A method of locking an electric vehicle battery

Abstract

The application relates to a locking method for an electric vehicle battery, wherein a first lock body and a second lock body are arranged on the electric vehicle, a locked body is arranged on the battery, when the locked body is located at a locking position, a force applied by the first lock body to the locked body is inclined to be divided into a first vertical component force and a first horizontal component force, a force applied by the second lock body to the locked body is inclined to be divided into a second vertical component force and a second horizontal component force, the directions of the first horizontal component force and the second horizontal component force are the same, a blocking piece is arranged on one side of the first lock body and the second lock body, and the first horizontal component force and the second horizontal component force push the locked body to the blocking piece and abut against the blocking piece. The two lock bodies are matched to realize the purpose of locking the locked body, a locking tool is not needed any more, various batteries can be matched, and the application range is improved; when violent shaking occurs, the battery cannot fall off and is pulled tighter; the battery can be disassembled only when the two lock bodies are unlocked at the same time, and the safety performance is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of battery swapping technology for electric vehicles, and in particular to a method for locking electric vehicle batteries. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of electric vehicle technology, more and more people are choosing electric vehicles for transportation. However, due to current technological limitations, charging electric vehicle batteries takes a long time. In existing technology, a battery swapping station is provided to achieve the effect of fully charging the battery by replacing the battery of the electric vehicle.

[0003] Currently, battery swapping solutions typically involve installing a lock body on the vehicle and a lock cylinder on the battery. The battery is transported to the installation position by a battery swapping cart within the station, and the lock cylinder is locked onto or unlocked from the lock body using tools on the cart. This approach has two main drawbacks: First, different batteries use different lock cylinders, which are incompatible with lock bodies on other brands of electric vehicles. Therefore, a matching lock cylinder and lock body are required for battery swapping, hindering widespread adoption. Second, the unlocking tools on the swapping cart vary in type due to the different lock cylinders and lock bodies, making them incompatible. Furthermore, water or dust can easily accumulate on the unlocking tools during operation, leading to corrosion over time and affecting their functionality.

[0004] In current lock structures, only one lock body and one lock cylinder are needed to unlock the vehicle. However, electric vehicles encounter various road conditions and experience continuous bumps while driving. If the lock unlocks during these bumps, the battery may fall out, rendering the electric vehicle unable to move or even causing a dangerous accident. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a locking method for electric vehicle batteries, which sets the lock at the end of the vehicle, eliminating the need for unlocking tools on the electric vehicle, thus preventing corrosion, and having universality.

[0006] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve the technical problem is: a locking method for an electric vehicle battery, wherein a first locking body and a second locking body are provided on the electric vehicle, and a locked body is provided on the battery. When the locked body is in the locked position, the force applied by the first locking body to the locked body is inclined downward and divided into a first vertical component and a first horizontal component. The force applied by the second locking body to the locked body is inclined upward and divided into a second vertical component and a second horizontal component. The first vertical component and the second vertical component are in opposite directions, and the first horizontal component and the second horizontal component are in the same direction. A blocking member is provided on one side of the first locking body and the second locking body. The first horizontal component and the second horizontal component push the locked body towards the blocking member and abut against the blocking member.

[0007] More specifically, the first lock body is provided with a downward thrust by a spring.

[0008] More specifically, the position where the first lock body contacts the locked body is an inclined plane, and the locked body is a cylinder.

[0009] More specifically, the second lock body is provided with an upward thrust by the weight of the battery and the reaction force of the thrust of the first lock body.

[0010] More specifically, the position where the second lock body contacts the locked body is an inclined plane, and the locked body is a cylinder.

[0011] More specifically, the second lock body is provided with a reset member, which causes the second lock body to move in the locking direction.

[0012] More specifically, the second lock body and the blocking member are integrated to form a lock opening, and the lock opening is rotated to the locked position by rotating the second lock body.

