Systems and methods for mass discharge of retired power batteries

Abstract

The application discloses a system for batch discharging of retired power batteries, and discloses a discharging method using the system for batch discharging of retired power batteries, wherein the system for batch discharging of retired power batteries comprises a discharging tank, a driving mechanism and discharging particles; the discharging process does not need to use a special battery charging and discharging instrument with high price, the discharging particles used in the discharging process can be recycled and reused, the discharging cost is low, the discharging efficiency is high, no secondary waste water, waste gas and waste residue pollution is caused, and the system is safe and environmentally friendly; the positive and negative poles of the battery do not need to be specially connected, the risk of fire caused by local heating of the positive and negative poles of the battery due to poor contact caused by terminal oxidation after long-time use is avoided; through simple mixing of the battery and the discharging particles, the discharging can be realized by using the free conduction effect of the discharging particles, different sizes of power batteries can be compatible and applicable, the whole discharging process is simple and easy to implement, and is suitable for industrial application.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of battery discharge and recycling technology, and in particular to a system and method for mass discharge of retired power batteries. Background Technology

[0002] When power batteries are retired, they still possess high residual voltage and energy, posing a significant danger. Discharge treatment is necessary during dismantling and recycling. Traditional discharge methods include chemical discharge and physical discharge. Chemical discharge involves immersing the battery in a discharge solution for a certain period, causing a chemical reaction that consumes its energy. While chemical discharge can achieve batch discharge, it produces waste liquid containing harmful substances such as electrolyte, nickel, cobalt, manganese, and fluorine. Waste liquid treatment is difficult and costly. Furthermore, the discharge process involves a side reaction of water electrolysis, producing hydrogen gas, which poses an explosion risk. Traditional physical discharge methods use a dedicated battery charge / discharge device to connect the battery's positive and negative terminals. The equipment requires precise positioning of the battery's positive and negative terminals for connection. For batch discharge, numerous connecting wires, contact terminals, and the device itself are needed, making large-scale batch discharge difficult and costly. The limitations of traditional chemical and physical discharge methods are evident. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The present invention aims to at least partially solve one of the aforementioned technical problems in the related art. To this end, the present invention proposes a system and method for the mass discharge of retired power batteries.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution of the present invention is as follows:

[0005] The present invention also proposes a discharge method using the above-mentioned system for mass discharge of retired power batteries.

[0006] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a system for mass discharge of retired power batteries includes: a discharge tank, including an inlet, an outlet, and a discharge chamber; a drive mechanism, wherein the discharge tank is horizontally mounted on the drive mechanism, and the drive mechanism drives the discharge tank to rotate about its central axis; and discharge particles, which are filled and placed in the discharge chamber, wherein the discharge particles include a conductive shell with conductive ends and conductive powder filled in the conductive shell.

[0007] The system for mass discharge of retired power batteries according to embodiments of the present invention has at least the following advantages: the discharge process does not require the use of expensive dedicated battery charge / discharge equipment; the discharge particles used in the discharge process can be recycled and reused; the discharge cost is low; the discharge efficiency is high; and no secondary wastewater, waste gas, or waste residue pollution is generated, making it safe and environmentally friendly; there is no need to specifically connect the positive and negative terminals of the battery, avoiding the risk of fire caused by poor contact due to oxidation of the positive and negative terminals after long-term use, which could lead to localized heating at the positive and negative terminals. Discharge can be achieved by simply mixing the battery and the discharge particles, utilizing the free conduction of the discharge particles; it is compatible with power batteries of different sizes; the entire discharge process is simple and easy to implement, making it suitable for industrial applications.

[0008] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the conductive outer shell includes an upper metal cap, a lower metal cap, and an insulating connecting rod for connecting the upper metal cap and the lower metal cap, wherein the upper metal cap, the lower metal cap, and the insulating connecting rod form a cavity, and the conductive powder fills the cavity.

[0009] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the discharge tank is mounted on the drive mechanism in an inclined horizontal position with its inlet higher than its outlet; the outer wall of the discharge tank is provided with a transmission gear, and the drive mechanism meshes with the transmission gear for drive.

