A transport vehicle

Abstract

The application discloses a transport vehicle for transporting a battery box to a containing cavity of a cluster frame, which comprises a vehicle body, a lifting device arranged on the vehicle body and capable of lifting movement, and a carrying device movably arranged on the lifting device, wherein the carrying device comprises a first driving mechanism and a first loading plate for loading the battery box, and the first driving mechanism is connected to the first loading plate and capable of driving the first loading plate to move relative to the lifting device in a first direction. The first direction intersects with the lifting direction of the lifting device. The transport vehicle can reduce labor intensity and improve safety performance during transportation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of battery box transportation technology, and more particularly to a transportation vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] In related technologies, due to the large weight of the battery boxes, it is usually necessary to use tools such as forklifts to move the battery boxes from the production line to the cluster rack for assembly into battery clusters. Specifically, the battery boxes are lifted to a designated height by a forklift driven by a person, and then pushed into the battery cluster rack by a person.

[0003] As mentioned above, due to the large weight of the battery box, the manual pushing process requires a high level of labor intensity, and there is a risk that the battery box may fall off the forklift and damage or injure the operator if not handled carefully. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application discloses a transport vehicle to solve the problem that battery box handling in related technologies requires manual labor, resulting in high labor intensity and risks during handling.

[0005] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this application discloses a transport vehicle for transporting battery boxes to the receiving cavity of a cluster rack. The transport vehicle includes: a vehicle body; a lifting device disposed on the vehicle body and capable of lifting; and a carrying device movably disposed on the lifting device. The carrying device includes a first drive mechanism and a first loading plate. The first loading plate is used to load the battery boxes, and the first drive mechanism is connected to the first loading plate and can drive the first loading plate to move relative to the lifting device in a first direction. The first direction intersects with the lifting direction of the lifting device.

[0006] Optionally, the transport device further includes a second drive mechanism and a second loading plate; the second loading plate is movably disposed on the lifting device, and the first loading plate is movably disposed on the side of the second loading plate opposite to the lifting device; the second drive mechanism is connected to the second loading plate and can drive the second loading plate to move relative to the lifting device in a first direction; the first drive mechanism is also used to drive the first loading plate to move relative to the second loading plate in a first direction.

[0007] Optionally, one of the first loading plate and the second loading plate is provided with a first guide bar, and the other is provided with a first guide groove, the first guide bar and the first guide groove being guided and engaged in a first direction, and / or, one of the second loading plate and the lifting device is provided with a second guide bar, and the other is provided with a second guide groove, the second guide bar and the second guide groove being guided and engaged in a first direction.

[0008] Optionally, it also includes a main controller and a first position sensor located on the main body of the vehicle body. The first position sensor is electrically connected to the main controller, and the main controller is electrically connected to the lifting device. The first position sensor is used to detect the current height value of the first loading plate and send a first stop signal when the current height value of the first loading plate is greater than or equal to a preset height value. The preset height is consistent with the height of the receiving cavity. The main controller is used to control the lifting device to stop lifting movement according to the first stop signal.

[0009] Optionally, the cluster frame has multiple receiving cavities for accommodating the battery box, the multiple receiving cavities are arranged sequentially along the lifting direction, and multiple first position sensors are arranged along the lifting direction, with each of the multiple first position sensors corresponding to one of the multiple receiving cavities.

[0010] Optionally, it also includes a main controller, an alarm, and a second position sensor. The second position sensor is located on the first loading plate, and the main controller and the alarm are both located on the vehicle body. The main controller is electrically connected to the alarm and the second position sensor respectively. The alarm is used to sound an alarm when the transport vehicle has not reached a preset stop position. The preset stop position is the position where the first loading plate faces the receiving cavity in a first direction. The second position sensor is used to detect the current travel position of the transport vehicle and to issue a second stop signal when the current travel position is equal to the preset stop position. The main controller is used to control the alarm to stop sounding according to the second stop signal.

[0011] Optionally, the cluster frame has an opening for the battery box to enter and exit and communicate with the receiving cavity. The side of the cluster frame away from the opening has a stop boundary. The second position sensor is also used to detect the current distance value between the first loading plate and the stop boundary, and to issue a third stop signal when the current distance value is less than or equal to a preset distance value. The preset distance value is a safety distance threshold between the first loading plate and the stop boundary. The main controller is electrically connected to the first drive mechanism and is used to control the first drive mechanism to stop driving according to the third stop signal.

[0012] Optionally, the cluster frame is provided with multiple support bars, which are located at the bottom of the receiving cavity. The multiple support bars are arranged in pairs facing the second direction, and the pairs of support bars form a hollow area of ​​the receiving cavity. The first loading plate and the hollow area satisfy the following:

[0013] P1≤P2<P3.

[0014] Wherein, P1 is the width of the first loading plate, P2 is the width of the hollow area, and P3 is the width of the battery box. The width directions of the first loading plate, the hollow area, and the battery box all face the second direction.

[0015] Optionally, at least a portion of the first loading plate may extend beyond the lifting device, and a bracket is provided on the side of the portion of the first loading plate extending beyond the lifting device away from the lifting device. A second position sensor is provided at each of the two opposite ends of the bracket facing the second direction. The bracket and the receiving cavity satisfy the following:

[0016] P2<L4≤P5.

