[001] The present subject matter generally relates to mounting of a battery module, and in particular, to a system and a method enabling easy mounting, in the form of lifting, locating and fastening the battery modules, on a member portion.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[002] FIG. 1 describes a conventional way of mounting a battery module 12 to a mounting member 16. The battery module 12 defines a through hole for a bolt 14 to pass through. The battery module 12 is affixed to the mounting member 16 by fastening the bolt 14 to the mounting member 16 using a nut 18.
[003] The present solution does not allow the battery module 12 to be physically carried around as is. There needs to be additional fixtures attached to the body of the battery module such that one can carry lifting the battery module 12 using the additional fixtures. However, the use of additional fixtures consume more space, adding weight to the existing battery module 12 and increasing the costs associated with the structure.
[004] Furthermore, the additional limitation associated with the currently available solution(s) is that the battery module 12 can only be placed at the appropriate mounting member 16 by manually moving around the battery module 12 so that the bolt 14 comes in contact with the corresponding hole defined on the mounting member 16. This procedure not only consumes more time but also requires additional man hours, leading to the entire structure and the mounting process being complex in nature.

[005] In view of the abovementioned structural limitations and deficiencies in the solutions available in state-of-the-art, there is a practical need to devise and provide a solution that eliminates the aforesaid deficiencies, in the form of a system as described and claimed herein in the context of the present subject matter.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[006] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to mounting of battery modules. The concepts are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[007] The present subject matter relates to a system for mounting a battery module. The system includes a housing defining a stepped through hole that comprises a through hole and a step down through hole, the step down through hole is threaded and defined away from a base of the battery module. The system further includes a bolt that consists of a top portion, a first stepped portion, a second stepped portion, and a third stepped portion. The first stepped portion is beneath the top portion. The second stepped portion is beneath the first stepped portion, and the second stepped portion includes threads for engaging the battery module during lifting of the battery module. The third stepped portion is beneath the second stepped portion, and the third stepped portion includes threads for engaging the battery module with the step down through hole during fastening of the bolt.

[008] The present subject matter further defines a method for locating and fastening a battery module to a base. The method describes partially fastening a bolt till a certain point such that a fourth stepped portion of the bolt protrudes outside the battery module. The method further describes locating a hole in the base by a fourth stepped portion of a bolt placed in a through hole defined in a housing of the battery module. Furthermore, the method describes fastening the bolt using a top portion of the bolt to a step down through hole defined by a stepped through hole, where, when the bolt is fastened, a second stepped portion of the bolt rest in a position below the stepped through hole, the second stepped portion of the bolt is beneath a first stepped portion of the bolt and above the third stepped portion of the bolt, and a diameter defined by the second stepped portion is smaller than diameters defined by the first stepped portion and the third stepped portion.
[009] Other objects, features and advantages of the present subject matter will become apparent from the following detailed description. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and the specific examples, while indicating specific embodiments of the subject matter, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
[0010] While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter that is regarded as forming the present subject matter, it is believed that the present disclosure will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, where like reference numerals designate like structural and other elements, in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional way of mounting a battery module in accordance with state-of-the-art.
[0012] FIG. 2(a) illustrates a system for mounting a battery module with lifting and location application in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0013] Fig. 2(b) illustrates a fastening application of the system employed in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0014] Fig. 3 illustrates a method for locating and fastening the battery module in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0015] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for the purposes of illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
[0016] The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the subject matter is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments are described herein in such details as to clearly communicate the subject matter. However, the amount of details provided herein is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present subject matter as defined by the appended claims.