[0010] According to some embodiments of the present invention, a feeding device connected to the inlet is further included. The feeding device includes a loading platform, a feeding mechanism, a clamping mechanism, and a spacer mechanism. The loading platform includes a feeding area and a clamping area. The clamping area is provided with a movable side plate, which can swing to an inclined or vertical state. The feeding mechanism is installed on the side of the feeding area and includes a first pushing mechanism that pushes the battery from the feeding area toward the movable side plate to the clamping area. The clamping mechanism includes a clamping plate and a pusher. The clamping plate moves up and down above the clamping area and is provided with a plurality of clamping openings with upper and lower openings. The pusher moves telescopically toward the clamping openings. The spacer mechanism is installed below the clamping mechanism and includes a plurality of spacers arranged parallel to each other. The spacers move back and forth and left and right on a horizontal plane.

[0011] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the feeding device further includes a feeding mechanism, the clamping area is provided with a discharge port connected to the feeding port, the feeding mechanism is mounted on the clamping area on the same side as the spacer mechanism, the feeding mechanism includes a second pusher plate and a first driver, the first driver drives the second pusher plate to push the battery on the clamping area toward the discharge port.

[0012] According to some embodiments of the present invention, a discharge device connected to the discharge port is further included. The discharge device includes a conveyor line, a deflection mechanism, a pusher mechanism, a sensor, and a flipping mechanism. The conveyor line has a height-limiting crossbar above its front end, which limits the passage of one layer of batteries at a time and ensures that the batteries are placed horizontally. A left side plate and a right side plate are provided on both sides of the conveyor line. The deflection mechanism is installed above the conveyor line and behind the height-limiting crossbar, and is used to orient the positive and negative terminals of the battery toward the left side plate or the right side plate. The pusher mechanism is installed on the left side plate and the right side plate respectively, and is located behind the deflection mechanism. It includes a pusher head that extends and retracts toward the opposite side. The sensor is used to detect the orientation of the battery and is located between the deflection mechanism and the pusher mechanism. The sensor is connected to the pusher mechanism. The flipping mechanism is connected to the tail end of the conveyor line and is used to change the battery from being placed horizontally to being placed vertically.

[0013] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the deflection mechanism includes a plurality of deflection rods, a plurality of deflection guide rails, and a plurality of deflection motors. The deflection rods are vertically mounted above the conveyor line via the deflection guide rails. The deflection guide rails are provided with guide grooves. One deflection motor drives one deflection rod to move along the guide groove to change the distribution position of the deflection rods. The deflection rods are free to rotate. The flipping mechanism includes two inclined tracks composed of a plurality of guide plates. The guide plates of a single track are arranged and connected sequentially in a gradual change from horizontal to vertical. A receiving plate is provided below the guide rails, and baffles are provided on both sides of the guide rails.

[0014] According to some embodiments of the present invention, a clamping mechanism is further included connected above the tail end of the flipping mechanism. The clamping mechanism includes a clamping plate and a second driver for driving the clamping plate to move up and down. The clamping plate includes a clamping opening.

[0015] According to some embodiments of the present invention, a separation device is installed between the discharge port and the discharge device. The separation device includes a receiving tray, a screen plate, a vibrator, and a collecting tray. One end of the screen plate is connected to the receiving tray and the other end is connected to the conveyor line. The screen plate is provided with a plurality of through holes with a diameter larger than that of the discharge particles. The vibrator is installed on the screen plate, and the collecting tray is installed below the screen plate.

[0016] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a discharge method involves placing a plurality of batteries in a discharge container, and filling the discharge container with a plurality of discharge particles; the discharge container is rotated, and the batteries and discharge particles are flipped within the discharge container, with the positive and negative terminals of the batteries randomly connected to the plurality of discharge particles to form an electrical path, thereby achieving a discharge effect on the batteries.

[0017] The discharge method according to embodiments of the present invention has at least the following advantages: the discharge process does not require the use of expensive dedicated battery charge / discharge equipment; the discharge particles used in the discharge process are recyclable and reusable; the discharge cost is low; the discharge efficiency is high; and no secondary wastewater, waste gas, or waste residue pollution is generated, making it safe and environmentally friendly. Furthermore, it eliminates the need for dedicated connection between the positive and negative terminals of the battery, avoiding the risk of fire caused by poor contact due to oxidation of the positive and negative terminals after prolonged use, which could lead to localized heating at the positive and negative terminals. Discharge can be achieved simply by mixing the battery and discharge particles, utilizing the free conduction of the discharge particles. It is compatible with power batteries of different sizes, and the entire discharge process is simple and easy to implement, making it suitable for industrial applications.

