Battery replacement trolley body positioning assembly and battery replacement shuttle vehicle comprising same

Abstract

The application provides a vehicle body positioning assembly of a battery replacement trolley and a battery replacement shuttle vehicle comprising the same. The vehicle body positioning assembly is used for being arranged on a battery replacement shuttle vehicle. The battery replacement shuttle vehicle comprises a base and a first plate assembly used for placing and moving a battery pack. The vehicle body positioning assembly comprises a second plate assembly used for being fixed with a vehicle body of a battery replacement vehicle and reciprocally moving along a first direction. The first plate assembly is provided with a first platform. The first platform has an opening part extending from a first edge of the first platform to a center of the first platform along the first direction. The second plate assembly is at least partially located on an inner side of the opening part. The first direction is a moving direction of the battery pack during a locking and unlocking process of the battery pack on the battery replacement vehicle. The vehicle body positioning assembly can avoid the battery replacement shuttle vehicle from moving when the battery pack is installed on the battery replacement vehicle or removed from the battery replacement vehicle, so that the battery pack cannot be safely placed or removed, or the battery pack cannot be normally placed or removed, thereby ensuring the safety and efficiency of the battery replacement.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese patent application CN202111444383.8, filed on November 30, 2021. The entire contents of the aforementioned Chinese patent application are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This invention relates to the field of electric vehicle battery swapping, and particularly to a vehicle body positioning component for a battery swapping vehicle and a battery swapping shuttle vehicle including the component. Background Technology

[0003] Battery packs in existing electric vehicles are generally categorized into fixed and swappable types. Fixed battery packs are typically fixed to the vehicle, with the vehicle itself serving as the charging point. Swappable battery packs, on the other hand, are usually mounted on the vehicle using a removable installation method. The battery pack can be removed for individual replacement or charging. After charging, the removed battery pack is reinstalled in the vehicle. Currently, quick-swap technology is most mature in small passenger vehicles. Since passenger vehicle batteries are fixed to the chassis, battery pack replacement requires specialized swapping equipment to be moved to the underside of the vehicle for removal or installation. Furthermore, due to the smaller weight and size of passenger vehicles, battery swapping is very convenient.

[0004] However, for large vehicles, such as heavy-duty or light-duty trucks, the large vehicle body and cargo weight result in high demands for battery pack capacity. Sufficiently large electrical capacity is required to support the vehicle's range of hundreds of kilometers. Therefore, in current technology, large new energy vehicles typically use a top-mounted method to fix a large battery container to the vehicle's frame, with the battery container positioned close to the cab. This creates significant safety hazards for the driver and the vehicle itself during driving and the top-mounted battery swapping process. Furthermore, battery malfunctions can directly cause personal injury to the driver. Additionally, the top-mounted method requires a large enough area for the battery swapping station to operate the hoisting equipment, transfer batteries, and store them, leading to high construction costs.

[0005] Therefore, a safer, more reliable, and easier-to-adopt battery swapping model is urgently needed for large vehicles. For example, a chassis-based battery swapping model, similar to that used in passenger cars, could be adopted. In this model, the battery pack can be installed on the swapping vehicle via a battery swapping shuttle. However, during the swapping process, the battery swapping shuttle is prone to movement, making it difficult to safely or properly load and unload the battery pack. This not only affects swapping efficiency but may also damage the battery pack, creating safety hazards. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to overcome the defects of the existing battery swapping shuttle vehicle, which is prone to movement when swapping battery packs, resulting in a low success rate of battery pack replacement and easy damage to battery packs, causing safety hazards. The present invention provides a body positioning component for a battery swapping vehicle and a battery swapping shuttle vehicle including the component.

[0007] The present invention solves the above-mentioned technical problems through the following technical solution:

[0008] This invention provides a vehicle positioning component for a battery swapping vehicle, for mounting on a battery swapping shuttle, the battery swapping shuttle including a base and a first plate assembly for placing and moving a battery pack, the vehicle positioning component comprising:

[0009] The second plate assembly is used to fix the battery swapping vehicle body and can reciprocate along the first direction;

[0010] The first plate assembly has a first platform, the first platform has an opening, the opening extends from a first edge of the first platform along a first direction toward the center of the first platform, and the second plate assembly is at least partially located inside the opening;

[0011] The first direction is the direction of movement of the battery pack during the unlocking and unlocking process on the battery swapping vehicle.

[0012] In this solution, the second plate assembly is fixed to the body of the battery swapping vehicle to prevent the battery swapping shuttle from moving when installing or removing the battery pack, which could lead to unsafe or improper battery pack handling and thus ensure the safety and efficiency of battery swapping. By setting an opening on the first platform of the first plate assembly, the second plate assembly is exposed, which prevents it from interfering with the first platform and facilitates the disassembly and replacement of its components.

[0013] Preferably, the vehicle positioning component further includes:

[0014] A first drive mechanism, wherein the power output end of the first drive mechanism is connected to the second plate assembly, and drives the second plate assembly to reciprocate relative to the base along the first direction;

[0015] A first guide mechanism is disposed on the base and extends along the first direction, the first guide mechanism being used to guide the second plate assembly.

[0016] In this scheme, the second plate assembly is driven to reciprocate in a first direction by the first drive mechanism to achieve positioning and depositioning with the battery swapping vehicle. The first guide mechanism guides the movement of the second plate assembly, ensuring that the second plate assembly can move along the preset direction during the movement, avoiding deviation, and further ensuring the safety and efficiency of battery swapping.

[0017] Preferably, the second plate assembly includes a first frame, on which a vehicle body positioning element is provided, and the first frame is located above the horizontal plane of the first platform or the first frame is flush with the first platform.

[0018] In this solution, the first frame of the second plate assembly is positioned at the aforementioned location to facilitate positioning of the vehicle body positioning component and the battery swapping vehicle, thereby avoiding interference with the first plate assembly.

