Vehicle body brackets for mounting battery packs and electric vehicles

Abstract

This invention provides a vehicle body bracket for mounting a battery pack and an electric vehicle, belonging to the field of electric vehicle technology. The vehicle body bracket for mounting the battery pack includes a mounting bracket and a connector bracket, which are separately disposed on both sides of the longitudinal beam of the electric vehicle body. The mounting bracket is connected to the outer wall of the longitudinal beam and is equipped with a locking mechanism for locking and fixing the battery pack. The connector bracket is connected to the inner wall of the longitudinal beam and is equipped with at least two electrical connectors. The vehicle body bracket and electric vehicle for mounting the battery pack enable the battery pack to be mounted on the longitudinal beam below the electric vehicle body, allowing for battery pack installation and removal from the bottom of the electric vehicle. This effectively solves the technical problems of high battery swapping costs, large space occupation, and low lifting reliability in existing electric vehicle battery swapping technologies.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese patent application CN2021116067637, filed on December 26, 2021, and Chinese patent application CN2021116067815, filed on December 26, 2021. The full text of the aforementioned Chinese patent applications is incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This invention relates to the field of electric vehicle technology, and in particular to a vehicle body bracket for mounting a battery pack and an electric vehicle. Background Technology

[0003] In recent years, new energy vehicles have developed rapidly. Electric vehicles, which rely on batteries as their driving energy, have the advantages of zero emissions and low noise. As the market share and usage frequency of electric vehicles are increasing, electric commercial vehicles, such as electric heavy-duty trucks and electric light-duty trucks, are gradually appearing in their respective application scenarios. At the same time, battery swapping stations for replacing battery packs of electric trucks have been built.

[0004] Currently, battery swapping for electric vehicles commonly employs either side-gripping or top-mounted methods. Side-gripping uses a rigid gripping mechanism with no flexible link between the robot's gripper and the battery. Any positional deviation during gripping can easily damage the guiding mechanism. Top-mounted swapping uses steel cables to suspend the battery pack. While these cables offer some flexibility and greater tolerance for errors, the gripper must be positioned above the vehicle, resulting in higher equipment height and requiring more skilled drivers, thus reducing the success rate of battery swapping.

[0005] Therefore, existing battery swapping technologies for electric vehicles suffer from technical problems such as high cost, large space occupation, and low installation reliability, posing certain safety hazards. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to overcome the defects of the prior art in which the battery pack of electric vehicles is placed on the top of the vehicle body, resulting in high battery swapping costs and inconvenience in battery swapping. The present invention provides a vehicle body bracket for installing the battery pack and an electric vehicle.

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

[0008] A vehicle body bracket for mounting a battery pack includes a mounting bracket and a connector bracket. The mounting bracket and the connector bracket are respectively disposed on both sides of a longitudinal beam of an electric vehicle body. The mounting bracket is connected to the outer side wall of the longitudinal beam of the vehicle body. The mounting bracket is provided with a locking mechanism for locking and fixing the battery pack. The connector bracket is connected to the inner side wall of the longitudinal beam of the vehicle body and is provided with at least two electrical connectors.

[0009] In this design, the vehicle body bracket for installing the battery pack can fully utilize the space between the two longitudinal beams of the electric vehicle and the space outside the two longitudinal beams, as well as the height space below the longitudinal beams. When the battery swapping equipment removes the battery pack, the unloaded swapping equipment can directly enter the space below the battery pack without interfering with the bottom of the electric vehicle. When the battery swapping equipment installs the battery pack, the swapping equipment carrying the battery pack can also directly enter the space below the longitudinal beams of the vehicle body for battery installation without interfering with the bottom of the electric vehicle.

[0010] The above-described solution allows the battery pack to be installed on the longitudinal beams of the electric vehicle body, enabling installation and removal from the bottom of the vehicle. This effectively solves the technical problems of high battery swapping costs, large space requirements, and low lifting reliability in existing electric vehicle battery swapping technologies. In this solution, the mounting bracket is equipped with a locking mechanism to lock and unlock the battery pack, ensuring its reliability during use and improving installation and removal efficiency. Furthermore, the mounting bracket is located on the outer wall of the longitudinal beam, facilitating battery pack installation and removal and further improving installation efficiency. Simultaneously, the connector bracket is located on the inner wall of the longitudinal beam, avoiding interference with other structures on the outer side of the beam and fully utilizing the space within. The connector bracket is equipped with at least two electrical connectors, both for electrical connection to the battery pack, meeting the electrical connection requirements of large-capacity battery packs and ensuring their power supply function.

[0011] Preferably, the connector bracket includes a mounting plate and a connecting plate. The electrical connector is disposed on the mounting plate. The connecting plates are respectively connected to both sides of the mounting plate and connected to the corresponding longitudinal beams of the vehicle body. The height of the connecting plates is higher than that of the mounting plate. The connecting plates on both sides and the mounting plate form a first channel located above the mounting plate.

[0012] In this design, the mounting plate facilitates the installation of the electrical connector and increases its stability. The mounting plate is indirectly connected to the vehicle body longitudinal beam via the connecting plate, which increases the stability of the mounting plate connection and facilitates its installation. The first channel allows for avoidance of other vehicle body structures such as the drive shaft, facilitating the installation of the connector bracket.

[0013] Preferably, the mounting plate includes stiffening ribs, which are arranged horizontally on both sides of the mounting plate, and / or the stiffening ribs are arranged vertically on the mounting plate.

[0014] In this design, stiffening ribs are added to the mounting plate in the horizontal and / or vertical directions to increase the strength of the mounting plate, thereby increasing the installation stability of the electrical connector.

[0015] Preferably, the mounting plate further includes an inclined plate, which is connected to the bottom of the mounting plate and is gradually inclined upward from the connection point with the mounting plate toward the direction away from the mounting plate.

[0016] In this design, the inclined plate can prevent external debris from entering the connector bracket to a certain extent, thus providing some protection for the electrical connectors installed on the connector bracket and the wiring inside the connector bracket.