[0017] Wherein, L4 is the length of the bracket and P5 is the width of the receiving cavity. The length direction of the bracket and the width direction of the receiving cavity are both oriented towards the second direction. The receiving cavity has a first side and a second side that are arranged opposite to each other in the second direction. When the current traveling position of the transport vehicle is equal to the preset stop position, the distance between one of the two second position sensors and the first side in the second direction is equal to the distance between the other and the second side in the second direction.

[0018] Optionally, if the current distance between the first loading plate and the stop boundary is less than or equal to a preset distance, the bracket extends between the receiving cavity and the stop boundary so that the bracket is offset from the hollow area in the lifting direction.

[0019] Optionally, the transport vehicle is a forklift, and the lifting device includes a fork and a lifting platform. The fork is movably mounted on the main body of the vehicle, the lifting platform is mounted on the fork and can move up and down with the fork in the lifting direction, and the transport device is mounted on the lifting platform.

[0020] Optionally, the lifting platform is equipped with a guide sleeve, which is detachably fitted onto the forklift.

[0021] Optionally, the first loading plate is provided with multiple columns on the side opposite to the lifting device, and the multiple columns form a receiving area for accommodating the battery box.

[0022] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this application are:

[0023] The transport vehicle disclosed in this application is used to transport battery boxes to the receiving cavity of the cluster rack. The transport vehicle includes: a vehicle body; a lifting device disposed on the vehicle body and capable of lifting; and a carrying device movably disposed on the lifting device. The carrying device includes a first drive mechanism and a first loading plate. The first loading plate is used to load the battery box. The first drive mechanism is connected to the first loading plate and can drive the first loading plate to move relative to the lifting device in a first direction. The first direction intersects with the lifting direction of the lifting device.

[0024] It can be seen that the lifting device is used to lift the battery box in the vertical direction, while the first drive mechanism and the first loading plate are used to move the battery box in the horizontal direction, thereby enabling the first loading plate to move relative to the lifting device.

[0025] In this way, the battery box can be installed in the receiving cavity. The battery box assembly is carried out entirely by the transport vehicle itself, avoiding the need for manual pushing of the battery box into the rack, thus reducing the labor intensity of the operator and avoiding safety issues such as the battery box falling off the forklift and being damaged or injuring others due to manual pushing in related technologies.

[0026] In summary, using transport vehicles to transport battery boxes can reduce labor intensity while improving safety during transportation. Attached Figure Description

[0027] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0028] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of a transport vehicle disclosed in this application;

[0029] Figure 2 This is a first state diagram of battery box transportation disclosed in this application;

[0030] Figure 3 This is a second state diagram of battery box transportation disclosed in this application;

[0031] Figure 4 This is one of the disclosures in this application. Figure 3 Enlarged view of point I;

[0032] Figure 5 This is one of the disclosures in this application. Figure 3 A diagram of the back of the building;

[0033] Figure 6 This is one of the disclosures in this application. Figure 5 Enlarged view at point II;

[0034] Figure 7 This is a third-state diagram of battery box transportation disclosed in this application;

[0035] Figure 8 This is one of the disclosures in this application. Figure 7 Enlarged view of section III;

[0036] Figure 9 This is a fourth state diagram of battery box transportation disclosed in this application;

[0037] Figure 10 This is one of the disclosures in this application. Figure 9 Enlarged view of section IV;

[0038] Figure 11 This is a logic control diagram of a transport vehicle disclosed in this application.

[0039] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0040] X - First direction, Y - Second direction, Z - Ascent / Descend direction

[0041] 10-Transport vehicles,

[0042] 11-Body body

[0043] 12-Lifting device

[0044] 121-Forklift, 122-Lifting Platform, 123-Guide Sleeve

[0045] 13-Transportation equipment,

[0046] 131-First drive mechanism,

[0047] 132-First loading plate,

[0048] 1321-Column, 1322-Support,

[0049] 133-Second drive mechanism

[0050] 134 - Second loading plate

[0051] 135 - First guide bar

[0052] 136-First guide groove,

[0053] 137-Second guide bar

[0054] 138-Second guide groove,

[0055] 14-First position sensor,

[0056] 15-Second position sensor

[0057] 20-Battery Box

[0058] 30-cluster frame,

[0059] 31-Accommodation cavity,

[0060] 311 - First side, 312 - Second side

[0061] 32-Support bar

[0062] 33-Supporting frame,

[0063] 34 - Hollow area. Detailed Implementation

[0064] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. 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.

[0065] In this invention, the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "front," "rear," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "vertical," "horizontal," "lateral," and "longitudinal" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. These terms are primarily for the purpose of better describing the invention and its embodiments, and are not intended to limit the indicated device, element, or component to having a specific orientation, or to be constructed and operated in a specific orientation.

