Battery swapping vehicle position adjusting device

Abstract

The application discloses a battery replacement vehicle position adjusting device arranged in a battery replacement channel of a battery replacement station. The device comprises a driving mechanism and a transmission mechanism. The power output end of the driving mechanism is connected with the transmission mechanism, so that the transmission mechanism acts on the battery replacement vehicle to adjust the position or the body angle of the battery replacement vehicle, and the body of the battery replacement vehicle is parallel to the length direction of the battery replacement channel. The transmission mechanism acts on the wheel of the battery replacement vehicle under the action of the driving mechanism, so that the battery replacement vehicle rotates in the horizontal plane to deflect the battery replacement vehicle towards the length direction parallel to the battery replacement channel. The battery replacement vehicle position adjusting device has high adjusting precision and can realize rapid adjustment and improve the adjusting efficiency by rotating the battery replacement vehicle to adjust the position or the angle of the battery replacement vehicle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a battery swapping vehicle position adjustment device. Background Technology

[0002] In the current electric vehicle battery swapping process, the vehicle first travels to the swapping station, where the swapping equipment then swaps the battery. When the vehicle arrives at the swapping station, it typically has an offset angle—an angle between the vehicle body and the length of the swapping channel. This requires the swapping equipment to move to a position that matches the vehicle before swapping can begin, increasing the equipment's travel distance and complicating its swapping trajectory. Furthermore, when the offset angle is large, the equipment's adjustment range may be insufficient, hindering the swapping operation. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In order to solve one or more technical problems in the prior art, or at least provide a beneficial alternative, the present invention provides a battery swapping vehicle position adjustment device to solve problems such as complex battery swapping trajectory, low battery swapping efficiency, and insufficient adjustment range of battery swapping equipment. The device adjusts the position by rotating the battery swapping vehicle, which is relatively labor-saving and can achieve rapid adjustment.

[0004] The present invention solves the above-mentioned technical problems through the following technical solution:

[0005] A battery swapping vehicle position adjustment device is installed in the battery swapping channel of a battery swapping station. It includes a drive mechanism and a transmission mechanism. The power output end of the drive mechanism is connected to the transmission mechanism, so that the transmission mechanism acts on the battery swapping vehicle to adjust the position or body angle of the battery swapping vehicle so that the body of the battery swapping vehicle is parallel to the length direction of the battery swapping channel.

[0006] The transmission mechanism acts on the wheels of the battery swapping vehicle under the action of the drive mechanism, causing the battery swapping vehicle to rotate in the horizontal plane, so that the battery swapping vehicle deflects in a direction parallel to the length of the battery swapping channel.

[0007] The battery swapping vehicle position adjustment device according to this application realizes automatic position adjustment of the battery swapping vehicle through the drive mechanism and transmission mechanism, which can save manual operation, improve the accuracy and efficiency of battery swapping vehicle position adjustment, and is user-friendly for drivers with different levels of driving skills. It eliminates the need for drivers to repeatedly adjust the position of the battery swapping vehicle, and provides more convenient conditions for battery swapping.

[0008] The drive mechanism serves as the power source, providing power output, while the transmission mechanism acts as an intermediate structure to apply the power output to the battery swapping vehicle, enabling the vehicle to move. When the battery swapping vehicle is adjusted so that its body is parallel to the length of the battery swapping channel, and provided that the vehicle has reached the swapping point, the battery swapping equipment can remove the old battery (with a charge below a certain preset value) and install the new battery (with a full charge or a charge above a certain preset value). Since the battery swapping vehicle has already been positioned, it facilitates the battery swapping equipment to perform battery swapping along the predetermined trajectory, avoiding significant movement of the equipment to adapt to the vehicle's position and improving battery swapping efficiency.

[0009] By rotating the battery swapping vehicle to adjust its position or angle, the adjustment precision is high and the adjustment can be made quickly, thus improving the adjustment efficiency.

[0010] Preferably, the transmission mechanism includes a turntable, which is used to at least rotate the front of the battery swapping vehicle.

[0011] By setting up a turntable, the battery swapping vehicle can be rotated to adjust its position. The structure is simple and the operation is easy.

[0012] Preferably, the turntable has a receiving area for at least the front wheel of the battery swapping vehicle.

[0013] For trucks, whose cabs are relatively light, the position of the battery swapping vehicle can be adjusted by rotating the cab, which can reduce the size of the turntable.

[0014] Preferably, the receiving area houses the entire battery swapping vehicle.