[0019] Preferably, the first frame includes a first sub-frame and a second sub-frame stacked together, the first sub-frame and the second sub-frame being relatively fixed, the second sub-frame being located below the horizontal plane of the first platform, and the first sub-frame being located above the horizontal plane of the first platform or flush with the first platform, and the vehicle positioning component being disposed on the first sub-frame.

[0020] Two pads are provided between the second subframe and the first subframe. The two pads are located on opposite sides of the first subframe. One end of each pad is fixed to one side of the second subframe, and the other end of each pad is fixed to one side of the first subframe.

[0021] In this design, by placing the first and second subframes of the second plate assembly on the upper and lower sides of the first platform, respectively, the second subframe is positioned close to the drive mechanism, facilitating direct and convenient driving of the entire second plate assembly. Furthermore, this design prevents interference between the second plate assembly and the first platform during movement. The use of pads saves material on the first frame, reducing costs and overall weight. The structure formed by the pads, the second subframe, and the first subframe allows for the placement of other components, saving design space.

[0022] Preferably, in a direction perpendicular to the first direction, the orthographic projection of the first subframe on the horizontal plane is located inside the orthographic projection of the second subframe on the horizontal plane.

[0023] In this solution, by adopting the above structure, and by setting the second subframe to be wider than the first subframe and setting the first subframe in the inner region of the second subframe, the distance between the two guide parts of the first guide mechanism can be set to be wider, which is beneficial to the smooth movement of the second plate assembly.

[0024] Preferably, the first subframe has a first end and a second end in the first direction, the first end of the first subframe is fixed to the second subframe, and the second end of the first subframe is suspended above the second subframe.

[0025] The base has two sidewalls parallel to the first direction symmetrically provided with pressing blocks. The pressing blocks have clamping grooves extending along the first direction. The side of the second end of the first subframe is slidably connected to the clamping grooves.

[0026] In this design, one end of the first subframe is suspended above the second subframe. This serves two purposes: firstly, to avoid interference with other structures, and secondly, to facilitate easier integration with its corresponding components. A pressing block supports the suspended end of the first subframe, preventing it from bending due to vehicle body positioning. The pressing block's clamping action ensures the first subframe moves along a primary direction, effectively preventing displacement in other directions.

[0027] Preferably, the first subframe extends outward from the outer side of the base along the first direction.

[0028] In this design, the first subframe extends beyond the base, allowing for interaction with battery-swapping vehicles in a wider space, thus meeting the battery-swapping needs of different types of vehicles.

[0029] Preferably, the vehicle body positioning component is a positioning pin, which is located at the corner of the first subframe away from the base. There are at least two positioning pins, which are fixed to the first subframe by threads.

[0030] In this design, the vehicle body positioning components use multiple positioning pins to enable multi-point positioning of the battery swapping vehicle, making positioning more reliable. The positioning pins are fixed to the first sub-frame, facilitating the engagement of the positioning pins with their corresponding components. The positioning pins are located at the corners to make full use of the installation space provided by the first frame. The pins are fixed to the first sub-frame by threads, making disassembly and replacement of worn positioning pins convenient.

[0031] Preferably, the positioning pin includes a frustum portion and a cylindrical portion, the frustum portion being fixedly connected to the cylindrical portion, and the cross-sectional area of ​​the frustum portion gradually increasing from top to bottom.

[0032] In this design, the positioning pin includes a frustum portion and a cylindrical portion. The shape of the frustum portion facilitates positioning of the second plate assembly with the corresponding positioning part of the battery swapping vehicle, while the cylindrical portion can extend into the positioning part of the battery swapping vehicle for more secure positioning.

[0033] Preferably, the first subframe is provided with a weight-reducing groove, which is either a waist-shaped groove or a plurality of weight-reducing holes.

[0034] In this design, the weight-reducing groove in the first subframe can reduce the overall weight of the second plate assembly.

[0035] Preferably, the end of the second sub-frame is disposed within a recessed portion at the end of the battery swapping trolley in the first direction for avoidance.

[0036] In this design, the end of the second subframe is placed in the recess, which avoids interference between the second subframe and other components of the battery swapping vehicle.

[0037] Preferably, the first guiding mechanism is a guide rail extending along the first direction, and the second plate assembly is provided with a slider that is slidably connected to the guide rail.

[0038] In this design, the first guiding mechanism adopts a guide rail and slider structure to ensure the smooth movement of the second plate assembly and reduce fluctuations during the movement.

[0039] Preferably, the base of the guide rail is provided with a guide support seat, the guide rail is fixedly connected to the guide support seat, and the guide support seat is fixedly disposed on the base;

[0040] The guide support includes a base plate and reinforcing ribs. The guide rail is disposed on the base plate, and the reinforcing ribs are provided on both sides of the base plate.

[0041] In this design, the connection between the guide rail and the base is strengthened by the addition of reinforcing ribs, preventing the first guide mechanism from shaking due to excessive force.

[0042] Preferably, the first guiding mechanism has two guiding portions, which are arranged parallel to each other and spaced apart along a direction perpendicular to the first direction.

[0043] In this scheme, the first guiding mechanism is set in two parallel configurations to ensure the reliability and stability of the guidance.

[0044] Preferably, the first drive mechanism consists of two sets of drive components with the same driving direction, and the two sets of drive components are disposed between the two guide portions.

[0045] In this design, two sets of drive components and guide components are provided, which improves the load-bearing capacity of the second plate assembly; the two sets of drive components are located inside the two guide components, which improves space utilization and makes the movement of the second plate assembly more stable.

[0046] Preferably, the first drive mechanism is disposed below the second plate assembly and on the base.

[0047] In this solution, the first drive mechanism is located between the second plate assembly and the base, which can compress the height of the battery swapping shuttle, making the overall structure of the battery swapping shuttle more compact.

[0048] Preferably, the first drive mechanism is mounted on the base via a mounting bracket having a hole through which the first drive mechanism passes, and the mounting bracket is provided with reinforcing ribs.