[0066] Furthermore, in addition to indicating direction or positional relationship, some of the aforementioned terms may also have other meanings. For example, the term "above" may also be used in certain situations to indicate a dependency or connection. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of these terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0067] Furthermore, the terms "installation," "setup," "equipped with," "connection," and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral structure; 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, or an internal connection between two devices, components, or parts. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of these terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0068] Furthermore, the terms "second," "first," etc., are primarily used to distinguish different devices, elements, or components (which may be the same or different in specific type and construction), and are not intended to indicate or imply the relative importance or quantity of the indicated devices, elements, or components. Unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0069] In related technologies, due to the significant weight of the battery boxes, forklifts or similar tools are typically used to move them from the production line to the battery cluster rack for assembly. Specifically, a forklift is manually driven to lift the battery box to a designated height, and then the battery compartments are manually pushed into the battery cluster rack. As mentioned above, due to the weight of the battery boxes, the manual pushing process requires considerable labor intensity, and there is a risk that the battery boxes may fall from the forklift and damage or injure the operator if not handled carefully.

[0070] Based on this, this application discloses a transport vehicle that uses a lifting device and a carrying device installed on it to transport battery boxes.

[0071] The following will combine Figures 1 to 11 The transport vehicle described in this application is described in detail.

[0072] like Figure 1 As shown, this application discloses a transport vehicle 10 for transporting battery boxes 20 to the receiving cavity 31 of a cluster frame 30 to form a battery cluster. The receiving cavity 31 has an opening for the battery boxes 20 to enter and exit, so as to facilitate the assembly and disassembly of the battery boxes 20. The transport vehicle 10 may include: a vehicle body 11, a lifting device 12, and a carrying device 13.

[0073] The vehicle body 11 serves as the mounting base for the transport vehicle 10, and is equipped with components such as seats and motors to enable operator seating and vehicle 10 movement. The lifting device 12 provides power for lifting the battery box 20 during transport. Specifically, the lifting device 12 is movably mounted on the vehicle body 11 and can perform lifting movements. The carrying device 13 is movably mounted on the lifting device 12 and may include a first drive mechanism 131 and a first loading plate 132. The first loading plate 132 is used to load the battery box 20. The first drive mechanism 131 may be located between the lifting device 12 and the first loading plate 132. The first drive mechanism 131 is connected to the first loading plate 132 and can drive the first loading plate 132 to move relative to the lifting device 12 in a first direction X, i.e., the first loading plate 132 extends or retracts relative to the lifting device 12. The first drive mechanism 131 can be any mechanism capable of moving the first loading plate 132, such as a cylinder, hydraulic cylinder, electric actuator, or rack and pinion. The first direction X is the depth direction of the receiving cavity 31. The first direction X intersects with the lifting direction Z of the lifting device 12, for example, the two are perpendicular to each other. The lifting direction Z can be understood as the direction of gravity. The battery box 20 transportation process is briefly described as follows:

[0074] like Figure 2 As shown, the battery box 20 is placed on the first loading plate 132, and the lifting device 12 is controlled to drive the battery box 20 to rise with the first loading plate 132 to a preset height so that the height of the battery box 20 is consistent with the height of the receiving cavity 31.

[0075] Drive the transport vehicle 10 to a designated position, such as directly in front of the cluster 30, so that the battery box 20 is directly opposite the receiving cavity 31.

[0076] like Figure 3 As shown, the first drive mechanism 131 is controlled to move, thereby driving the first loading plate 132 to extend relative to the lifting device 12, so that the battery box 20 extends into the receiving cavity 31 along with the first loading plate 132, thereby realizing the assembly of the battery box 20 onto the cluster frame 30.

[0077] As can be seen, the lifting device 12 is used to lift the battery box 20 vertically, while the first drive mechanism 131 and the first loading plate 132 are used to move the battery box 20 horizontally, thereby enabling the first loading plate 132 to move relative to the lifting device 12. This allows the battery box 20 to be installed in the receiving cavity 31. The battery box 20 is assembled entirely by the transport vehicle 10 itself, avoiding manual pushing of the battery box 20 into the rack 30, thus reducing the operator's labor intensity and avoiding safety issues such as the battery box 20 falling off the forklift and injuring others due to manual pushing, as is common in related technologies. In summary, using the transport vehicle 10 for transporting the battery box 20 can improve safety during transportation while reducing labor intensity.

[0078] Optionally, the transport device 13 may further include a second drive mechanism 133 and a second loading plate 134. The second loading plate 134 is movably disposed on the lifting device 12, and the first loading plate 132 is movably disposed on the side of the second loading plate 134 opposite to the lifting device 12; the second drive mechanism 133 is connected to the second loading plate 134; for example, the lifting device 12, the second drive mechanism 133, the second loading plate 134, the first drive mechanism 131, and the first loading plate 132 are arranged sequentially along the lifting direction Z. The second drive mechanism 133 can drive the second loading plate 134 to move relative to the lifting device 12 in the first direction X, and also cause the first drive mechanism 131 and the first loading plate 132 to move with the second loading plate 134. The first drive mechanism 131 is also used to drive the first loading plate 132 to move relative to the second loading plate 134 in the first direction X. The second drive mechanism 133 may also be any mechanism capable of driving the movement of the second loading plate 134, such as a cylinder, hydraulic cylinder, electric actuator, or rack and pinion.