[0017] It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present subject matter. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present subject matter, as well as specific examples, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
[0018] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes”, “consisting” and/or “including” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.
[0019] It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may, in fact, be executed concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
[0020] In addition, the descriptions of “first”, “second”, “third”, and the like in the present invention are used for the purpose of description only, and are not to be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, features defining “first” and “second” may include at least one of the features, either explicitly or implicitly.
[0021] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
[0022] FIG. 2(a) illustrates a system 200 for mounting a battery module 204 to a base 203, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The system 200 comprises a bolt 202, 220, a housing 201, the battery module 204, and the base 203. The battery module 204 is adapted to store at least one battery 205. The base 203 is a flat surface on which the battery module 204 is going to rest when mounted. The housing 201 of the battery module 204 defines a stepped through hole that comprises a through hole 218, 234 and a step down through hole 216, 232. The step down through hole 216, 232 is threaded and defined away from the base 203 of the battery module 204.
[0023] The bolt 202, 220 as illustrated in Fig. 2(a) comprises a top portion 206, 222, a first stepped portion 208, 224, a second stepped portion 210, 226, a third stepped portion 212, 228, and a fourth stepped portion 214, 230. The first stepped portion 208, 224 is beneath the top portion 206, 222. The second stepped portion 210, 226 is beneath the first stepped portion 208, 224, with the second stepped portion comprising threads for engaging the battery module 204 during lifting of the battery module 204. The third stepped portion 212, 228 is beneath the second stepped portion 210, 226, with the third stepped portion 212, 228 comprising threads for engaging the battery module with the step down through hole 216, 232 during fastening of the bolt 202, 220. The fourth stepped portion 214, 230 is beneath the third stepped portion 212, 228, with the fourth steeped portion 214, 230 locating the battery module 204 on the base 203.
[0024] It is in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter that the fourth stepped portion 214, 230 defines a perimeter that is smaller than a diameter defined by the step down through hole 216, 232. Further, the fourth stepped portion 214, 230 defines a perimeter that is smaller than diameters defined by the first stepped portion 208, 224, the second stepped portion 210, 226, and the third stepped portion 212, 228.
[0025] Furthermore, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter, the first stepped portion 208, 224 defines a diameter that is smaller than a diameter defined by the second stepped portion 210, 226.
[0026] According to a further embodiment, the top portion 206, 222 defines a perimeter that is larger than the diameter defined by the second stepped portion 210, 226, and the diameter defined by the second stepped portion 210, 226 is lesser than the diameter defined by the third stepped portion 212, 228.

[0027] FIG. 2(b) represents the system 200, illustrating fastening the battery module 204 to the base 203. As illustrated in Fig. 2(b), when the bolt 202, 220 is fastened, the second stepped portion 210, 226 of the bolt 202, 220 rest in a position below the stepped through hole 216, 232.
[0028] Referring FIG. 3, the present subject matter illustrates the method steps 300 for locating and fastening a battery module 204 over a base 203, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0029] At step 302, a bolt 202, 220 is partially fastened till a certain point such that a fourth stepped portion 214, 230 of the bolt 202, 220 protrudes outside the battery module 204.
[0030] At step 304, a hole is located in the base 203 by a fourth stepped portion 214, 230 of the bolt 202, 220 placed in a through hole defined in a housing 201 of the battery module 204.
[0031] At step 306, the bolt 202, 220 is fastened using a top portion 206, 222 of the bolt 202, 220 to a step down through hole 216, 232 defined by a stepped through hole. When the bolt 202, 220 is fastened, a second stepped portion 210, 226 of the bolt 202, 220 rest in a position below the stepped through hole 216, 232. The second stepped portion 210, 226 of the bolt 202, 220 is beneath a first stepped portion 208, 224 of the bolt 202, 220, and above a third stepped portion 212, 228 of the bolt 202, 220, and a diameter defined by the second stepped portion 210, 226 is smaller than diameters defined by the first stepped portion 208, 224 and the third stepped portion 212, 228.

TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES
[0032] The present subject matter proposes a system and a method for mounting a battery module to a base using a nut that is either welded or un-welded on the base, in the form of a single bolt that is integrated into the set up structure of the battery modules and is used for different applications, including lifting the battery module, locating a mounting location for the battery module, and fastening the battery module to the mounting location, thereby resulting in better space utilization and optimal cost operations involved in setting up of the structure.
[0033] Furthermore, each of the appended claims defines a separate invention, which for infringement purposes is recognized as including equivalents to the various elements or limitations specified in the claims. Depending on the context, all references below to the “invention” may in some cases refer to certain specific embodiments only. In other cases, it will be recognized that references to the “invention” will refer to subject matter recited in one or more, but not necessarily all, of the claims.
[0034] Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member can be referred to and claimed individually or in any combination with other members of the group or other elements found herein. One or more members of a group can be included in, or deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is herein deemed to contain the group as modified thus fulfilling the written description of all groups used in the appended claims.

