Quick-change bracket and battery replacement vehicle comprising same

Abstract

This invention discloses a quick-swap bracket and a battery swapping vehicle including the same. The bracket body includes a bracket body with at least one locking mechanism spaced along the length of the vehicle body. The locking mechanism is used to lock or unlock the battery pack vertically using bolts. The bracket body is connected to the vehicle body via a floating unit, allowing it to float vertically relative to the vehicle body. This invention uses a quick-swap bracket to transfer the battery pack. The bracket body and the vehicle body can float vertically relative to each other via the floating unit, thereby mitigating the damage caused by increased torque or vibration directly transmitted to the battery pack when the vehicle body is twisted or traveling on bumpy roads, thus improving the battery pack's lifespan. The bolt-locking mechanism enables rapid installation and removal of the battery swapping vehicle, simplifying the installation and removal process and improving quick-swap efficiency.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese patent application 2022108370942, filed on July 15, 2022. The entire contents of the aforementioned Chinese patent application are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This invention relates to the field of vehicle battery swapping technology, and in particular to a quick-swap bracket and a battery swapping vehicle incorporating the bracket. Background Technology

[0003] Currently, for electric vehicles, the battery pack is generally fixedly connected to the vehicle body, and the electric vehicle replenishes its energy through charging. Alternatively, a quick-swap connection can be used, allowing the electric vehicle to replenish its energy by swapping the battery pack. Because charging is time-consuming, quick-swap charging is increasingly valued due to its greater convenience. However, for electric vehicles using quick-swap charging, a battery pack bracket is required to allow for rapid installation and removal of the battery pack. The battery pack bracket is typically fixed to the vehicle body, meaning that the rigid connection between the bracket and the body means that when the vehicle body is under stress, the force is transferred to the battery pack bracket and then to the battery pack.

[0004] This structure allows the vehicle body torsion caused by steering or bumps during electric vehicle operation to be directly transmitted to the battery pack bracket and battery pack through a rigid connection. This affects the connection between the battery pack and the battery pack bracket, especially the locking mechanism on the battery pack bracket, which can be damaged, preventing the battery pack from being attached. Alternatively, it can cause the battery pack to deform, crack, or even break in the circuit due to torque, affecting the battery pack's performance and potentially leading to a safety accident. Furthermore, because the original locking mechanism has multiple claws, all claws need to retract or separate simultaneously when locking or unlocking the battery pack, making the connection of the battery pack to the battery pack bracket through the locking mechanism cumbersome. This results in long and inefficient battery swapping times for electric vehicles. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to overcome the defects in the prior art where the rigid connection between the battery pack bracket and the electric vehicle causes the connection between the battery pack and the battery pack bracket to be affected by the vehicle body due to bumps and other reasons, resulting in damage to the locking mechanism on the battery pack bracket and the inability to attach the battery pack; or causing the battery pack to vibrate or deform, thereby affecting the performance of the battery pack. The present invention provides a quick-change bracket and a battery swapping vehicle including the bracket.

[0006] The present invention solves the above-mentioned technical problems through the following technical solution:

[0007] A quick-change bracket includes a bracket body, the bracket body having at least one locking mechanism spaced apart along the length of the vehicle body, the locking mechanism being used to lock or unlock the battery pack in a vertical direction by bolt locking, the bracket body being connected to the vehicle body via a floating unit so that the bracket body can float relative to the vehicle body in the vertical direction.

[0008] This battery pack bracket is used in battery swapping vehicles. It features a locking mechanism on the bracket body that uses bolts to lock and unlock, allowing the battery pack to be attached. This simple structure enables quick battery pack swapping, and because the bolt locking method only requires vertical movement, it maximizes space utilization. Furthermore, the battery pack bracket is floating to the electric vehicle, allowing the floating unit to offset the forces exerted by the vehicle's vibrations or torsional forces, reducing or eliminating their transmission to the battery pack. This prevents interference with the connection between the battery pack and the bracket body, ensuring the reliability and stability of the locking mechanism during use. It also reduces torque transmission to the battery pack, preventing vibration or deformation and improving battery pack safety. The battery pack is also less prone to damage, resulting in increased lifespan and improved economic efficiency.

[0009] Preferably, the locking mechanism includes a nut, which is used to engage with a bolt on the battery pack and lock and unlock the battery pack and the bracket body by means of bolt locking.

[0010] Alternatively, the locking mechanism includes a bolt, which engages with a nut on the battery pack and locks and unlocks the battery pack and the bracket body by means of the bolt locking.

[0011] In the above technical solution, the bolt locking between the battery pack and the battery swapping vehicle is achieved through the cooperation between bolts and nuts. The locking method is simple and convenient, which helps to improve the locking efficiency.

[0012] Preferably, the bolt or the nut is floatingly connected to the bracket body.

[0013] In the above technical solution, the floating connection can reduce the torque or vibration transmitted to the support body when the battery swapping vehicle is subjected to steering twisting or bumps, thereby reducing the impact of torque or vibration on the support body. At the same time, the floating connection of the bolts or nuts cooperates with the floating unit, so that the locking mechanism can float together with the floating unit and avoid damage to the locking mechanism.

[0014] Preferably, the bolt locking mechanism further includes an anti-rotation and anti-reverse structure, which is connected to the bolt and / or nut to prevent relative rotational movement between the bolt and the nut.

[0015] In the above technical solution, the anti-rotation and anti-reverse structure prevents the bolts and nuts from being unlocked due to relative movement after the battery pack is installed on the quick-change bracket, thereby ensuring the stability and reliability of the connection between the battery pack and the quick-change bracket.