[0079] In this way, the transport device 13 will move in two stages, which can extend the travel distance of the first loading plate 132 relative to the lifting device 12, thereby extending the travel distance required for the battery box 20 to move in the first direction X. This reduces the need to control the distance accuracy between the transport vehicle 10 and the cluster frame 30 during the process of the battery box 20, making it easier for the battery box 20 to be assembled into the cluster frame 30.

[0080] Optionally, one of the first loading plate 132 and the second loading plate 134 is provided with a first guide strip 135, and the other is provided with a first guide groove 136. The first guide strip 135 and the first guide groove 136 guide and cooperate in a first direction X. For example, the first loading plate 132 is provided with the first guide strip 135, and the second loading plate 134 is provided with the first guide groove 136, or the first loading plate 132 is provided with the first guide groove 136, and the second loading plate 134 is provided with the first guide strip 135. In this way, the path of the first loading plate 132 can be constrained during the transportation of the battery box 20, preventing the first loading plate 132 from deviating from the predetermined movement path, thereby more effectively ensuring that the battery box 20 is accurately inserted into the receiving cavity 31.

[0081] Optionally, the first guide bar 135 and the first guide groove 136 are arranged in groups, and two groups are arranged in total. The first drive mechanism 131 is located between the two groups of the first guide bar 135 and the first guide groove 136. This guiding method is more reasonable and effective.

[0082] Optionally, one of the second loading plate 134 and the lifting device 12 is provided with a second guide bar 137, and the other is provided with a second guide groove 138. The second guide bar 137 and the second guide groove 138 guide and cooperate in a first direction X. For example, the second loading plate 134 is provided with a second guide bar 137 and the lifting device 12 is provided with a second guide groove 138, or the second loading plate 134 is provided with a second guide groove 138 and the lifting device 12 is provided with a second guide bar 137. In this way, the path of the second loading plate 134 can be constrained during the transportation of the battery box 20, preventing the second loading plate 134 from deviating from the predetermined movement path, thereby more effectively ensuring that the battery box 20 is accurately inserted into the receiving cavity 31.

[0083] Optionally, the second guide bar 137 and the second guide groove 138 are arranged in groups, and two groups are arranged in total. The second drive mechanism 133 is located between the two groups of the second guide bar 137 and the second guide groove 138. This guiding method is more reasonable and effective.

[0084] Optionally, the transport vehicle 10 may further include a main controller and a first position sensor 14 both located on the vehicle body 11. The first position sensor 14 is electrically connected to the main controller, and the main controller is electrically connected to the lifting device. Here, the main controller can be any device that implements control, such as a microcontroller or PLC, and the first position sensor 14 can be a photoelectric sensor, etc. The first position sensor 14 is used to detect the current height value of the first loading plate 132, and sends a first stop signal when the current height value of the first loading plate 132 is greater than or equal to a preset height value. The preset height is consistent with the height of the receiving cavity 31. The main controller is used to control the lifting device 12 to stop its lifting movement according to the first stop signal.

[0085] Thus, during the transportation of the battery box 20, the lifting device 12 can be automatically stopped, thereby achieving automatic calibration of the first loading plate 132 in the lifting direction Z, thus avoiding human error caused by manual calibration, reducing labor intensity, and preventing collisions between the first loading plate 132 and the cluster frame 30, and between the battery box 20 and the cluster frame 30, when the battery box 20 is sent into the receiving cavity 31.

[0086] Optionally, to increase storage capacity, the rack 30 can have multiple receiving cavities 31 for accommodating battery boxes. These cavities 31 can be arranged sequentially along the lifting direction Z. Thus, the transport vehicle 10 also needs to be configured with multiple different preset height values ​​to correspond to the receiving cavities 31 at different heights. Similarly, multiple first position sensors 14 can be arranged along the lifting direction Z, with each first position sensor 14 corresponding one-to-one with a sequentially arranged receiving cavity 31 along the lifting direction Z. Specifically, the spacing between adjacent first position sensors 14 can be equal to the height value of the receiving cavity 31, and the height direction of the receiving cavity 31 can be understood as being consistent with the lifting direction Z. In this way, the battery box 20 can be transported to different height positions to enter the required receiving cavity 31, further improving the intelligence of the transport vehicle 10 of this application.

[0087] Optionally, the transport vehicle 10 may further include an alarm and a second position sensor 15. The second position sensor 15 is located on the first loading plate 132. The main controller and the alarm are both located on the vehicle body 11. The main controller is electrically connected to both the alarm and the second position sensor 15. The alarm is used to sound an alarm when the transport vehicle 10 has not reached a preset stop position. The preset stop position is the position where the first loading plate 132 faces the receiving cavity 31 in the first direction X. The second position sensor 15 is used to detect the current travel position of the transport vehicle 10 and to issue a second stop signal when the current travel position equals the preset stop position. The main controller is used to control the alarm to stop sounding based on the second stop signal.