[0017] Preferably, the bottom of the mounting plate has a positioning hole for inserting a positioning post on the power swapping equipment.

[0018] In this design, the positioning hole is located at the bottom of the mounting plate, which facilitates the insertion of the positioning pin of the battery swapping device from bottom to top, thereby fixing the position of the battery swapping device, ensuring accurate alignment between the battery swapping device and the battery pack, and ensuring that there is no relative displacement between the battery swapping device and the electric vehicle during the installation and removal of the battery pack, thus facilitating the installation and removal of the battery pack.

[0019] Preferably, the connecting plate is provided with a folded edge, which is formed by extending from the edge of the connecting plate toward the mounting plate.

[0020] In this design, the connecting plate is connected to the mounting plate and the vehicle body longitudinal beam on both sides, which increases the stability of the connection; the folded edge increases the strength of the connecting plate; the folded edge is located on the side of the connecting plate closer to the mounting plate, ensuring that the side of the connecting plate away from the mounting plate is unobstructed, which facilitates the connection between the connecting plate and the vehicle body longitudinal beam.

[0021] Preferably, the connector bracket further includes an adapter, one end of which is connected to the connecting plate and the other end is connected to the corresponding vehicle longitudinal beam. The adapter has a C-shaped receiving groove with the opening end of the C-shaped receiving groove facing the vehicle longitudinal beam. The adapter is connected to the vehicle longitudinal beam at the upper and lower ends of the opening of the C-shaped receiving groove, and a second channel is formed between the adapter and the vehicle longitudinal beam.

[0022] In this solution, the adapter facilitates the connection between the connecting plate and the longitudinal beam of the vehicle body, and increases the stability of the connection. The second channel formed by the C-shaped receiving groove of the adapter and the longitudinal beam of the vehicle body can prevent the adapter from interfering with the parts on the beam, facilitate various wiring layouts, and protect the cables passing through it.

[0023] Preferably, the adapter is a C-shaped beam; or,

[0024] The adapter includes a vertical fixing plate and a horizontal connecting angle plate. The horizontal connecting angle plate is connected to the upper and lower sides of the vertical fixing plate, and the horizontal connecting angle plate and the vertical fixing plate form the C-shaped receiving groove. The vertical fixing plate is connected to the connecting plate, and the horizontal connecting angle plate is connected to the vehicle body longitudinal beam. The vertical fixing plate, the horizontal connecting angle plate and the vehicle body longitudinal beam form the second channel.

[0025] In this solution, when the adapter is a C-shaped beam, the integral molding of the C-shaped beam increases the strength of the connection, thereby increasing the stability of the connector bracket. When the adapter adopts an assembly structure of vertical fixing plates and horizontal connecting angle plates, the vertical fixing plates and horizontal connecting angle plates are detachably connected, making it convenient to disassemble and assemble the components and easy to maintain. In addition, the vertical fixing plates are closely connected to the connecting plates, and the two horizontal connecting angle plates increase the connection points with the longitudinal beams of the vehicle body, thereby increasing the stability of the connector bracket.

[0026] Preferably, the edge of the vertical fixing plate is bent toward the corresponding longitudinal beam of the vehicle body to form a first flange, and the horizontal connecting corner plate includes a connecting corner plate body and a second flange. The first flange is connected to the corner plate body by fasteners, and the second flange is connected to the corresponding longitudinal beam of the vehicle body by fasteners.

[0027] In this design, the first flange facilitates the connection between the vertical fixing plate and the corner plate body, increasing the stability of the connection; the second flange facilitates the connection between the corner plate body and the vehicle body longitudinal beam, increasing the stability of the connection.

[0028] Preferably, a limiting block is provided on the side of the mounting plate facing the battery pack, the limiting block being used to abut against the battery pack and restrict the battery pack from moving toward the electrical connector.

[0029] In this solution, when the electrical connector on the battery pack is connected to the electrical connector on the mounting plate, the abutment between the battery pack and the limiting block can be used as the criterion for determining whether the electrical connector on the battery pack is properly assembled with the electrical connector. At the same time, the limiting block can prevent the battery pack from being further squeezed towards the electrical connector on the mounting plate, thereby improving the safety of the connection between the battery pack and the electrical connector.

[0030] Preferably, the limiting block is a metal block, and the limiting block abuts against the grounding component on the battery pack; or,

[0031] The limiting block includes a metal terminal and an elastic block. The elastic block is disposed on the mounting plate, and the metal terminal is disposed on the elastic block. The metal terminal is used to abut against the grounding component on the battery pack.

[0032] In this solution, when the limiting block is a metal block, it can connect to the grounding component of the battery pack while serving as a limiting block, ensuring the safety of the battery. When the limiting block is composed of a metal terminal and an elastic block, the elastic block has a certain buffering effect, making the contact between the limiting component and the battery pack flexible and preventing hard collisions. The metal terminal can connect to the grounding component of the battery pack, ensuring the safety of the battery.

[0033] Preferably, at least two of the electrical connectors are arranged side by side in a horizontal direction on the mounting plate.

[0034] In this scheme, a single electrical connector is arranged vertically, and at least two electrical connectors are arranged side by side horizontally. This helps to save the space occupied by electrical connectors in the horizontal direction of the mounting plate and increase the number of electrical connectors.

[0035] Preferably, the mounting bracket includes a first mounting beam, a second mounting beam, and a reinforcing rib that are perpendicularly connected to each other. The first mounting beam is connected to the longitudinal beam of the vehicle body, the second mounting beam is provided with a locking mechanism, and the reinforcing rib is connected between the first mounting beam and the second mounting beam.

[0036] In this design, the mounting bracket is connected to the vehicle's longitudinal beam via a first mounting beam, which minimizes space usage and enhances connection reliability. The locking mechanism is mounted via a second mounting beam, ensuring high installation stability. Furthermore, reinforcing ribs are provided between the first and second mounting beams, contributing to improved overall structural strength of the mounting bracket.

[0037] Preferably, the edge of the second mounting beam is folded upward to form a reinforcing edge, and the reinforcing edge is disposed opposite to the first mounting beam.