[0016] Preferably, the bolt has a first end away from the nut, and the anti-rotation and anti-reverse structure is sleeved on the outer periphery of the first end.

[0017] In the above technical solution, the anti-rotation and anti-reverse structure is sleeved on the end of the bolt away from the nut, which makes it easy to keep the bolt locked after locking with the nut by restricting the bolt rotation, thus avoiding relative movement between the bolt and the nut, and at the same time making the spatial layout reasonable.

[0018] Preferably, the anti-rotation and anti-reverse structure includes an inner gear ring and an outer gear ring, the inner gear ring is sleeved on the outer periphery of the outer gear ring, the first end is keyed to the inner surface of the outer gear ring, and the outer gear ring has a first position and a second position.

[0019] When the outer gear ring is in the first position, the inner circumferential surface of the inner gear ring engages with the outer circumferential surface of the outer gear ring;

[0020] When the outer gear ring is in the second position, the outer gear ring disengages from the inner gear ring, and the outer gear ring is driven to rotate the bolt to lock or unlock it with the nut.

[0021] In the above technical solution, the inner gear ring serves as a connection and limiter; the outer gear ring moves to the second position to disengage from the inner gear ring, and the outer gear ring in the second position can rotate freely, thereby driving the bolt keyed to the outer gear ring to rotate, locking or unlocking the bolt and nut. After the locking or unlocking operation is completed, the outer gear ring returns from the second position to the first position. At this time, the outer gear ring and the inner gear ring are engaged, the position of the outer gear ring is fixed, and the bolt cannot rotate. The structure is simple, reliable and easy to implement, further realizing the rapid assembly and disassembly of the battery pack.

[0022] Preferably, the anti-rotation and anti-reverse structure further includes a first elastic member sleeved on the outer periphery of the first end, the two ends of the first elastic member respectively abutting the protruding part of the outer wall of the bolt and the outer toothed ring, and the first elastic member is used to apply a force to the outer toothed ring to reset the outer toothed ring from the second position to the first position.

[0023] In the above technical solution, when the outer gear ring moves towards the nut, the first elastic element is compressed and generates a compression displacement. After the bolt and nut are locked or unlocked by the outer gear ring, the outer gear ring returns to the first position and engages with the inner gear ring under the elastic force of the first elastic element. This facilitates automated control and ensures high reliability.

[0024] Preferably, the vehicle body has a beam extending along the length of the vehicle body, the support body is located below the beam, and the floating unit is disposed above the support body.

[0025] In the above technical solution, the bracket body is easy to cooperate with the battery pack, ensuring the connection stability of the battery pack. The floating unit can reduce the torque or vibration transmitted to the bracket body when the electric vehicle is subjected to steering torsion or bumps, thereby reducing the impact of torque or vibration on the bracket body. In addition, the battery pack does not occupy the upper space of the vehicle body, thus leaving more space for electric vehicles to carry people and goods.

[0026] Preferably, the floating unit includes a second elastic element, a connector, and a limiting element. The connector connects the bracket body and the vehicle body respectively. One end of the connector is fixed to one of the bracket body and the vehicle body. The other end of the connector passes through the other of the bracket body and the vehicle body and the second elastic element in sequence. The other end of the connector is provided with a limiting element so that the second elastic element is restricted between the bracket body or the vehicle body and the limiting element.

[0027] The above-mentioned structural design ensures the vertical floating of the bracket body relative to the vehicle body through the second elastic element and the connecting element, and improves the stability of the vertical floating of the bracket body relative to the vehicle body through the limiting element, thus preventing the bracket body from detaching from the vehicle body.

[0028] Preferably, the bottom plate of the vehicle beam is provided with a through hole for the connector to be movably inserted, the lower end of the second elastic member abuts against the bottom plate, and the upper end of the second elastic member abuts against the limiting member.

[0029] The above-mentioned structural configuration, by placing the second elastic element between the base plate and the limiting element, prevents the force on the vehicle body from being directly transmitted to the bracket body, thereby avoiding affecting the connection between the bracket body and the battery pack. At the same time, the bracket body can float relatively within the range between the base plate and the limiting element.

[0030] Preferably, the side of the vehicle beam is provided with a mounting plate, which extends horizontally outward from the side of the vehicle beam. The mounting plate has a through hole for the connector to be movably inserted. The lower end of the second elastic member abuts against the mounting plate, and the upper end of the second elastic member abuts against the limiting member.

[0031] The above-mentioned structural design, with the mounting plate placed on the side of the vehicle beam, allows the floating unit to be located on the outside of the vehicle beam, thus avoiding penetrating the bottom plate of the vehicle beam and ensuring the strength of the vehicle beam.

[0032] Preferably, the side of the vehicle beam is further provided with a fixing bracket, the fixing bracket having a fixing part and a connecting part for fixing to the vehicle beam, and a receiving area is formed between the connecting part and the side of the vehicle beam for accommodating the mounting plate, the mounting plate being fixed to the fixing bracket.

[0033] In the above-described structural configuration, the mounting plate is indirectly fixed to the vehicle beam via a fixed bracket. The fixed bracket covers the outside of the mounting plate, protecting both the mounting plate and the floating unit. Furthermore, the fixed bracket is fixedly connected to the vehicle beam, thereby improving the connection stability of the mounting plate.

[0034] Preferably, a cover plate is provided above the fixed bracket, and the cover plate at least covers the receiving area.