[0088] In determining whether the first loading plate 132 is directly facing the receiving cavity 31 in the first direction X, i.e., determining whether the transport vehicle 10 has reached the preset stopping position, the second position sensor 15 can be set on one side of the area on the first loading plate 132 where the battery box 20 is placed. Then, the second position sensor 15 senses the position of the support frame 33 of the cluster frame 30 (described later), which is located on one side of the receiving cavity 31. Typically, the support frame 33 is provided on both the left and right sides of the receiving cavity 31. Similarly, the second position sensor 15 is also set on the left and right sides of the area on the first loading plate 132 where the battery box 20 is placed. Thus, when the second position sensor 15 senses that the position of the support frame 33 is directly facing the first direction X, the battery box 20 is also directly facing the receiving cavity 31 in the first direction X.

[0089] Specifically, when the battery box 20 is not aligned with the receiving cavity 31, the alarm will sound. At this time, the transport vehicle 10 can adjust its position by moving forward or backward until the battery box 20 is aligned with the receiving cavity 31. Then, the alarm will stop, and the first loading plate 132 will be driven to move to put the battery box 20 into the receiving cavity 31. Here, the forward or backward direction of the transport vehicle 10 can be understood as the second direction Y.

[0090] Thus, by setting up the alarm and the second position sensor 15, automatic calibration in the second direction Y can be achieved during the transportation of the battery box 20, thereby avoiding human error caused by manual calibration, reducing labor intensity, and preventing collisions between the battery box 20 and the first loading plate 132 and the battery box 20, and between the first loading plate 132 and the cluster frame 30 when the battery box 20 is sent into the receiving cavity 31, thereby improving the intelligence level of position calibration.

[0091] Optionally, the second position sensor 15 can be an ultrasonic sensor to improve the sensitivity of distance measurement. The alarm can be a voice broadcast box, flashing light, etc., to inform the operator that further position adjustments are needed through sound or light alarms.

[0092] Optionally, the cluster rack 30 has an opening for the battery box 20 to enter and exit and communicate with the receiving cavity 31. The cluster rack 30 has a stop boundary on the side facing away from the opening. This opening is located on the side of the cluster rack 30 facing the transport vehicle 10, so that the transport vehicle 10 faces the opening of the cluster rack 30 to allow the battery box 20 to be fed into the receiving cavity 31 through the opening, or to be removed from the receiving cavity 31 through the opening. The stop boundary is located on the side of the cluster rack 30 facing away from the transport vehicle 10, opposite to the opening. For example, the stop boundary can be understood as a baffle set behind the cluster rack 30, or when the cluster rack 30 is placed against a wall, the stop boundary is the wall behind the cluster rack 30, etc. The stop boundary is used to stop the inserted battery box from falling behind the cluster rack 30. The second position sensor 15 is also used to detect the current distance value between the first loading plate 132 and the stop boundary, and to issue a third stop signal when the current distance value is less than or equal to a preset distance value, wherein the preset distance value is a safety distance threshold between the first loading plate 132 and the stop boundary. The main controller is electrically connected to the first drive mechanism 131, and the main controller is used to control the first drive mechanism 131 and the second drive mechanism to stop driving according to the third stop signal.

[0093] Thus, by setting the second position sensor 15, the battery box 20 can be automatically calibrated in the first direction X, thereby controlling the depth of the battery box 20 into the receiving cavity 31. This prevents the battery box 20 from being placed unstable due to insufficient insertion depth, or prevents the battery box 20 from being inserted too deeply, causing the first loading plate 132 and / or the battery box 20 to collide with the rear baffle, wall, etc., thus improving the intelligence level of position calibration. At the same time, it can also avoid human error caused by manual calibration, reducing labor intensity.

[0094] Optionally, this application also discloses a battery cluster, including a cluster frame 30 and a battery box 20. The cluster frame 30 has a receiving cavity 31, and the battery box 20 is movably disposed in the receiving cavity 31. The aforementioned transport vehicle 10 is used to transport the battery box 20. The battery box 20 can be placed on a first loading plate 132. A first drive mechanism 131 can drive the battery box 20 to move with the first loading plate 132 in a first direction X, so that the battery box 20 extends into the receiving cavity 31, thereby realizing the assembly of the battery cluster. Multiple receiving cavities 31 can be provided to increase the storage capacity of the cluster frame 30 for the battery box 20.

[0095] Optionally, the cluster frame 30 may include support bars 32, which are disposed at the bottom of the receiving cavity 31. Multiple support bars 32 are arranged in pairs facing the second direction Y, and the pairs of support bars 32 form a hollow region 34 communicating with the receiving cavity 31. The second direction Y can be understood as the direction of travel of the transport vehicle 10.

[0096] The first loading plate 132 and the hollow region 34 can satisfy:

[0097] P1≤P2<P3.

[0098] Wherein, P1 is the width of the first loading plate 132, P2 is the width of the hollow region 34, and P3 is the width of the battery box 20. The width directions of the first loading plate 132, the hollow region 34, and the battery box 20 are all oriented towards the second direction Y.

[0099] Thus, after the battery box 20 is inserted into the receiving cavity 31, the first loading plate 132 can be driven to descend along the lifting direction Z by controlling the lifting device 12 to place the battery box 20 on the support bar 32. Then the first loading plate 132 is withdrawn from the hollow area 34 to the outside of the receiving cavity 31 and then withdrawn from the cluster frame 30.