[0049] In this solution, the above structure is used, and the mounting bracket can effectively fix the first drive mechanism to prevent it from shaking, thereby effectively avoiding the instability of power transmission caused by the shaking of the first drive mechanism.

[0050] Preferably, the vehicle positioning component further includes a positioning detection device and an origin detection device. The positioning detection device is used to detect whether the second plate assembly has reached a preset position, and the origin detection device is used to detect whether the second plate assembly is located at the origin position; and / or

[0051] The vehicle positioning component also includes an extreme position sensor, which is used to stop the movement of the second plate assembly when the second plate assembly moves to a preset extreme position.

[0052] In this solution, a positioning detection device can detect whether the second plate assembly has reached the preset position, ensuring the accuracy of its movement and improving battery swapping efficiency. An origin detection device detects whether the second plate assembly is at the origin position; when the second plate assembly needs to be reset, the origin detection device can determine whether the reset has been completed, improving the accuracy of the reset. Limit position sensors prevent the second plate assembly from moving beyond its limit positions, preventing derailment or interference with other components.

[0053] The present invention also provides a battery swapping shuttle, the battery swapping shuttle including a base, a first plate assembly for placing and moving a battery pack, the battery swapping shuttle further including: a lifting mechanism connected to the base, a body positioning assembly of the battery swapping trolley as described above disposed on the base, and a battery movement unlocking assembly, the battery movement unlocking assembly including the first plate assembly and an unlocking element disposed on the first plate assembly.

[0054] In this solution, the body positioning component of the battery swapping shuttle can accurately position the battery swapping trolley and the battery swapping vehicle. The lifting mechanism lifts the first plate component to an appropriate height close to the battery swapping vehicle, thereby enabling the battery movement unlocking component to install or remove the battery.

[0055] Preferably, the battery moving unlocking assembly further includes a second driving mechanism and a second guiding mechanism, the second driving mechanism being used to drive the first plate assembly to reciprocate along the first direction;

[0056] The power output end of the second drive mechanism is connected to the first plate assembly to drive the first plate assembly to reciprocate relative to the base along the first direction;

[0057] The second guide mechanism is disposed on the base and the guide direction of the second guide mechanism extends along the first direction. The second guide mechanism is used to guide the first plate assembly to move.

[0058] In this solution, the first plate assembly is driven by the second drive mechanism to carry and move the battery pack to be installed along the first direction, thereby installing the battery pack on the battery swapping vehicle; the movement of the first plate assembly is guided by the second guide mechanism to ensure that the first plate assembly can move along the preset direction during the movement and avoid deviation.

[0059] Preferably, tray mounting areas are provided on both sides of the opening of the first platform in the first plate assembly. The tray mounting areas are used to install trays that carry battery packs. A battery fixing area is provided between the two tray mounting areas. The battery fixing area is provided with battery pack positioning components.

[0060] The unlocking component is an unlocking rod located in the tray mounting area, and the unlocking rod passes through a through hole in the tray.

[0061] In this design, the battery pack is supported by a tray in the battery tray mounting area on the first panel assembly, preventing rigid collisions between the battery pack and the first panel assembly that could damage it. A battery pack positioning component is used to position and move the battery pack. An unlocking component is installed within the tray mounting area, ensuring that it can trigger the battery pack's unlocking mechanism, thus improving operational accuracy.

[0062] The positive and progressive effects of this invention are as follows: The vehicle positioning component of this invention is fixed to the vehicle body of the battery swapping vehicle through the second plate component, which prevents the battery swapping shuttle from moving when installing or removing the battery pack from the battery swapping vehicle, thus ensuring the safety and efficiency of battery swapping. By providing an opening on the first platform of the first plate component, the second plate component is exposed, which on the one hand prevents it from interfering with the first platform, and on the other hand facilitates the disassembly and replacement of the components of the second plate component. Attached Figure Description

[0063] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the battery swapping shuttle vehicle in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0064] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a local part of the structure.

[0065] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram showing the installation positions of the first plate assembly and the second plate assembly on the base in the battery swapping shuttle vehicle in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0066] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second plate assembly in this invention.

[0067] Figure 5 for Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the structure of the vehicle body positioning component.

[0068] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first plate assembly in this invention.

[0069] Figure 7 This is a partial schematic diagram of the body support for mounting the battery pack in an existing electric vehicle.

[0070] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the battery pack structure according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0071] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram showing the position of the top rod in the battery pack according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0072] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the torque gun according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0073] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the installation of a threaded lock as a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0074] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the installation of a T-lock as the locking mechanism in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0075] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0076] Second board assembly 100

[0077] First Subframe 101

[0078] Weight reduction tank 1011

[0079] Second subframe 102

[0080] 103 pad

[0081] Vehicle body positioning component 110

[0082] Mounting base 111

[0083] Cylindrical part 112

[0084] Frustum section 113

[0085] First board assembly 200

[0086] First Platform 210

[0087] Opening 211

[0088] Unlocking part 220

[0089] Battery pack positioning component 230

[0090] Pallet 240

[0091] First drive component 310

[0092] Second drive component 320

[0093] Third drive component 330

[0094] Fourth drive component 340

[0095] Drive 301

[0096] Power take-off shaft 302

[0097] Transmission Unit 303

[0098] First Guiding Section 410

[0099] Second guide section 420

[0100] Third Guiding Section 430

[0101] Fourth guide section 440

[0102] Slider 401

[0103] Guide support 402

[0104] Base 500

[0105] Body bracket 600

[0106] First lock base 610

[0107] Opening 611

[0108] Lock slot 612

[0109] Locking tongue 613

[0110] Locking rod 620

[0111] Second lock base 640

[0112] First opening 641

[0113] First threaded section 642

[0114] Third lock base 650

[0115] Second opening 651

[0116] Stop 652

[0117] Battery pack 700

[0118] Mounting bracket 710

[0119] Hook and Connector 711

[0120] Top rod 720

[0121] First lock connection structure 730

[0122] Mounting base 731

[0123] Unlocking Unit 732

[0124] Second opening 733

[0125] Second threaded section 734

[0126] Second lock connection structure 740

[0127] Drive Unit 741

[0128] Locking part 742

[0129] Torque Gun 800

[0130] Sleeve device 810

[0131] Power unit 820

[0132] Pre-compression device 830

[0133] 840 outer casing Detailed Implementation

[0134] The present invention will be described more clearly and completely below with reference to a preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings.