[0038] In this design, the strength of the second mounting beam is increased by adding a reinforcing edge; the locking mechanism is located between the reinforcing edge and the first mounting beam, which increases the protection of the locking mechanism.

[0039] Preferably, the locking mechanism includes a lock base disposed on the second mounting beam. The lock base has an opening at its lower part and a slide extending from the opening. The opening is used for the lock shaft on the battery pack to enter and exit the slide. The opening and the slide both penetrate the lock base along the axial direction of the lock shaft.

[0040] In this design, the lock base is located on the second mounting beam, with the opening of the lock base located at the bottom. The battery box enters the slide rail through the bottom opening, thus locking the battery box within the slide rail. This prevents the battery box from entering the slide rail from the side of the lock base and prevents the lock shaft from sliding out from one side of the lock base, thereby improving the safety of the battery box locking.

[0041] Preferably, the locking mechanism further includes;

[0042] A locking tongue, which is pivotally mounted on the lock base, is capable of swinging within the receiving groove and the slide rail to connect or block the slide rail;

[0043] A locking link acts on the bolt and drives the bolt to swing; the locking link is provided with an identification part.

[0044] A sensor is mounted on the first mounting beam, and the position of the sensor corresponds to the position of the identification part when the locking tongue blocks the slide.

[0045] In this design, the locking tongue is housed within the receiving groove, resulting in a compact structure and ease of operation. The locking tongue secures the locking shaft on the battery pack within the slide rail, while the locking linkage facilitates the application of force to the locking tongue and allows for the simultaneous control of multiple locking tongues. Furthermore, by incorporating an identification unit on the locking linkage and corresponding sensors on the first mounting beam, it is possible to accurately determine whether the locking mechanism is properly engaged, ensuring reliable locking.

[0046] An electric vehicle includes the aforementioned body bracket for mounting a battery pack, the body bracket being connected to the longitudinal beams of the electric vehicle body.

[0047] In this solution, the electric vehicle utilizes the aforementioned vehicle body bracket, enabling the battery pack to be mounted on the longitudinal beams beneath the vehicle. This allows for battery pack installation and removal from the bottom of the vehicle, effectively addressing the technical problems of high battery swapping costs, large space requirements, and low lifting reliability in existing electric vehicle battery swapping technologies. The mounting bracket is equipped with a locking mechanism to lock and unlock the battery pack, ensuring its reliability during use and maximizing installation and removal efficiency. Furthermore, the mounting bracket is located on the outer wall of the longitudinal beams, facilitating battery pack installation and removal and further improving installation efficiency. Simultaneously, the connector bracket is located on the inner wall of the longitudinal beams, avoiding interference with other structures on the outer side and fully utilizing the space within the longitudinal beams. The connector bracket is equipped with at least two electrical connectors, both for electrical connection to the battery pack, meeting the electrical connection requirements of large-capacity battery packs and ensuring their power supply function.

[0048] Preferably, the electric vehicle further includes a position recognition device, which is disposed on the vehicle body bracket or the vehicle body longitudinal beam. The position recognition device is used to be recognized by the vision device on the battery swapping equipment to provide positioning guidance for the installation of the battery pack.

[0049] In this solution, a position recognition device can be set up to enable pre-positioning of the battery swapping equipment and the electric vehicle. The vision device on the battery swapping equipment obtains the position of the electric vehicle by recognizing the position recognition device, and can then easily determine whether the relative positions of the battery swapping equipment and the electric vehicle are within a preset alignment range. If the relative positions are within the preset alignment range, the battery swapping operation can be performed. If the relative positions are not within the preset alignment range, the positions of the electric vehicle or the battery swapping equipment can be adjusted to align them for the battery swapping operation. By setting up a position recognition device to enable pre-positioning of the battery swapping equipment and the electric vehicle, the positioning and alignment accuracy of the battery swapping equipment and the electric vehicle can be improved, which helps to improve the battery swapping efficiency.

[0050] Preferably, the position recognition device includes a support frame and a recognition plate. One end of the support frame is connected to the vehicle body bracket or the vehicle body longitudinal beam, and the other end of the support frame is connected to the recognition plate. The recognition plate is provided with recognition points, and the recognition points are provided with reflective coatings that can be recognized by the vision device.

[0051] In this solution, the identification plate is firmly installed on the longitudinal beam of the vehicle body by a support frame, which ensures that the identification plate does not shift during the identification process by the vision device on the battery swapping equipment, thereby ensuring the positioning accuracy of the battery swapping equipment; a reflective coating is provided at the identification point, making the identification plate easier to be identified by the vision device.

[0052] Preferably, the support frame is a tripod or a T-shaped frame.

[0053] In this design, when the support frame is a triangular frame, its side is connected to the vehicle's longitudinal beam, increasing the stability of the connection. When the support frame is a T-shaped frame, its horizontal side is connected to the vehicle's longitudinal beam, further increasing the stability of the connection. Both the triangular and T-shaped frames further ensure that the identification plate does not shift during the identification process by the vision equipment on the battery swapping device, improving the positioning accuracy of the battery swapping device.

[0054] Preferably, the location identification device further includes a light-shielding plate, which is disposed above the identification plate.

[0055] In this solution, the setting of the light shield avoids the visual equipment of the battery swapping equipment being greatly affected by external light sources during the process of recognizing the recognition plate of the position recognition device, which can ensure the acquisition accuracy of the visual equipment and improve the positioning accuracy between the battery swapping equipment and the electric vehicle.