[0018] Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0019] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and readily understood from the description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the discharge tank structure of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the discharge particle structure of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 3 This is an exploded view of the discharge particle structure of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the feeding device structure of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the feeding device of the present invention from another perspective;

[0025] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the feeding device structure of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of a battery embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the battery tilt state according to the present invention;

[0028] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the battery-split rod state of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the material discharge device of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the discharge device of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the discharge device of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the separation device of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0033] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and intended to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0034] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 A system for mass discharge of retired power batteries includes: a discharge tank 100, including an inlet 110, an outlet 120, and a discharge chamber 130; a drive mechanism 140, on which the discharge tank 100 is horizontally mounted, and the drive mechanism 140 drives the discharge tank 100 to rotate about its central axis; and discharge particles 150, which are filled and placed in the discharge chamber 130, the discharge particles 150 including a conductive shell 151 with conductive ends and conductive powder filled in the conductive shell 151.

[0035] like Figure 2 The discharge particle 150 has conductive metal heads at both ends, with an insulating material in the middle. The interior of the discharge particle 150 is hollow and filled with conductive powder. The conductive heads at both ends are connected by the conductive powder, which can be conductive or semi-conductive materials such as graphite powder, carbon powder, titanium diboride, or copper oxide. (Refer to...) Figure 7 The 600 battery is rectangular in shape, with the positive and negative terminals both located on the top surface. (Refer to...) Figure 1Several batteries 600 are simultaneously placed into a discharge tank 100, which is also filled with discharge particles 150. The inlet 110 and outlet 120 are closed, and the drive mechanism 140 is activated, causing the discharge tank 100 to rotate around its central axis. The batteries 600 and discharge particles 150 rotate within the discharge tank 100. The discharge particles 150 have built-in resistance, which is controlled by adjusting the material or amount of conductive powder used. The discharge particles 150 and batteries 600 form random electrical paths within the discharge tank 100, and the charge of the batteries 600 is released as heat through the discharge particles 150. After a certain period of time, the batteries 600 are discharged. The rotation of the discharge tank 100 allows the batteries 600 to continuously discharge using different discharge particles 150, avoiding the generation of a large amount of heat on a fixed discharge particle 150. The discharge process does not require an expensive dedicated battery 600 charge / discharge device. The discharge particles 150 used in the discharge process are recyclable and reusable, resulting in low discharge costs, high discharge efficiency, and no secondary wastewater, exhaust gas, or waste residue pollution, making it safe and environmentally friendly. It eliminates the need for special connection between the positive and negative terminals of the battery 600, avoiding the risk of fire caused by poor contact due to oxidation of the positive and negative terminals after prolonged use, which could lead to localized overheating at the positive and negative terminals. Discharge is achieved simply by mixing the battery 600 and the discharge particles 150, utilizing the free conductivity of the discharge particles 150. It is compatible with power batteries of different sizes, and the entire discharge process is simple and easy to implement, making it suitable for industrial applications.

[0036] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 3 In some specific embodiments of the present invention, the conductive outer shell 151 includes an upper metal cap 152, a lower metal cap 153, and an insulating connecting rod 154 for connecting the upper metal cap 152 and the lower metal cap 153. The upper metal cap 152, the lower metal cap 153 and the insulating connecting rod 154 form cavities, and the conductive powder is filled in the cavities. The two ends of the insulating connecting rod 154 can be connected to the upper metal cap 152 and the lower metal cap 153 by threads, which facilitates the filling of conductive powder.

[0037] Reference Figure 1 In some specific embodiments of the present invention, the discharge tank 100 is mounted on the drive mechanism 140 in an inclined horizontal position with its inlet 110 higher than its outlet 120; the outer wall of the discharge tank 100 is provided with a transmission gear 160, and the drive mechanism 140 meshes with the transmission gear 160 for drive; the drive mechanism 140 uses a motor and gears to link with the transmission gear 160, and the drive mechanism 140 is also provided with a driven roller to support the outer wall of the discharge tank 100.