[0135] Example 1

[0136] like Figure 1-6As shown, this embodiment discloses a vehicle body positioning assembly for a battery swapping vehicle, which is installed on a battery swapping shuttle. The battery swapping shuttle includes a base 500 and a first plate assembly 200 for placing and moving a battery pack. The vehicle body positioning assembly includes a second plate assembly 100, which is fixed to the vehicle body and can reciprocate along a first direction. The first plate assembly 200 has a first platform 210 with an opening 211 extending from a first edge of the first platform 210 towards its center along the first direction. The second plate assembly 100 is at least partially located inside the opening 211. The first direction is the direction of movement of the battery pack during the locking and unlocking process on the battery swapping vehicle.

[0137] The vehicle positioning component is fixed to the vehicle body of the battery swapping vehicle via the second plate component 100, preventing the battery swapping shuttle from moving when installing or removing the battery pack, which could lead to unsafe or improper battery pack handling, thus ensuring the safety and efficiency of battery swapping. By providing an opening 211 on the first platform 210 of the first plate component 200, the second plate component 100 is exposed, which prevents it from interfering with the first platform 210 and facilitates the disassembly and replacement of the components of the second plate component 100.

[0138] The vehicle positioning assembly also includes a first drive mechanism and a first guide mechanism. The power output end of the first drive mechanism is connected to the second plate assembly 100, and drives the second plate assembly 100 to reciprocate relative to the base 500 along a first direction. The first guide mechanism is disposed on the base 500 and extends along the first direction, and is used to guide the second plate assembly 100. By driving the second plate assembly 100 to reciprocate in the first direction through the first drive mechanism, positioning and depositioning with the battery swapping vehicle are achieved. By using the first guide mechanism to guide the movement of the second plate assembly 100, it is ensured that the second plate assembly 100 can move along the preset direction during the movement, avoiding deviation, and further ensuring the safety and efficiency of battery swapping.

[0139] The second plate assembly 100 includes a first frame, on which a vehicle body positioning component 110 is provided. The first frame is located above or flush with the horizontal plane of the first platform 210. By setting the first frame of the second plate assembly 100 in the above-mentioned position, it is convenient for the vehicle body positioning component 110 to be positioned with the battery swapping vehicle, avoiding movement interference with the first plate assembly 200.

[0140] like Figure 4As shown, in this embodiment, the first frame includes a first sub-frame 101 and a second sub-frame 102 stacked together. The first sub-frame 101 and the second sub-frame 102 are relatively fixed. The second sub-frame 102 is located below the horizontal plane of the first platform 210, and the first sub-frame 101 is located above the horizontal plane of the first platform 210. The vehicle body positioning component 110 is disposed on the first sub-frame 101. By disposing the first sub-frame 101 and the second sub-frame 102 of the second plate assembly 100 on the upper and lower sides of the first platform 210 respectively, the second sub-frame 102 is positioned close to the drive mechanism, facilitating the drive mechanism to directly and conveniently drive the entire second plate assembly 100. Furthermore, it avoids interference between the second plate assembly 100 and the first platform 210 during movement. In other embodiments, the first sub-frame 101 may also be flush with the first platform 210.

[0141] like Figure 4 As shown, in this embodiment, two pads 103 are provided between the second sub-frame 102 and the first sub-frame 101. The two pads 103 are located on opposite sides of the first sub-frame 101, with one end of each pad fixed to one side of the second sub-frame 102 and the other end fixed to one side of the first sub-frame 101. By using the pads 103, material for the first frame is saved, reducing costs and the overall weight of the first frame is lightened. The structure formed by the pads 103, the second sub-frame 102, and the first sub-frame 101 can accommodate other components, saving design space.

[0142] In this embodiment, in a direction perpendicular to the first direction, the orthographic projection of the first sub-frame 101 on the horizontal plane is located inside the orthographic projection of the second sub-frame 102 on the horizontal plane. By setting the second sub-frame 102 to be wider than the first sub-frame 101 and setting the first sub-frame 101 in the inner region of the second sub-frame 102, the distance between the two guide portions of the first guide mechanism can be set to be wider, which is beneficial to the smooth movement of the second plate assembly 100.

[0143] like Figure 4 As shown, the first sub-frame 101 has a first end and a second end in a first direction. The first end of the first sub-frame 101 is fixed to the second sub-frame 102, and the second end of the first sub-frame 101 is suspended above the second sub-frame 102. Suspending one end of the first sub-frame 101 above the second sub-frame 102 is done to avoid other structures and to facilitate cooperation with its corresponding components.

[0144] In other embodiments, the base 500 has two sidewalls parallel to the first direction symmetrically provided with pressing blocks. Each pressing block has a clamping groove extending along the first direction, and the side of the second end of the first sub-frame 101 is slidably connected to the clamping groove. The pressing blocks support the suspended end of the first sub-frame 101, preventing the first frame from bending due to vehicle body positioning. The clamping of the pressing blocks ensures that the first sub-frame 101 can move along the first direction, effectively preventing displacement in other directions. The clamping part can be made of Teflon to avoid rigid friction with the first sub-frame 101.

[0145] The first subframe 101 extends outward from the outer side of the base 500 along a first direction. The first subframe 101 extends outward from the base 500, and the extended portion can be used to interact with the battery swapping vehicle in a wider space, meeting the battery swapping needs of different types of vehicles.

[0146] Specifically, such as Figure 4-5 As shown, in this embodiment, the vehicle body positioning component 110 is a positioning pin, and there are two positioning pins. The positioning pins are fixed to the first sub-frame 101 by threads. Setting two positioning pins allows the positioned component to be positioned at multiple points, making the positioning more reliable and making the mutual positioning between the second plate component 100 and the battery swapping vehicle more secure. The threaded fixing facilitates disassembly and replacement of worn positioning pins.

