NUM> that can be used to raise and lower first rack member <NUM>. In some cases, each rack member is driven by a separate hydraulic cylinder. The motions of the hydraulic cylinders may be coordinated so that first rack member <NUM> and second rack member <NUM> are raised and lowered together. In some cases, the first rack member <NUM> and second rack member <NUM> could be connected by another component (not shown), allowing both rack members to be driven by a single hydraulic cylinder.

A plurality of retaining members <NUM> may be used to hold the replaceable power source in place once it has been mounted to vehicle <NUM>. As seen in <FIG>, retaining members <NUM> may be attached (directly or indirectly) to chassis <NUM>. In the exemplary embodiment, plurality of retaining members <NUM> comprises eight retaining members. These include a first upper retaining member <NUM>, a second upper retaining member <NUM>, a third upper retaining member <NUM>, a fourth upper retaining member <NUM>, a first lower retaining member <NUM>, a second lower retaining member <NUM>, a third lower retaining member <NUM> and a fourth lower retaining member <NUM>.

In contrast to the lifting portions, which are raised and lowered, the retaining members are fixed in place on vehicle <NUM>. Moreover, the retaining members are positioned to help lock the shafts of the replaceable power source in place once the rack members have been raised to their highest vertical positions. Specifically, first upper retaining member <NUM>, second upper retaining member <NUM>, third upper retaining member <NUM>, and fourth upper retaining member <NUM> have a common vertical position that is close to the highest vertical position of first upper lifting portion <NUM> and second upper lifting portion <NUM>. Likewise, first lower retaining member <NUM>, second lower retaining member <NUM>, third lower retaining member <NUM> and fourth lower retaining member <NUM> have a common vertical position that is close to the highest vertical position of first lower lifting portion <NUM> and second lower lifting portion <NUM>.

Retaining members <NUM> may have a geometry that helps secure the shafts of a replaceable power source in place. To this end, each retaining member may have a hook-like shape. As an example, referring to <FIG>, first upper retaining member <NUM> has a curved geometry with a concave engaging surface <NUM>. Moreover, concave engaging surface <NUM> is oriented downwardly. This inverted orientation, compared to the upward orientation of the lifting portions (for example, first upper lifting portion <NUM>), ensures that the shafts slide up into the U-shaped opening formed by concave engaging surface <NUM>.

The concave geometries of the lifting portions and retaining members cooperate to completely circumscribe the retaining members when the rack members are lifted to their highest positions. This arrangement can be best seen in the schematic view of <FIG>, which depicts replaceable power source <NUM> in a fully mounted position on vehicle <NUM>. As seen in <FIG>, upper shaft <NUM> is prevented from moving substantially in any radial (or non-axial) direction by first upper retaining member <NUM> and first upper lifting portion <NUM>. Similarly, lower shaft <NUM> is prevented from moving substantially in any radial direction by first lower retaining member <NUM> and first lower lifting portion <NUM>.

Each of the remaining retaining members may be seen to have a similar inverted hook-like geometry that helps secure the shafts in place when the replaceable power source has been raised to a highest position. Although the embodiments use a total of eight retaining members, including four retaining members associated with an upper shaft and four retaining members associated with a lower shaft, other embodiments could use a different number of retaining members. Some embodiments, for example, could use only two upper retaining members and two lower retaining members.

As seen in <FIG>, system <NUM> can include a locking system <NUM> to secure the lift rack in place and prevent the replaceable power source from being unintentionally lowered while mounted. Locking system <NUM> includes first hydraulic cylinder <NUM> and second hydraulic cylinder <NUM>, as well as a first locking bracket <NUM> and a second locking bracket <NUM>. Each hydraulic cylinder can be actuated to extend a locking pin. The locking pin may be inserted through holes in the retaining brackets as well as a hole at the top of each rack member, as described in further detail below.