[0038] Reference Figure 4 , Figure 5and Figure 6 In a further embodiment of the present invention, a feeding device 200 connected to the inlet 110 is also included. The feeding device 200 includes a loading platform 210, a feeding mechanism, a clamping mechanism 230, and a spacer mechanism 240. The loading platform 210 includes a feeding area 211 and a clamping area 212. The clamping area 212 is provided with a movable side plate 213, which can swing to an inclined or vertical state. The feeding mechanism is installed on the side of the feeding area 211 and includes a first pushing mechanism 220, which pushes the battery 600 from the loading platform 110. The feeding area 211 pushes the material towards the movable side plate 213 to the clamping area 212; the clamping mechanism 230 includes a clamping plate 231 and a pusher 232. The clamping plate 231 moves up and down above the clamping area 212. The clamping plate 231 is provided with a plurality of clamping openings 233 with openings at the top and bottom. The pusher 232 moves forward and backward toward the clamping openings 233; the partition rod mechanism 240 is installed below the clamping mechanism 230 and includes a plurality of partition rods 241 arranged parallel to each other. The partition rods 241 move forward and backward and left and right on the horizontal plane.

[0039] To further improve the safety of the discharge process, before the batteries 600 are placed into the discharge tank 100, a protective clip 700 is clamped between the positive and negative terminals of the batteries 600. The tail of the protective clip 700 is dovetail-shaped to prevent the electrodes of the batteries 600 from touching each other and causing a short circuit inside the discharge tank 100. Before clamping, the batteries 600 are placed vertically in a row in the loading area 211. The first pushing mechanism 220 pushes the entire row of batteries 600 into the clamping area 212 until the batteries 600 at the front are against the side of the movable side plate 213. At this time, the movable side plate 213 is tilted, and the entire row of batteries 600 tilts with the movable side plate 213. Figure 8 As shown, when tilted, there is a gap 610 at the bottom between adjacent batteries 600. Then, the spacer mechanism 240 is activated, and the spacers 241 move forward toward the batteries 600, with the spacers respectively inserted into the gaps 610 between each battery 600; then, the movable side plate 213 changes from an inclined state to a vertical state, and at the same time, each spacer 241 moves back and forth in a small left-right direction. Under the combined action of the movable side plate 213 and the spacers 241, the batteries 600 change from a tilted state to an upright state, as shown. Figure 9As shown, the battery 600 is now in a "battery 600 - spacer 241 - battery 600 - spacer 241 - battery 600" configuration, with spacers 241 creating a gap between adjacent upright batteries 600. Protective clips 700 are pre-installed in the clamping slots 233 on the clamping plate 231, and the surfaces of the protective clips 700 are covered with plastic or rubber. At this point, each clamping slot 233 corresponds to a position of an upright battery 600. The clamping mechanism 230 is activated, the clamping plate 231 moves down above the battery 600, and the pusher 232 is activated, inserting into each clamping slot 233 to push each protective clip 700 onto each battery 600 to complete the clamping operation. The clamping mechanism 230 and spacer mechanism 240 then reset and move away from the battery 600. The clamped battery 600 awaits subsequent discharge operations. The protective clips 700 have a dovetail-shaped tail. When the 00 is placed in the clamping port 233311, the inner wall of the clamping port 233311 clamps the tail of the protective clip 700700. The clamping jaws of the protective clip 700700 face downwards, so that the clamping jaws of the protective clip 700700 open, allowing the clamping jaws of the protective clip 700700 to be inserted into the battery 600600. The clever use of the cooperation between the movable side plate 213 and the spacer mechanism 240 makes the battery 600 rows automatically and regularly spaced. The clamping mechanism 230 is used to realize automated batch clamping operation, which saves time and effort and is highly efficient.

[0040] like Figure 4 , Figure 5 , Figure 6 As shown, specifically, a motor is connected to the movable side plate 213, which is movably connected to the clamping area 212 via a rotating shaft. A motor drives the movable side plate 213 to switch between an inclined and vertical position around the rotating shaft. The clamping plate 231 is driven by a motor to move up and down. The pusher 232 is equipped with push rods 234 corresponding to the positions of each clamping opening 233. A motor drives each push rod 234 to synchronously extend and retract towards the clamping opening 233. Each spacer 241 is mounted on a connecting frame 242, which is driven by two motors to move forward and backward and left and right on the horizontal plane.