[0035] Furthermore, those skilled in the art can appreciate that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. It will be appreciated that several of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into other systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may subsequently be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as encompassed by the following claims.
[0036] The claims, as originally presented and as they may be amended, encompass variations, alternatives, modifications, improvements, equivalents, and substantial equivalents of the embodiments and teachings disclosed herein, including those that are presently unforeseen or unappreciated, and that, for example, may arise from applicants/patentees and others.
[0037] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the present disclosure, other and further embodiments of the present disclosure may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the present disclosure is determined by the claims that follow. The present disclosure is not limited to the described embodiments, versions or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention when combined with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art.

Claims:We Claim:
1. A system (200) for mounting a battery module (204) on to a base (203), the system (200) comprising:
a housing (201) defining a stepped through hole including a through hole (218, 234) and a step down through hole (216, 232), wherein the step down through hole (216, 232) is threaded and defined away from the base (214) of the battery module (204);
a bolt (202, 220) comprising:
a top portion (206, 222);
a first stepped portion (208, 224) beneath the top portion (206, 222);
a second stepped portion (210, 226) beneath the first stepped portion (208, 224), the second stepped portion (210, 226) comprising threads for engaging the battery module (204) during lifting of the battery module (204); and
a third stepped portion (212, 228) beneath the second stepped portion (210, 226), the third stepped portion (212, 228) comprising threads for engaging the battery module (204) with the step down through hole (216, 232) during fastening of the bolt (202, 220).

2. The system (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bolt (202, 220) comprises a fourth stepped portion (214, 230) beneath the third stepped portion (212, 228), such that the fourth steeped portion (214, 230) locate the battery module (204) on the base (203).

3. The system (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the battery module (204) comprises at least one battery (205).

4. The system (200) as claimed in one of claims 1 and 3, wherein the housing (201) covers the at least one battery (205) stored within the battery module (204).

5. The system (200) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the fourth stepped portion (214, 230) defines a perimeter that is smaller than a diameter defined by the step down through hole (216, 232).

6. The system (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fourth stepped portion (214, 230) defines a perimeter that is smaller than diameters defined by the first stepped portion (208, 224), the second stepped portion (210, 226), and the third stepped portion (212, 228).

7. The system (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first stepped portion (208, 224) defines a diameter that is smaller than a diameter defined by the second stepped portion (210, 226).

8. The system (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top portion (206, 222) of the bolt (202, 220) defines a perimeter that is larger than the diameter defined by the second stepped portion (210, 226).

9. The system (200) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the diameter defined by the second stepped portion (210, 226) is smaller than the diameter defined by the third stepped portion (212, 228).

10. A method for locating and fastening a battery module (204) over a base (203), the method comprising the steps:
partially fastening a bolt (202, 220) till a certain point such that a fourth stepped portion (214, 230) of the bolt (202, 220) protrudes outside the battery module (204);
locating a hole in the base (203) by the protruded fourth stepped portion (214, 230) of the bolt (202, 220) placed in a through hole (218, 234) defined in a housing (201) of the battery module (204);
fastening the bolt (202, 220) using a top portion (206, 222) of the bolt (202, 220) to a step down through hole (216, 232) defined by a stepped through hole, wherein, when the bolt (202, 220) is fastened, a second stepped portion (210, 226) of the bolt (202, 220) rest in a position below the step down through hole (216, 232), wherein the second stepped portion (210, 226) of the bolt (202, 220) is beneath a first stepped portion (208, 224) of the bolt (202, 220) and above a third stepped portion (212, 228) of the bolt (202, 220), and wherein a diameter defined by the second stepped portion (210, 226) is smaller than diameters defined by the first stepped portion (208, 224) and the third stepped portion (212, 228).