[0035] The above-mentioned structure includes a cover plate that seals the top of the receiving area, further protecting the mounting plate and floating unit to achieve dustproof or waterproof functions.

[0036] Preferably, the floating unit further includes a limiting plate disposed between the second elastic member and the limiting member.

[0037] The above-mentioned structural design increases the contact area between the limiting member and the second elastic member by using a limiting plate, so that the second elastic member is subjected to uniform force when the electric vehicle body is subjected to force due to bumps or other reasons.

[0038] Preferably, there are multiple floating units, and two adjacent floating units form a group of floating components. The floating units in the same group of floating components are connected to the same limiting plate.

[0039] The above-mentioned structural configuration, which forms a set of floating components through two floating units and shares a limiting plate, makes the structure of the floating components compact, improves the stability of the connection between the bracket body and the vehicle beam, and reduces the number of installation steps and improves installation efficiency by sharing the same limiting plate.

[0040] Preferably, there are two vehicle beams, and each vehicle beam is provided with a plurality of floating components spaced apart along the length of the vehicle body to be connected to the support body.

[0041] The above structural design, by setting floating components on both vehicle beams, makes the connection between the support body and the vehicle more stable.

[0042] A battery swapping vehicle, the battery swapping vehicle including the quick-swap bracket as described above.

[0043] The battery swapping vehicle has its body and battery pack vertically connected and connected via a bracket body to enable rapid battery swapping. The battery pack can float vertically relative to the body via a floating unit between the bracket body and the vehicle body. This floating unit can cancel out the forces such as bumps or torsion experienced by the electric vehicle, thereby reducing or even eliminating the transmission to the battery pack. This mitigates the situation where torque or vibration is transmitted to the battery pack when the electric vehicle is twisted or bumped during steering, thus affecting the performance of the battery pack.

[0044] Preferably, the battery-swapping vehicle is an electric truck.

[0045] In the aforementioned technical solutions, the large size and heavy weight of the electric truck's battery pack make it more susceptible to damage to the connection between the battery pack and its support structure when encountering bumpy road conditions. Furthermore, the increased torque caused by the load on the electric truck during its torsion further amplifies the impact on the battery pack. Therefore, a battery pack support structure with a floating unit is used to mitigate the impact on the battery pack and the connection between the battery pack and its support structure.

[0046] The positive and progressive effects of this invention are as follows: The quick-change bracket of this invention is equipped with a locking mechanism on the bracket body that is locked or unlocked by bolts to attach the battery pack, enabling quick battery pack swapping. By transferring the battery pack through the battery pack bracket, rapid battery swapping is achieved. The bracket body and the vehicle body can float vertically relative to each other via a floating unit, which can offset the forces of bumps or torsion experienced by the electric vehicle, thereby reducing or even eliminating their transmission to the battery pack. This mitigates the damage caused by increased torque or vibration directly transmitted to the battery pack when the vehicle body is tortuous or traveling on bumpy roads, improving the safety of the battery pack and making it less prone to damage. Furthermore, the battery pack's lifespan is increased, improving economic efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0047] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electric vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0048] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A magnified view of part C in the middle.

[0049] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the vehicle body, quick-change bracket, and battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0050] Figure 4 This is a partial structural diagram of a vehicle body according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0051] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the support body structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0052] Figure 6This is a partially enlarged view of a floating unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0053] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship of the support body according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0054] Figure 8 This is an exploded view of a bolt-locking structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0055] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the internal gear ring, external gear ring, and connecting portion of a bolt locking structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0056] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the internal and external gear rings of a bolt-locking structure in the meshing state according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0057] Figure 11 This is a cross-sectional view of the inner and outer gear rings of a bolt-locking structure according to an embodiment of the present invention in the meshing state.

[0058] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0059] Electric vehicles 100

[0060] Battery pack 10

[0061] Locking component 11

[0062] 20 car beams

[0063] A along the length of the beam

[0064] Vehicle width direction B

[0065] support body 30

[0066] Locking mechanism 40

[0067] Bolt 41

[0068] Thread section 411

[0069] Spline section 412

[0070] First elastic element 42

[0071] Casing 43

[0072] Internal gear ring 44

[0073] Internal teeth 441

[0074] Inner flange 442

[0075] External gear 45

[0076] External tooth 451

[0077] Outer flange 452

[0078] Connecting mechanism 46

[0079] Inner vertical groove 461

[0080] External vertical groove 462

[0081] Flange 463

[0082] Nut 47

[0083] Floating unit 50

[0084] Second elastic element 1

[0085] Connector 2

[0086] Limiting component 3

[0087] Mounting plate 4

[0088] Fixed bracket 5

[0089] Fixing part 51

[0090] Connecting part 52

[0091] Accommodation Area 53

[0092] Cover plate 54

[0093] Limit plate 6

[0094] Floating Component 7 Detailed Implementation

[0095] The present invention will be further illustrated by way of embodiments below, but the present invention is not limited to the scope of the embodiments described herein.