[0041] Reference Figure 10 , Figure 11 and Figure 12Furthermore, the feeding device 200 also includes a feeding mechanism. The clamping area 212 is provided with a discharge port 214 connected to the feed port 110. The feeding mechanism and the spacer mechanism 240 are mounted on the same side of the clamping area 212. The feeding mechanism includes a second pusher plate 251 and a first driver. The first driver drives the second pusher plate 251 to push the battery 600 on the clamping area 212 toward the discharge port 214. After the battery 600 is clamped, the first driver drives the second pusher plate 251 to move, pushing the battery 600 through the discharge port 214 to the feed port 110 of the discharge tank 100, completing the automatic feeding operation. The first driver is preferably a motor or a cylinder.

[0042] Specifically, the first pushing mechanism 220 includes a first pushing plate 221 and a first connecting rod 222. The first pushing plate 221 is movably connected to the end of the first connecting rod 222. The first pushing plate 221 can swing in the same way as the movable side plate 213. The connecting rod is connected to a motor. The motor drives the first pushing plate 221 through the connecting rod to push the battery 600 rows from the loading area 211 to the clamping area 212. At this time, the first pushing plate 221 does not leave. The battery 600 rows are clamped between the first pushing plate 221 and the movable side plate 213. The first pushing plate 221 is freely connected to the first connecting rod 222. At this time, the first pushing plate is tilted as the battery 600 tilts. When the movable side plate 213 changes from the tilted state to the vertical state, the first pushing plate 221 becomes vertical as the battery 600 tilts.

[0043] In a further embodiment of the present invention, a discharge device 300 connected to the discharge port 120 is also included. The discharge device 300 includes a conveyor line 310, a deflection mechanism 320, a push rod mechanism 330, a sensor 340, and a flipping mechanism 350. The conveyor line 310 has a height-limiting crossbar 311 above its front end. The height-limiting crossbar 311 restricts the passage of one layer of batteries 600 at a time and ensures that the batteries 600 are placed horizontally. A left side plate 312 and a right side plate 313 are provided on both sides of the conveyor line 310. The deflection mechanism 320 is installed above the conveyor line 310 and located behind the height-limiting crossbar 311. The deflection mechanism 320 is used to orient the positive and negative terminals of the battery 600 toward the left or right plate 312 or the right plate 313. The push rod mechanism 330 is installed on the left and right plates 312 and 313 respectively, located behind the deflection mechanism 320, and includes a push head 331 that moves telescopically toward the opposite side. The sensor 340 is used to detect the orientation of the battery 600 and is located between the deflection mechanism 320 and the push rod mechanism 330. The sensor 340 is connected to the push rod mechanism 330. The flipping mechanism 350 is connected to the end of the conveyor line 310 and is used to change the battery 600 from horizontal to vertical.

[0044] After the battery 600 completes its discharge in the discharge tank 100, it is discharged from the discharge port 120 of the discharge tank 100 onto the conveyor line 310. At this time, the battery 600 is placed in a random orientation. The battery 600 moves along the conveyor line 310. When the battery 600 moves to the height limit bar 311, the longitudinal distance between the height limit bar 311 and the conveyor line 310 is such that only one horizontally placed battery 600 can pass through at a time, to prevent the batteries 600 from stacking. If the battery 600 is placed vertically on the conveyor line 310, its upper part is blocked by the height limit bar 311 as it moves with the conveyor line 310, causing the battery 600 to be pushed over and changed from vertical to horizontal. After passing under the height-limiting crossbar 311, the battery 600 enters the area of ​​the deflection mechanism 320. The deflection mechanism 320 directs the positive and negative terminals of the horizontally placed battery 600 toward either the left side plate 312 or the right side plate 313, allowing only one battery 600 to pass through the deflection mechanism 320 at a time. After passing through the deflection mechanism 320, the sensor 340 detects the position of the protective clamp 700 to determine whether the positive and negative terminals of the battery 600 are facing the left side plate 312 or the right side plate 313. If the positive and negative terminals of the battery 600 are facing the left side plate 312, the pusher 331 on the left side plate 312 is activated, pushing the battery 600 toward the wall of the right side plate 313. Each pusher 331 is driven by a motor. If the positive and negative terminals of the battery 600 are facing the right side plate 313, the pusher 331 on the right side plate 313 is activated. The head 331 is activated, pushing the battery 600 against the wall of the left side plate 312. Using the cooperation of the sensor 340 and the pusher 331, the bottom surfaces of the battery 600, facing positive and negative terminals, are brought into contact with the left side plate 312 or the right side plate 313. The battery 600 then continues to be conveyed by the conveyor line 310 to the flipping mechanism 350, which flips the batteries 600 from horizontal to vertical, with the positive and negative terminals facing upwards, ensuring the protective clamp 700 is positioned upwards. Finally, the protective clamp 700 can be removed in a unified manner. The cooperation of the conveyor line 310, the height-limiting crossbar 311, the deflection mechanism 320, and the flipping mechanism 350 uniformly organizes the position of the batteries 600 after they exit the discharge device, facilitating subsequent clamping operations and battery recycling, thus improving recycling efficiency.

