A battery swapping station and a battery swapping method

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of battery replacement, and discloses a battery replacement station and a battery replacement method, the battery replacement station comprising: a battery conveying area, a battery storage area, a battery replacement platform and a battery replacement channel, the battery replacement channel being arranged at the bottom of the battery conveying area, the battery storage area and the battery replacement platform; a battery conveying line, a buffer platform and a locking / unlocking platform being arranged in the battery replacement channel, the buffer platform being arranged below the battery conveying area and being used for temporarily storing a feeding battery pack; the locking / unlocking platform being arranged below the battery replacement platform and being used for mounting or unlocking the battery pack on a vehicle; the battery conveying line being arranged above the buffer platform and the locking / unlocking platform and being used for conveying the battery pack. The present battery replacement station can make the preparation of a full battery pack and the unlocking of a feeding battery pack be carried out synchronously, greatly improving the battery replacement efficiency and enhancing the user experience.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of battery swapping technology, specifically to a battery swapping station and a battery swapping method. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of new energy technologies, the number of new energy vehicles on the market is increasing, from small passenger vehicles to large special vehicles, all embarking on the path of electrification. To achieve longer driving range, electric vehicles often use large-capacity batteries. However, longer driving range is accompanied by longer charging times, and charging alone cannot meet the huge energy replenishment demand. Furthermore, charging methods suffer from problems such as long charging times and inflexibility. Against this backdrop, battery swapping has emerged as an important way to shorten the charging time of new energy vehicles.

[0003] In the complete battery swapping process, after the vehicle arrives at the charging and swapping station, the depleted battery needs to be removed from the vehicle, transported to the battery compartment, and then the fully charged battery is taken out from the battery compartment and installed on the vehicle. The battery transport time in this process is relatively long, which causes users to wait for a long time. The battery swapping speed urgently needs to be improved. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of this, the present invention provides a battery swapping station and a battery swapping method to solve the problem of long battery swapping time.

[0005] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a battery swapping station, the battery swapping station comprising: a battery transport area, a battery storage area, a battery swapping platform, and a battery swapping channel, wherein the battery swapping channel is disposed at the bottom of the battery transport area, the battery storage area, and the battery swapping platform;

[0006] The battery swapping channel is equipped with a battery delivery line, a buffer platform, and an unlocking platform. The buffer platform is located below the battery delivery area and is used to temporarily store the battery packs being fed back. The unlocking platform is located below the battery swapping platform and is used to install or unlock the battery packs on the vehicle.

[0007] The battery delivery line is located above the buffer platform and the unlocking / unlocking platform, and is used to transport the battery pack.

[0008] The battery swapping station provided by this invention offers a battery swapping channel located below the battery transport area, battery storage area, and battery swapping platform. This channel includes a buffer platform and an unlocking / unlocking platform, enabling the preparation of fully charged battery packs and the unlocking of depleted battery packs to proceed simultaneously. This significantly improves battery swapping efficiency and enhances the user experience.

[0009] In one alternative embodiment, a stacker crane is provided in the battery transport area, and the stacker crane is equipped with forks for picking up and placing battery packs.

[0010] In one optional embodiment, the battery storage area is provided with a battery rack, and the bottom of the battery rack is provided with a lifting mechanism, which is used to extend into the battery swapping channel to pick up and place battery packs on the battery conveying line.

[0011] In one optional embodiment, the bottom end of the lifting mechanism is provided with a support structure. When the lifting mechanism lifts the battery pack, the support structure is retracted, and when the lifting mechanism descends below the battery pack, the support structure is released.

[0012] In one alternative embodiment, the battery delivery line includes a guide rail and a tray slidably disposed on the guide rail, the tray being hollow inside.

[0013] Secondly, the present invention provides a battery swapping method, the method comprising:

[0014] When the target vehicle enters the battery swapping platform, the vehicle information of the target vehicle is obtained;

[0015] Based on the vehicle information, a fully charged battery pack is retrieved from the battery storage area, and the unlocking platform is lifted to the working position to remove the depleted battery pack from the target vehicle.

[0016] The fed battery pack is transported to the buffer platform via the battery conveyor line, and the fully charged battery pack is transported to the unlocking platform.

[0017] The fully charged battery pack is installed into the target vehicle using the aforementioned unlocking platform.

[0018] In this embodiment of the invention, a buffer platform is set up at one end of the battery swapping channel. After the depleted battery pack is removed, it can be temporarily stored on the buffer platform. A fully charged battery pack is prepared at the same time as the depleted battery pack is unlocked. Therefore, after the depleted battery pack is removed and placed on the buffer platform, a fully charged battery pack can be directly installed, saving battery swapping time and improving battery swapping efficiency.

