JP2000082456A - Removable battery for vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a detachable battery for a vehicle capable of providing a spare fuse, while avoiding a battery case from becoming large. SOLUTION: A battery 38 has a number of recharge type cells stored in a right-and-left two-piece type battery case 38a. A handle 38b is integrally formed at the upper side of the battery case 38a. Outside connection terminals 38b-38g connected to a power supply circuit and to be connected directly to the connection terminal of a battery charger, not via a connector, are formed at one side face of a lower part 38i of the battery case 38a. A slope 38h formed at the bottom wall corner of the battery 38 makes slidingly into contact with the slope of a locking piece to cause the locking piece to move backward, when the battery 38 is inserted in a battery mount. In the battery case 38a of the battery 38, a fuse 39 is arranged which is laid in the power supply circuit for preventing the flow of abnormal currents.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a detachable battery for a vehicle in which an external connection terminal connected to a charger or a power supply circuit is covered with a protective cover.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A rechargeable detachable battery (secondary battery) is used as a driving power source in electric wheelchairs, electric bicycles, electric tools and the like. Some types of batteries have an external connection terminal provided to be exposed to the outside from the battery case. The external connection terminal is connected to a power supply circuit when the battery is used, and the battery of the charger is used for charging. Connected to connection terminal. This type of battery is generally provided with a fuse for preventing an abnormal current from flowing to the power supply circuit, and it is necessary to provide a spare fuse in case the fuse is blown. In a conventional battery, a battery case in which a spare fuse accommodating portion is formed is generally used.

[0003]

Recently, it has been considered to provide a control circuit board for managing the charge / discharge state of the battery and a display unit for displaying the charge / discharge state of the battery in the battery case. Have been. However, when such a substrate or a display section is provided, and further, a storage section for the spare fuse is formed, there is a concern that the battery case will be enlarged.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a detachable battery for a vehicle that can be provided with a spare fuse while avoiding an increase in the size of a battery case.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a removable battery for a vehicle in which an external connection terminal portion of a battery case is covered with a protective cover when the battery is not used. It is characterized in that a fuse holding portion to be attached is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the battery case includes a lock mechanism component for locking the battery case to the vehicle when the battery case is used, and a lock release mechanism component for releasing the lock. Forming, on the protection case, a locking projection that can be locked in a locking recess forming the locking mechanism of the battery case, and forming the fuse holding portion outside the locking projection; The lock release mechanism has a function of releasing the locking of the locking projection to the locking recess.

[0007]

According to the detachable battery according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the spare fuse holding portion is provided on the protective cover for covering the external connection terminal portion when the battery is not used, the size of the battery case is increased. A spare fuse can be held without the need.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the protection case is provided with a lockable protrusion in the lockable recess of the battery case, and a lock release mechanism for releasing the lock of the battery to the vehicle side. The battery case is unlocked, so the protective case can be securely attached to the battery case so that it does not fall off easily, and the protective case is unlocked using the battery unlocking mechanism. Yes, without complicating the structure.

Further, since the fuse holding portion is provided outside the locking convex portion which can be locked in the locking concave portion, the fuse holding portion has a dead space when the battery is not used due to the arrangement of the locking concave portion and the lock release mechanism. , Spare fuses can be held by utilizing the dead space, and even when viewed in the state where the protective case is attached, an increase in size can be avoided.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIGS. 1 to 9 are views for explaining a detachable battery according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are side views of an auxiliary powered wheelchair equipped with the detachable battery. Plan view, rear view, Figure 4,
FIG. 5 is a front view, side view, and FIG.
7 is an enlarged sectional view showing a battery locked state and a protection case unlocked state, FIG. 7 is a sectional side view showing a spare fuse attaching / detaching state, FIG. 8 is a plan view of a charger, and FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a charged state. .

In the drawing, reference numeral 1 denotes a wheelchair with auxiliary power, on which a battery according to the present embodiment is mounted. The wheelchair 1 has wheels 2 as driving wheels detachably mounted on the left and right sides of a vehicle body. A seat 5 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) on which an occupant is to be seated is provided at a central portion, and a pair of left and right handle arms 3b is provided upright at a rear portion. The grip 7 is attached. In FIG. 3, 6
Is a backrest for supporting the back of the occupant seated on the seat 5, and a battery housing 6 a is formed on the back of the backrest 6. The battery housing section 6a is for housing a spare battery 38 when a long distance and a long running time are expected.