System <NUM> can include one or more horizontal alignment features. In some embodiments, a vehicle can include one or more receiving members that are configured to engage portions of a battery cage during the mounting process. As best seen in <FIG>, system <NUM> may include a first horizontal receiving member <NUM> and a second horizontal receiving member <NUM>. A top down view of these receiving members is provided in <FIG>. Each horizontal receiving member comprises a tapering notch that may be engaged by a vertically oriented element (for example, a bar or tube) on battery cage <NUM>. These features are discussed in further detail below with respect to <FIG>.

<FIG> are schematic views showing how a mounting and dismounting system can be used to mount a replaceable power source on a vehicle. Specifically, <FIG> depict how first rack member <NUM> (or simply, rack member <NUM>) engages, lifts, and mounts replaceable power source <NUM> onto vehicle chassis <NUM> of vehicle <NUM>. Second rack member <NUM> is not visible in the side views of <FIG>, however it may be appreciated that second rack member <NUM> operates in an identical manner to first rack member <NUM>. As indicated schematically in <FIG>, the raising and lowering of first rack member <NUM> can be accomplished using a hydraulic cylinder <NUM>.

Referring first to <FIG>, vehicle <NUM> may approach replaceable power source <NUM> in order to mount replaceable power source <NUM>. Replaceable power source <NUM> may be disposed on a ground surface <NUM>. To engage replaceable power source <NUM>, first rack member <NUM> and second rack member <NUM> (not shown) are disposed at a lowest position <NUM>. With the rack members at their lowest position, the lifting portions of each rack member are able to pass underneath the shafts of battery cage <NUM>. As seen in <FIG>, when vehicle <NUM> is disposed directly adjacent to replaceable power source <NUM>, first upper lifting portion <NUM> of first rack member <NUM> may be disposed below upper shaft <NUM>. Also, first lower lifting portion <NUM> of first rack member <NUM> may be disposed below lower shaft <NUM>.

At this point, the rack members may be raised, as depicted schematically in <FIG>. Specifically, hydraulic cylinder <NUM> extends to raise first rack member <NUM>. As first rack member <NUM> is raised, first upper lifting portion <NUM> and first lower lifting portion <NUM> engage upper shaft <NUM> and lower shaft <NUM>, respectively. Once engaged, first upper lifting portion <NUM> and first lower lifting portion <NUM> act to lift replaceable power source <NUM> from ground <NUM>. Although not shown in <FIG>, the lifting portions of second rack member <NUM> may simultaneously engage and lift the upper and lower shafts as well, so that there are four points of contact between the lift rack assembly <NUM> (see <FIG>) and replaceable power source <NUM>.

First rack member <NUM> continues to be raised up by hydraulic cylinder <NUM> until first rack member <NUM> (and second rack member <NUM>) reaches its highest position <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. Moreover, as first rack member <NUM> reaches this highest position, the shafts are raised into the concave openings of the retaining members. For example, upper shaft <NUM> is disposed through the concave opening of first upper retaining member <NUM>. Also, lower shaft <NUM> is disposed through the concave opening of first lower retaining member <NUM>.

As seen in <FIG>, the shafts are secured between the lifting portions (from below) and the retaining members (from above). The geometries of the lifting portions and retaining members form overlapping arcs that prevent the shafts from moving substantially in any radial direction (that is, any direction perpendicular to the axis of the tube-like shafts).

Once the rack members are in their highest (i.e., mounted) positions, the locking system can be used to keep the rack members from unintentionally sliding down. For clarity, a schematic front view of elements of the locking system and portions of each rack member are shown in <FIG>. Specifically, when first rack member <NUM> and second rack member <NUM> are not in their highest positions, the first locking pin <NUM> of first hydraulic cylinder <NUM> and second locking pin <NUM> of second hydraulic cylinder <NUM> are retracted, as shown in <FIG>. When the rack members are raised to their highest positions, as seen in <FIG>, the locking pins are extended through the brackets and the rack members. Specifically, first locking pin <NUM> extends through opposing holes of first locking bracket <NUM> as well as a locking hole <NUM> (indicated in phantom) of first rack member <NUM>. Also, second locking pin <NUM> extends through opposing holes of second locking bracket <NUM> as well as a locking hole <NUM> (indicated in phantom) of second rack member <NUM>. With the locking pins inserted through the locking holes of each rack member, the lift rack assembly is prevented from lowering.