[0013] More specifically, the first lock body cooperates with the second lock body to force the center of gravity of the locked body to be located on the side of the second lock body's rotation axis closer to the blocking member.

[0014] More specifically, an unlocking component is provided on the second lock body, and driving the unlocking component can force the second lock body to move away from the locked position.

[0015] More specifically, the lock opening and the unlocking component are located on opposite sides of the rotation center of the second lock body.

[0016] The beneficial effects of this invention are: by simultaneously installing the first lock body and the second lock body on the electric vehicle, the two lock bodies cooperate to achieve the purpose of locking the locked body, eliminating the need for unlocking tools, and making it compatible with various batteries, thus improving the scope of application; the battery will not fall off during violent shaking, but will become tighter and tighter; unlocking requires both lock bodies to be unlocked simultaneously for the battery to be removed, thus improving safety performance. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first embodiment of the locking mechanism of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 2 This is a side cross-sectional view of the locking mechanism of the present invention, according to a first embodiment.

[0019] Figure 3 This is a front cross-sectional view of the locking mechanism of the present invention, according to the first embodiment.

[0020] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the second embodiment of the locking mechanism of the present invention. Figure 1 ;

[0021] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the second embodiment of the locking mechanism of the present invention. Figure 2 ;

[0022] Figure 6 This is a side cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the locking mechanism of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 7 This is a front cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the locking mechanism of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the fixing base of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first lock of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second lock of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the force analysis of the locking method of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 12 This is a flowchart of the unlocking control method of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 13 This is a flowchart of the locking control method of the present invention.

[0030] In the diagram: 1. Fixed base; 11. First receiving groove; 12. Connecting groove; 13. Third receiving groove; 14. Unlocking hole; 15. Clearing groove; 2. First lock body; 21. First lock; 211. First inclined surface; 212. Second receiving groove; 213. Limiting groove; 22. Lock spring; 3. Second lock body; 31. Second lock; 311. First end; 3111. Top connecting part; 3112. Side connecting part; 3113. Bottom connecting part; 312. Second end; 313. Second inclined surface; 32. Locking port; 33. Rotating shaft; 4. Locked body; 5. Limiting member; 6. Connecting rod. Detailed Implementation

[0031] The technical solution of the present invention will now be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0032] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing the invention and for simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0033] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances. Furthermore, the technical features involved in the different embodiments of this invention described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0034] This invention provides a locking mechanism for electric vehicles, used to lock the battery to the electric vehicle, such as... Figures 1-7The locking mechanism shown includes a fixed base 1 fixed inside the battery compartment, a first lock body 2 and a second lock body 3 disposed on the fixed base 1. The first lock body 2 includes a first lock 21 and a lock spring 22 that drives the first lock 21 to move downward. One end of the lock spring 22 abuts against the fixed base 1, and the other end abuts against the first lock 21. A limiting member 5 is also provided between the first lock 21 and the fixed base 1. The limiting member 5 can be used to limit the downward movement of the first lock 21 and prevent the first lock 21 from disengaging from the fixed base 1. The second lock body 3 includes... A second lock 31 is provided on the fixed base 1, and a lock opening 32 is provided on the second lock 31. A locked body 4 is provided on the battery. The locked body 4 is cylindrical. When the locking mechanism is in the locked position, the locked body 4 is located on the downward movement path of the first lock 21, and at the same time, the locked body 4 is located inside the lock opening 32. The side of the lock opening 32 is open. The lock opening 32 is inserted from the side of the locked body 4 so that a part of the second lock 31 extends into the lower part of the locked body 4. The first lock 21 presses the locked body 4 down onto the second lock 31.

