IP Library › Granted Patent US 12668150
Granted Patent B2
US 12668150 · App. 18/317,716 · Granted Jun 30, 2026

Electric vehicle battery displacement structure

Inventor: Vladimeros Vladimerou (Whitmore Lake, MI)
Assignees: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.; TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
B60L53/80B60L50/64H01M50/244H01M50/249
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12668150
App. No.
18/317,716
Granted
Jun 30, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Apparatuses, systems, and methods relate to technology to determine a first height of first rails within a first storage compartment of a displacement structure. The technology determines that a first battery in a battery compartment of a vehicle is to be removed, where the battery compartment includes vehicle rails having a vehicle height. The technology adjusts the first height of the first rails to align the first rails with the vehicle rails by adjusting the first height to match the vehicle height so that the first rails and the vehicle rails form a first pathway. The technology guides the first battery into the first storage compartment from the battery compartment along the first pathway when the first rails are aligned with the vehicle rails.

Claims (46)

1 . A displacement structure comprising:

a first storage compartment;

a height adjustment mechanism that adjusts a height of the displacement structure; and

first rails disposed within the first storage compartment and that align with vehicle rails disposed within a battery compartment of a vehicle when the height adjustment mechanism adjusts a first height of the first rails to match a vehicle height of the vehicle rails so that the first rails and the vehicle rails form a first pathway, wherein a first battery is disposed on the vehicle rails in the battery compartment and is able to be guided into the first storage compartment from the battery compartment along the first pathway when the first rails are aligned with the vehicle rails,

wherein the first battery includes wheels that are rollable along the first rails and the vehicle rails, wherein the wheels are positionally shifted from each other along a longitudinal direction of the first battery.

2 . The displacement structure of claim 1 , further comprising:

anchors to fasten the displacement structure to the vehicle.

3 . The displacement structure of claim 1 , wherein the first rails are electrically powered to slide the first battery along the first rails and the vehicle rails, wherein the first rails are powered with power from the first battery.

4 . The displacement structure of claim 1 , further comprising:

a charger to charge the first battery when the first battery is in the first storage compartment.

5 . A displacement structure comprising:

a first storage compartment;

a height adjustment mechanism that adjusts a height of the displacement structure;

first rails disposed within the first storage compartment and that align with vehicle rails disposed within a battery compartment of a vehicle when the height adjustment mechanism adjusts a first height of the first rails to match a vehicle height of the vehicle rails so that the first rails and the vehicle rails form a first pathway, wherein a first battery is disposed on the vehicle rails in the battery compartment and is able to be guided into the first storage compartment from the battery compartment along the first pathway when the first rails are aligned with the vehicle rails;

a second storage compartment, wherein a second battery is stored in the second storage compartment; and

second rails disposed in the second storage compartment and positioned at a second height different from the first height, wherein the second battery is on the second rails, wherein the second battery includes wheels that are adapted to roll along the second rails, wherein the second battery has a greater charge level than a charge level of the first battery;

wherein the height adjustment mechanism adjusts the second height to align the second rails with the vehicle rails so that the vehicle rails and the second rails form a second pathway to move the second battery into the battery compartment from the second storage compartment.

6 . A displacement structure comprising:

a first storage compartment;

a height adjustment mechanism that adjusts a height of the displacement structure;

first rails disposed within the first storage compartment and that align with vehicle rails disposed within a battery compartment of a vehicle when the height adjustment mechanism adjusts a first height of the first rails to match a vehicle height of the vehicle rails so that the first rails and the vehicle rails form a first pathway, wherein a first battery is disposed on the vehicle rails in the battery compartment and is able to be guided into the first storage compartment from the battery compartment along the first pathway when the first rails are aligned with the vehicle rails,

wherein the first rails are electrically powered to extend from the displacement structure and align with the vehicle rails.

7 . A battery exchange system comprising:

a first battery disposed on vehicle rails positioned within a battery compartment of a vehicle; and

a displacement structure comprising:

a first storage compartment,

a height adjustment mechanism that adjusts a height of the displacement structure; and

first rails disposed within the first storage compartment and that align with the vehicle rails when the height adjustment mechanism adjusts a first height of the first rails to match a vehicle height of the vehicle rails so that the first rails and the vehicle rails form a first pathway, wherein the first battery is able to be guided into the first storage compartment from the battery compartment along the first pathway when the first rails are aligned with the vehicle rails,

wherein the first battery includes wheels that are rollable along the first rails and the vehicle rails, wherein the wheels are positionally shifted from each other along a longitudinal direction of the first battery.

8 . The battery exchange system of claim 7 , wherein the displacement structure further includes:

anchors to fasten the displacement structure to the vehicle.

9 . The battery exchange system of claim 7 , wherein the first rails are electrically powered to extend from the displacement structure and align with the vehicle rails.

10 . The battery exchange system of claim 7 , wherein the first rails are electrically powered to slide the first battery along the first rails and the vehicle rails, wherein the first rails are powered with power from the first battery.

11 . The battery exchange system of claim 7 , wherein the displacement structure further includes:

a charger to charge the first battery when the first battery is in the first storage compartment.

12 . A battery exchange system comprising:

a first battery disposed on vehicle rails positioned within a battery compartment of a vehicle;

a displacement structure comprising:

a first storage compartment,

a height adjustment mechanism that adjusts a height of the displacement structure; and

first rails disposed within the first storage compartment and that align with the vehicle rails when the height adjustment mechanism adjusts a first height of the first rails to match a vehicle height of the vehicle rails so that the first rails and the vehicle rails form a first pathway, wherein the first battery is able to be guided into the first storage compartment from the battery compartment along the first pathway when the first rails are aligned with the vehicle rails; and

a second battery,

wherein the displacement structure further includes:

a second storage compartment that stores the second battery; and

second rails disposed in the second storage compartment and positioned at a second height different from the first height, wherein the second battery is on the second rails, wherein the second battery includes wheels that are adapted to roll along the second rails, wherein the second battery has a greater charge level than a charge level of the first battery,

wherein the height adjustment mechanism adjusts the second height to align the second rails with the vehicle rails so that the vehicle rails and the second rails form a second pathway to move the second battery into the battery compartment from the second storage compartment.