[0096] This invention provides a quick-change bracket, which can be used in specific structures such as Figure 1 The electric vehicle 100 shown has two parallel beams 20 arranged in the front-to-back direction to connect the main components of the electric vehicle 100, such as the suspension and wheels. The battery pack 10 of the electric vehicle is also installed below these two beams 20 to facilitate quick replacement of the battery pack 10 from below the electric vehicle 100, making battery pack 10 replacement faster and more convenient. In this embodiment, the electric vehicle 100 is a heavy-duty truck or a light-duty truck; of course, it can also be applied to passenger cars such as sedans. The specific structure of the quick-change bracket in this embodiment is as follows: Figure 1 , Figure 5 and Figure 7As shown, the bracket body 30 is connected to two beams 20 of the electric vehicle 100. The bracket body 30 is a frame structure welded from profiles. Multiple locking mechanisms 40 are spaced apart on the bracket body 30 at least along the length of the vehicle body. Each locking mechanism 40 uses bolt locking to lock and unlock the battery pack vertically, allowing the battery pack to be quickly installed on or removed from the electric vehicle 100. Specifically, the locking mechanism 40 can be installed on the side wall or lower surface of the longitudinal beam of the bracket body 30, so that the battery pack 10 can move vertically to lock and unlock with the locking mechanism 40, thereby connecting or disconnecting the battery pack 10 relative to the bracket body 30 to achieve battery replacement. In this embodiment, the quick battery pack replacement can be achieved through a simple bolt locking structure. Furthermore, since the bolt locking method only requires vertical movement, the space utilization of the quick-change bracket is higher. For the material of the bracket body 30, other materials can be selected according to actual needs, such as plates or square tubes, and are not limited to profiles.

[0097] Meanwhile, a floating unit 50 is provided vertically between the bracket body 30 and the vehicle beam 20. The floating unit 50 is used to transfer the bracket body 30 to the vehicle beam 20. The floating unit 50 itself can float vertically. When the electric vehicle 100 travels on a road with poor conditions, causing bumps or large turning angles that cause significant torsion to the vehicle beam 20, vibrations or torques will be generated. By setting the floating unit 50 on the vehicle beam 20, the battery pack 10 can float vertically relative to the vehicle beam 20 to counteract the forces such as bumps or torsion experienced by the electric vehicle, thereby reducing or even eliminating the transmission of these forces to the battery pack 10. This avoids affecting the connection between the battery pack 10 and the battery pack bracket, ensuring the reliability and stability of the locking mechanism 40 during use. Furthermore, it reduces the transmission of torque to the battery pack 10, preventing vibration or deformation of the battery pack 10, improving the safety of the battery pack 10, and making the battery pack 10 less prone to damage. Based on this, the service life of the battery pack 10 is increased.

[0098] Among them, such as Figure 2 As shown, the floating unit 50 is positioned above the support body 30 to connect with the vehicle beam 20, thus placing the support body 30 below the vehicle beam 20. The battery pack 10 is positioned below the support body 30 to facilitate the installation and removal of the battery pack 10 by the battery swapping equipment (not shown) from below the electric vehicle. This means the battery pack 10 is locked or unlocked relative to the locking mechanism 40 of the support body 30, enabling the retrieval, placement, and transfer of the battery pack 10. Simultaneously, the space below the vehicle beam 20 can be fully utilized, while the space above the vehicle beam 20 can be used for cargo carrying, making the space utilization on the electric vehicle 100 more rational.

[0099] In other embodiments, the support body 30 may also be positioned above the beam 20, and the floating unit 50 may be positioned below the support body 30 to connect with the beam 20.

[0100] For other electric vehicles 100 without a beam, the bracket body 30 can also be directly connected to the vehicle body or other parts of the vehicle body through the floating unit 50, so that the bracket body 30 can float vertically relative to the vehicle body.

[0101] like Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 5 As shown, in this embodiment, the bracket body 30 is provided with multiple rows of locking mechanisms 40. Each row of locking mechanisms 40 is spaced apart along the length direction of the bracket body 30 and symmetrically located on both sides of the bracket body 30 along the length direction. In some embodiments, only two rows can be provided on the bracket body 30, that is, one row on each side of the bracket body 30; or, four rows can be provided, that is, two rows on each side of the bracket body 30. Providing multiple locking mechanisms 40 on both sides of the bracket body 30 can improve the reliability and stability of the connection between the battery pack 10 and the bracket body 30 and the vehicle beam 20.

[0102] like Figure 5 As shown, in this embodiment, the bolt locking structure includes a locking mechanism 40 and a locking member 11. The locking mechanism 40 includes a nut 47, which is fixed to the bracket body 30 and has internal threads. The locking member 11 is disposed on the battery pack 10 and is used to cooperate with the locking mechanism 40. Corresponding to the nut 47 of the locking mechanism 40, the locking member 11 includes a bolt 41, which has a first end away from the nut 47 and connected to the battery pack 10, and a second end facing the nut 47. The second end of the bolt 41 has an external thread section 411 to cooperate with the nut 47.

[0103] In order to minimize the impact of steering torque and bumps on the electric vehicle 100 during operation, the nut 47 is configured to be floatingly connected to the bracket body 30, for example, the nut 47 is connected to the bracket body 30 by a spring.

[0104] Of course, the top surface of the nut 47 can also be welded to the lower end surface of the bracket body 30 to improve the stability of the nut 47 connected to the bracket body 30. An adapter, such as a plate, can also be provided between the nut 47 and the bracket body 30 to increase the contact area between the nut 47 and the bracket body 30, thereby improving the stability of the nut 47 after it is connected to the bracket body 30.