[0056] The positive and progressive effects of this invention are as follows:

[0057] The aforementioned vehicle body bracket and electric vehicle for mounting the battery pack enable the battery pack to be installed on the longitudinal beams beneath the electric vehicle, allowing for installation and removal from the bottom of the vehicle. This effectively solves the technical problems of high battery swapping costs, large space requirements, and low lifting reliability in existing electric vehicle battery swapping technologies. In this solution, the mounting bracket is equipped with a locking mechanism to lock and unlock the battery pack, ensuring its reliability during use and improving installation and removal efficiency. Furthermore, the mounting bracket is located on the outer wall of the longitudinal beam, facilitating battery pack installation and removal and further improving installation efficiency. Simultaneously, the connector bracket is located on the inner wall of the longitudinal beam, avoiding interference with other structures on the outer side of the beam and fully utilizing the space within. The connector bracket is equipped with at least two electrical connectors, both for electrical connection to the battery pack, meeting the electrical connection requirements of large-capacity battery packs and ensuring their power supply function. Attached Figure Description

[0058] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of an electric vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0059] Figure 2 This is a structural diagram of a vehicle body bracket according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0060] Figure 3 This is a structural diagram of a connector bracket according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0061] Figure 4This is a structural diagram of a locking mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0062] Figure 5 This is a structural diagram of a location identification device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0063] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0064] Electric vehicles 100

[0065] Vehicle body bracket 1

[0066] Mounting bracket 11

[0067] Locking mechanism 111

[0068] Lock base 1111

[0069] Locking tongue 1112

[0070] Locking rod 1113

[0071] First mounting beam 112

[0072] Second mounting beam 113

[0073] Strengthen the border 1131

[0074] Reinforcing rib 114

[0075] Connector bracket 12

[0076] Electrical connector 121

[0077] Mounting plate 122

[0078] Reinforcing Rib 1221

[0079] Inclined plate 1222

[0080] Positioning hole 1223

[0081] Limit block 1224

[0082] Connector plate 123

[0083] Folded edge 1231

[0084] First Channel 124

[0085] Adapter 125

[0086] C-type receiving groove 1251

[0087] Second Channel 1252

[0088] Vertical fixing plate 1253

[0089] First flip 12531

[0090] Horizontal connecting angle plate 1254

[0091] Angle plate body 12541

[0092] Second flip 12542

[0093] Body longitudinal beam 2

[0094] Support frame 31

[0095] Identification board 32 Detailed Implementation

[0096] The present invention will be described more clearly and completely below by way of embodiments and in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the scope of the embodiments described herein.

[0097] like Figures 1 to 5 As shown, this embodiment provides a vehicle body bracket 1 for mounting a battery pack. This bracket 1 is used to mount the battery pack to the bottom of an electric vehicle 100, and is particularly suitable for commercial vehicles such as heavy-duty trucks and light-duty trucks. The vehicle body bracket 1 for mounting the battery pack includes a mounting bracket 11 and a connector bracket 12. The mounting bracket 11 and the connector bracket 12 are respectively and separately disposed on both sides of the longitudinal beam 2 of the electric vehicle 100. The mounting bracket 11 is connected to the outer wall of the longitudinal beam 2 and is provided with a locking mechanism 111 for locking and fixing the battery pack. The connector bracket 12 is connected to the inner wall of the longitudinal beam 2 and is provided with at least two electrical connectors 121.

[0098] The vehicle body bracket 1 for installing the battery pack can make full use of the space between the two longitudinal beams 2 of the electric vehicle 100 and the space outside the two longitudinal beams 2, as well as the height space below the longitudinal beams 2. When the battery swapping equipment removes the battery pack, the unloaded battery swapping equipment can directly enter the space below the battery pack without interfering with the bottom of the electric vehicle 100. When the battery swapping equipment installs the battery pack, the battery swapping equipment carrying the battery pack can also directly enter the space below the longitudinal beams 2 to install the battery without interfering with the bottom of the electric vehicle 100.

[0099] The above solution allows the battery pack to be installed on the beam below the electric vehicle 100, enabling installation and removal from the bottom of the electric vehicle 100. This effectively solves the technical problems of high battery swapping costs, large space occupation, and low hoisting reliability in existing battery swapping technologies for electric vehicles 100. In the above solution, the mounting bracket 11 is equipped with a locking mechanism 111, which locks and unlocks the battery pack on the mounting bracket 11, ensuring the reliability of the battery pack during use and improving the efficiency of installation and removal. Furthermore, the mounting bracket 11 is located on the outer side wall of the vehicle longitudinal beam 2, which facilitates the installation and removal of the battery pack, increases the stability of the battery pack installation, and further improves the installation efficiency of the battery pack. At the same time, the connector bracket 12 is located on the inner side wall of the vehicle longitudinal beam 2, which can avoid other structures on the outer side of the vehicle longitudinal beam 2 and make full use of the space on the inner side of the vehicle longitudinal beam 2. Moreover, the connector bracket 12 is provided with at least two electrical connectors 121, both of which are used for electrical connection with the battery pack, which can meet the electrical connection requirements of large-capacity battery packs and ensure the power supply function of the battery pack.

[0100] In the above technical solution, the mounting bracket 11 is located on the outer side wall of the vehicle longitudinal beam 2, which facilitates the installation and disassembly of the battery pack, helps to increase the stability of the battery pack installation, and improves the installation efficiency of the battery pack; the connector bracket 12 is located on the inner side wall of the vehicle longitudinal beam 2, which can avoid other structures on the outer side of the vehicle longitudinal beam 2 and make full use of the space on the inner side of the vehicle longitudinal beam 2; the connector bracket 12 is electrically connected to the battery pack, ensuring the power supply function of the battery pack.

[0101] In one embodiment, the connector bracket 12 includes a mounting plate 122 and a connecting plate 123. An electrical connector 121 is provided on the mounting plate 122. The connecting plate 123 is connected to both sides of the mounting plate 122 and to the corresponding vehicle body longitudinal beam 2. The height of the connecting plate 123 is higher than that of the mounting plate 122. The connecting plates 123 on both sides and the mounting plate 122 form a first channel 124 located above the mounting plate 122.

[0102] The mounting plate 122 facilitates the installation of the electrical connector 121 and increases the stability of the installation of the electrical connector 121; the mounting plate 122 is indirectly connected to the longitudinal beam 2 of the vehicle body through the connecting plate 123, which increases the stability of the connection of the mounting plate 122 and facilitates the installation of the mounting plate 122; the first channel 124 can avoid other structures of the vehicle body such as the drive shaft of the electric vehicle 100, which facilitates the installation of the connector bracket 12.