[0100] It can be seen that the mutual cooperation between the first loading plate 132, the support bar 32, and the hollow area 34 not only enables the battery box 20 to be assembled on the cluster frame 30, but also facilitates the removal of the transport device 13 from the cluster frame 30 after assembly. This simplifies the design of the transport device 13, the cluster frame 30, and other structures.

[0101] Optionally, such as Figure 1 , Figure 9 and Figure 10 As shown, at least a portion of the first loading plate 132 extends beyond the lifting device 12, and a bracket 1322 is provided on the side of the portion of the first loading plate 132 extending away from the lifting device 12. That is, the bracket 1322 is located on the side of the first loading plate 132 facing the cluster frame 30. A second position sensor 15 is provided at each of the two opposite ends of the bracket 1322 facing the second direction Y. The bracket 1322 and the receiving cavity 31 satisfy the following:

[0102] P2<L4≤P5.

[0103] Wherein, L4 is the length of the bracket 1322, P5 is the width of the receiving cavity 31, and the length direction of the bracket 1322 and the width direction of the receiving cavity 31 are both oriented towards the second direction Y.

[0104] The receiving cavity 31 has a first side 311 and a second side 312 arranged opposite to each other in the second direction Y. When the current traveling position of the transport vehicle is equal to the preset stop position, the distance between one of the two second position sensors 15 and the first side 311 in the second direction Y is equal to the distance between the other and the second side 312 in the second direction Y.

[0105] Thus, by appropriately extending the bracket 1322, while the bracket 1322 can freely enter and exit the receiving cavity 31, the distance between the second position sensor 15 installed on it and the left and right sides of the receiving cavity 31 is closer, thereby improving the position detection sensitivity of the second position sensor 15 and thus improving the correction accuracy of the second direction Y.

[0106] At the same time, such as Figures 3-6 As shown, when the current distance between the first loading plate 132 and the stop boundary is less than or equal to the preset distance value, the bracket 1322 will extend out of the receiving cavity 31 and extend into the space between the receiving cavity 31 and the stop boundary, so that the bracket 1322 is offset from the hollow region 34 in the lifting direction Z.

[0107] At this time, the control bracket 1322 descends along the lifting direction Z with the first loading plate 132. This ensures that the battery box 20 is placed on the support bar 32 and the first loading plate 132 can be withdrawn from the hollow area 34. At the same time, the bracket 1322 and the support bar 32 are completely staggered and will not interfere with each other or get stuck. This ensures that after installation, the first loading plate 132 is completely withdrawn from the cluster frame 30.

[0108] In summary, this design, which sets second position sensors 15 at both ends of the bracket 1322 and controls the relevant dimensions of the hollow area 34, the bracket 1322, and the receiving cavity 31, can improve the position correction accuracy in the second direction Y while ensuring that it does not interfere with the transportation process of the battery box 20.

[0109] Optionally, the cluster frame 30 can be a frame structure. Specifically, the cluster frame 30 has a support frame 33 located around the periphery of the receiving cavity 31. The support frames 33 are arranged in pairs facing the second direction Y, and the paired support frames 33 are located on the first side 311 and the second side 312 respectively. The support strip 32 connects the support frames 33 and is located between the paired support frames 33, which can reduce the overall weight of the cluster frame 30.

[0110] Optionally, the transport vehicle 10 is a forklift, including a body 11, a fork carriage 121, and a lifting platform 122. The lifting device 12 includes the fork carriage 121 and the lifting platform 122. The fork carriage 121 is movably mounted on the body 11, the lifting platform 122 is mounted on the fork carriage 121, and can move up and down in the lifting direction Z along with the fork carriage 121. The carrying device 13 is mounted on the lifting platform 122. In this way, the lifting capability of the forklift can be better utilized, thereby simplifying the design complexity of the transport vehicle 10 and reducing manufacturing costs. Of course, other special-purpose vehicles can also be used.

[0111] Optionally, the lifting platform 122 is provided with a guide sleeve 123, which is detachably fitted onto the fork 121. This modular design facilitates disassembly, assembly, replacement, and maintenance.

[0112] Optionally, the first loading plate 132 has multiple columns 1321 on the side opposite to the lifting device 12, and the multiple columns 1321 form a receiving area for accommodating the battery box 20. In this way, the battery box 20 can be limited to prevent it from falling off the first loading plate 132 during transportation due to shaking or other reasons.

[0113] Optionally, the columns 1321 are arranged in pairs facing the first direction X, and the paired columns 1321 form a receiving area. As can be seen from the above, the first loading plate 132 sends the battery box 20 into the receiving cavity 31 along the first direction X. During this transportation process, the vibration mainly comes from the first direction X. Therefore, the columns 1321 only need to limit the battery box 20 in the first direction X, without limiting it in other directions, thus reducing the amount of material in the columns 1321.

[0114] Optionally, based on the pairing of the uprights 1321 in the first direction X, multiple pairs of uprights 1321 can be arranged along the second direction Y, thereby improving the limiting effect on the battery box 20.

[0115] This application also discloses a method for transporting a battery box, using a transport vehicle 10 for transportation, the method including:

[0116] The battery box 20 is placed on the first loading plate 132.

[0117] like Figure 2 As shown, the battery box 20 is calibrated and transported along the lifting direction Z, as detailed below:

[0118] The main controller controls the lifting device 12 to rise along the lifting direction Z.