[0035] like Figure 8 and Figure 9 As shown, a circular first receiving groove 11 is provided on the fixed base 1. The first lock 21 is also circular and has a second receiving groove 212 along its axial direction. The first lock 21 can be inserted into the first receiving groove 11. The lock spring 22 is disposed in the second receiving groove 212. One end of the lock spring 212 abuts against the bottom of the first receiving groove 11, and the other end abuts against the bottom of the second receiving groove 212. The lock spring 22 pushes the first lock 21 outward. The limiting member 5 is disposed on the outside of the fixed base 1. The limiting member 5 is inserted into the first receiving groove 11 from the outside of the fixed base 1. At the same time, a limiting groove 213 is provided on the first lock 21. The limiting member 5 is inserted into the limiting groove 213. The cooperation between the limiting member 5 and the limiting groove 213 prevents the first lock 21 from falling out of the first receiving groove 11. Figure 1 and Figure 2 The limiting member 5 shown includes a limiting plate and a limiting rod extending inward from the limiting plate, the limiting plate being fixed by screws; as shown Figure 5 and Figure 6 The limiting member shown is a screw that enters and exits the limiting groove; after the first lock 21 moves, it has an unlocking position and a locking position. The unlocking position is the position reached when the first lock 21 moves upward and compresses the lock spring 22, and the locking position is the position reached when the first lock 21 is pushed downward by the lock spring 22.

[0036] The second lock body 3 is provided with two sets of locks located symmetrically on both sides of the first lock body 2, wherein, for example... Figure 10The second lock body 3 shown also includes a rotating shaft 33, which is mounted on the fixed base 1 and arranged horizontally. The second lock 31 is mounted on the rotating shaft 33 and can rotate around the rotating shaft 33. The second lock 31 rotates vertically and has two working positions: an unlocked position and a locked position. The unlocked position is the position where the second lock 31 moves away from directly below the first lock 21, allowing the movement path of the locked body 4 to be cleared. The locked position is the position where the second lock 31 is directly below the first lock 21, blocking the movement path of the locked body 4. The second lock 31 includes a first end 311 and a second end 312 disposed on both sides of the rotating shaft 33. The lock opening 32 is located at the first end 311, as in the first embodiment of this solution. Figures 1-3 A reset element is provided between the second end 312 and the fixed base 1. The reset element can drive the first end 311 to rotate to the locked state. The reset element is a compression spring, or it can be a torsion spring provided on the rotating shaft 33 and the second lock 31. Figure 8 As shown, a connecting groove 12 is provided on the fixed base 1 in the horizontal direction, such as Figure 2 and Figure 3 A connecting rod 6 is provided in the connecting groove 12, and the connecting rod 6 can slide in the connecting groove 12. The two ends of the connecting rod 6 are respectively connected to the second ends 312 of the two second locks 31. A third receiving groove 13 is provided on the fixed base 1. The third receiving groove 13 is perpendicular to the connecting rod 6. The compression spring is provided in the third receiving groove 13. One end of the compression spring abuts against the bottom of the third receiving groove 13, and the other end abuts against the connecting rod 6; or as in the second embodiment of this solution (e.g.) Figure 4-7 No reset component is used; the reset of the second lock 31 is achieved by controlling the pulling or pushing of the second end 312.

[0037] like Figure 10 The lock 32 shown is surrounded by a top connecting part 3111, a side connecting part 3112 and a bottom connecting part 3113. The top connecting part 3111 and the bottom connecting part 3113 are arranged opposite to each other. The side connecting part 3112 is connected between the top connecting part 3111 and the bottom connecting part 3113. The side connecting part 3112 can play a blocking role and is also a blocking component.