[0105] In other embodiments, the mounting positions of the nut 47 and the bolt 41 can be interchanged; that is, the bolt 41 is disposed on the bracket body 30, and the nut 47 is disposed on the battery pack 10. Similarly, the bolt 41 can be floatingly connected to the bracket body 30. Figure 8 As shown, the locking member 11 in this embodiment also includes an anti-rotation and anti-reverse structure, which is connected to the bolt 41 to prevent relative rotational movement between the bolt 41 and the nut 47. The anti-rotation and anti-reverse structure prevents the bolt 41 and nut 47 from moving relative to each other and unlocking after the battery pack 10 is installed on the quick-change bracket, thereby ensuring the stability and reliability of the connection between the battery pack 10 and the quick-change bracket. In another embodiment, the anti-rotation and anti-reverse structure is connected to the nut 47 to prevent relative rotational movement between the bolt 41 and the nut 47; alternatively, both the bolt 41 and the nut 47 are connected to anti-rotation and anti-reverse structures.

[0106] The anti-rotation and anti-reverse structure is sleeved on the outer periphery of the first end, which makes it easy to keep the bolt 41 locked after it is locked with the nut 47 by restricting the rotation of the bolt 41, thus preventing relative movement between the bolt 41 and the nut 47, and making the spatial layout reasonable.

[0107] like Figure 8-11 As shown, in this embodiment, the anti-rotation and anti-reverse mechanism includes an outer gear ring 45 and an inner gear ring 44 sleeved on the outer periphery of the outer gear ring 45. The outer gear ring 45 is connected to the first end of the bolt 41, and the outer periphery of the outer gear ring 45 is provided with outer teeth 451, while the inner periphery of the inner gear ring 44 is provided with inner teeth 441. The outer gear ring 45 has a first position and a second position relative to the inner gear ring 44. When the outer gear ring 45 is in the first position, that is, when the outer gear ring 45 enters the inner gear ring 44, the outer teeth 451 on the outer periphery of the outer gear ring 45 and the inner teeth 441 on the inner periphery of the inner gear ring 44 engage, thereby restricting the circumferential movement of the outer gear ring 45 and preventing it from rotating. When the outer gear ring 45 is in the second position, the outer gear ring 45 disengages from the inner gear ring 44, thereby enabling the outer gear ring 45 to move circumferentially. The bolt 41 is rotated by the outer gear ring 45 to lock or unlock the nut 47.

[0108] Furthermore, the outer gear ring 45 is provided with a connecting mechanism 46 to connect with the bolt 41. In this embodiment, the connecting mechanism 46 includes an inner vertical groove 461 disposed on the inner circumferential side of the outer gear ring 45. Correspondingly, the first end of the bolt 41 is provided with a spline segment 412, which can engage with the inner vertical groove 461, thereby allowing the bolt 41 to move together with the outer gear ring 45. In one embodiment, the connecting mechanism 46 is provided with a fitting flange 463, and the outer gear ring 45 is provided with an outer flange 452 for the fitting flange 463 to be inserted. At the same time, the connecting mechanism 46 also has an outer vertical groove 462 that engages with the inner circumferential surface of the outer gear ring 45, so that the connecting mechanism 46 and the outer gear ring 45 form a whole. In this embodiment, the inner gear ring 44 restricts the outer gear ring 45, thereby restricting the bolt 41, which in turn restricts the relative rotation of the bolt 41 and the nut 47. This prevents the bolt 41 and the nut 47 from moving relative to each other and unlocking after the battery pack 10 is installed on the quick-change bracket, thus ensuring the stability and reliability of the connection between the battery pack 10 and the quick-change bracket.

[0109] In this embodiment, the inner gear ring 44 is also provided with an inner flange 442, which is used to abut against the outer flange 452 of the outer gear ring 45 for axial positioning.

[0110] In another embodiment, the anti-rotation and anti-reverse structure further includes a first elastic element 42, which is a spring and is sleeved on the outer periphery of the first end of the bolt 41. The two ends of the first elastic element 42 abut against the protruding portion of the outer wall of the bolt 41 and the outer gear ring 45, respectively. When the outer gear ring 45 moves towards the nut 47, the first elastic element 42 is compressed and displaced. After the bolt 41 and nut 47 are locked or unlocked by the outer gear ring 45, under the elastic force of the first elastic element 42, the outer gear ring 45 returns to the first position and engages with the inner gear ring 44, facilitating automated control and ensuring high reliability.

[0111] In another embodiment, in order to improve the safety and service life of the locking member 11, the locking member 11 also includes a housing 43, which covers the first end of the bolt 41 (including the first elastic element 42 and the spline segment 412) and the outer gear ring 45.

[0112] In this embodiment, when the locking mechanism 40 and locking member 11 are unlocked, a special tool is used to push the outer gear ring 45 and the connecting mechanism 46 as a whole, so that the outer gear ring 45 and the connecting mechanism 46 as a whole move to the second position and move away from the inner gear ring 44, so that the outer gear ring 45 in the second position disengages from the inner gear ring 44. Then, by rotating the outer gear ring 45 and the connecting mechanism 46 as a whole, the bolt 41 is driven to rotate relative to the nut 47 until the bolt 41 disengages from the nut 47, thereby unlocking the battery pack 10 and the electric vehicle 100. The first elastic member 42 drives the outer gear ring 45, the connecting mechanism 46 and the bolt 41 to retract.