[0147] Among them, such as Figure 5 As shown, the positioning pin includes a frustum portion 113, a cylindrical portion 112, and a mounting base 111. The frustum portion 113 is fixedly connected to the cylindrical portion 112, and the cylindrical portion 112 is fixed to the mounting base 111. The mounting base 111 has mounting holes, and the cross-sectional area of ​​the frustum portion 113 gradually increases from top to bottom. The shape of the frustum portion 113 facilitates the positioning of the first plate assembly 200 with the battery swapping vehicle, and the cylindrical portion 112 can extend into the positioning part of the battery swapping vehicle, making the positioning more secure.

[0148] In other embodiments, the number of positioning pins may be one or more, depending on the number of positioning parts on the battery swapping vehicle, or multiple body positioning components 110 may be provided in different locations to accommodate more vehicle models. Furthermore, the body positioning component 110 is not limited to a positioning pin; any structure that can cooperate with the positioning parts on the body of the battery swapping vehicle is acceptable.

[0149] like Figure 4 As shown, the first sub-frame 101 is provided with a weight-reducing groove 1011, which is either a waist-shaped groove or a plurality of weight-reducing holes. The weight-reducing groove 1011 can reduce the overall weight of the second plate assembly 100.

[0150] The end of the second subframe 102 is located within a recessed portion at the end of the battery swapping trolley in the first direction for avoidance. By placing the end of the second subframe 102 within the recessed portion, interference between the second subframe 102 and other components of the battery swapping trolley is avoided.

[0151] like Figure 1-3 As shown, the first guiding mechanism has two guiding sections, namely a first guiding section 410 and a second guiding section 420. The first guiding section 410 and the second guiding section 420 are arranged parallel to each other and spaced apart along a direction perpendicular to the first direction. The first guiding mechanism has two guiding sections to ensure the reliability and stability of the guidance. The first driving mechanism consists of two sets of driving components with the same driving direction, namely a first driving component 310 and a second driving component 320, which are disposed between the first guiding section 410 and the second guiding section 420. The driving components and the guiding sections are each provided in two sets, which improves the load-bearing capacity of the second plate assembly 100; the two sets of driving components are disposed inside the two guiding sections, which improves the space utilization and makes the movement of the second plate assembly 100 more stable.

[0152] The first drive mechanism is located below the second plate assembly 100 and on the base 500. By placing the first drive mechanism between the second plate assembly 100 and the base 500, the height of the battery swapping shuttle can be reduced, making the overall structure of the battery swapping shuttle more compact.

[0153] The first drive mechanism is mounted on the base 500 via a mounting bracket. The mounting bracket has holes for the first drive mechanism to pass through and is equipped with reinforcing ribs. With this structure, the mounting bracket can effectively fix the first drive mechanism in place, preventing it from shaking and thus effectively avoiding unstable power transmission caused by shaking.

[0154] like Figure 2 As shown, the first drive assembly 310 and the second drive assembly 320 are identical in model and move synchronously. Both include a driver 301, a power output shaft 302, and a transmission part 303. The power output shaft 302 is fitted with the transmission part 303 and threadedly engaged with it. The transmission part 303 is connected to the second plate assembly 100. The driver 301 drives the power output shaft 302 to rotate. In this embodiment, the driver 301 is a servo motor, the power output shaft 302 is a lead screw connected to the output shaft of the servo motor, and the transmission part 303 is a lead screw nut that engages with the lead screw and moves along its axial direction. The two drive assemblies drive the power output shaft 302 to rotate via the driver 301. The transmission part 303 converts the rotational motion of the power output shaft 302 into linear motion of the second plate assembly 100 along the axial direction of the power output shaft 302, ensuring the moving efficiency and smoothness of the second plate assembly 100.

[0155] In this embodiment, both the first guide portion 410 and the second guide portion 420 are guide rails extending along a first direction and sliders 401 that slide in cooperation with the guide rails. The two guide rails are mounted on the guide portion support 402, and the two sliders 401 are respectively connected to the bottom of the second plate assembly 100. The second plate assembly 100, fixed on the sliders 401, is driven to reciprocate along the first direction on the guide rails by the synchronous drive of the first drive assembly 310 and the second drive assembly 320. The second plate assembly 100 uses guide rails and sliders 401 as a guiding and moving mechanism, ensuring stable movement of the second plate assembly 100 during movement and preventing lateral fluctuations during movement.

[0156] like Figure 2 As shown, a guide support 402 is provided at the bottom of the guide rail, and the guide rail is fixedly connected to the guide support 402, which is fixedly mounted on the base 500. The guide support 402 includes a base plate and reinforcing ribs. The guide rail is mounted on the base plate, and reinforcing ribs are provided on both sides of the base plate. The reinforcing ribs enhance the firmness of the connection between the guide rail and the base 500, preventing the first guide mechanism from shaking due to excessive force.

[0157] The guide support 402 is made of steel profile, with a cross-section of either Z-shaped or I-shaped. As a standard profile, steel profiles come in numerous specifications and are of high strength, allowing for flexible selection based on requirements. Z-shaped or I-shaped steel profiles have a relatively large upper surface, facilitating the installation of the drive unit and increasing its connection strength; they also have a relatively large lower surface, which helps to distribute pressure.

[0158] The vehicle positioning component also includes a position detection device and an origin detection device. The position detection device is used to detect whether the second plate assembly 100 has reached the preset position, and the origin detection device is used to detect whether the second plate assembly 100 is located at the origin position.

[0159] The positioning detection device includes a first proximity switch and a first trigger. The first proximity switch is located on the side wall of the mounting chamber of the second plate assembly 100, and the first trigger is located on the second plate assembly 100. The origin detection device includes a second proximity switch and a second trigger. The second proximity switch is located on the side wall of the mounting chamber of the second plate assembly 100, and the second trigger is located on the second plate assembly 100.