[0038] Unlocking the second lock 31 can be achieved by setting an unlocking component at the second end 312. In the first embodiment, operating the unlocking component allows the second end 312 to move closer to and compress the reset component. At this time, the first end 311 moves away from the locked position (i.e., moves towards the unlocked position), thus unlocking. The unlocking component can be set in two forms, and either form can be selected or both can be used simultaneously. In the first form, an unlocking hole 14 is provided on the fixed base. The unlocking component is cylindrical and can be inserted into the unlocking hole 14. The unlocking component can move axially within the unlocking hole 14, with one end abutting against the connecting rod 6. The unlocking component is pushed manually or electrically, thereby pushing the second end 312 to achieve unlocking. In this form, the unlocking component can also be omitted, leaving only the unlocking hole 14. During operation, a tool can be inserted into the unlocking hole 14 to push the connecting rod 6, such as a screwdriver. In the second form of the unlocking component, a steel wire rope is connected to the connecting rod 6 or the second end 312. The steel wire rope can be driven by a motor to wind it up, thereby pulling the connecting rod 6 or the second end 312 to the unlocking position. A clearance groove 15 is provided on the fixed base 1, and the steel wire rope is accommodated within it. The clearance groove 15 is perpendicular to the connecting rod 6. One steel wire rope can connect multiple locking mechanisms through the clearance groove 15, so multiple locking mechanisms can be controlled simultaneously by one motor. This allows for one-button control of all locking mechanisms at the vehicle end for simultaneous unlocking. In the second embodiment, a reset component is no longer needed; the connecting rod 6 or the second end 312 is unlocked and reset directly by pulling an external pull rod or steel wire rope.

[0039] Based on the above structure, in the locked state, to ensure that the locked body 4 does not fall out from between the first locking body 2 and the second locking body 3, as follows: Figure 2 Therefore, the position where the first lock 21 contacts the locked body 4 is set as the first inclined surface 211, and the position where the second lock 31 contacts the locked body 4 is set as the second inclined surface 313. The second inclined surface 313 is set on the side of the bottom connecting part 3113 near the lock opening 32. Both the first inclined surface 211 and the second inclined surface 313 are inclined inward towards the lock opening 32. With the bottom surface of the fixed base 1 as the reference, the angle between the first inclined surface 211 and the bottom surface of the fixed base 1 is controlled at 3-10°, preferably 5°, and the angle between the second inclined surface 313 and the bottom surface of the fixed base 1 is controlled at 5-12°, preferably 8°.

[0040] like Figure 11The design of the first inclined plane 211 and the second inclined plane 313 is analyzed to determine their stress conditions, thus forming a locking method for an electric vehicle. When the locked body 4 is in the locked position, the first lock 21 will exert a downward force on the locked body 4 due to the action of the lock spring 22. Since the first inclined plane 211 is in contact with the cylindrical surface of the locked body 4, the direction of the thrust F1 formed there is inclined downward. The thrust F1 formed there can be decomposed into a first vertical component F11 and a first horizontal component F12 in the horizontal direction. The direction of the first horizontal component F12 is towards the inside of the lock opening 32 (i.e., the direction of the blocking member); the second lock 31 will exert a downward force due to the gravity borne by the locked body 4. The downward thrust of the first lock 21 generates an upward reaction force F2. Since the second inclined surface 313 is in contact with the cylindrical surface of the locked body 4, the reaction force F2 generated there is inclined upward. The reaction force F2 generated there can be decomposed into a vertically upward second vertical component F21 and a horizontal component F22. The direction of the second horizontal component F22 is towards the inside of the lock opening 32 (i.e., the direction of the blocking member). The direction of the first vertical component F11 is opposite to that of the second vertical component F21. Due to the action of the first horizontal component F12 and the second horizontal component F22, the locked body has a tendency to move towards the blocking member. The locked body 4 abuts against the blocking member, realizing the locking effect.

[0041] When an electric vehicle encounters bumpy or even severely bumpy road conditions, two scenarios may occur. First, due to inertia, the battery tends to move upwards, causing the first lock 21 to be pressed against the locked body 4. This increases the pushing force F1 of the first lock 21 on the locked body 4, thereby increasing the first horizontal component force F12. This increases the pushing force driving the locked body 4 towards the blocking member. Simultaneously, due to the action of the reset member, the second lock 31 will not unlock and will always remain below the locked body 4. The locked body 4 will only tend to move closer to the blocking member, not away from it, thus the battery will not detach from the lock. Second, due to inertia, the battery tends to move downwards, thus… The locked body 4 presses against the bottom connecting part 3113 of the second lock 31, increasing the pressure of the locked body 4 on the second lock 31. This increases the reaction force F2 of the second lock 31 against the locked body, which in turn increases the second horizontal component force F22. This increases the thrust that drives the locked body 4 to move towards the blocking part. At the same time, the first lock 21 is still pressed against the locked body 4 by the action of the lock spring 22 and has not disengaged. The locked body 4 will only tend to move closer to the blocking part, rather than away from it. Based on this, the locking body 4 will only tighten its grip on the battery on bumpy or even severely bumpy road conditions, thus ensuring that the battery will not loosen or unlock, improving safety performance.