[0113] Similarly, when the locking mechanism 40 and the locking element 11 need to be locked, a special tool is used to push the outer gear ring 45 and the connecting mechanism 46 as a whole, causing the outer gear ring 45 and the connecting mechanism 46 to move away from the inner gear ring 44, ensuring that the outer gear ring 45 and the inner gear ring 44 disengage. Then, by rotating the outer gear ring 45 and the connecting mechanism 46 as a whole, the bolt 41 is driven to rotate relative to the nut 47 until the locking torque of the bolt 41 and the nut 47 is met, thus locking the bolt. 41 and nut 47 are locked; the tool is removed, and the first elastic element 42 will drive the outer gear ring 45, the connecting mechanism 46, and the bolt 41 to retract, so that the outer gear ring 45 is driven from the second position to the first position and engages with the inner gear ring 44. The outer flange 452 of the outer gear ring 45 abuts against the inner flange 442 of the inner gear ring 44 to restrict the rotation and axial movement of the bolt 41; if the outer gear ring 45 cannot engage with the inner gear ring 44, the outer gear ring 45 can be slightly rotated to engage with the inner gear ring 44.

[0114] The floating unit 50 includes a second elastic element 1, a connector 2, and a limiting element 3. The connector 2 connects the bracket body 30 and the vehicle beam 20. One end of the connector 2 is fixedly connected to the bracket body 30, and the other end of the connector 2 passes through the vehicle beam 20 and the second elastic element 1 in sequence. The limiting element 3 is provided at the end of the other end of the connector 2. The radial cross-sectional dimension of the limiting element 3 is larger than the cross-sectional dimension of the second elastic element 1 in the same direction. The upper and lower ends of the second elastic element 1 abut against the upper surface of the vehicle beam 20 and the lower surface of the limiting element 3 to prevent the second elastic element 1 from detaching from the connector 2. This allows the bracket body 30 to float vertically relative to the vehicle beam 20 through the floating unit 50, thereby reducing the vibration of the vehicle beam 20 or the torque transmitted to the bracket body 30 and then to the battery pack 10. At the same time, the limiting element 3 improves the vertical floating stability of the bracket body 30 relative to the vehicle body and prevents the bracket body 30 from detaching from the vehicle body.

[0115] In another embodiment of this invention, one end of the connector 2 is fixed to the vehicle beam 20, and the other end of the connector 2 passes through the bracket body 30 and the second elastic member 1 in sequence. The end of the other end of the connector 2 is also provided with a limiting member 3, so that the elastic member is restricted between the bracket body 30 and the limiting member 3.

[0116] Because electric vehicles 100, especially electric trucks, use battery packs 10 that are large and heavy, and are only connected to the vehicle beam 20 by floating units 50, the load-bearing capacity of floating units 50 is required to be high. In this embodiment, the second elastic element 1 is a rectangular spring with a spring constant of 510 Nm / mm. Rectangular springs have high load-bearing capacity, which can meet the load-bearing requirements of battery pack 10; secondly, rectangular springs have strong fatigue resistance, which can meet the high-frequency elastic deformation requirements of rectangular springs caused by high-frequency turning and bumps during use after battery pack 10 is installed on electric vehicle 100.

[0117] In this embodiment, the connecting member 2 is a vertically extending connecting rod, and one end of the connecting rod is integrally formed with a limiting member 3. Because the radial cross-sectional dimension of the limiting member 3 is larger than the radial cross-sectional dimension of the rectangular spring, it can prevent the connecting rod from separating from the rectangular spring. The two cooperate to realize the floating of the bracket body 30 relative to the vehicle beam 20. In other embodiments, the limiting member 3 can be additionally provided and fixed to one end of the connecting rod.

[0118] In a preferred embodiment, the beam 20 is a hollow or U-shaped structure. The connector 2 can pass through only the bottom plate of the beam 20, allowing the second elastic member 1 to abut against the upper surface of the bottom plate of the beam 20 and the limiting member 3, thereby achieving limiting and floating. Specifically, the beam 20 has a bottom plate extending horizontally, and the bottom plate of the beam 20 has a through hole for the connector 2 to be movably inserted. One end of the connector 2 is fixed to the bracket body 30, and the other end of the connector 2 passes through the through hole. The upper and lower ends of the second elastic member 1 abut against the upper surface of the bottom plate and the lower surface of the limiting member 3, respectively, so that the bracket body 30 can float vertically relative to the beam 20 through the floating unit 50. By directly providing a through hole in the bottom plate of the beam 20 for the connector 2 to pass through, the structure at the vehicle body end is simple, and no additional accessories are required to achieve the connection with the bracket body 30.

[0119] In another preferred embodiment, such as Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4As shown, a mounting plate 4 is provided on the side of the vehicle beam 20. The mounting plate 4 is a rectangular plate and is welded to the vehicle beam 20. One end of the mounting plate 4 extends horizontally outward from the side of the vehicle beam 20. A through hole is opened on the mounting plate 4 in the vertical direction. The connecting member 2 passes through the through hole, and the lower end of the second elastic member 1 is located on the upper surface of the mounting part 4. That is to say, the mounting part 4 supports the bracket body 30 through cooperation with the second elastic member 1 and the connecting member 2. The upper end of the second elastic member 1 still abuts against the lower surface of the limiting member 3, so that the second elastic member 1 is restricted between the mounting plate 4 and the limiting member 3. The connecting member 2 is prevented from detaching from the second elastic member 1 by the limiting member 3, and further prevented from detaching from the mounting plate 4, so as to ensure that the bracket body 30 and the vehicle beam 20 can float vertically through the floating unit 50. On this basis, the mounting plate 4 is installed on the side of the vehicle beam 20, so that the bottom plate of the vehicle beam 20 does not need to be drilled and its integrity is not damaged, thereby ensuring the structural strength of the vehicle beam 20.