[0015] The battery swapping vehicle can be parked as a whole on the turntable and rotate with it, which helps to improve the efficiency of the adjustment.

[0016] Preferably, the turntable is circular;

[0017] Alternatively, the turntable may be circular, and the circle may have at least one tangent edge;

[0018] Alternatively, the turntable may be circular, and the area on the turntable corresponding to where the battery is placed in the battery swapping vehicle may be hollowed out;

[0019] Or the turntable may be rectangular.

[0020] By designing structures with cut edges and hollowed-out sections, the size of the turntable can be reduced or materials can be saved while still allowing for adjustments to the position of the battery swapping vehicle. This reduces the space occupied by the battery swapping channel or provides more space for the deployment of battery swapping equipment.

[0021] Preferably, the turntable includes a first rotating shaft, and the turntable rotates around the first rotating shaft to drive the battery swapping vehicle to rotate synchronously.

[0022] By setting a first rotation axis to provide a rotation reference for the turntable, the stability of the turntable's rotation can be improved. The first rotation axis can be located at the center of the turntable, or it can be located at other positions on the turntable.

[0023] Preferably, the transmission mechanism further includes an arc-shaped trajectory guide component, which is disposed between the turntable and the battery swapping channel to guide the relative rotation of the turntable and the battery swapping channel.

[0024] By setting up an arc-shaped trajectory guide component, the rotational motion of the turntable can be guided, improving the stability and smoothness of the turntable's movement.

[0025] Preferably, the turntable is provided with a wheel limiting structure to restrict the relative movement between the battery swapping vehicle and the turntable.

[0026] By setting a wheel limiting structure, relative displacement between the wheels and the turntable can be prevented, thus ensuring the reliability of the turntable driving the battery swapping vehicle.

[0027] Preferably, the limiting structure is a locking structure or a limiting groove, so as to fix the wheel relative to the turntable.

[0028] Preferably, the turntable is provided with a wheel clamping device to restrict the relative movement between the wheels of the battery swapping vehicle and the turntable.

[0029] By setting up a wheel clamping device, relative displacement between the wheels and the turntable can be prevented, thus ensuring the reliability of the turntable driving the battery swapping vehicle.

[0030] Preferably, the wheel clamping device is an elastic compression column matrix disposed on the turntable.

[0031] The elastic compression column matrix is ​​an array of columns extending upwards from the turntable. Multiple such arrays can be set, for example, to match the number of wheels. When the battery swapping vehicle is parked, both the left and right front wheels are supported on the elastic compression column matrix. The elastic columns located under the wheels are compressed, increasing the friction between them and the wheels. The elastic columns located on the sides of the wheels can circumferentially clamp the wheels, thereby achieving wheel positioning.

[0032] Preferably, the drive mechanism includes a third motor and a worm gear assembly, the turntable includes a drive gear disposed at the bottom of the turntable, and the third motor drives the worm gear assembly to rotate the drive gear.

[0033] This drive-transmission structure is simple and reliable. It is understandable that the drive-transmission structure can also be other combinations, as long as it can achieve the rotation of the drive turntable.

[0034] Preferably, the battery swapping vehicle position adjustment device further includes a recessed turntable mounting area disposed in the battery swapping channel, wherein the turntable is disposed in the turntable mounting area.

[0035] By setting up a turntable mounting area, turntable installation can be provided, and the turntable mounting area can also provide space for the drive mechanism to promote the compactness of the drive-transmission mechanism layout.

[0036] Preferably, a rolling element is provided between the turntable and the turntable mounting area to allow the turntable to be tumbledly connected to the turntable mounting area.

[0037] By incorporating rolling elements, the rotation of the turntable can be promoted, thereby improving the turntable's movement efficiency and the efficiency of battery swapping vehicle position adjustment. Attached Figure Description

[0038] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and form part of this invention, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention and are used to explain the invention, but do not constitute an undue limitation of the invention. In the drawings:

[0039] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating an application scenario of a battery swapping vehicle position adjustment device according to an embodiment of this application.

[0040] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the position adjustment device for battery swapping vehicles.

[0041] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the layout of an arc-shaped trajectory guide component according to an embodiment of this application.

[0042] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a battery swapping vehicle position adjustment device according to another embodiment of this application.

[0043] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a battery swapping vehicle position adjustment device according to another embodiment of this application.

[0044] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the battery swapping vehicle before the adjustments made in this application.

[0045] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the battery swapping vehicle after adjustments made in this application.