[0019] In one optional implementation, obtaining a fully charged battery pack from the battery storage area based on the vehicle information includes:

[0020] Based on the vehicle information, the forks on the stacker crane in the battery transport area remove the fully charged battery pack from the battery rack in the battery storage area and place the fully charged battery pack in the lifting mechanism.

[0021] In one optional implementation, transporting the fed battery pack to a buffer platform and the fully charged battery pack to an unlocking / unlocking platform via the battery delivery line includes:

[0022] The unlocking platform descends to place the battery pack on a tray of the battery conveyor line. The tray transports the battery pack to a buffer platform based on guide rails. The buffer platform then lifts the battery pack upwards to detach it from the tray.

[0023] The tray moves to a position below the lifting mechanism, which places the fully charged battery pack on the tray. The tray then transports the fully charged battery pack to the unlocking platform.

[0024] In an optional implementation, the method further includes:

[0025] The battery pack on the cache platform is transported to the area below the lifting mechanism, which then descends and retrieves the battery pack.

[0026] In the battery transport area, the forks on the stacker crane transfer the battery packs from the lifting mechanism to the battery rack to charge the battery packs. Attached Figure Description

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

[0028] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a battery swapping station according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 2 This is a side view of the battery swapping channel in a battery swapping station according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 3 This is a top view of the battery swapping channel in a battery swapping station according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of another battery swapping station according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of another battery swapping station according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 6 This is a schematic flowchart of a battery swapping method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Marker explanation:

[0035] 100: Battery conveying area; 20: Battery storage area; 30: Battery swapping platform; 40: Battery swapping channel; 1: Stacker crane; 2: Forklift; 3: Battery rack; 4: Lifting mechanism; 5: Battery conveying line; 6: Buffer platform; 7: Unlocking platform; 8: Target vehicle; 9: Fully charged battery pack; 10: Recharged battery pack; 11: Guide rail; 12: Pallet; 41: Support structure. Detailed Implementation

[0036] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, 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, 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.

[0037] It should be noted that, unless otherwise defined, the technical or scientific terms used in the embodiments of this disclosure should have the ordinary meaning understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. The terms "first," "second," and similar terms used in the embodiments of this disclosure do not indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but are merely used to distinguish different components. Terms such as "comprising" or "including" mean that the element or object preceding the word encompasses the elements or objects listed following the word and their equivalents, without excluding other elements or objects. Terms such as "connected" or "linked" are not limited to physical or mechanical connections, but can include electrical connections, whether direct or indirect. Terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," and "right" are used only to indicate relative positional relationships; when the absolute position of the described object changes, the relative positional relationship may also change accordingly.

[0038] The battery swapping station disclosed in this invention includes, but is not limited to, swapping batteries for vehicles.

[0039] Please see Figure 1 As shown, an embodiment of the present invention provides a battery swapping station, including: a battery conveying area 100, a battery storage area 20, a battery swapping platform 30, and a battery swapping channel 40, wherein the battery swapping channel 40 is disposed at the bottom of the battery conveying area 100, the battery storage area 20, and the battery swapping platform 30;

[0040] The battery swapping channel 40 is equipped with a battery delivery line 5, a buffer platform 6, and an unlocking platform 7. The buffer platform 6 is located below the battery delivery area 100 and is used to temporarily store the battery pack 10. The unlocking platform 7 is located below the battery swapping platform 30 and is used to install or unlock the battery pack 10 on the vehicle.

[0041] The battery delivery line 5 is positioned above the buffer platform 6 and the unlocking / unlocking platform 7, and is used to transport the battery pack.

[0042] When the target vehicle 8 needs a battery swap, it is parked on the battery swapping platform 30. The depleted battery pack 10 refers to the battery pack on the vehicle that needs to be replaced, while the fully charged battery pack 9 is usually placed on the battery rack 3.

[0043] In some alternative embodiments, a stacker crane 1 is provided in the battery transport area 100, and the stacker crane 1 is equipped with forks 2 for picking up and placing battery packs.

[0044] The battery packs referred to here may include a fully charged battery pack 9 and a depleted battery pack 10.

[0045] In some alternative embodiments, the battery storage area 20 is provided with a battery rack 3, and the bottom of the battery rack 3 is provided with a lifting mechanism 4, which is used to extend into the battery swapping channel 40 to pick up and put down the battery pack on the battery conveying line 5.

[0046] Specifically, when the lifting mechanism 4 needs to pick up or place a battery pack on the battery conveyor line 5, it can move downwards and extend into the battery swapping channel 40 to pick up or place the battery pack on the battery conveyor line 5.

[0047] In some alternative implementations, please refer to Figure 2 The side view of the battery swapping channel 40 shown shows that the bottom of the lifting mechanism 4 is provided with a support structure 41. When the lifting mechanism 4 lifts the battery pack, the support structure 41 is retracted. When the lifting mechanism 4 descends below the battery pack, the support structure 41 is released.