[0120] In another preferred embodiment, such as Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 6 As shown, a fixing bracket 5 is provided on the side of the vehicle beam 20. The fixing bracket 5 is a "U"-shaped component, and both ends of the "U"-shaped component have fixing parts 51 that are fixed to the vehicle beam 20 and connecting parts 52 that connect the two fixing parts 51. The fixing parts 51 extend along the length direction A of the vehicle beam 20 and fit against the side of the vehicle beam 20. The fixing parts 51 are bolted to the vehicle beam 20, thereby improving the connection stability between the fixing bracket 5 and the vehicle beam 20 and facilitating maintenance and replacement. In other embodiments, welding or other fixing methods can also be used. The connecting part 52 is the "U"-shaped bottom of the "U"-shaped component and is integrally formed with the fixing parts 51 at both ends of the "U"-shaped component. A receiving area 53 is formed between the connecting part 52 and the side of the vehicle beam 20. A mounting plate 4 is provided in the receiving area 53. In this embodiment, the mounting plate 4 is not directly fixed to the vehicle beam 20. The mounting plate 4 is indirectly fixed to the side of the vehicle beam 20 by fixing it to the connecting part 52. This structural arrangement allows the mounting plate 4 to be indirectly and detachably mounted on the vehicle beam 20 via the fixing bracket 5, facilitating repair and replacement in case of damage. Furthermore, by covering the outside of the mounting plate 4 with the connecting part 52, the fixing bracket 5 provides protection for the mounting plate 4. Simultaneously, the second elastic element 1, the connecting element 2, and the limiting element 3 are all located within the receiving area 53. The receiving area 53 provides space to ensure the floating unit 50 can float vertically while preventing dust, sewage, or debris from entering the floating unit 50 horizontally. This avoids the floating unit 50, located on the outside of the vehicle beam 20, from being corroded by dust or debris from the outdoor environment, ensuring the normal operation of the floating unit 50, especially the second elastic element 1. The bracket body 30 is flexibly connected to the vehicle beam 20 instead of being rigidly connected to it.

[0121] In other embodiments, the mounting plate 4 is fixed to the vehicle beam 20 near the end of the vehicle beam, while the end away from the vehicle beam 20 is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the receiving area 53 of the fixing bracket 5. That is, the mounting plate 4 extends to the inner wall of the receiving area 53 on the outside of the vehicle beam 20. One end of the mounting plate 4 is fixedly connected to the vehicle beam 20, and the other end of the mounting plate 4 is connected to the vehicle beam 20 through the fixing part 51 of the fixing bracket 5. This avoids the mounting plate 4 being a cantilever structure with one end bearing the force, and improves the load-bearing capacity of the mounting plate 4. On this basis, the capacity of the battery pack 10 hanging on the bracket body 30 can be increased accordingly, which will not be elaborated further here.

[0122] Furthermore, a cover plate 54 is provided above the fixed bracket 5. The cover plate 54 is arranged horizontally and covers the upper part of the receiving area 53. It is connected to the outer side of the vehicle beam 20 and the fixed bracket 5 so that the upper end of the receiving area 53 is closed by the cover plate 54 and the lower end of the receiving area 53 is closed by the mounting plate 4. This improves the sealing of the receiving area 53. The cover plate 54 also prevents dust, sewage or debris from entering the receiving area 53 vertically, preventing the second elastic element 1 from being stuck by debris and unable to make vertical rebounding movement. This ensures that the floating unit 50 can work normally and prevents sewage from corroding the second elastic element 1 and shortening its service life, thus improving the economy of the floating unit 50 in actual use. In specific implementation, the size of the cover plate 54 is not smaller than the size of the receiving area 53, so as to at least cover the receiving area 53.

[0123] In this embodiment, the floating unit 50 also includes a limiting plate 6, which is a horizontally oriented plate structure. The limiting plate 6 has a circular hole through which the connecting member 2 passes. The circular hole of the limiting plate 6 is smaller than the radial cross-section of the limiting member 3 to prevent the limiting plate 6 from detaching. The limiting member 3 is located above the limiting plate 6, and the limiting plate 6 is located between the limiting member 3 and the second elastic member 1. That is, the upper end of the second elastic member 1 abuts against the lower surface of the limiting plate 6, and the lower end of the second elastic member 1 abuts against the upper surface of the mounting plate 4. By increasing the contact area with the upper end of the second elastic member 1 through the limiting plate 6, the force on the second elastic member 1 is more uniform when the electric vehicle 100's body is subjected to force due to bumps or other reasons. Simultaneously, the increased contact area allows the upward elastic force applied by the second elastic member 1 to diffuse onto the limiting plate 6. In other words, the limiting plate 6 enhances the limiting performance of the second elastic member 1, making the floating unit 50 more robust and improving its reusability.

[0124] Meanwhile, in order to improve the reduction of the impact of the torque or vibration of the vehicle beam 20 on the bracket body 30 and the battery pack 10, multiple floating units 50 are provided in this embodiment. Two adjacent floating units 50 are arranged side by side to form a group of floating components 7. Further, each of the two floating units 50 has two limiting members 3, two second elastic members 1 and two connecting members 2. The mounting plate 4 has two parallel through holes corresponding to the floating components 7. The size of the receiving area 53 is to accommodate the floating components 7. Similarly to the mounting plate 4, the floating units 50 of the same group of floating components 7 are connected to the same limiting plate 6. The same limiting plate 6 has two parallel round holes to facilitate the insertion of the connecting members 2. This avoids the installation inconvenience caused by setting the mounting plate 4 and limiting plate 6 separately for the two floating units 50 of the same group of floating components 7, as well as the increased cost of setting the fixed bracket 5 and cover plate 54 separately for dust prevention. Furthermore, sharing the same limiting plate 6 can reduce the installation steps and improve the installation efficiency of the floating units 50.

