IES86228B2

IES86228B2 - Automatic system for storing cycles, cycle for such a system, and use of a battery for such a cycle

Info

Publication number: IES86228B2
Authority: IE
Inventors: Cyril Hoden; Remi Pheulpine; Patrick Tavernier
Original assignee: Jcdecaux Sa
Priority date: 2012-03-16
Filing date: 2013-03-08
Publication date: 2013-07-17
Also published as: AU2013100303A4; IES20130081A2; DE202013002558U1; FR2988068A1; ES1090957Y; FR2988068B1; ES1090957U

Abstract

Automatic system for storing cycles, comprising motorized cycles (1) which operate with batteries (9) and which can be locked onto fixed locking terminals (7), and an external control device (2,8) for locking and unlocking the cycles on the locking terminals. The batteries are removable and independent of the cycles, and each one has an electrical energy storage capacity of less than 150 Wh, a weight of less than 1 kg, and a maximum dimension of less than 20 cm. <Figure 1>

Description

Automatic system for storing cycles, cycle for such a system, and use of a battery for such a cycle.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to automatic systems for storing cycles, cycles for such systems, and the use of batteries for such cycles.

More specifically, the invention relates to an automatic system for storing cycles comprising: - a plurality of electrically motorized cycles respectively operating with rechargeable electric batteries, a plurality of fixed locking terminals to which said cycles can be locked, - and at least one external control device adapted for selectively authorizing the locking and unlocking of cycles on said locking terminals.

A system for storing cycles as described above can be used, for example, to provide cycles to the public in a self-service arrangement, subject to identification of the person borrowing the cycle and possibly payment of a rental fee .

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Document EP-A-1 820 722 describes an example of such a cycle storage system, in which the battery for each cycle is permanently attached to the cycle and is recharged while the cycle is locked to the accepting structure, which has the disadvantage that said battery is not necessarily completely recharged when the next user borrows the cycle.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The invention has the aim of overcoming this disadvantage.

For this purpose, in the invention, an automatic system for storing cycles of the type in question is characterized by the batteries being removable and independent of the cycles, each battery having an energy storage capacity of less than 150 Wh, a weight of less than kg, and a maximum dimension of less than 20 cm, and the cycle comprises a user-accessible connector for connecting one of said batteries to the cycle and supplying the cycle with power.

Because of these arrangements, the battery is very easily carried about by the user, who can therefore use his own battery or at least a battery which he can ensure is properly charged. In addition, this also avoids the battery remaining out in the cold in the winter, which considerably extends the life of said battery.

The relatively low storage capacity of the battery, which is usually a huge disadvantage for an electrically assisted cycle, is a decided advantage in the present case, because it allows optimum operation of the cycle storage system at no inconvenience to the users, who, in this type of system, generally use cycles for relatively short urban rides (typically less than 10 km) .

In different embodiments of the automatic system for storing cycles according to the invention, one or more of the following arrangements may possibly be used (possibly usable independently of each other and independently of the above arrangements): - the battery has an electrical energy storage capacity of between 40 and 100 Wh, preferably between 60 and 85 Wh; - the battery has a weight of less than 900 g; the battery has a maximum dimension of less than cm; the battery has a width of less than 12 cm and a thickness of less than 40 mm; the battery is a lithium battery; each locking terminal (7) comprises an electric lock and the external· control device (2, 8) is adapted to control· said electric lock.

Another object of the invention is an electrically motorized cycle for a system as described above, said cycle comprising a removable rechargeable electric battery which has an electrical· energy storage capacity of less than 150 Wh, a weight of less than 1 kg, and a maximum dimension of less than 20 cm.

Another aim of the invention is a use of a removable electric battery having an electrical energy storage capacity of less than 150 Wh, a weight of less than 1 kg, and a maximum dimension of less than 20 cm, for equipping cycles in an automatic system for storing cycles comprising: a plurality of electrically motorized cycles, each electrically motorized cycle being adapted to receive said rechargeable electric battery in order to power said cycle, a plurality of fixed locking terminals to which said cycles can. be locked, and at least one external control device adapted for selectively authorizing the locking and unlocking of the cycles on said locking terminals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of one of its embodiments, provided as a non-limiting example with reference to the attached drawings.

In the drawings: figure 1 is a perspective schematic view showing an automatic system for storing cycles in an embodiment of the invention, figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating the main electrical components of the system for storing cycles of figure 1, and figure 3 is a perspective schematic view of one of the batteries usable in the system of figures 1 and 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the various figures, the same references are used to denote the same or similar elements.

As represented in figure 1, the invention relates to an automatic system for storing cycles 1 such as bicycles, for example allowing the storage of cycles in public areas so that they are available to the public.

This automatic system for storing cycles can comprise several cycle storage stations, one of which is represented in figure 1. Each cycle storage station comprises a central station terminal 2, which is shown here as an interactive terminal equipped with a user interface including, for example, a keypad 3, a screen 4, a reader for portable smart cards 5, a ticket printing device, etc. As a variant, the interactive terminal 2 could have no user interface and could be a simple communication gateway between the cycle storage station and a central server 8 (SERV.).