[0045] In some specific embodiments of the present invention, the deflection mechanism 320 includes a plurality of deflection rods 321, a plurality of deflection guide rails 322, and a plurality of deflection motors 323. The deflection rods 321 are vertically mounted above the conveyor line 310 via the deflection guide rails 322. The deflection guide rails 322 are provided with guide grooves 324. One deflection motor 323 drives one deflection rod 321 to move along the guide grooves 324 to change the distribution position of the deflection rods 321. The deflection rods 321 are free to rotate. The deflection rods 321 are connected to the deflection motors 323 via a central core shaft. The outer core of the deflection rod 321 is sleeved on the central core shaft and can rotate freely along the central core shaft. By setting the deflection rods 321... The distance between them is designed to allow one battery 600 to pass at a time. Simultaneously, by utilizing the position distribution and rotation of the deflection rods 321, the deflection rods 321 cause the battery 600 to change direction as it moves with the conveyor line 310, so that after passing through the deflection device, the positive and negative end faces of the battery 600 face towards the left side plate 312 or the right side plate 313. Specifically, two deflection rods 321 are provided on each deflection guide rail 322 on the side near the height limit crossbar 311. From the side near the height limit crossbar 311 to the side away from the height limit crossbar 311, the distance between the two deflection rods 321 on each deflection guide rail 322 gradually decreases, and there is one deflection rod 321 on each deflection guide rail 322 on the side away from the height limit crossbar 311.

[0046] The sensor 340 is mounted above the conveyor line 310 via a slide rail 341 and moves on the slide rail 341 by a motor. Two sensors are mounted on the slide rail.

[0047] The flipping mechanism 350 includes two inclined tracks 352 composed of several guide plates 351. The guide plates 351 of each track 352 are arranged and connected in a gradual transition from horizontal to vertical orientation. A receiving plate 353 is provided below the track 352, and baffles 354 are provided on both sides of the track 352. The battery 600 abuts against the left side plate 312 or the right side plate 313 through a pusher 331. The two tracks 352 are respectively arranged behind the left side plate 312 and the right side plate 313. The two tracks 352 are mirror symmetrical. After the battery 600 enters the corresponding guide rail, the track 352 tilts and, in conjunction with the gradual change in orientation of each guide plate 351, changes the battery 600 from a horizontal to a vertical position. The receiving plate 353 may be equipped with rollers, which are driven by a motor to rotate and move the battery 600.

[0048] Reference Figure 10 and Figure 12In a further embodiment of the present invention, a clamping mechanism 400 is also included, connected above the tail end of the flipping mechanism 350. The clamping mechanism 400 includes a clamping plate 410 and a second driver for driving the clamping plate 410 to move up and down. The second driver is preferably a motor. The clamping plate 410 includes a clamping opening 411. After the battery 600 is changed to a vertical position, the battery 600 is located below the clamping plate 410. The second driver drives the clamping plate 410 to move down, and the clamping opening 411 is engaged with the battery 600. On the protective clip 700, the unloading plate 410 moves upward, thereby removing the protective frame from the battery 600 to complete the automatic unloading operation; the internal structure of the retrieval port 411 is set according to the structure of the protective clip 700. The tail of the protective clip 700 is set in a dovetail shape, and the inside of the retrieval port 411 is a trapezoidal shape that is narrow at the top and wide at the bottom. In conjunction with the dovetail shape, the tail of the protective clip 700 is inserted into the retrieval port 411 from bottom to top, and the oblique face clamps the tail of the protective clip 700, so that the clamp of the protective clip 700 is separated from the battery 600.