[0119] When the lifting device 12 rises to the preset height, the first position sensor 14 acquires the first stop signal.

[0120] The main controller responds to the first stop signal by controlling the lifting device 12 to stop its lifting movement and by controlling the alarm to sound an alarm. In this way, the position of the first loading plate 132 along the lifting direction Z can be automatically calibrated, thereby improving the level of intelligent control of the transport vehicle 10.

[0121] like Figure 2 As shown, the battery box 20 is calibrated and transported along the second direction Y, as detailed below:

[0122] Drive the transport vehicle 10 to travel in the second direction Y.

[0123] When the transport vehicle 10 reaches the preset stop position, the second position sensor 15 acquires a second stop signal. The second position sensor 15 is used to sense the distance between the first loading plate and the left and right side support frames to align it with the receiving cavity 31. Specifically, as follows... Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, a second position sensor 15 is installed at both ends of the bracket 1322. When the transport vehicle 10 travels to the preset stop position, the distance between one of the two second position sensors 15 and the first side 311 in the second direction Y is equal to the distance between the other and the second side 312 in the second direction Y. The second position sensor 15 then acquires a second stop signal. This improves the sensitivity of the second position sensor 15 to the position correction of the transport vehicle along the second direction Y, thereby improving the calibration accuracy.

[0124] The main controller responds to the second stop signal by stopping the alarm and stopping the transport vehicle. Thus, the position of the transport vehicle 10 can be calibrated along the second direction Y by triggering the alarm. The second direction Y can be understood as the direction of travel of the transport vehicle 10, i.e., horizontal left-right calibration, thereby improving the level of intelligent control of the transport vehicle 10 in this application.

[0125] like Figures 3-6 As shown, the battery box 20 is transported and calibrated along the first direction X:

[0126] The main controller controls at least one of the first drive mechanism 131 and the second drive mechanism 133 to move so that the battery box 20 extends into the receiving cavity 31 along with the first loading plate 132.

[0127] When the current distance between the first loading plate 132 and the stop boundary of the cluster frame 30 is less than or equal to a preset distance, the bracket 1322 extends behind the cluster frame 30 and between the receiving cavity 31 and the stop boundary, so that the bracket 1322 is offset from the hollow region 34 in the lifting direction Z, and the second position sensor 15 acquires a third stop signal. The stop boundary, as described above, is a baffle or wall provided on the cluster frame 30 to prevent the battery box from falling behind the cluster frame.

[0128] In response to the third stop signal, the main controller controls the first drive mechanism 131 and the second drive mechanism 133 to stop driving. In this way, the depth of the battery box 20 inserted into the receiving cavity 31 can be controlled, and while ensuring that the second position sensor 15 improves the position correction sensitivity of the transport vehicle along the second direction Y, and ensuring that the first loading plate 132 descends to exit the hollow area 34, the bracket 1322 will not get stuck or interfere with the support bar 32.

[0129] like Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown, the assembly process of battery box 20 is performed:

[0130] The main controller controls the lifting device 12 to descend, so that the battery box 20 is placed on the support bar 32, and the first loading plate 132 is withdrawn from the hollow region 34 to the outside of the receiving cavity 31. At this time, since the bracket 1322 is offset from the hollow region 34 in the lifting direction Z, the first loading plate 132 can be withdrawn from the hollow region 34 after the battery box 20 is assembled on the cluster frame 30, without being interfered with by the stop of the bracket 1322.

[0131] like Figure 9 and Figure 10 As shown, the process of removing the transport device 13 from the cluster frame 30 involves: driving at least one of the first drive mechanism 131 and the second drive mechanism 133 to move so that the first loading plate 132 exits the receiving cavity 31, and so that both the first drive mechanism 131 and the second drive mechanism 133 are returned to directly above the lifting device.

[0132] This completes the process of moving the battery box.

[0133] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and not to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A transport vehicle (10) for transporting a battery box (20) to a receiving cavity (31) of a cluster rack (30), characterized in that, The transport vehicle (10) includes: Body (11); A lifting device (12) is provided on the vehicle body (11) and can perform lifting movements; A transport device (13) is movably mounted on the lifting device (12). The transport device (13) includes a first drive mechanism (131) and a first loading plate (132). The first loading plate (132) is used to load the battery box (20). The first drive mechanism (131) is connected to the first loading plate (132) and can drive the first loading plate (132) to move relative to the lifting device (12) in a first direction (X). The first direction (X) intersects with the lifting direction (Z) of the lifting device (12). The cluster frame (30) has an opening for the battery box (20) to enter and exit and communicate with the receiving cavity (31), and the cluster frame (30) has a stop boundary on the side opposite to the opening; The cluster frame (30) is provided with multiple support bars (32), the support bars (32) are located at the bottom of the receiving cavity (31), the multiple support bars (32) are arranged in pairs facing the second direction (Y), and the pair of support bars (32) form a hollow area (34) of the receiving cavity (31). At least a portion of the first loading plate (132) may extend out of the lifting device (12), and a bracket (1322) is provided on the side of the portion of the first loading plate (132) extending out of the lifting device (12) away from the lifting device (12). The transport vehicle (10) further includes a second position sensor (15), which is disposed on the bracket (1322) and is used to detect the current distance value between the first loading plate (132) and the stop boundary; When the current distance between the first loading plate (132) and the stop boundary is less than or equal to the preset distance, the bracket (1322) will extend out of the receiving cavity (31) and the bracket (1322) will extend into the receiving cavity (31) and the stop boundary, so that the bracket (1322) is offset from the hollow region (34) in the lifting direction (Z).