It may be appreciated that a similar process to the one shown in <FIG> can be used to dismount a replaceable power source. Specifically, the locking system can be disengaged (i.e., locking pins retracted). Then, the lift rack assembly can be lowered, which decouples the shafts from the retaining members. As the lift rack assembly is lowered further, the replaceable power source contacts the ground and the lifting portions are able to decouple from the shafts as they move lower. Finally, the vehicle can move away from the replaceable power source with the lifting portions low enough so that they do not engage the shafts.

As seen in <FIG>, each rack member moves substantially along a linear direction. In this case, the linear direction is a vertical direction that extends in parallel with vertical axis <NUM> of vehicle <NUM>. By constraining the motion of the replaceable power source to a substantially linear (e.g., vertical) path, the mounting and dismounting system of the embodiments helps reduce the tendency of the replaceable power source to swing or tilt during lifting. Moreover, because the replaceable power source is only moved in a vertical direction, the retaining members can be fixed in their positions and not moved into place after the shafts have been raised to a highest position. This allows the retaining members to be integrated into the chassis or other supporting structures of the vehicle without using fasteners that could fail under heavy loads.

In a mining environment the ground surface may not be level. This means that as a vehicle attempts to mount or dismount a battery assembly, the patch of ground where the battery is raised from (or lowered to) may be slightly higher or lower relative to the patch of ground where the vehicle's wheels are located. Some embodiments of a vehicle can include provisions to ensure batteries can be mounted or dismounted on unlevel ground.

The mounting and dismounting system described above and shown in <FIG> enables a replaceable power source to be mounted even when the replaceable power source is not situated on a perfectly flat surface at the same level as the wheels of the vehicle. For example, as seen in <FIG>, in its lowest position, the lift rack assembly <NUM> can engage a replaceable power source <NUM> that is disposed a distance <NUM> below ground level <NUM>. In some embodiments, distance <NUM> may have an approximate value of <NUM> inches. As also seen in <FIG>, in its highest position, the lift rack assembly <NUM> can engage a replaceable power source <NUM> that is disposed a distance <NUM> above ground level <NUM>. In some embodiments, distance <NUM> may have an approximate value of <NUM> inches. This tolerance in the vertical displacement of a replaceable power source allows vehicle <NUM> to mount replaceable power sources on the uneven surfaces that often occur in underground mining tunnels.

As seen in <FIG>, the mounting and dismounting system also enables a replaceable power source to be mounted even when the replaceable power source is not level with the ground or another horizontal surface. For example, with the lift rack assembly <NUM> in an intermediate position, the lifting portions can engage the shafts of a replaceable power source <NUM> that is angled downwards from a level surface <NUM> by an angular displacement <NUM>. Specifically, upper shaft <NUM> is engaged by upper lifting portion <NUM> while lower shaft <NUM> is engaged by lower lifting portion <NUM>. In some embodiments, angular displacement <NUM> can have an approximate value of <NUM> degrees. Also, as seen in <FIG>, the lifting portions can engage the shafts of a replaceable power source <NUM> that is angled upwards from a level surface <NUM> by an angular displacement <NUM>. In some embodiments, angular displacement <NUM> can have an approximate value of <NUM> degrees. This tolerance in the angular orientation of a replaceable power source allows vehicle <NUM> to mount replaceable power sources on sloped ground surfaces that may occur in mining tunnels.