[0160] By setting up a positioning detection device, it is possible to detect whether the second plate assembly 100 has reached the preset position, ensuring the accuracy of the movement of the second plate assembly 100, thereby ensuring the accuracy of the movement of the battery pack and improving the battery swapping efficiency. By setting up an origin detection device, it is possible to detect whether the second plate assembly 100 is located at the origin position. When the second plate assembly 100 needs to be reset, the origin detection device can be used to determine whether the reset has been completed, thereby improving the accuracy of the reset of the second plate assembly 100.

[0161] The vehicle body positioning assembly also includes a limit position sensor, which stops the second plate assembly 100 when it reaches a preset limit position. The limit position sensor prevents the second plate assembly 100 from moving beyond its limit position, thus preventing it from derailing or interfering with other components. The limit position sensor is one of the following: a photoelectric sensor, a Hall element, a potential sensor, a magnetostrictive sensor, or an ultrasonic sensor.

[0162] Example 2

[0163] like Figure 1-6 As shown, this embodiment discloses a battery swapping shuttle, which includes a base 500, a first plate assembly 200 for placing and moving a battery pack, and further includes a lifting mechanism connected to the base 500, a body positioning assembly of the battery swapping vehicle as described in Embodiment 1 above, and a battery movement unlocking assembly disposed on the base 500. The battery movement unlocking assembly includes the first plate assembly 200 and an unlocking element 220 disposed on the first plate assembly 200.

[0164] The battery swapping shuttle can accurately position the battery swapping trolley and the battery swapping vehicle through the body positioning component. The lifting mechanism lifts the first plate component 200 to an appropriate height close to the battery swapping vehicle, thereby enabling the battery movement unlocking component to install or remove the battery.

[0165] The battery movement unlocking assembly also includes a second drive mechanism and a second guide mechanism. The second drive mechanism drives the first plate assembly 200 to reciprocate along a first direction. The power output end of the second drive mechanism is connected to the first plate assembly 200 to drive the first plate assembly 200 to reciprocate relative to the base 500 along the first direction. The second guide mechanism is disposed on the base 500 and extends along the first direction, guiding the movement of the first plate assembly 200.

[0166] The first plate assembly 200 is driven by the second drive mechanism to carry and move the battery pack to be installed along the first direction, thereby installing the battery pack on the battery swapping vehicle; the movement of the first plate assembly 200 is guided by the second guide mechanism to ensure that the first plate assembly 200 can move along the preset direction during the movement and avoid deviation.

[0167] like Figure 1-3 As shown, the second drive mechanism includes a third drive assembly 330 and a fourth drive assembly 340. The third drive assembly 330 and the fourth drive assembly 340 have similar structures to the two drive assemblies of the first drive mechanism in Embodiment 1, both including a driver 301, a power output shaft 302, and a transmission part 303. However, the model of the driver 301 and the dimensions of the power output shaft 302 and the transmission part 303 of the third drive assembly 330 and the fourth drive assembly 340 may differ from those of the first drive assembly 310 and the second drive assembly 320. The specific operating methods of the third drive assembly 330 and the fourth drive assembly 340 will not be described in detail here.

[0168] When the vehicle body positioning assembly is installed on the battery swapping shuttle, the first guide portion 410 is located between the first drive assembly 310 and the third drive assembly 330, and the second guide portion 420 is located between the second drive assembly 320 and the fourth drive assembly 340. The first guide portion 410 and the second guide portion 420 are positioned as described above, making full use of the space of the base 500 and making the arrangement of the various parts of the vehicle body positioning assembly more compact.

[0169] The second guiding mechanism also includes two guiding parts, namely the third guiding part 430 and the fourth guiding part 440. Similar to the structure of the first guiding part 410 and the second guiding part 420 in Embodiment 1, the third guiding part 430 and the fourth guiding part 440 are also mounted on the base 500 via guiding part support seats 402. Both the third guiding part 430 and the fourth guiding part 440 consist of a guide rail extending along the first direction and a slider 401 that slides in cooperation with the guide rail; the specific connection structure will not be described in detail here. The first plate assembly 200 uses guide rails and sliders 401 as a guiding movement mechanism, ensuring stable movement of the first plate assembly 200 during movement and preventing lateral fluctuations during movement.

[0170] like Figure 1 and Figure 6 As shown, in the first plate assembly 200, tray mounting areas are provided on both sides of the opening 211 of the first platform 210. These tray mounting areas are used to mount trays 240 that carry battery packs. A battery fixing area is provided between the two tray mounting areas, and a battery pack positioning component 230 is provided in the battery fixing area. The unlocking component 220 is an unlocking rod located in the tray 240 mounting area, passing through a through hole in the tray 240. By using the tray 240 in the battery tray mounting area of ​​the first plate assembly 200 to carry the battery pack, rigid collisions between the battery pack and the first plate assembly 200 are avoided, preventing damage to the battery pack. The battery pack positioning component 230 positions and moves the battery pack; the unlocking component 220, installed in the tray mounting area, ensures that it can trigger the unlocking mechanism of the battery pack, improving operational accuracy.

[0171] In this embodiment, the unlocking component 220 is a pin, which can trigger the top rod of the battery pack, causing the top rod of the battery pack to trigger the unlocking linkage in the battery swapping vehicle. The unlocking linkage further triggers the locking mechanism of the body bracket 600 on the battery swapping vehicle used to install the battery pack, thereby unlocking or locking the battery pack.

[0172] The battery swapping shuttle also includes a lifting mechanism connected to the base 500, which is used to raise and lower the base 500. The raising and lowering of the base 500 causes the first plate assembly 200 to rise and fall, allowing the battery pack on the first plate assembly 200 to be installed on the battery swapping vehicle, or to be removed from the battery swapping vehicle and placed on the first plate assembly 200. An unlocking member 220 is used to unlock the battery pack from the battery swapping vehicle when the battery pack is lifted. The lifting mechanism is capable of lifting the base 500 for vertical movement.