[0103] In one embodiment, the mounting plate 122 includes stiffening ribs 1221. Horizontal stiffening ribs 1221 are respectively provided on the upper and lower sides of the mounting plate 122, and vertical stiffening ribs 1221 are provided in the vertical direction of the mounting plate 122. By providing stiffening ribs 1221 in both the horizontal and vertical directions of the mounting plate 122, the strength of the mounting plate 122 is increased, thereby increasing the installation stability of the electrical connector 121. In other embodiments, only horizontal stiffening ribs 1221 or only vertical stiffening ribs 1221 may be provided on the mounting plate 122.

[0104] In one embodiment, the mounting plate 122 further includes an inclined plate 1222, which is connected to the bottom of the mounting plate 122. The inclined plate 1222 is gradually inclined upward from its connection point with the mounting plate 122 in a direction away from the mounting plate 122. The inclined plate 1222 can, to a certain extent, prevent external debris from entering the connector bracket 12, thus providing a certain degree of protection for the electrical connector 121 mounted on the connector bracket 12 and the wiring inside the connector bracket 12.

[0105] In one embodiment, the bottom of the mounting plate 122 is provided with a positioning hole 1223 for inserting a positioning post on the battery swapping device. Specifically, the positioning hole 1223 is located on the stiffening rib 1221 at the bottom of the mounting plate 122, facilitating the insertion of the positioning post of the battery swapping device from bottom to top, thereby fixing the position of the battery swapping device, ensuring accurate alignment between the battery swapping device and the battery pack, and ensuring that there is no relative displacement between the battery swapping device and the electric vehicle during the installation and removal of the battery pack, thus facilitating the installation and removal of the battery pack. Furthermore, it should be noted that the positioning hole 1223 in this embodiment can also be implemented independently in practical applications; this embodiment does not impose a specific limitation.

[0106] In one embodiment, the connecting plate 123 is provided with a folded edge 1231, which extends from the edge of the connecting plate 123 toward the mounting plate 122. The two sides of the connecting plate 123 are respectively connected to the mounting plate 122 and the vehicle longitudinal beam 2, increasing the stability of the connection; the folded edge 1231 increases the strength of the connecting plate 123; the folded edge 1231 is located on the side of the connecting plate 123 closer to the mounting plate 122, ensuring that the side of the connecting plate 123 away from the mounting plate 122 is not obstructed, facilitating the connection between the connecting plate 123 and the vehicle longitudinal beam 2.

[0107] In one embodiment, the connector bracket 12 further includes an adapter 125. One end of the adapter 125 is connected to the connecting plate 123, and the other end is connected to the corresponding vehicle longitudinal beam 2. The adapter 125 has a C-shaped receiving groove 1251, with the open end of the C-shaped receiving groove 1251 facing the vehicle longitudinal beam 2. The upper and lower ends of the adapter 125 at the opening of the C-shaped receiving groove 1251 are connected to the vehicle longitudinal beam 2, forming a second channel 1252 between the adapter 125 and the vehicle longitudinal beam 2. The adapter 125 facilitates the connection between the connecting plate 123 and the vehicle longitudinal beam 2 and increases the stability of the connection. The second channel 1252 formed by the C-shaped receiving groove 1251 of the adapter 125 and the vehicle longitudinal beam 2 can prevent the adapter 125 from interfering with the parts on the beam, facilitate various wiring arrangements, and protect the cables passing through it.

[0108] In one embodiment, the adapter 125 includes a vertical fixing plate 1253 and a horizontal connecting angle plate 1254. The horizontal connecting angle plate 1254 is connected to the upper and lower sides of the vertical fixing plate 1253 respectively. The horizontal connecting angle plate 1254 and the vertical fixing plate 1253 form a C-shaped receiving groove 1251. The vertical fixing plate 1253 is connected to the connecting plate 123, and the horizontal connecting angle plate 1254 is connected to the vehicle body longitudinal beam 2. The vertical fixing plate 1253, the horizontal connecting angle plate 1254, and the vehicle body longitudinal beam 2 form a second channel 1252. The vertical fixing plate 1253 and the horizontal connecting angle plate 1254 are detachably connected, making it easy to disassemble and assemble the components and facilitating maintenance. The vertical fixing plate 1253 is closely connected to the connecting plate 123, and the two horizontal connecting angle plates 1254 increase the connection points with the vehicle body longitudinal beam 2, thereby increasing the stability of the connector bracket 12. In other embodiments, the adapter 125 may also be a C-beam. Since the C-beam is integrally formed, the strength of the connection can be increased, thereby increasing the stability of the connector bracket 12.

[0109] In one embodiment, the edge of the vertical fixing plate 1253 is bent toward the corresponding vehicle longitudinal beam 2 to form a first flange 12531. The horizontal connecting corner plate 1254 includes a connecting corner plate body 12541 and a second flange 12542. Mounting holes are provided on the first flange 12531, the corner plate body 12541, and the second flange 12542. Further, mounting holes are also provided on the vertical fixing plate 1253. The vertical fixing plate 1253 and the connecting plate 123 are fastened together through mounting holes and fasteners. The first flange 12531 is connected to the corner plate body 12541 through mounting holes and fasteners. The second flange 12542 is connected to the corresponding vehicle longitudinal beam 2 through mounting holes and fasteners. The first flange 12531 facilitates the connection between the vertical fixing plate 1253 and the corner plate body 12541, increasing the stability of the connection between the two; the second flange 12542 facilitates the connection between the corner plate body 12541 and the vehicle longitudinal beam 2, increasing the stability of the connection between the two.

[0110] Furthermore, it should be noted that the adapter 125 in this embodiment can also be implemented independently in practical applications, and the above embodiment does not impose any specific limitations.

