Patent ID: 8795876

Claim:
A method of connecting a battery module to a vehicle comprising: aligning a first portion of the battery module and a second portion of the battery module such that a first locator on the first portion of the battery module is aligned with a corresponding second locator on the second portion of the battery module; moving the second portion of the battery module toward the first portion of the battery module; and applying pressure to the second portion of the battery module for securing the second portion of the battery module to the first portion of the battery module by: mating a first pair of high voltage electrical connectors with a second pair of high voltage electrical connectors, and mating a first general electrical connector with a second general electrical connector, wherein the applying pressure to the second portion of the battery module step further comprises: applying pressure until a first pair of fluid connectors mate with a second pair of fluid connectors; and activating a solenoid actuator operably connected to the second pair of fluid connectors for releasing a mechanical lock associated with the second pair of fluid connectors when pressure is applied to the second portion of the battery module for mating the first pair of fluid connectors with the second pair of fluid connectors; further comprising the step of connecting the solenoid actuator to an actuator link; movably-arranging the actuator link within an actuator guide for effecting translating movement of the actuator link to a pair of sliding sleeves arranged on the second pair of fluid connectors relative to a main body of the second pair of fluid connectors for executing the activating step; and releasing the mechanical lock.