[0046] Figure label:

[0047] 100 - Battery swapping vehicle, 200 - Turntable, 201 - Reception area, 210 - Arc-shaped trajectory guide assembly, 220 - Elastic compression column matrix, 230 - Turntable mounting area, 240 - First rotating shaft, 20 - Transmission mechanism. Detailed Implementation

[0048] To more clearly illustrate the overall concept of the present invention, a detailed description will be provided below with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples.

[0049] To better understand the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of this application, the application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in these embodiments can be combined with each other.

[0050] It should be noted that many specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a full understanding of the present invention. However, the present invention may also be implemented in other ways different from those described herein. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0051] Furthermore, in the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "axial," "radial," and "circumferential" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention.

[0052] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0053] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral unit; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. However, specifying a direct connection indicates that the two connected entities do not establish a connection relationship through a transitional structure, but are connected solely by a connecting structure to form a whole. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0054] In this invention, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the first feature "on" or "below" the second feature may be in direct contact with the first and second features, or indirect contact through an intermediate medium. In the description of this specification, references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0055] In the battery swapping process, after the swapping vehicle arrives at the swapping point, its posture is often not ideal, meaning the vehicle body deviates from the length of the swapping channel. This negatively impacts the battery swapping equipment's performance. To address this, one solution is for the user to adjust the swapping vehicle, which undoubtedly increases the user's workload, requires high operational skills, and is difficult to guarantee effective adjustment. Another solution is to control the swapping equipment's movement to match the vehicle's posture. However, this solution places high demands on the equipment's trajectory and travel distance, and the adjustment range of the equipment is difficult to apply to various vehicle models, and it's also difficult to guarantee the effectiveness and reliability of the adjustment.

[0056] To address the aforementioned issues, this application proposes a battery swapping vehicle position adjustment device, which can automatically adjust the position of the battery swapping vehicle, saving user operation time and effort without increasing the workload of the battery swapping equipment. It is highly versatile and easy to operate.

[0057] Example 1:

[0058] A battery swapping vehicle position adjustment device is installed in the battery swapping channel of a battery swapping station. It includes a drive mechanism and a transmission mechanism 20. The power output end of the drive mechanism is connected to the transmission mechanism 20, so that the transmission mechanism 20 acts on the battery swapping vehicle 100 to adjust the position or body angle of the battery swapping vehicle 100, so that the body of the battery swapping vehicle 100 is parallel to the length direction of the battery swapping channel. Under the action of the drive mechanism, the transmission mechanism 20 acts on the wheels of the battery swapping vehicle 100, so that the battery swapping vehicle 100 rotates in the horizontal plane, so that the battery swapping vehicle 100 deflects in the length direction parallel to the battery swapping channel.

[0059] The transmission mechanism 20 drives the battery swapping vehicle 100 to rotate in the horizontal plane, which has high flexibility and high control precision. When the offset angle (the angle of the vehicle body along the length of the battery swapping channel) is large, the rotation can achieve the purpose of rapid adjustment. When the offset angle (the angle of the vehicle body along the length of the battery swapping channel) is small, the rotation can ensure the accuracy of rotation so that the vehicle body can finally reach the ideal posture.

[0060] In this embodiment, as Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the transmission mechanism 20 includes a turntable 200, which is used to drive at least the front of the battery swapping vehicle 100 to rotate.

[0061] Specifically, the turntable 200 has a receiving area 201 for placing the front wheels of the battery swapping vehicle 100, and the turntable 200 can rotate the front of the battery swapping vehicle 100. For example... Figure 6 As shown, before the adjustment, the body of the battery swapping vehicle 100 had an offset angle along the length of the battery swapping channel, such as... Figure 7 As shown, when the turntable 200 rotates the truck head (specifically, rotating counterclockwise when the upper part is the truck head), the body of the battery swapping vehicle 100 can be made parallel to the length of the battery swapping channel. For heavy trucks, whose truck heads are relatively light, rotating the truck head can save relatively much effort and improve work efficiency.

[0062] Furthermore, such as Figure 3 As shown, the transmission mechanism 20 also includes an arc-shaped trajectory guide component 210, which is disposed between the turntable 200 and the power exchange channel to guide the relative rotation of the turntable 200 and the power exchange channel.