[0048] Specifically, when the lifting mechanism 4 extracts the battery pack, the support structure 41 is first retracted to avoid interfering with the battery pack when the lifting mechanism 4 descends. After the lifting mechanism 4 descends below the battery pack, the support structure 41 is released so that the battery pack can be lifted when it rises.

[0049] Please see Figure 2 and Figure 3 In some optional embodiments, the battery conveying line 5 includes a guide rail 11 and a tray 12 slidably disposed on the guide rail 11, the tray 12 being hollow inside. During battery pack transport, the battery pack is placed on the tray 12, and the lifting mechanism 4 can pick up and place the battery pack from both sides.

[0050] The battery swapping station provided by this invention offers a battery swapping channel 40, which is located below the battery transport area 100, the battery storage area 20, and the battery swapping platform 30. It is equipped with a buffer platform 6 and an unlocking platform 7, which allows the preparation of a fully charged battery pack 9 and the unlocking of a depleted battery pack 10 to be carried out simultaneously, greatly improving battery swapping efficiency and enhancing user experience.

[0051] This embodiment provides a battery swapping method that can be used in new energy vehicles, including hybrid electric vehicles, pure electric vehicles, fuel cell electric vehicles, and other new energy vehicles. Figure 6 This is a schematic flowchart of a battery swapping method according to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown below. Figure 6 As shown, the process includes the following steps:

[0052] Step S11: When the target vehicle enters the battery swapping platform, obtain the vehicle information of the target vehicle.

[0053] The target vehicle 8 refers to the vehicle whose battery needs to be replaced. The vehicle information may include the vehicle model, the vehicle's battery model, etc. The battery swapping platform 30 is usually equipped with a camera, which can collect the vehicle model and then determine the corresponding battery model.

[0054] The battery swapping platform 30 is also equipped with a centering mechanism. When the target vehicle 8 enters the battery swapping platform 30, the centering mechanism centers the target vehicle 8, and the lifting mechanism lifts the target vehicle 8 to the designated position.

[0055] Step S12: Based on vehicle information, retrieve a fully charged battery pack from the battery storage area, and lift the unlocking platform to the working position to remove the depleted battery pack from the target vehicle.

[0056] Based on the vehicle information, the battery pack corresponding to the vehicle model is retrieved from the battery storage area 20. The battery storage area 20 can store various battery pack models, and the appropriate model is selected based on the vehicle model. The corresponding fully charged battery pack 9 is removed from the battery storage area 20, and the unlocking platform 7 rises to the working position to unlock and remove the depleted battery pack 10 from the target vehicle 8.

[0057] Step S13: Transport the discharged battery pack to the buffer platform based on the battery conveyor line, and transport the fully charged battery pack to the unlocking platform.

[0058] After the depleted battery pack 10 is transported to the buffer platform 6, the fully charged battery pack 9 is then transported to the unlocking platform.

[0059] Step S14: Install the fully charged battery pack into the target vehicle based on the unlocking platform.

[0060] The fully charged battery pack 9 is installed into the target vehicle 8 by the unlocking platform 7, completing the battery swap for the target vehicle 8.

[0061] In this embodiment of the invention, a buffer platform 6 is provided at one end of the battery swapping channel 40. After the battery pack 10 is removed, it can be temporarily stored on the buffer platform 6. At the same time as the battery pack 10 is unlocked, a fully charged battery pack 9 is prepared. Therefore, after the battery pack 10 is removed and placed on the buffer platform 6, the fully charged battery pack 9 can be directly installed, saving battery swapping time and improving battery swapping efficiency.

[0062] In some alternative implementations, step S12 includes: based on the vehicle information, the forks 2 on the stacker crane 1 in the battery transport area 100 remove the fully charged battery pack 9 from the battery rack 3 in the battery storage area 20 and place the fully charged battery pack in the lifting mechanism 4.

[0063] In some alternative implementations, step S13 includes:

[0064] Step S21: The unlocking platform descends to place the battery pack on a tray of the battery conveyor line. The tray transports the battery pack to a buffer platform based on the guide rail. The buffer platform lifts the battery pack upward to remove it from the tray.

[0065] In step S22, the tray moves to below the lifting mechanism, the lifting mechanism places the fully charged battery pack on the tray, and the tray transports the fully charged battery pack to the unlocking platform.

[0066] Please see Figure 3 and Figure 4 The unlocking platform 7 lowers and places the battery pack 10 on the trays of the guide rails 11 on both sides of the battery conveyor line 5. The trays 12 then transport the battery pack 10 to the top of the buffer platform 6. The buffer platform 6 then lifts the battery pack 10 upwards to remove it from the trays 12.