The wheel 2 has a drive unit 20 for outputting a driving force corresponding to the input torque applied to the hand rim 13 by the user from the motor 31 to the wheel 2. The battery mounting portion 41 on the right wheel 2 side is provided with a battery insertion hole 41a into which a lower portion 38i of the battery 38 serving as a power source of the driving portion 20 is inserted. A locking piece 41c is disposed in a slide hole 41b formed in the middle of the battery insertion hole 41a so as to be able to protrude and retract, and is urged in a projecting direction by an urging spring 41d.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the battery 38 has a large number of rechargeable cells (not shown) housed in a left and right split battery case 38a. A handle 38b is formed integrally with the upper portion of the handle 38a. The lower part 38i of the battery case 38a
On one side surface, external connection terminals 38d to 38g are formed, which are connected to a power supply circuit and are directly connected to connection terminals of a charger described later without using a connector.
Reference numeral 38h denotes an inclined surface formed at the bottom wall corner of the battery 38. The inclined surface 38h slides on the inclined surface 41e of the locking piece 41c when the battery 38 is inserted into the battery mounting portion 41. Then, the locking piece 41c is retracted.

The battery case 3 of the battery 38
Inside the power supply circuit 8a, a fuse 39 for preventing an abnormal current from flowing is provided. The fuse 39 has a shape in which two rod-shaped terminals 39b, 39b protrude from a substantially rectangular flat plate-shaped body portion 39a, and an insertion hole of a concave portion 38k formed in the upper right corner of the battery case 38a. Is connected in the middle of the power supply circuit. A rubber fuse cap 40 is fitted into the recess 38k, thereby preventing rainwater or the like from entering the fuse 39.

On the right side of FIG. 4 of the lower portion 38i of the battery 38, a locking concave portion 38m constituting a lock mechanism for locking the battery 38 to the vehicle is formed. FIG.
As shown in (a), the lower part 38i of the battery 38 is inserted into the battery insertion hole 41a of the battery mounting part 41 of the wheelchair 1.
First, the inclined surface 38h of the battery 38 slides into contact with the inclined surface 41e of the locking piece 41c to retreat the locking piece 41c, and when the battery 38 is further inserted, the locking piece 41c is inserted into the locking recess 38m. Projecting and engaging with the lower edge of the recess 38m,
Thereby, the battery 38 is locked by the battery mounting portion 41.

The locking recess 3 of the battery 38
The lock release mechanism 42 is provided at the upper part on the 8 m side. In the lock release mechanism 42, a release rod 43a fixed to the release button 43 is disposed so as to be vertically movable and opposed to the locking piece 41c, and the release button 43 is biased upward by a biasing spring 44. Of structure. In addition,
The release rod 43a passes through a protruding ridge 38n swelled on the side surface of the battery case 38a.
1c. Battery case 3
8a when detached outward, the ridge 38
A dead space is formed below n.

The battery 38 is connected to the battery mounting portion 41.
To remove the release rod 43, the release button 43 is pushed in to release the release rod 43a downward. Then, the rod 43a presses the inclined surface 41e of the locking piece 41c to retreat the locking piece 41c, and the locking piece 41c and the locking recess 38
The battery 38 is released from the engagement with the battery m.

The battery 38 is connected to the charger 2 shown in FIG.
00 is charged. The charger 200 has a structure in which a charger main body (not shown) including a controller and the like is housed and arranged in a charger case 201 including an upper case 201a and a lower case (not shown). A power cord 203 is connected to the lower case. The upper case 201a has a switch 204 for performing refresh discharge, an indicator lamp 205 for indicating that charging is in progress, and a refresh lamp 20 for indicating that refresh discharge is required.
6 are provided.