[0173] Accordingly, such as Figure 7 As shown, the locking mechanism of the vehicle body bracket 600 includes a first lock base 610. The lock base 610 has a lock groove 612 for the locking shaft on the battery pack to enter and lock. At least a portion of the locking tongue 613 is inserted into the lock groove 612 to prevent the locking shaft from leaving the lock groove 612. One end of the locking tongue 613 is rotatably disposed within the first lock base 610, and the other end of the locking tongue 613 is connected to a locking linkage 620. The locking linkage 620 is used to rotate the locking tongue 613 between an unlocked state and a locked state under the action of an unlocking driving force, thereby opening or closing the opening 611 for the locking shaft to enter and exit the lock groove 612. The opening 611 is a flared shape to facilitate the entry of the battery pack's locking shaft into the lock groove 612.

[0174] like Figures 8 to 9 As shown, the battery pack 700 has a mounting bracket 710 at its upper end, and a hook-and-loop fastener 711 is provided on the mounting bracket 710. The locking shaft is the hook-and-loop fastener 711 on each mounting bracket 710 of the battery pack 700. The hook-and-loop fastener 711 is located at the top of the battery pack 700 corresponding to the locking mechanism position on the body bracket 600 of the battery swapping vehicle. The battery pack 700 is locked by inserting the hook-and-loop fastener 711 into the locking groove 612 of the locking mechanism. A push rod 720 is provided inside the battery pack 700 at the position corresponding to the locking mechanism. The push rod 720 is used to push up the locking linkage 620 of the locking mechanism.

[0175] In other embodiments, the unlocking element can also be a torque unlocking element, which applies torque to cooperate with the locking mechanism to achieve locking and unlocking. In this case, the unlocking element can be a torque gun. Figure 10As shown, the torque gun 800 includes a sleeve device 810, a power unit 820, a preload device 830, and a housing 840. The upper end of the sleeve device 810 is connected to the locking mechanism of the battery pack and is rotatable to transmit torque to the locking mechanism. The power unit 820 is used to output power to drive the sleeve device 810 to rotate. One end of the preload device 830 abuts against the sleeve device 810, and the other end abuts against the power unit 820. The preload device 830 is in a preloaded state and is used to provide an upward preload force to the sleeve device 810. The lower end of the housing 840 is connected to the power unit 820, and the upper end of the housing 840 is connected to the sleeve device 810. The internal space of the housing 840 is used to accommodate a part of the sleeve device 810 and at least a part of the power unit 820. The power unit 820 and the sleeve device 810 are housed in the same outer casing 840, making the structure compact and the layout reasonable. The preload device 830 provides an upward preload force. In the working state, the preload device 830 can continuously provide an upward restoring force. In the non-working state, the preload device 830 can maintain the stability of the sleeve device 810 within a certain force range.

[0176] When the locking mechanism is a threaded lock, an external thread is provided on the outer circumference of the unlocking rod. When unlocking is required, the unlocking rod drives the external thread to move, thereby unlocking the mechanism by engaging with the internal thread on the locking mechanism. Figure 11 As shown, the locking mechanism includes a second lock base 640, which has a first opening 641 extending vertically. A first threaded portion 642, which is an internal thread, is provided within the first opening 641. The battery pack includes a first lock connection structure 730 for engaging with the second lock base 640 to achieve locking. The first lock connection structure 730 includes a mounting base 731 and an unlocking portion 732. A second opening 733 extending vertically is provided within the mounting base 732. The unlocking portion 732 is vertically disposed within the second opening 733 and is movable vertically relative to the mounting base 731. The unlocking portion 732 has a second threaded portion 734 that engages with the first threaded portion 642. By applying torque to a torque gun to rotate the lock connection structure 730, the second threaded portion 734 can engage with the first threaded portion 642, thereby achieving locking and unlocking of the second lock base 640 and the lock connection structure 730.

[0177] When the locking mechanism is a T-lock, the top of the unlocking lever has a horizontal bar. This horizontal bar is fixedly connected to the body of the unlocking lever, forming a T-shaped structure. Rotation of the unlocking lever causes the horizontal bar to change angle. When the angle of the horizontal bar matches the opening angle on the T-lock, the horizontal bar disengages from the opening, thus unlocking the locking mechanism. Figure 12As shown, the locking mechanism includes a third lock base 650, which has a second opening 651 extending vertically. A stop portion 652 is provided within the second opening 651. In this embodiment, the second opening 651 is a square hole, and the stop portion 652 is formed above the second opening 651. The battery pack includes a second lock connection structure 740, which includes a drive portion 741. A locking portion 742 is provided at the upper end of the drive portion 741. The locking portion 742 includes a locking rod extending horizontally. The locking rod is a columnar body and is horizontally disposed on the top of the drive portion 741. The locking portion 742 and the drive portion 741 together form a T-shaped structure. By applying torque to the torque gun to drive the second locking connection structure 740 to rotate, when the locking part 742 is at the first angle, the locking rod can pass through the second opening 651 and enter the stop part 652 of the third lock base 650. When the locking part 742 rotates to the second angle, the locking rod can be restricted in the stop part 652, thereby fixing the locking mechanism and the second locking connection structure 740 relative to each other.

[0178] The aforementioned structure and unlocking method make it suitable for various unlocking environments.

[0179] While specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, those skilled in the art should understand that these are merely illustrative examples, and the scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the appended claims. Those skilled in the art can make various changes or modifications to these embodiments without departing from the principles and essence of the present invention, but all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A body positioning assembly for a battery swapping vehicle, for mounting on a battery swapping shuttle, the battery swapping shuttle comprising a base and a first plate assembly for placing and moving a battery pack, characterized in that, The vehicle positioning component includes: The second plate assembly is used to fix the battery swapping vehicle body and can reciprocate along the first direction; The first plate assembly has a first platform, the first platform has an opening, the opening extends from a first edge of the first platform along a first direction toward the center of the first platform, and the second plate assembly is at least partially located inside the opening; The first direction is the direction in which the battery pack moves during the locking and unlocking process on the battery swapping vehicle; The second plate assembly includes a first frame, which includes a first sub-frame and a second sub-frame stacked together. The first sub-frame and the second sub-frame are fixed relative to each other. The second sub-frame is located below the horizontal plane of the first platform, and the first sub-frame is located above the horizontal plane of the first platform or is flush with the first platform. The first sub-frame is provided with a vehicle body positioning component.