[0042] Furthermore, in the structural design, it can be considered that the center of gravity of the locked body 4 is set close to the blocking member in the locked position, that is, the center of gravity of the locked body 4 and the axis of the rotating shaft 33 are not on the same vertical line. The downward gravity of the locked body 4 generates a certain torque relative to the axis of the rotating shaft 44. This torque drives the second lock 31 to move to the locked position. Under the dual action of the reset member and this torque, the locked body 4 will not disengage. When the reset member fails, the torque can continue to be used to ensure that the bottom connecting part 3113 of the second lock 41 is always located below the locked body 4.

[0043] Based on the aforementioned locking mechanism and method, applying them to a battery swapping station can form a new locking and unlocking control method for electric vehicle battery locks. The battery swapping station includes a parking platform, a battery storage area, and a battery swapping trolley that can move between the parking platform and the battery storage area. The parking platform is configured to allow electric vehicles awaiting battery swapping to park, and the position of the electric vehicles can be adjusted. The battery storage area is used to store fully charged and depleted batteries. When a depleted battery is stored in the battery storage area, it can charge the depleted battery in real time. The battery swapping trolley is equipped with a carrying platform, which can be raised and lowered via a lifting mechanism. When the battery swapping trolley enters the battery storage area, a mechanical gripper or robot inside the battery storage area can place fully charged batteries from the battery storage area onto the carrying platform, or depleted batteries from the carrying platform can be placed into the battery storage area.

[0044] The locking mechanism described above is installed in the battery compartment of the electric vehicle. The locked body 4 is installed on the battery. The number of locking mechanisms can be appropriately set according to the size of the battery. The number of locked bodies 4 is the same as the number of locking mechanisms. The locked body 4 includes a fixed flange and a locked shaft set on the fixed flange. The locked shaft is installed on the battery through the fixed flange. The structure of the locked body 4 here is only one embodiment. The locked body 4 can also be fixed on the battery by other installation methods.

[0045] Once the electric vehicle waiting for battery swapping has driven onto the parking platform, the depleted battery needs to be removed. This requires unlocking the depleted battery. Figure 12 As shown, the unlocking control method is as follows:

[0046] First, the electric vehicle waiting to be swapped is parked on the parking platform. The system of the battery swapping station can adjust the position of the electric vehicle on the parking platform to a suitable position for battery swapping. The empty battery swapping trolley moves to directly under the battery compartment of the electric vehicle, and the system controls the battery swapping trolley to move upward with the support platform.

[0047] Afterwards, the carrying platform continues to move upward with the depleted battery after contacting the bottom of the battery. The locked body 4 on the depleted battery pushes the first lock 21 to move upward. The first lock 21 pushes the lock spring 22 to deform, and the bottom connecting part 3113 of the second lock 21 disengages from the locked body 4. At this time, the first lock 21 is in the unlocked state.

[0048] Next, it is determined whether the carrying platform meets the conditions for stopping the ascent. If the conditions for stopping the ascent are met, the system controls the carrying platform to stop rising. Here, the purpose is to reach the required height so that the second lock 31 can be unlocked.

[0049] Finally, the system controls the second lock 31 to move away from under the locked body 4, and the second lock 31 is unlocked; the carrying platform moves downward with the depleted battery, the locked body 4 is disengaged from the first lock 21, and the carrying platform continues to move downward with the depleted battery until it is completely detached from the battery compartment, thereby realizing the unlocking and removal of the depleted battery.