The charger case 201 of the charger 200 has a battery connection recess 200a into which the battery 38 is inserted and connected at the time of charging. The battery connection recess 200a is deviated to the left of the charger case 201, and has a shape and a depth into which the lower portion 38i of the battery 38 is fitted and inserted. The battery 3 is provided on the inner peripheral wall 200b of the battery connection recess 200a.
Connection terminal 2 joined to external connection terminals 38d to 38g of No. 8
08 to 211 are provided. Reference numeral 212 denotes a guide protrusion fitted into the guide groove 38j of the battery 38.

An opening 200c is cut out in the left portion of the bottom wall of the battery connection recess 200a, and the left portion of the peripheral side wall of the battery connection recess 200a is
The handle 200d is held by hand when carrying 00. The handle 200d has a paragraph 2 at the top and bottom.
By forming 00e, the rod shape is easy to grasp.

When the battery 38 is removed from the vehicle and not in use and is not being charged, that is, when the external connection terminals 38d to 38g are exposed, these external connection terminals are deformed by external force. A protective cover 45 is provided to prevent corrosion or the like due to rainwater or the like. The protective cover 45 has a box shape with an open top, and is fitted to the front, rear, left, and right sides of the lower portion 38i of the battery 38 with a predetermined interference, and is locked in the guide groove 38j. It has a locking rib 45a and further has a locking projection 45b protruding into the locking recess 38m. Thus, the protective cover 45 can easily fall off from the lower portion 38i of the battery 38. Not to be.

Further, the locking projection 4 of the protective cover 45 is provided.
On the outer side of 5b, a fuse holding portion 45c is formed so as to bulge so as to form a substantially outwardly convex step which is substantially square in side view. The fuse holder 45c is provided in the battery case 38a in plan view.
Are located so as to be hidden below the ridges 38n. A spare fuse 39 'is provided in the fuse holding portion 45c.
A holding hole 45d into which the terminal 39b is fitted and inserted is formed through.

The upper end of the fuse holding portion 45c is formed with an inclined surface 45h whose inside becomes lower, and a stopper 45e is provided on the lower side. The stopper 45
The body portion 39a of the spare fuse 39 'is locked to the e, thereby preventing the spare fuse 39' from dropping off. Further, slits 45f are formed on the left and right sides of the fuse holding portion 45c. By providing the slits, the fuse holding portion 45c of the protective cover 45 can be elastically deformed outward or inward. Has become. Reference numeral 45g denotes four legs projecting from the bottom outer surface of the protective cover 45 for stabilizing the battery when the protective cover is attached.

Next, the operation and effect of this embodiment will be described.
In the auxiliary powered wheelchair 1 of the present embodiment, the battery 3
Power is supplied from 8 to the drive motor 31, and auxiliary power corresponding to human power applied to the hand rim 13 by the user is supplied to the wheels 2 from the drive motor 31.

When the battery 38 is charged by the charging device 200, the battery 38 is removed from the wheelchair 1 and the lower portion 38i of the battery 38 is inserted into the battery connection recess 200a of the charger 200 as shown in FIG. The projections on the bottom face are brought into contact with the bottom faces of the connection recesses 200a. Then, the external connection terminal 38 of the battery 38
d to 38 g and connection terminals 208 to 21 of the charger 200
1 are joined to start charging. When the battery management device on the battery 38 side determines that refresh discharge is necessary when the battery 38 is connected, the refresh lamp 20b flashes, and the refresh discharge is started when the user presses the refresh button 204. After that, charging is performed. In this case, charging is started even if a predetermined time has elapsed without the refresh button 204 being pressed.

When carrying the charger 200 before or after the charging operation, insert a finger into the opening 200c of the battery connection recess 200a to insert the handle 20 into the opening.
Od is gripped and the charger 200 is carried.

Furthermore, when the battery 38 is not used, for example, as a spare battery, the battery housing 6a
For example, when the battery 38 is mounted, a protective cover 45 is attached so as to cover the lower part 38i of the battery 38. A spare fuse 39 'is housed and held in the fuse holding portion 45c of the protective cover 45. This fuse 3
When attaching and detaching the 9 ', as shown in FIG.
Pressing inward, the fuse 39 'is elastically deformed inward so as not to interfere with the stopper 45e. In this state, the terminal 39b of the fuse 39' is fitted and inserted into the holding hole 45d or pulled out. When the inward pressing is stopped, the fuse holding portion 45c returns to its original state due to its elasticity.
5e prevents the fuse 39 'from falling off.