[0049] Reference Figure 13 In a further embodiment of the present invention, a separation device 500 is installed between the discharge port 120 and the discharge device 300. The separation device 500 includes a receiving tray 510, a sieve plate 520, a vibrator 530, and a collection tray 540. One end of the sieve plate 520 is connected to the receiving tray 510, and the other end is connected to the conveyor line 310. The sieve plate 520 is provided with a plurality of through holes 521 with a diameter larger than that of the discharge particles 150. The vibrator 530... The collection tray 540 is installed below the screen plate 520. When the battery 600 is discharged from the discharge port 120 of the discharge tank 100, the discharge particles 150 will leave the discharge tank 100 with the battery 600. Before entering the discharge device 300, the battery 600 and the discharge particles 150 are on the screen plate 520. The vibrator 530 is started to make the screen plate 520 vibrate. At this time, the discharge particles 150 fall into the collection tray 540 through the through hole 521 to achieve recycling.

[0050] A discharge method utilizing the aforementioned system for mass discharge of retired power batteries involves placing several batteries 600 inside a discharge tank 100, which is filled with several discharge particles 150. The discharge tank 100 rotates, causing the batteries 600 and discharge particles 150 to flip within the tank. The positive and negative terminals of the batteries 600 are randomly connected to the discharge particles 150, forming an electrical path that discharges the batteries 600. The discharge process eliminates the need for expensive dedicated battery charge / discharge equipment, and the discharge particles 150 used are recyclable. This results in low discharge costs, high discharge efficiency, and no secondary wastewater, waste gas, or waste residue pollution, making it safe and environmentally friendly. Furthermore, it avoids the risk of fire caused by poor contact due to oxidation of the positive and negative terminals of the batteries 600 after prolonged use, preventing localized overheating at these terminals. By simply mixing the battery 600 and the discharge particles 150, the discharge particles 150 consume electrical energy while conducting electricity. Discharge can be achieved by utilizing the free conduction of the discharge particles 150. It is compatible with power batteries 600 of different sizes. The entire discharge process is simple and easy to implement, making it suitable for industrial applications.

[0051] To prevent the batteries 600 from coming into contact with each other and causing a short circuit during discharge, before placing the batteries 600 into the discharge tank 100, a component such as a protective clip 700 is installed on each battery 600 to separate the batteries 600 from each other.

