Levelable battery replacing equipment, battery replacing station and battery replacing control method

Abstract

The invention discloses a battery replacement device capable of being leveled, a battery replacement station and a battery replacement control method.The battery replacement device capable of being leveled comprises a battery mounting part, an elastic mechanism and a height adjusting mechanism, and the elastic mechanism is arranged on the battery mounting part and used for elastically supporting a battery pack; and the height adjusting mechanism is arranged on the battery mounting part and is used for adjusting the position of the elastic mechanism relative to the battery mounting part. The battery pack is leveled by adjusting the distance between the elastic mechanism and the battery mounting part through the height adjusting mechanism, so that the battery pack can be smoothly mounted on the frame of the vehicle, the battery replacement equipment capable of being leveled can be used for battery replacement of various types of electric vehicles, and the vehicle type inclusiveness of a battery replacement station is improved.

Description

[0001] This application is a division of a Chinese invention patent with an application date of September 30, 2021, application number 202111162646.6, and name “Levelable battery swap equipment, battery swap station and battery swap control method”. Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to a levelable battery swapping device, a battery swapping station and a battery swapping control method. Background Art

[0003] Battery swapping equipment is used in the field of battery swapping of electric vehicles. In the battery swapping station, after the electric vehicle is positioned, the battery swapping equipment removes the depleted battery pack from the electric vehicle and transports it to the appropriate location. The battery swapping equipment also obtains the fully charged battery pack from the battery swapping station and then installs it on the electric vehicle.

[0004] Chinese utility model patent CN202021982967.1 discloses a battery swap cart and a battery swap station, in which a transverse support plate for carrying a battery pack on the battery swap cart is elastically connected to the transverse support plate through a floating spring. Since battery packs of different brands and models have different specifications, and different specifications will lead to different weight distributions of the battery packs, the center of gravity positions of the batteries will also be different. Therefore, when battery packs of different models are placed on the transverse support plate, the battery packs will tilt relative to the horizontal plane. However, the battery swap cart in the prior art cannot automatically adjust the position of battery packs of different models when carrying battery packs, resulting in the battery pack being unable to align with the corresponding battery pack mounting seat on the electric vehicle. At this time, if it is lifted and installed on the electric vehicle, the battery pack cannot be accurately installed on the electric vehicle. Summary of the invention

[0005] The present invention aims to solve the technical problem that the battery exchange equipment in the prior art cannot automatically adjust the position of the battery pack according to the model of the battery pack to align with the battery pack mounting socket on the electric vehicle, resulting in the battery pack being unable to be accurately installed on the electric vehicle, and the different types of battery packs have different center of gravity positions on the battery exchange equipment, causing them to tilt and unable to be smoothly installed on the electric vehicle. The present invention provides a levelable battery exchange equipment, a battery exchange station and a battery exchange control method.

[0006] The present invention solves the above technical problems through the following technical solutions:

[0007] A levelable power exchange device, comprising:

[0008] The battery installation part is used to disassemble and install the battery pack on the electric vehicle;

[0009] An elastic mechanism, provided on the battery mounting portion, for elastically supporting the battery pack;

[0010] a height adjustment mechanism, provided on the battery mounting portion, for adjusting the position of the elastic mechanism relative to the battery mounting portion;

[0011] The height adjustment mechanism includes a lifting mechanism and a driving mechanism, wherein the driving mechanism drives the lifting mechanism to move so as to drive the elastic mechanism to move up and down relative to the battery installation part;

[0012] The lifting mechanism comprises a transmission mechanism and a lifting assembly;

[0013] The lifting assembly comprises a lifting member and a lifting shaft meshing with each other, and the elastic mechanism is mounted on the lifting member;

[0014] The lifting shaft is connected to the transmission mechanism, and the driving mechanism drives the lifting shaft to rotate through the transmission mechanism to drive the lifting member to move in the vertical direction, and the lifting member drives the elastic mechanism to move up and down along the height direction.

[0015] In this solution, the position of the elastic mechanism relative to the battery mounting part is adjusted by a height adjustment mechanism, thereby realizing automatic adjustment of the position of battery packs of different models on the battery mounting part, so that the battery pack is in a standard battery replacement position that can be smoothly installed in the battery pack mounting seat of the electric vehicle, thereby improving the accuracy and efficiency of the battery replacement equipment for disassembly and assembly of battery packs of multiple models.