[0050] In the above unlocking steps, the determination of the condition for the carrying platform to stop rising can be achieved by at least one of the following conditions being met:

[0051] First, by detecting the rising height of the carrying platform, a distance sensor can be installed below or at the bottom of the carrying platform to detect the rising height of the carrying platform. The distance sensor detects the rising height of the carrying platform and feeds the height signal back to the system, which compares it with a preset height in the system. When the carrying platform reaches the preset height, the system can control the carrying platform to stop rising.

[0052] Secondly, by detecting the pressure borne by the support platform, a pressure sensor can be installed on the support platform to detect the pressure generated by the battery on the support platform. When the support platform moves upward, the locked body 4 will push the first lock 21 upward. Due to the action of the lock spring 22, the pressure borne by the locked body 4 from above increases and is transmitted to the support platform through the battery. The pressure sensor measures the corresponding pressure value and feeds it back to the system, which compares it with the preset pressure value in the system. When the preset pressure value is reached, the support platform of the system stops rising.

[0053] During the entire unlocking process, before the carrier platform moves downwards with the depleted battery (about to disengage from the first lock 21), it is necessary to confirm whether the second lock 31 has moved away from below the locked body 4 to make way for the movement path of the locked body 4. If the second lock 31 has been moved away, the carrier platform moves downwards with the depleted battery. If the second lock 31 has not been moved away, the unlocking mechanism can be controlled again to unlock. If it still has not been moved away, it indicates that the second lock 31 has malfunctioned. At this time, an alarm signal can be issued to notify the battery swapping station staff or maintenance personnel to carry out maintenance operations.

[0054] The determination of whether the second lock 31 has been moved can be achieved by setting a photoelectric sensor next to the second lock 31, or by measuring the moving distance of the second lock 31.

[0055] After removing the depleted battery from the electric vehicle, the battery swapping cart moves to the battery storage area. Inside the storage area, the depleted battery is placed on the battery rack, and a fully charged battery is retrieved from the rack. The swapping cart then transports the fully charged battery to the bottom of the electric vehicle. At this point, the fully charged battery needs to be locked. Figure 13 As shown, the locking control method is as follows:

[0056] First, the battery swapping vehicle, carrying a fully charged battery, is transported to directly below the battery compartment of the electric vehicle, and the supporting platform is raised.

[0057] Subsequently, during the ascent of the supporting platform, the locked body 4 comes into contact with the first lock 21 and pushes the first lock 21 to move upward. The first lock 21 pushes the lock spring 22 to deform, and at this time the first lock 21 is in the unlocked state.

[0058] Next, it is determined whether the carrying platform meets the conditions for stopping the ascent. If the conditions for stopping the ascent are met, the system controls the carrying platform to stop rising. Here, the purpose is to reach the required height so that the second lock 31 can enter below the locked body 4, that is, the lock 32 is inserted into the locked body 4.

[0059] Finally, the system controls the second lock 31 to insert from one side of the locked body 4 and move to below the locked body 4, thus blocking the downward movement path of the locked body 4. The carrying platform moves downward, and the fully charged battery and the locked body 4 also move downward. The locked body 4 contacts the bottom connection part 3113 of the second lock 31. At the same time, the first lock 21 presses against the locked body 4 under the action of the lock spring 22, completing the locking operation. At this time, the carrying platform continues to descend and leave the electric vehicle; the electric vehicle can drive out of the parking platform.

[0060] During the locking process, the conditions for determining whether the carrying platform stops rising are the same as those for determining whether the carrying platform rises during the unlocking process.