[0111] In one embodiment, a limiting block 1224 is provided on the side of the mounting plate 122 facing the battery pack. The limiting block 1224 is used to abut against the battery pack and restrict the battery pack from moving toward the electrical connector 121. When the electrical connector on the battery pack is connected to the electrical connector 121 on the mounting plate 122, the abutment between the battery pack and the limiting block 1224 can be used as a criterion for determining whether the electrical connector on the battery pack and the electrical connector 121 are properly assembled. At the same time, the limiting block 1224 can prevent the battery pack from being further squeezed toward the electrical connector 121 on the mounting plate, thereby improving the safety of the connection between the battery pack and the electrical connector 121.

[0112] In one embodiment, the limiting block 1224 is a metal block that abuts against the grounding component on the battery pack. The limiting block 1224 serves a limiting function while also connecting to the grounding component of the battery pack, ensuring battery safety. In other embodiments, the limiting block 1224 may also consist of a metal terminal and an elastic block. The elastic block is disposed on the mounting plate 122, and the metal terminal is disposed on the elastic block, with the metal terminal abutting against the grounding component on the battery pack. Preferably, the elastic block is a rubber block. The elastic block provides a certain degree of cushioning, making the contact between the limiting component and the battery pack flexible and preventing hard collisions. The metal terminal can connect to the grounding component of the battery pack, ensuring battery safety. Furthermore, it should be noted that the limiting block 1224 in this embodiment can also be implemented independently in practical applications; the above embodiments are not specifically limited.

[0113] In one embodiment, at least two electrical connectors 121 are arranged side-by-side horizontally on the mounting plate 122. Alternatively, a single electrical connector 121 may be arranged vertically. In this embodiment, arranging a single electrical connector 121 vertically allows at least two adjacent electrical connectors 121 to be arranged side-by-side horizontally on the mounting plate 122, which helps save space occupied by the electrical connectors 121 in the horizontal direction of the mounting plate 122 and increases the number of electrical connectors 121. It should be noted that the layout of the electrical connectors 121 in this embodiment can also be implemented independently in practical applications, and the above embodiment is not specifically limited.

[0114] In one embodiment, the mounting bracket 11 includes a first mounting beam 112, a second mounting beam 113, and a reinforcing rib 114 that are perpendicularly connected to each other. The first mounting beam 112 is connected to the vehicle body longitudinal beam 2, the second mounting beam 113 is provided with a locking mechanism 111, and the reinforcing rib 114 connects the first mounting beam 112 and the second mounting beam 113. The mounting bracket 11 is connected to the vehicle body longitudinal beam 2 via the first mounting beam 112, which occupies less space and has higher connection reliability. The locking mechanism 111 is installed via the second mounting beam 113, which has high installation stability. In addition, the reinforcing rib 114 is provided between the first mounting beam and the second mounting beam 113, which helps to improve the overall structural strength of the mounting bracket 11. The first mounting beam 112 is provided with two rows of mounting holes. The first mounting beam 112 is installed on the vehicle body longitudinal beam 2 through the mounting holes and fasteners. The two rows of mounting holes can increase the connection strength and improve the installation stability.

[0115] In one embodiment, the edge of the second mounting beam 113 is folded upward to form a reinforcing edge 1131, which is disposed opposite to the first mounting beam 112. The reinforcement edge 1131 increases the strength of the second mounting beam 113; the locking mechanism 111 is disposed between the reinforcement edge 1131 and the first mounting beam 112, which increases the protection of the locking mechanism 111.

[0116] Furthermore, it should be noted that the mounting bracket 11 in this embodiment can also be implemented independently in practical applications, and the above embodiment does not impose any specific limitations.

[0117] In one embodiment, the locking mechanism 111 includes a lock base 1111, which is mounted on the second mounting beam 113. The lock base 1111 has an opening at its lower part and a slide extending from the opening. The opening allows the locking shaft on the battery pack to enter and exit the slide. Both the opening and the slide extend through the lock base 1111 along the axial direction of the locking shaft. The lock base 1111 is mounted on the second mounting beam 113, with the opening at its lower part. The battery pack enters the slide through the lower opening, thus locking the battery pack within the slide. This prevents the battery pack from entering the slide from the side of the lock base 1111 and prevents the locking shaft from sliding out from one side of the lock base 1111, thereby improving the security of the battery pack locking.

[0118] Specifically, in this embodiment, the locking component on the battery pack is a locking shaft. Both ends of the locking shaft protrude from the slide rail, and both ends of the locking shaft are connected to the battery pack. Thus, the middle part of the locking shaft is stuck in the slide rail, and both ends of the locking shaft bear the force of the battery box, thereby improving the uniformity of the force on the locking shaft and preventing the locking shaft from sliding out from one side of the locking base 1111, which can improve the safety of locking the battery box.

[0119] In one embodiment, the locking mechanism 111 further includes a latch 1112, a locking link 1113, and a sensor. The latch 1112 is pivotally mounted on the lock base 1111 and can swing within the receiving groove and the slide rail to connect or block the slide rail. The locking link 1113 acts on the latch 1112 and drives the latch 1112 to swing. The locking link 1113 is provided with an identification part. The sensor is mounted on the first mounting beam 112, and the position of the sensor corresponds to the position of the identification part when the latch 1112 blocks the slide rail. Specifically, the identification part is provided with a magnet that can be sensed by the sensor. The latch 1112 is located within the receiving groove, has a compact structure, and is easy to operate. The latch 1112 can lock the locking shaft on the battery pack within the slide rail, and the locking link facilitates the application of force to the latch and also facilitates the simultaneous control of multiple latches. Furthermore, by setting an identification part on the locking rod 1113 and a corresponding sensor on the first mounting beam 112, it is possible to accurately determine whether the locking mechanism 111 is locked in place, ensuring reliable locking.

[0120] In other embodiments, the connection between the lock base 1111 and the lock shaft can also be a bolt-type lock or a T-type lock, and the above embodiments are not specifically limited. Specifically, a first threaded portion can be provided in the opening of the lock base 1111, and a second threaded portion that mates with the first threaded portion can be provided on the lock shaft of the battery pack, that is, the connection between the lock base 1111 and the lock shaft is a bolt-type lock, and the two are locked by the cooperation of the first threaded portion and the second threaded portion; or, a stop portion can be provided in the opening of the lock base 1111, and a limiting portion that mates with the stop portion can be provided on the lock shaft of the battery pack, so that the connection between the lock base 1111 and the lock shaft is a T-type lock, and the two are locked by the cooperation of the limiting portion and the stop portion.