2. The transport vehicle (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The transport device (13) also includes a second drive mechanism (133) and a second loading plate (134). The second loading plate (134) is movably disposed on the lifting device (12), and the first loading plate (132) is movably disposed on the side of the second loading plate (134) away from the lifting device (12); the second driving mechanism (133) is connected to the second loading plate (134) and can drive the second loading plate (134) to move relative to the lifting device (12) in the first direction (X); The first drive mechanism (131) is also used to drive the first loading plate (132) to move relative to the second loading plate (134) in the first direction (X).

3. The transport vehicle (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that, One of the first loading plate (132) and the second loading plate (134) is provided with a first guide strip (135), and the other is provided with a first guide groove (136). The first guide strip (135) and the first guide groove (136) are guided and engaged in the first direction (X), and / or, One of the second loading plate (134) and the lifting device (12) is provided with a second guide bar (137), and the other is provided with a second guide groove (138). The second guide bar (137) and the second guide groove (138) are guided and cooperated in the first direction (X).

4. The transport vehicle (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a main controller and a first position sensor (14) disposed on the vehicle body (11), the first position sensor (14) being electrically connected to the main controller, and the main controller being electrically connected to the lifting device. The first position sensor (14) is used to detect the current height value of the first loading plate (132), and sends a first stop signal when the current height value of the first loading plate (132) is greater than or equal to a preset height value, wherein the preset height is consistent with the height of the receiving cavity (31). The main controller is used to control the lifting device (12) to stop lifting movement according to the first stop signal.

5. The transport vehicle (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The cluster frame (30) has multiple receiving cavities (31) for accommodating battery boxes. The multiple receiving cavities (31) are arranged sequentially along the lifting direction (Z). Multiple first position sensors (14) are arranged along the lifting direction (Z). The multiple first position sensors correspond one-to-one with the multiple receiving cavities (31).

6. The transport vehicle (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a main controller and an alarm, both of which are located on the vehicle body (11). The main controller is electrically connected to the alarm and the second position sensor (15). The alarm is used to sound an alarm when the transport vehicle (10) has not reached the preset stop position; the preset stop position is the position where the first loading plate (132) faces the first direction (X) directly opposite the receiving cavity (31); The second position sensor (15) is used to detect the current travel position of the transport vehicle (10) and to issue a second stop signal when the current travel position is equal to the preset stop position; The main controller is used to control the alarm to stop alarming based on the second stop signal.

7. The transport vehicle (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that, The second position sensor (15) is also used to issue a third stop signal when the current spacing value is less than or equal to a preset spacing value, the preset spacing value being a safety distance threshold between the first loading plate (132) and the stop boundary; The main controller is electrically connected to the first drive mechanism (131), and the main controller is used to control the first drive mechanism (131) to stop driving according to the third stop signal.

8. The transport vehicle (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that, The first loading plate (132) and the hollow region (34) satisfy: P1≤P2<P3; Wherein, P1 is the width dimension of the first loading plate (132), P2 is the width dimension of the hollow region (34), P3 is the width dimension of the battery box (20), and the width direction of the first loading plate (132), the width direction of the hollow region (34), and the width direction of the battery box (20) are all oriented towards the second direction (Y).

9. The transport vehicle (10) according to claim 8, characterized in that, The bracket (1322) is provided with a second position sensor (15) at each of the two opposite ends facing the second direction (Y). The support (1322) and the receiving cavity (31) satisfy the following: P2 < L4 ≤ P5; Wherein, L4 is the length of the bracket (1322), P5 is the width of the receiving cavity (31), and the length direction of the bracket (1322) and the width direction of the receiving cavity (31) are both oriented towards the second direction (Y). The receiving cavity (31) has a first side (311) and a second side (312) disposed opposite to each other in the second direction (Y). When the current travel position of the transport vehicle (10) is equal to the preset stop position, the distance between one of the two second position sensors (15) and the first side (311) in the second direction (Y) is equal to the distance between the other and the second side (312) in the second direction (Y).

10. The transport vehicle (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, The transport vehicle (10) is a forklift, and the lifting device (12) includes a fork (121) and a lifting platform (122). The fork (121) is movably mounted on the vehicle body (11), and the lifting platform (122) is mounted on the fork (121) and can move up and down in the lifting direction (Z) along with the fork (121). The transport device (13) is located on the lifting platform (122).

11. The transport vehicle (10) according to claim 10, characterized in that, The lifting platform (122) is provided with a guide sleeve (123), which is detachably fitted onto the fork (121).

12. The transport vehicle (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, The first loading plate (132) has multiple columns (1321) on the side away from the lifting device (12), and the multiple columns (1321) form a receiving area for accommodating the battery box (20).

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