[0125] It is understandable that by adding floating units 50, the force on the bracket body 30 is more even, and increasing the number of floating units 50 reduces the torque or vibration of the vehicle beam 20 transmitted to the bracket body 30 and then to the battery pack 10, thereby improving the stability and reliability of the bracket body 30 in connecting to the battery pack 10.

[0126] In this embodiment, there are two vehicle beams 20, and each vehicle beam 20 is provided with multiple floating components 7 spaced apart along the length direction A of the vehicle beam 20, such as 5 floating components 7. Of course, other numbers of floating components 7 can also be selected. The purpose is to improve the connection stability between the bracket body 30 and the vehicle beam 20, and to reduce the vibration of the vehicle beam 20 or the torque transmission to the bracket body 30 on the basis of the battery pack 10 being transferred through the bracket body 30.

[0127] 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 quick-change bracket, characterized in that, The device includes a bracket body, which is provided with at least one locking mechanism spaced along the length of the vehicle body. The locking mechanism is used to lock or unlock the battery pack in the vertical direction by bolt locking. The bracket body is connected to the vehicle body through a floating unit so that the bracket body can float relative to the vehicle body in the vertical direction. The floating unit includes a second elastic element, a connector, and a limiting element. The connector connects the bracket body and the vehicle body respectively. One end of the connector is fixed to one of the bracket body and the vehicle body. The other end of the connector passes through the other of the bracket body and the vehicle body and the second elastic element in sequence. The end of the other end of the connector is provided with a limiting element so that the second elastic element is restricted between the bracket body or the vehicle body and the limiting element. The floating unit further includes a limiting plate, which is disposed between the second elastic member and the limiting member; There are multiple floating units, and two adjacent floating units form a group of floating components. The floating units in the same group of floating components are connected to the same limiting plate.

2. The quick-change bracket as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The locking mechanism includes a nut, which is used to engage with a bolt on the battery pack and lock and unlock the battery pack and the bracket body by means of bolt locking. Alternatively, the locking mechanism includes a bolt for engaging with a nut on the battery pack, thereby locking and unlocking the battery pack and the bracket body through the bolt locking method.

3. The quick-change bracket as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The bolt or the nut is floatingly connected to the bracket body.

4. The quick-change bracket as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The bolt locking mechanism also includes an anti-rotation and anti-reverse structure, which is connected to the bolt and / or nut to prevent relative rotational movement between the bolt and the nut.

5. The quick-change bracket as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The bolt has a first end away from the nut, and the anti-rotation and anti-reverse structure is sleeved on the outer periphery of the first end.

6. The quick-change bracket as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The anti-rotation and anti-reverse structure includes an inner gear ring and an outer gear ring. The inner gear ring is sleeved on the outer periphery of the outer gear ring. The first end is keyed to the inner surface of the outer gear ring. The outer gear ring has a first position and a second position. When the outer gear ring is in the first position, the inner circumferential surface of the inner gear ring engages with the outer circumferential surface of the outer gear ring; When the outer gear ring is in the second position, the outer gear ring disengages from the inner gear ring, and the outer gear ring is driven to rotate the bolt to lock or unlock it with the nut.

7. The quick-change bracket as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The anti-rotation and anti-reverse structure further includes a first elastic element sleeved on the outer periphery of the first end. The two ends of the first elastic element abut against the protruding part of the outer wall of the bolt and the outer toothed ring, respectively. The first elastic element is used to apply a force to the outer toothed ring to reset the outer toothed ring from the second position to the first position.

8. The quick-change bracket as described in any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The vehicle body has a beam extending along the length of the vehicle body, the support body is located below the beam, and the floating unit is located above the support body.

9. The quick-change bracket as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The bottom plate of the vehicle beam has a through hole for the connector to be movably inserted. The lower end of the second elastic member abuts against the bottom plate, and the upper end of the second elastic member abuts against the limiting member through the limiting plate.

10. The quick-change bracket as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The side of the vehicle beam is provided with a mounting plate, which extends horizontally outward from the side of the vehicle beam. The mounting plate has a through hole for the connector to be movably inserted. The lower end of the second elastic member abuts against the mounting plate, and the upper end of the second elastic member abuts against the limiting member through the limiting plate.

11. The quick-change bracket as described in claim 10, characterized in that, The side of the vehicle beam is also provided with a fixed bracket. The fixed bracket has a fixing part and a connecting part that are fixed to the vehicle beam. An accommodating area is formed between the connecting part and the side of the vehicle beam to accommodate the mounting plate. The mounting plate is fixed on the fixed bracket.

12. The quick-change bracket as described in claim 11, characterized in that, A cover plate is provided above the fixed bracket, and the cover plate at least covers the receiving area.

13. The quick-change bracket as described in claim 8, characterized in that, There are two vehicle beams, and each vehicle beam is provided with multiple floating components spaced apart along the length of the vehicle body to be connected to the support body.

14. A battery-swapping vehicle, characterized in that, The battery swapping vehicle includes a quick-swap bracket as described in any one of claims 1-13.

15. The battery-swapping vehicle as described in claim 14, characterized in that, The battery-swapping vehicle is an electric truck.

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