[0121] Furthermore, it should be noted that the locking mechanism 111 in this embodiment can also be implemented independently in practical applications, and the above embodiment does not impose any specific limitations.

[0122] This embodiment also provides an electric vehicle 100, including the aforementioned vehicle body bracket 1 for mounting a battery pack, which is connected to the longitudinal beam 2 of the electric vehicle 100. By using the aforementioned vehicle body bracket 1, the electric vehicle 100 can mount the battery pack on the longitudinal beam 2 below the vehicle body, allowing for battery pack installation and removal from the bottom of the electric vehicle 100. This effectively solves the technical problems of high battery swapping costs, large space occupation, and low hoisting reliability in existing battery swapping technologies for electric vehicles 100. A locking mechanism 111 is provided on the mounting bracket 11, which locks and unlocks the battery pack on the mounting bracket 11, ensuring the reliability of the battery pack during use and the efficiency of battery pack installation and removal. Furthermore, the mounting bracket 11 is located on the outer side wall of the vehicle longitudinal beam 2, which facilitates the installation and removal of the battery pack and helps to further improve the installation efficiency of the battery pack. At the same time, the connector bracket 12 is located on the inner side wall of the vehicle longitudinal beam 2, which can avoid other structures on the outer side of the vehicle longitudinal beam 2 and make full use of the space on the inner side of the vehicle longitudinal beam 2. Moreover, the connector bracket 12 is provided with at least two electrical connectors 121, both of which are used for electrical connection with the battery pack, which can meet the electrical connection requirements of large-capacity battery packs and ensure the power supply function of the battery pack.

[0123] In one embodiment, the electric vehicle 100 further includes a position recognition device, which is mounted on the vehicle body bracket 1 or the vehicle body longitudinal beam 2. The position recognition device is used to be identified by the vision device on the battery swapping equipment to provide positioning guidance for the installation of the battery pack. Specifically, the vision device can be, but is not limited to, a camera. By setting the position recognition device, the battery swapping equipment and the electric vehicle 100 can be pre-positioned. The vision device on the battery swapping equipment obtains the position of the electric vehicle 100 by recognizing the position recognition device, and can then easily determine whether the relative positions of the battery swapping equipment and the electric vehicle 100 are within a preset alignment range. If the relative positions are within the preset alignment range, a battery swapping operation can be performed. If the relative positions are not within the preset alignment range, the positions of the electric vehicle 100 or the battery swapping equipment can be adjusted to align them for a battery swapping operation. By setting the position recognition device to achieve pre-positioning of the battery swapping equipment and the electric vehicle 100, the positioning and alignment accuracy of the battery swapping equipment and the electric vehicle 100 can be improved, which helps to improve the battery swapping efficiency.

[0124] In one embodiment, the position identification device includes a support frame 31 and an identification plate 32. One end of the support frame 31 is connected to the vehicle body bracket 1 or the vehicle body longitudinal beam 2, and the other end of the support frame 31 is connected to the identification plate 32. The identification plate 32 is provided with identification points, and the identification points are provided with a reflective coating that can be identified by a vision device. There are two identification points, both of which are circular. The vision device is preferably a binocular vision device. To ensure visual acquisition accuracy, the distance between the centers of the two identification points is no greater than half the field of view of the binocular camera. Using a binocular camera to simultaneously acquire images of the two identification points can obtain the three-dimensional pose information of the two identification points, resulting in high recognition accuracy and more accurate positioning. The identification plate 32 is firmly installed on the vehicle body longitudinal beam 2 by the support frame 31, ensuring that the identification plate 32 does not shift during the identification process by the vision device on the battery swapping equipment, thereby ensuring the positioning accuracy of the battery swapping equipment. The reflective coating at the identification points makes the identification plate 32 easier for the vision device to identify.

[0125] In one embodiment, the support frame 31 is a tripod. The side of the tripod is connected to the longitudinal beam 2 of the vehicle body, which increases the stability of the connection with the longitudinal beam 2 and further ensures that the identification plate 32 does not shift during the identification process by the vision device on the battery swapping equipment, thereby improving the positioning accuracy of the battery swapping equipment. In this embodiment, the support frame 31 adopts a tripod. The triangular structure is stable and reliable, which can effectively ensure the installation stability of the position identification device. However, the setting position of the tripod needs to avoid the battery pack to avoid interference. Therefore, the tripod is preferably connected to the longitudinal beam 2 of the vehicle body. Further, in other embodiments, the support frame 31 can also be a T-shaped frame. The T-shaped frame includes a horizontal mounting beam and a vertical mounting beam. The horizontal mounting beam is connected to the longitudinal beam 2 of the vehicle body or the vehicle body bracket 1. One end of the vertical mounting beam is connected to the horizontal mounting beam, and the other end extends downward and is provided with the identification plate 32. The vertical mounting beam of the T-shaped frame can pass through the gap on the battery pack and extend to the bottom of the battery pack, which is not easy to interfere with the battery pack. Therefore, its setting position is more flexible.

[0126] In one embodiment, the location identification device further includes a light shield disposed above the identification plate 32. The light shield prevents the vision device of the battery swapping equipment from being significantly affected by external light sources during the identification process of the identification plate 32 of the location identification device, thus ensuring the acquisition accuracy of the vision device and improving the positioning accuracy between the battery swapping equipment and the electric vehicle.

[0127] Furthermore, it should be noted that the location identification device in this embodiment can also be implemented independently in practical applications, and the above embodiment is not specifically limited.