[0061] To ensure successful locking during the locking process, the specific position of the second lock 31 needs to be determined when the support platform moves upward. If the second lock 31 is not in the unlocked position, that is, if the second lock 31 is located on the upward movement path of the locked body 4, it will block the locking operation. In this case, the unlocking component needs to be controlled to unlock the second lock 31, clearing the movement path of the locked body 4, and then the system controls the support platform to rise. If the second lock 31 is in the unlocked state, the system controls the support platform to rise directly.

[0062] To determine whether the second lock 31 is in the unlocked position, a photoelectric sensor can be installed next to the second lock 31 for detection and judgment, or the movement distance of the second lock 31 can be measured for judgment.

[0063] In summary, this invention provides a locking mechanism and method for electric vehicle batteries, enabling the locked body 4 to move inward towards the lock opening 32 when in the locked position. Especially on bumpy roads, the lock becomes increasingly tighter, significantly reducing the chance of the battery falling out and lowering the risk of accidents. Furthermore, based on the characteristics of the locking mechanism, a locking control method and an unlocking control method for electric vehicle batteries are designed. Controlling the locking and unlocking facilitates battery disassembly and assembly. Additionally, locking and unlocking tools are no longer needed on the battery swapping vehicle; a combination of lifting and vehicle-side control enables locking and unlocking operations. Moreover, since both the first lock body 2 and the second lock body 3 are mounted on the electric vehicle, and the locked body 4 on the battery is merely a cylinder, there is no issue of mismatch between the lock and the lock cylinder. This allows for wider processing and adaptation, further improving the utilization rate of battery swapping stations.

[0064] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention in any way. Any simple modifications, equivalent changes and alterations made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention shall still fall within the scope of the technical solution of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for locking an electric vehicle battery, characterized in that, A first lock body (2) and a second lock body (3) are provided on the electric vehicle, and a locked body (4) is provided on the battery. When the locked body (4) is in the locked position, the force applied by the first lock body (2) to the locked body (4) is inclined downward and divided into a first vertical component and a first horizontal component. The force applied by the second lock body (3) to the locked body (4) is inclined upward and divided into a second vertical component and a second horizontal component. The first vertical component and the second vertical component are opposite in direction, and the first horizontal component and the second horizontal component are in the same direction. A blocking member is provided on one side of the first lock body (2) and the second lock body (3). The first horizontal component and the second horizontal component push the locked body (4) toward the blocking member and abut against the blocking member. The second lock body (3) is provided with an upward thrust by the weight of the battery and the reaction force of the thrust of the first lock body (2); The second lock body (3) is provided with a reset member, which causes the second lock body (3) to move in the locking direction; The second lock body (3) and the blocking member are integrated to form a lock opening (32), and the lock opening (32) is rotated to the locking position by rotating the second lock body (3); The first lock body (2) includes a first lock (21), and the position where the first lock (21) contacts the locked body (4) is set as a first inclined surface (211); the second lock body includes a second lock (31), and the position where the second lock (31) contacts the locked body (4) is set as a second inclined surface (313); the second inclined surface (313) is located on the side close to the lock opening (32); both the first inclined surface (211) and the second inclined surface (313) are inclined inward toward the lock opening (32).

2. The locking method for an electric vehicle battery according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first lock body (2) is provided with a downward thrust by a spring.

3. The locking method for an electric vehicle battery according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first lock body (2) contacts the locked body (4) at an inclined plane, and the locked body (4) is a cylinder.

4. The locking method for an electric vehicle battery according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second lock body (3) contacts the locked body (4) at an inclined plane, and the locked body (4) is a cylinder.

5. The locking method for an electric vehicle battery according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first lock body (2) cooperates with the second lock body (3) to force the center of gravity of the locked body (4) to be located on the side of the second lock body (33) near the blocking member.

6. The locking method for an electric vehicle battery according to claim 1, characterized in that, An unlocking component is provided on the second lock body (3), and driving the unlocking component can force the second lock body (3) to move away from the locking position.

7. The locking method for an electric vehicle battery according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lock opening (32) and the unlocking component are located on both sides of the rotation center of the second lock body (3).

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