[0063] The working principle of the arc-shaped trajectory guide component 210 is as follows: A rotating shaft is located at the center of the arc-shaped trajectory guide component 210. Driven by the rotating shaft, the arc-shaped trajectory guide component 210 can rotate in a horizontal plane. Simultaneously, the upper surface of the arc-shaped trajectory guide component 210 is fixed to the lower surface of the turntable 200, thus allowing the arc-shaped trajectory guide component 210 to drive the turntable 200 to rotate synchronously. Alternatively, the arc-shaped trajectory guide component 210 has a first tooth structure, and the turntable 200 has a second tooth structure that meshes with the first tooth structure. When the arc-shaped trajectory guide component 210 rotates, the first tooth structure drives the second tooth structure, thereby achieving the rotation of the turntable 200. As a guide structure, the arc-shaped trajectory guide component 210 primarily guides the rotation of the turntable 200 and does not hinder the driving mechanism's operation of the turntable 200.

[0064] Furthermore, the turntable 200 is equipped with a wheel clamping device to restrict the relative movement between the wheels of the battery swapping vehicle and the turntable 200.

[0065] Specifically, such as Figure 2As shown, in this embodiment, there are two sets of wheel clamping devices, corresponding to the left front wheel and right front wheel of the battery swapping vehicle 100, respectively.

[0066] Preferably, the wheel clamping device is an elastic compression column matrix 220 disposed on the turntable 200. The elastic compression column matrix 220 is an array of columns extending upward from the turntable 200. When the battery swapping vehicle 100 is parked in position, the left front wheel and the right front wheel of the battery swapping vehicle 100 are respectively supported on the elastic compression column matrix 220. The elastic columns located on the underside of the wheel are compressed after being pressed, which can increase the friction between them and the wheel. The elastic columns located on the side of the wheel can clamp the wheel circumferentially, thereby achieving wheel positioning.

[0067] Furthermore, the drive mechanism includes a third motor and a worm gear assembly. The turntable 200 includes a drive gear located at its bottom. The third motor drives the worm gear assembly to rotate the drive gear. This drive mechanism is simple in structure and reliable in use.

[0068] Furthermore, such as Figure 1 As shown, the battery swapping vehicle position adjustment device also includes a recessed turntable mounting area 230 disposed in the battery swapping channel, with the turntable 200 disposed in the turntable mounting area 230. By providing the turntable mounting area 230, the turntable 200 can be installed, and the turntable mounting area 230 can also provide space for the drive mechanism to promote the compactness of the drive-transmission mechanism layout.

[0069] Preferably, a rolling element is provided between the turntable 200 and the turntable mounting area 230 for rolling connection between the turntable 200 and the turntable mounting area 230. By providing the rolling element, the rotation of the turntable 200 can be promoted, thereby improving the movement efficiency of the turntable 200 and the position adjustment efficiency of the battery swapping vehicle. The rolling element is, for example, a roller, a cylinder, or a ball bearing, etc., and is not limited thereto in this application.

[0070] Example 2:

[0071] The difference between this embodiment and Embodiment 1 is that the accommodating area 201 can accommodate the entire battery swapping vehicle 100. That is, compared to Embodiment 1, the turntable 200 in this embodiment has a larger area, which can accommodate the entire vehicle and drive the entire vehicle to rotate.

[0072] Based on this, such as Figure 4 As shown, when the battery swapping vehicle 100 has front wheels, middle wheels and rear wheels, there are six sets of wheel clamping devices, which correspond to the six wheels of the battery swapping vehicle 100 respectively. That is, when the battery swapping vehicle 100 is parked in place, all six wheels of the battery swapping vehicle 100 are supported on the corresponding elastic compression column matrix 220. The elastic compression column matrix 220 can prevent the wheels from slipping, so as to ensure the reliability of the rotation of the battery swapping vehicle 100.

[0073] Example 3:

[0074] The difference between this embodiment and Embodiment 1 is that a wheel limiting structure is used instead of the aforementioned wheel clamping device. Specifically, the wheel limiting structure is, for example, a locking structure or a limiting groove, to fix the wheel relative to the turntable 200. The locking structure uses a locking clamp or the like to hold the wheel in place, while the limiting groove has a recessed area that can limit the wheel within, resulting in a simple structure.

[0075] Example 4:

[0076] The difference between this embodiment and Embodiment 1 is that the drive method of the turntable 200 is different.

[0077] Specifically, the turntable 200 includes a first rotating shaft 240, and the turntable 200 rotates around the first rotating shaft 240 to drive the battery swapping vehicle to rotate synchronously.