The interactive terminal 2 communicates with the central server 8 which manages subscriptions and cycle rentals, and with a plurality of locking terminals 7 which lock the cycles during storage and which may, for example, be in the form of locking terminals attached to the ground in public areas and each one locking one cycle 1.

As represented in figure 2, each cycle 1 can be an electrically assisted cycle comprising a connector 9a (DOCK.) to which one removable and rechargeable electric battery can be connected 9 (BATT.). The connector 9a is connected in particular to a central processing unit 10 for the cycle (CPU), for example a microprocessor or similar element. The battery 9 supplies power to an electric motor 11 (M) , for example a pedal-assist motor which can be controlled by the CPU 10. The motor 11 may, for example, provide a rated power of about 250 W, and operate for example at a voltage of 24 or 36 V.

The CPU 10 also controls a communication interface 12 (COM) for communicating with a similar communication interface 13 (COM) belonging to each locking terminal 7. The communication interfaces 12, 13 may be of any known type and operate for example in wired mode, by induction, by radio waves, or some other mode.

As for the communication interface 13 of the 10 locking terminal 7, it communicates with a CPU 14 specific to the locking terminal 7 (microprocessor, microcontroller, or other unit) , said CPU 14 also controlling an electric lock 15 (LOCK - an example of such a lock is given for example in document EP-A-1 820 722 mentioned above) adapted to lock a cycle to the locking terminal 7, and communicates with at least one sensor 16 (SENS) adapted to detect the locking of a cycle to the locking terminal 7, and a communication interface 17 (COM), for example a MODEM adapted to communicate by wire 6 (figure 1) or by a shortwave radio link or by any other manner, with a similar communication interface 18 (COM) belonging to said interactive terminal 2.

As for the interactive terminal 2, it also comprises a central processing unit (CPU) 19 such as a microprocessor, microcontroller, or other unit, which communicates with said peripherals 3-5 as well as with a communication interface 20 (COM) such as a MODEM communicating by radio or by wire with said central server 8.

The device just described operates as follows: when a user wants to borrow a cycle 1 at the station, he identifies himself for example on the interactive terminal 2 or by any other known means, in a manner that chooses a cycle 1 and releases it from its locking terminal 7 in a known manner, and he carries with him a charged battery 9 which he connects to the connector 8 of the cycle.

After use, the user returns the cycle 1 to a cycle storage station {which may be the one where he borrowed the cycle or some other station), again locking it to a locking terminal 7 of this station, also in a known manner. When the cycle 1 has been locked to the locking terminal 7, the locking terminal 7 detects this locking by means of the sensor 16 and sends the information to the cycle 1 via communication interfaces 13 and 12 and to the interactive terminal 2 via communication interfaces 18 and 17.

Each battery 9, one of which is represented in figure 3, can be for example a lithium battery, chosen from among lithium-ion-polymer batteries and lithium-ironphosphate batteries, producing a voltage for example of 24 or 36 V. It comprises a connector 9b that is complementary to the connector 9a of each cycle 1 and has an electrical energy storage capacity of less than 150 Wh, particularly between 40 and 100 Wh (advantageously between 60 and 85 Wh) , a weight of less than 1 kg, or even less than 900g (advantageously between 500 and 900 g, or even between 300 and 900 g), and a maximum dimension (length) L of less than 20 cm (advantageously less than 15cm, in particular between 10 and 15 cm). The battery 9 may, for example, have a width of less than 12 cm, in particular between 8 and 12 cm (or even between 6 and 12 cm) and a thickness of less than 40 mm, in particular between 15 and 40 mm.

The battery is therefore very easily transportable by each user, who can thus take the battery home to recharge it. The energy storage capacity of the battery is sufficient for users who, in this type of system providing self-service access to cycles, generally use the cycles for urban rides that are relatively short (typically less than 10 km) .

Claims

1. CIAIMS

1. Automatic system for storing cycles, comprising: a plurality of electrically motorized cycles (1) respectively operating with rechargeable electric batteries (9) , a plurality of fixed locking terminals (7) to which said cycles (1) can be locked, and at least one external control device (2, 8) adapted for selectively authorizing the locking and unlocking of cycles (1} on said locking terminals (7), wherein the batteries (9) are removable and independent of the cycles (1), and each one has an electrical energy storage capacity of less than 150 Wh, a weight of less than 1 kg, and a maximum dimension (L) of less than 20 cm, and wherein each cycle comprises a user-accessible connector (9a) for connecting one of said batteries (9) to the cycle and supplying the cycle with power.

2. System according to claim 1, wherein the battery (9) has an electrical energy storage capacity of between 40 and 100 Wh.

3. System according to claim 2, wherein the battery (9) has an electrical energy storage capacity of between 40 and 85 Wh.

4. System according to any of the above claims, wherein the battery (9) has a maximum dimension (L) of less than 15 cm, a width (1) of less than 12 cm and a thickness (e) of less than 40 mm.

5. System according to any of the above claims, wherein the battery (9) is a lithium battery. Automatic system for storing cycles, cycle for such a system, and use of a battery for such a cycle.