2. The vehicle positioning component of the battery swapping vehicle as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The vehicle positioning component also includes: A first drive mechanism, wherein the power output end of the first drive mechanism is connected to the second plate assembly, and drives the second plate assembly to reciprocate relative to the base along the first direction; A first guide mechanism is disposed on the base and extends along the first direction, the first guide mechanism being used to guide the second plate assembly.

3. The vehicle positioning component of the battery swapping vehicle as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Two pads are provided between the second subframe and the first subframe. The two pads are located on opposite sides of the first subframe. One end of each pad is fixed to one side of the second subframe, and the other end of each pad is fixed to one side of the first subframe.

4. The vehicle positioning component of the battery swapping vehicle as described in claim 1, characterized in that, In a direction perpendicular to the first direction, the orthographic projection of the first subframe on the horizontal plane is located inside the orthographic projection of the second subframe on the horizontal plane.

5. The vehicle positioning component of the battery swapping vehicle as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The first subframe has a first end and a second end in the first direction. The first end of the first subframe is fixed to the second subframe, and the second end of the first subframe is suspended above the second subframe. The base has two sidewalls parallel to the first direction symmetrically provided with pressing blocks. The pressing blocks have clamping grooves extending along the first direction. The side of the second end of the first subframe is slidably connected to the clamping grooves.

6. The vehicle body positioning component of the battery swapping vehicle as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The first subframe extends outward from the outer side of the base along the first direction.

7. The vehicle positioning component of the battery swapping vehicle as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The vehicle body positioning component is a positioning pin, which is located at the corner of the first subframe away from the base. There are at least two positioning pins, which are fixed to the first subframe by threads.

8. The vehicle positioning component of the battery swapping vehicle as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The positioning pin includes a frustum portion and a cylindrical portion, the frustum portion being fixedly connected to the cylindrical portion, and the cross-sectional area of ​​the frustum portion gradually increases from top to bottom.

9. The vehicle body positioning component of the battery swapping vehicle as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The first subframe is provided with a weight-reducing groove, which is either a waist-shaped groove or a plurality of weight-reducing holes.

10. The vehicle body positioning component of the battery swapping vehicle as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The end of the second subframe is located within a recessed portion at the end of the battery swapping trolley in the first direction for avoidance.

11. The vehicle positioning component of the battery swapping vehicle as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The first guiding mechanism is a guide rail extending along the first direction, and the second plate assembly is provided with a slider that is slidably connected to the guide rail.

12. The vehicle positioning component of the battery swapping vehicle as described in claim 11, characterized in that, The base of the guide rail is provided with a guide support seat, the guide rail is fixedly connected to the guide support seat, and the guide support seat is fixedly disposed on the base; The guide support includes a base plate and reinforcing ribs. The guide rail is disposed on the base plate, and the reinforcing ribs are provided on both sides of the base plate.

13. The vehicle positioning component of the battery swapping vehicle as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The first guiding mechanism has two guiding parts, which are arranged parallel to each other and spaced apart along a direction perpendicular to the first direction.

14. The vehicle positioning component of the battery swapping vehicle as described in claim 13, characterized in that, The first driving mechanism consists of two sets of driving components with the same driving direction, and the two sets of driving components are arranged between the two guide parts.

15. The vehicle positioning component of the battery swapping vehicle as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The first drive mechanism is located below the second plate assembly and is mounted on the base.

16. The vehicle body positioning component of the battery swapping vehicle as described in claim 15, characterized in that, The first drive mechanism is mounted on the base via a mounting bracket, the mounting bracket having holes through which the first drive mechanism passes, and the mounting bracket being provided with reinforcing ribs.

17. The vehicle positioning component of the battery swapping vehicle as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The vehicle positioning component further includes a positioning detection device and an origin detection device. The positioning detection device is used to detect whether the second plate assembly has reached a preset position, and the origin detection device is used to detect whether the second plate assembly is located at the origin position; and / or The vehicle positioning component also includes an extreme position sensor, which is used to stop the movement of the second plate assembly when the second plate assembly moves to a preset extreme position.

18. A battery swapping shuttle, the battery swapping shuttle comprising a base and a first plate assembly for placing and moving a battery pack, characterized in that, The battery swapping shuttle further includes: a lifting mechanism connected to the base, a vehicle body positioning component of the battery swapping trolley as described in any one of claims 1-17 disposed on the base, and a battery movement unlocking component, wherein the battery movement unlocking component includes the first plate assembly and an unlocking element disposed on the first plate assembly.

19. The battery swapping shuttle as described in claim 18, characterized in that, The battery moving unlocking assembly further includes a second driving mechanism and a second guiding mechanism, wherein the second driving mechanism is used to drive the first plate assembly to reciprocate along the first direction; The power output end of the second drive mechanism is connected to the first plate assembly to drive the first plate assembly to reciprocate relative to the base along the first direction; The second guide mechanism is disposed on the base and the guide direction of the second guide mechanism extends along the first direction. The second guide mechanism is used to guide the first plate assembly to move.

20. The battery swapping shuttle as described in claim 18, characterized in that, The first plate assembly has tray mounting areas on both sides of the opening of the first platform. The tray mounting areas are used to mount trays that carry battery packs. A battery fixing area is provided between the two tray mounting areas. The battery fixing area is provided with battery pack positioning components. The unlocking component is an unlocking rod located in the tray mounting area, and the unlocking rod passes through a through hole in the tray.

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