[0078] like Figure 5 As shown, the first rotating shaft 240 is located at the center of the turntable 200, and the turntable 200 is fixed to the first rotating shaft 240. The driving mechanism includes, for example, a motor, which drives the first rotating shaft 240 to rotate, thereby causing the turntable 200 to rotate. This simplifies the configuration of the driving structure, shortens the size of the intermediate transmission chain, and improves transmission accuracy and efficiency.

[0079] In the above schemes, the shape or size of the turntable 200 can be selected according to actual needs such as the size of the battery swapping vehicle and the load capacity of the battery swapping vehicle.

[0080] For example, the turntable 200 is circular; or the turntable 200 is circular and the circle has at least one cut edge; or the turntable 200 is circular and the area of ​​the turntable 200 corresponding to the battery placement area of ​​the battery swapping vehicle is hollowed out; or the turntable 200 is rectangular.

[0081] By designing structures with cut edges and hollowed-out sections, the size of the turntable can be reduced by 200 mm while still allowing for adjustments to the battery swapping vehicle's position, thus saving materials and reducing the space occupied by the battery swapping channel, providing more space for the deployment of battery swapping equipment.

[0082] The technical solutions protected by this invention are not limited to the above embodiments. It should be noted that any combination of the technical solutions of any embodiment with one or more other embodiments is within the protection scope of this invention. Although the invention has been described in detail above with general descriptions and specific embodiments, some modifications or improvements can be made to it, which will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Therefore, all such modifications or improvements made without departing from the spirit of this invention are within the scope of protection claimed by this invention.

Claims

1. A battery swapping vehicle position adjustment device, installed in the battery swapping channel of a battery swapping station, characterized in that, It includes a drive mechanism and a transmission mechanism. The power output end of the drive mechanism is connected to the transmission mechanism, so that the transmission mechanism acts on the battery swapping vehicle to adjust the position or body angle of the battery swapping vehicle so that the body of the battery swapping vehicle is parallel to the length direction of the battery swapping channel. The transmission mechanism acts on the wheels of the battery swapping vehicle under the action of the drive mechanism, causing the battery swapping vehicle to rotate in the horizontal plane, so that the battery swapping vehicle deflects in a direction parallel to the length of the battery swapping channel. The transmission mechanism includes a turntable, which is used to at least rotate the front of the battery swapping vehicle.

2. The battery swapping vehicle position adjustment device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The turntable has a receiving area for at least the front wheel of the battery swapping vehicle.

3. The battery swapping vehicle position adjustment device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The housing area is used to house the entire battery swapping vehicle.

4. The battery swapping vehicle position adjustment device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The turntable is circular; Alternatively, the turntable may be circular, and the circle may have at least one tangent edge; Alternatively, the turntable may be circular, and the area on the turntable corresponding to where the battery is placed in the battery swapping vehicle may be hollowed out; Or the turntable may be rectangular.

5. The battery swapping vehicle position adjustment device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The turntable includes a first rotating shaft, and the turntable rotates around the first rotating shaft to drive the battery swapping vehicle to rotate synchronously.

6. The battery swapping vehicle position adjustment device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The transmission mechanism further includes an arc-shaped trajectory guide component, which is disposed between the turntable and the battery swapping channel to guide the relative rotation of the turntable and the battery swapping channel.

7. The battery swapping vehicle position adjustment device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The turntable is equipped with a wheel limiting structure to restrict the relative movement between the battery swapping vehicle and the turntable.

8. The battery swapping vehicle position adjustment device according to claim 7, characterized in that, The limiting structure is a locking structure or a limiting groove, so as to fix the wheel relative to the turntable.

9. A battery swapping vehicle position adjustment device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The turntable is equipped with a wheel clamping device to restrict the relative movement between the wheels of the battery swapping vehicle and the turntable.

10. A battery swapping vehicle position adjustment device according to claim 9, characterized in that, The wheel clamping device is an elastic compression column matrix disposed on the turntable.

11. A battery swapping vehicle position adjustment device according to any one of claims 1-10, characterized in that, The drive mechanism includes a third motor and a worm gear assembly. The turntable includes a drive gear disposed at the bottom of the turntable. The third motor drives the worm gear assembly to rotate the drive gear.

12. A battery swapping vehicle position adjustment device according to any one of claims 1-10, characterized in that, The battery swapping vehicle position adjustment device also includes a recessed turntable mounting area disposed in the battery swapping channel, wherein the turntable is disposed in the turntable mounting area.

13. The battery swapping vehicle position adjustment device according to claim 12, characterized in that, A rolling element is provided between the turntable and the turntable mounting area to allow the turntable to be rolled in a connection with the turntable mounting area.

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