[0128] 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 vehicle body bracket for mounting a battery pack, characterized in that, include: Mounting brackets and connector brackets are respectively and separately disposed on both sides of the longitudinal beam of the electric vehicle body. The mounting brackets are connected to the outer side wall of the longitudinal beam of the body and are provided with a locking mechanism for locking and fixing the battery pack. The connector brackets are connected to the inner side wall of the longitudinal beam of the body and are provided with at least two electrical connectors. The connector bracket includes a mounting plate and a connecting plate. The electrical connector is provided on the mounting plate. The connecting plates are respectively connected to both sides of the mounting plate and connected to the corresponding longitudinal beams of the vehicle body. The height of the connecting plates is higher than that of the mounting plate. The connecting plates on both sides and the mounting plate form a first channel located above the mounting plate. The mounting bracket includes a first mounting beam and a second mounting beam that are perpendicularly connected to each other. The first mounting beam is connected to the longitudinal beam of the vehicle body, and the second mounting beam is provided with a locking mechanism.

2. The vehicle body bracket for mounting a battery pack as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The mounting plate includes stiffening ribs, which are arranged horizontally on both sides of the mounting plate, and / or the stiffening ribs are arranged vertically on the mounting plate.

3. The vehicle body bracket for mounting a battery pack as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The mounting plate also includes an inclined plate, which is connected to the bottom of the mounting plate and is gradually inclined upward from the connection point with the mounting plate toward the direction away from the mounting plate.

4. The vehicle body bracket for mounting a battery pack as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The bottom of the mounting plate has positioning holes for the insertion of positioning pins on the power swapping equipment.

5. The vehicle body bracket for mounting a battery pack as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The connecting plate is provided with a folded edge, which is formed by the edge of the connecting plate extending toward the mounting plate.

6. The vehicle body bracket for mounting a battery pack as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The connector bracket also includes an adapter, one end of which is connected to the connecting plate and the other end is connected to the corresponding vehicle longitudinal beam. The adapter has a C-shaped receiving groove with the opening end of the C-shaped receiving groove facing the vehicle longitudinal beam. The adapter is connected to the vehicle longitudinal beam at the upper and lower ends of the opening of the C-shaped receiving groove, and a second channel is formed between the adapter and the vehicle longitudinal beam.

7. The vehicle body bracket for mounting a battery pack as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The adapter is a C-shaped beam; or, The adapter includes a vertical fixing plate and a horizontal connecting angle plate. The horizontal connecting angle plate is connected to the upper and lower sides of the vertical fixing plate, and the horizontal connecting angle plate and the vertical fixing plate form the C-shaped receiving groove. The vertical fixing plate is connected to the connecting plate, and the horizontal connecting angle plate is connected to the vehicle body longitudinal beam. The vertical fixing plate, the horizontal connecting angle plate and the vehicle body longitudinal beam form the second channel.

8. The vehicle body bracket for mounting a battery pack as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The edge of the vertical fixing plate is bent toward the corresponding longitudinal beam of the vehicle body to form a first flange. The horizontal connecting corner plate includes a connecting corner plate body and a second flange. The first flange is connected to the corner plate body by fasteners, and the second flange is connected to the corresponding longitudinal beam of the vehicle body by fasteners.

9. The vehicle body bracket for mounting a battery pack as described in claim 1, characterized in that, A limiting block is provided on the side of the mounting plate facing the battery pack. The limiting block is used to abut against the battery pack and restrict the battery pack from moving toward the electrical connector.

10. The vehicle body bracket for mounting a battery pack as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The limiting block is a metal block, and the limiting block abuts against the grounding component on the battery pack; or... The limiting block includes a metal terminal and an elastic block. The elastic block is disposed on the mounting plate, and the metal terminal is disposed on the elastic block. The metal terminal is used to abut against the grounding component on the battery pack.

11. The vehicle body bracket for mounting a battery pack as described in claim 1, characterized in that, At least two of the electrical connectors are arranged side by side in a horizontal direction on the mounting plate.

12. The vehicle body bracket for mounting a battery pack as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The mounting bracket also includes reinforcing ribs, and both the first mounting beam and the second mounting beam are connected to the reinforcing ribs.

13. The vehicle body bracket for mounting a battery pack as described in claim 12, characterized in that, The edge of the second mounting beam is folded upward to form a reinforcing edge, which is positioned opposite to the first mounting beam.

14. The vehicle body bracket for mounting a battery pack as described in claim 12, characterized in that, The locking mechanism includes a lock base, which is disposed on the second mounting beam. The lock base has an opening at its lower part and a slide extending from the opening. The opening is used for the lock shaft on the battery pack to enter and exit the slide. The opening and the slide both penetrate the lock base along the axial direction of the lock shaft.

15. The vehicle body bracket for mounting a battery pack as described in claim 14, characterized in that, The locking mechanism also includes; A locking tongue, which is pivotally mounted on the lock base, is capable of swinging within the receiving groove and the slide rail to connect or block the slide rail; A locking link acts on the bolt and drives the bolt to swing; the locking link is provided with an identification part. A sensor is mounted on the first mounting beam, and the position of the sensor corresponds to the position of the identification part when the locking tongue blocks the slide.

16. An electric vehicle, characterized in that, Includes a vehicle body bracket for mounting a battery pack as described in any one of claims 1-15, wherein the vehicle body bracket for mounting the battery pack is connected to the longitudinal beams of the electric vehicle body.

17. The electric vehicle as described in claim 16, characterized in that, The electric vehicle also includes a position recognition device, which is mounted on the vehicle body bracket or the vehicle body longitudinal beam. The position recognition device is used to be recognized by the vision device on the battery swapping equipment to provide positioning guidance for the installation of the battery pack.

18. The electric vehicle as claimed in claim 17, characterized in that, The position recognition device includes a support frame and a recognition plate. One end of the support frame is connected to the vehicle body bracket or the vehicle body longitudinal beam, and the other end of the support frame is connected to the recognition plate. The recognition plate is provided with recognition points, and the recognition points are provided with a reflective coating that can be recognized by the vision device.

19. The electric vehicle as described in claim 18, characterized in that, The location identification device also includes a light-shielding plate, which is disposed above the identification plate.

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