[0052] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described above, it is understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. Those skilled in the art can make changes, modifications, substitutions and variations to the above embodiments within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A system for mass discharge of retired power batteries, characterized in that, include: The discharge tank (100) includes an inlet (110), an outlet (120), and a discharge chamber (130). A drive mechanism is provided, on which the discharge tank (100) is horizontally mounted, and the drive mechanism drives the discharge tank (100) to rotate about its central axis; The discharge particle (150) is placed in the discharge cavity (130). The discharge particle (150) includes a conductive shell (151) with conductive ends and conductive powder filled in the conductive shell (151). The conductive outer shell (151) includes an upper metal cap (152), a lower metal cap (153), and an insulating connecting rod (154) for connecting the upper metal cap (152) and the lower metal cap (153). The upper metal cap (152), the lower metal cap (153), and the insulating connecting rod (154) form a cavity, and the conductive powder fills the cavity. The two ends of the insulating connecting rod (154) can be connected to the upper metal cap (152) and the lower metal cap (153) by threads; It also includes a feeding device (200) connected to the feed inlet (110), the feeding device (200) includes a loading platform (210), a feeding mechanism, a clamping mechanism (230) and a spacer mechanism (240), the loading platform (210) includes a feeding area (211) and a clamping area (212), the clamping area (212) is provided with a movable side plate (213), the movable side plate (213) can swing to an inclined or vertical state; The feeding mechanism is installed on the side of the feeding area (211) and includes a first pushing mechanism (220). The first pushing mechanism (220) pushes the battery from the feeding area (211) toward the movable side plate (213) to the clamping area (212). The clamping mechanism (230) includes a clamping plate (231) and a pusher (232). The clamping plate (231) moves up and down above the clamping area (212). The clamping plate (231) is provided with a plurality of clamping openings (233) with openings at the top and bottom. The pusher (232) moves forward and backward toward the clamping openings (233). The spacer mechanism (240) is installed below the clamping mechanism (230) and includes a plurality of spacers (241) arranged parallel to each other. The spacers (241) can move back and forth and left and right on the horizontal plane. The feeding device (200) also includes a feeding mechanism. The clamping area (212) is provided with a discharge port (214) connected to the feed port (110). The feeding mechanism and the spacer mechanism (240) are mounted on the clamping area (212) on the same side. The feeding mechanism includes a second pusher plate (251) and a first driver. The first driver drives the second pusher plate (251) to push the battery on the clamping area (212) toward the discharge port (214). The motor is connected to the movable side plate (213), and the movable side plate (213) is movably connected to the clamping area (212) via a rotating shaft; The tail of the protective clip (700) is dovetail-shaped. When the protective clip (700) is placed in the clamping port (233), the inner wall of the clamping port (233) clamps the tail of the protective clip (700). The clamping mouth of the protective clip (700) faces downward, so that the clamping mouth of the protective clip (700) opens, thereby allowing the clamping mouth of the protective clip (700) to be inserted into the battery (600). It also includes a discharge device (300) connected to the discharge port (120). The discharge device (300) includes a conveyor line (310), a deflection mechanism (320), a push rod mechanism (330), a sensor (340), and a flipping mechanism (350). The conveyor line (310) has a height limiting bar (311) above its front end. The height limiting bar (311) restricts the passage of one layer of batteries at a time and makes the batteries lie horizontally. The conveyor line (310) has a left side plate (312) and a right side plate (313) on both sides. The deflection mechanism (320) is installed above the transmission line (310) and behind the height limiting crossbar (311) to turn the positive and negative terminals of the battery toward the left side plate (312) or the right side plate (313). The push rod mechanism (330) is installed on the left side plate (312) and the right side plate (313) respectively, and is located behind the deflection mechanism (320), including a push head (331) that moves telescopically toward the opposite side. The sensor (340) is used to detect the orientation of the battery and is located between the deflection mechanism (320) and the push rod mechanism (330). The sensor (340) is connected to the push rod mechanism (330). The flipping mechanism (350) is connected to the end of the conveyor line (310) and is used to change the battery from horizontal to vertical. It also includes a clamping mechanism (400) connected above the tail end of the flipping mechanism (350), the clamping mechanism (400) includes a clamping plate (410) and a second driver that drives the clamping plate (410) to move up and down, the clamping plate (410) includes a clamping port (411).

2. The system for mass discharge of retired power batteries according to claim 1, characterized in that: The discharge tank (100) is mounted on the drive mechanism in an inclined horizontal position with its inlet (110) higher than its outlet (120); the outer wall of the discharge tank (100) is provided with a transmission gear (160), and the drive mechanism meshes with the transmission gear (160) for drive.

3. The system for mass discharge of retired power batteries according to claim 1, characterized in that: The deflection mechanism (320) includes several deflection rods (321), several deflection guide rails (322), and several deflection motors (323). The deflection rods (321) are vertically mounted above the conveyor line (310) via the deflection guide rails (322). The deflection guide rails (322) are provided with guide grooves (324). One deflection motor (323) drives one deflection rod (321) to move along the guide grooves (324) to change the distribution position of the deflection rods (321). The deflection rods (321) can rotate freely. The flipping mechanism (350) includes two inclined tracks (352) composed of several guide plates (351). The guide plates (351) of a single track (352) are arranged and connected in sequence in a gradual change from horizontal to vertical orientation. A receiving plate (353) is provided below the guide rail, and baffles (354) are provided on both sides of the guide rail.

4. The system for mass discharge of retired power batteries according to claim 1, characterized in that: A separation device (500) is installed between the discharge port (120) and the discharge device (300). The separation device (500) includes a receiving tray (510), a sieve plate (520), a vibrator (530), and a collection tray (540). One end of the sieve plate (520) is connected to the receiving tray (510), and the other end is connected to the conveyor line (310). The sieve plate (520) is provided with a plurality of through holes (521) with a diameter larger than that of the discharge particles (150). The vibrator (530) is installed on the sieve plate (520), and the collection tray (540) is installed below the sieve plate (520).

5. A discharge method using the system for mass discharge of retired power batteries as described in claim 1, characterized in that: Several batteries are placed in a discharge container (100), and several discharge particles (150) are filled in the discharge container (100). The discharge container (100) is rotated, and the batteries and discharge particles (150) are flipped in the discharge container (100). The positive and negative terminals of the batteries are connected to the discharge particles (150) to randomly form an electrical path, thereby achieving the discharge effect of the batteries.

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