As described above, vehicle <NUM> may include provisions to facilitate horizontal alignment of a replaceable power source. <FIG> depicts a top-down schematic view of a portion of vehicle <NUM>, including first horizontal receiving member <NUM> and second horizontal receiving member <NUM>. These receiving members facilitate horizontal alignment by catching vertically disposed elements (such as bars or struts) on a replaceable power source and guiding these elements towards a central region as the vehicle makes contact with the replaceable power source. In this exemplary embodiment, replaceable power source <NUM> can be displaced by a distance <NUM> in the horizontal direction and still have a first vertical shaft <NUM> engage first horizontal receiving member <NUM> and a second vertical shaft <NUM> engage second horizontal receiving member <NUM>. In some embodiments, distance <NUM> could have a value of approximately <NUM> inches. This arrangement allows for some tolerance in the horizontal alignment between vehicle <NUM> and replaceable power source <NUM> as a vehicle is approaching the replaceable power source <NUM>.

While this disclosure mainly describes an onboard, removable battery, it will be understood that variations on the energy sources are possible within the scope of this concept. That is the interchangeable energy device may be a battery, a different type of battery, a generator, a fuel engine, or an adaptor for any existing energy infrastructure. It will also be understood that the system may be employed with any combination of devices, such as batteries, adapters and the like. It will also be understood that the energy source is compatible with and in communication with the drive system and drive controller. The energy source, whether battery or trolley adapter, or another type of source would be compatible with the drive system and controller.

In general, as used herein, "electric vehicle" refers to a vehicle that uses electrical power for propulsion purposes, at least in one mode of operation. Thus, electric vehicles include all-electric vehicles (e.g., a vehicle with a traction motor and only an onboard electrical energy storage device or mechanism for receiving electric energy from an off-board source, such as an overhead catenary or powered rail), hybrid-electric vehicles (e.g., a vehicle with a traction motor, an energy storage device, hydraulic propulsion, and a fuel engine, fuel cell, or the like for charging the energy storage device and/or directly generating power for running the traction motor), dual-mode vehicles (e.g., a vehicle with an engine-only mode of operation and an electricity-only mode of operation, or a vehicle with a first mode of operation where traction electricity is provided by an engine and a second mode of operation where traction electricity is provided by another source), diesel-electric and other engine-electric vehicles (e.g., a vehicle with an engine that generates electrical power for running a traction motor), and combinations and variants thereof. Electric vehicles may have one traction motor, or plural traction motors; "traction motor" refers to a motor of sufficient size and capacity to move a vehicle of sufficient size for the designated operation.

Also, the vehicle interface equipment of the wayside stations may comprise: "plug in" modules, e.g., the vehicle plugs into a receptacle of the wayside station, for receiving electrical power from the station; a continuous power interface by which a vehicle can receive off-board power while moving, such as the aforementioned catenary line or third rail; or the like.

Claim 1:
A vehicle (<NUM>), the vehicle (<NUM>) comprising a chassis, a replaceable power source (<NUM>), and an onboard mounting and dismounting system (<NUM>) for raising and lowering the replaceable power source (<NUM>) for powering the vehicle (<NUM>), the replaceable power source (<NUM>) including an outer casing (<NUM>) with a horizontal shaft (<NUM>, <NUM>), the mounting and dismounting system comprising:
a rack member (<NUM>, <NUM>) configured to move along a linear vertical direction between a lowest position and a highest position, the rack member (<NUM>, <NUM>) including a lifting portion (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) configured to engage the horizontal shaft (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the replaceable power source (<NUM>) to raise and lower the replaceable power source (<NUM>);
an actuator (<NUM>) configured to move the rack member (<NUM>, <NUM>) along the linear vertical direction between the lowest position and the highest position; and
a retaining member (<NUM>) attached to the chassis and configured to engage the horizontal shaft (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the replaceable power source (<NUM>) when the rack member (<NUM>, <NUM>) is in the highest position;
wherein the rack member (<NUM>, <NUM>) is configured to move in a vertical direction relative to the retaining member (<NUM>).