The protective cover 45 is provided with a battery 38.
Is fixed to the lower portion 38i with a predetermined interference, the locking rib 45a is locked in the guide groove 38j, and the locking projection 45b on the inner surface of the fuse holding portion 45c is locked in the locking recess 38m. It does not fall off easily because it projects inside.

When removing such a protective cover 45, the release button 43 for releasing the lock of the battery 38 to the battery mounting portion 41 is pushed. Then, the release rod 43a presses the inclined surface 45h of the fuse holding portion 45c, the portion of the fuse holding portion 45c is elastically deformed outward, and the locking projection 45b is disengaged from the locking recess 38m. In this state, the protection cover 45 is detached from the battery 38 by strongly pulling the protection cover 45 downward.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the charger 200
The battery connection concave portion 200a is displaced to the left side, so that the left side portion of the peripheral side wall of the battery connection concave portion 200a can be used as a handle 200d. It is possible to avoid an increase in size, to reduce the number of parts, and to avoid a complicated structure.

In forming the handle 200d using the battery connection recess 200a, the opening 200c is formed in the left portion of the bottom wall of the battery connection recess 200a, so that the handle 200d can be easily carried when the charger 200 is carried. And connection terminals 208 to 211 provided in the battery connection recess 200a.
This prevents the fingers from touching the contact terminals, thereby preventing deformation of the connection terminals 208 to 211 due to the contact.

Further, in this embodiment, since the fuse holding portion 45c for holding the spare fuse 39 'is formed on the protection cover 45 for protecting the connection terminal, the spare case can be provided without increasing the size of the battery case 38. Can hold fuse. In forming the fuse holding portion 45c,
When the battery is not used, the fuse holding portion 45c is formed by using the portion below the protruding portion 38n that constitutes the lock release mechanism 42 when the battery is not used. Forming the fuse holding portion does not increase the size.

The protection case 45 is provided with a locking projection 45b which can be locked to the locking recess 38m on the battery side so as to prevent the protection case 45 from falling off, and the locking recess of the locking projection 45b. Slit 45f to release the lock to 38m
Is provided so that the locking convex portion 45b can be elastically deformed and the spare fuse 39 'is attached to and detached from the fuse holding portion 45c by utilizing the elastic deformation. Can be securely held in the fuse holding portion 45c, and can be easily attached and detached.

Further, when the release button 43 of the lock release mechanism 42 is pushed in, the locking projection 45b is elastically deformed outward by the release rod 43a so that the locking projection 4b is released.
Since the locking of the locking recess 38m of 5b is released, the protection cover 45 can be removed using the lock release mechanism of the battery 38, and the structure does not become complicated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of an auxiliary powered wheelchair with a removable battery according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the wheelchair.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the wheelchair.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional front view of the battery with a protective cover attached.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the battery.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a vehicle mounting state and a protective cover mounting state of the battery.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state in which a spare fuse is attached to and detached from the protective cover.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the battery charger.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a state of charge of the battery.

[Explanation of symbols]

 38 Battery 38a Battery case 38d-38g External connection terminal 38m Locking concave portion 39 'Spare fuse 42 Lock release mechanism 45 Protective cover 45b Locking convex portion 45c Fuse holding portion

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A detachable battery for a vehicle in which an external connection terminal portion of a battery case is covered with a protective cover when the battery is not used, a fuse holding portion for attaching a spare fuse to the protective cover is provided. Removable battery for vehicles. 2. The battery case according to claim 1, wherein the battery case includes a lock mechanism component for locking the battery case toward the vehicle when the battery case is used, and a lock release mechanism component for releasing the lock. A locking projection that can be locked to the locking recess that constitutes the locking mechanism is formed on the protective case, and the fuse holding portion is formed outside the locking projection, and the lock release mechanism is configured such that A detachable battery for a vehicle, which also has a function of releasing the locking of the locking projection to the locking recess.