[0067] Please see Figure 5 The tray 12 moves to below the lifting mechanism 4, the lifting mechanism 4 places the fully charged battery pack 9 on the tray 12, and the tray 12 transfers the fully charged battery pack 9 to the unlocking platform 7.

[0068] In some alternative implementations, the method further includes:

[0069] Step S31: Transport the battery pack on the cache platform to the area below the lifting mechanism, and the lifting mechanism descends to retrieve the battery pack.

[0070] In step S32, the forks on the stacker crane in the battery transport area transfer the battery pack on the lifting mechanism to the battery rack to charge the battery pack.

[0071] Please see Figure 5When the fully charged battery pack 9 is installed on the unlocking platform 7, the tray 12 will return to the buffer platform 6 and transfer the battery pack 10 to the underside of the lifting mechanism 4. The lifting mechanism 4 will then lift the battery pack 10 to the battery storage area, and the stacker crane 1 will transfer the battery pack 10 to the battery rack 3 for charging, thus completing the entire battery swapping cycle and preparing for the next battery swapping.

[0072] The battery swapping method provided in this embodiment has a buffer platform 6 set at one end of the battery swapping channel 40, and the lifting mechanism 4 is set between the buffer platform 6 and the unlocking platform 7. After the battery pack 10 is removed, it is temporarily stored on the buffer platform 6 without waiting for the battery pack 10 to be transported to the battery compartment. At the same time, since the fully charged battery pack 9 has been prepared during the unlocking process, the fully charged battery pack 9 can be directly installed after the battery pack 10 is removed, which reduces the battery swapping time and improves the battery swapping efficiency.

[0073] Although embodiments of the invention have been described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and such modifications and variations all fall within the scope defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A battery swapping station, characterized in that, The battery swapping station includes: a battery transport area, a battery storage area, a battery swapping platform, and a battery swapping channel, wherein the battery swapping channel is located at the bottom of the battery transport area, the battery storage area, and the battery swapping platform; The battery swapping channel includes a battery delivery line, a buffer platform, and an unlocking / unlocking platform. The buffer platform is located below the battery delivery area and is used to temporarily store the battery packs. The battery storage area includes a battery rack with a lifting mechanism at its bottom. The lifting mechanism is used to extend into the battery swapping channel to pick up or place the battery packs on the battery delivery line. The battery delivery line includes a guide rail and a tray slidably mounted on the guide rail. The tray is hollow inside. The buffer platform can lift the battery packs upwards to detach them from the tray on the battery delivery line. The unlocking / unlocking platform is located below the battery swapping platform and is used to install or unlock the battery packs on the vehicle. The battery delivery line is located above the buffer platform and the unlocking / unlocking platform, and is used to transport the battery pack.

2. The battery swapping station according to claim 1, characterized in that, A stacker crane is installed in the battery transport area, and the stacker crane is equipped with forks for picking up and placing battery packs.

3. The battery swapping station according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lifting mechanism is provided with a support structure at its bottom. When the lifting mechanism lifts the battery pack, the support structure retracts. When the lifting mechanism descends below the battery pack, the support structure is released.

4. A battery swapping method applied to the battery swapping station as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The method includes: When the target vehicle enters the battery swapping platform, the vehicle information of the target vehicle is obtained; Based on the vehicle information, a fully charged battery pack is retrieved from the battery storage area, and the unlocking platform is lifted to the working position to remove the depleted battery pack from the target vehicle. The fed battery pack is transported to the buffer platform via the battery conveyor line, and the fully charged battery pack is transported to the unlocking platform. The fully charged battery pack is installed into the target vehicle based on the aforementioned unlocking platform; Specifically, the transportation of the fed battery pack to the buffer platform and the transportation of the fully charged battery pack to the unlocking platform via the battery conveyor line includes: The unlocking platform descends to place the battery pack on a tray of the battery conveyor line. The tray transports the battery pack to a buffer platform based on guide rails. The buffer platform then lifts the battery pack upwards to detach it from the tray. The tray moves to a position below the lifting mechanism, which places the fully charged battery pack on the tray. The tray then transports the fully charged battery pack to the unlocking platform.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The step of retrieving a fully charged battery pack from the battery storage area based on the vehicle information includes: Based on the vehicle information, the forks on the stacker crane in the battery transport area remove the fully charged battery pack from the battery rack in the battery storage area and place the fully charged battery pack in the lifting mechanism.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The method further includes: The battery pack on the cache platform is transported to the area below the lifting mechanism, which then descends and retrieves the battery pack. In the battery transport area, the forks on the stacker crane transfer the battery packs from the lifting mechanism to the battery rack to charge the battery packs.

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