[0016] At the same time, the above structure can realize automatic adjustment of the position of the elastic mechanism relative to the battery mounting part by driving the lifting mechanism through the driving mechanism, and no manual adjustment is required during the battery replacement process, which is more convenient and quick.

[0017] In addition, a specific structure of a lifting mechanism is provided, wherein the lifting assembly includes a lifting member and a lifting shaft that are meshed with each other. The rotation of the lifting shaft drives the lifting member to move along the axial direction of the lifting shaft, thereby realizing the position adjustment of the elastic mechanism in the height direction. The structure is simple and easy to install.

[0018] Preferably, the bottom of the elastic mechanism is mounted on the lifting member;

[0019] Or one end of the elastic mechanism is fixedly connected to the lifting member;

[0020] Or one end of the elastic mechanism is passed through the lifting member.

[0021] In this solution, three connection forms between the elastic mechanism and the lifting member are provided, among which the bridge connection form facilitates the taking and placing of the elastic mechanism, while the fixed connection or the penetration connection form can prevent the elastic mechanism from detaching from the lifting member. Compared with the bridge connection form, the fixing effect thereof is better.

[0022] Preferably, the elastic mechanism is sleeved on one end of the lifting shaft.

[0023] In this solution, the lifting shaft can play a certain positioning role on the elastic mechanism.

[0024] Preferably, the lifting shaft comprises a first shaft and a second shaft coaxially connected in sequence, the radial dimension of the first shaft is larger than the radial dimension of the second shaft, and a portion of the first shaft radially exceeding the second shaft forms a step surface;

[0025] The battery mounting portion has a mounting hole for the second rotating shaft to pass through, and the step surface cooperates with the mounting hole to limit the lifting rotating shaft from sliding out of the mounting hole.

[0026] In this solution, the lifting shaft can be restricted from coming out of the mounting hole by the step surface between the first shaft and the second shaft.

[0027] Preferably, the outer diameter of the first rotating shaft is larger than the inner diameter of the mounting hole.

[0028] In this solution, the outer diameter of the first rotating shaft is larger than the inner diameter of the mounting hole, thereby limiting the lifting rotating shaft from sliding downward from the mounting hole.

[0029] Preferably, the transmission mechanism is connected to the second rotating shaft, the first rotating shaft is threadedly engaged with the lifting member, the driving mechanism drives the transmission mechanism to move to drive the second rotating shaft and the first rotating shaft to rotate, and the first rotating shaft drives the lifting member to move in the vertical direction.

[0030] In this solution, the above structure is adopted, the volume of the lifting mechanism is small, and the rotational motion of the driving mechanism is converted into the movement of the lifting mechanism in the height direction, thereby driving the elastic mechanism to approach or move away from the battery installation part.

[0031] Preferably, the height adjustment mechanism further includes a guide mechanism for guiding the lifting member to move along the axial direction of the lifting shaft.

[0032] The above-mentioned guide mechanism can guide the movement of the lifting member in the vertical direction.

[0033] Preferably, the guide mechanism comprises a guide groove and a guide block, and the shapes of the guide block and the guide groove match each other.

[0034] The extending direction of the guide groove is perpendicular to the plane where the battery mounting portion is located;

[0035] The guide groove and the guide block are respectively arranged on the lifting member and the battery installation part.

[0036] The present structure provides a specific structure of a guide mechanism, which limits the rotation of the lifting member, and when the lifting shaft rotates, the lifting member can move along the extension direction of the lifting shaft. Since the shape of the guide block matches the shape of the inner wall of the guide groove, the stability of the guide block and the guide groove when they move in coordination can be improved.

[0037] Preferably, a positioning groove is provided on the battery mounting portion;

[0038] The guide groove and the guide block are respectively arranged on the lifting member and the positioning groove.

[0039] With the above structure, firstly, the positioning groove plays a positioning role in the assembly of the lifting component and the elastic mechanism, and secondly, the positioning groove provides a lifting channel for the lifting member to ensure stable and effective operation of the elastic mechanism.

[0040] Preferably, one end of the elastic mechanism is located in the positioning groove and is sleeved on the lifting shaft.

[0041] With the above structure, the end of the elastic mechanism is limited in the horizontal direction by the positioning groove and the lifting shaft.

[0042] Preferably, a mounting hole is provided at the bottom of the positioning groove, and the lifting shaft passes through the mounting hole.

[0043] In the above structure, since the installation hole is opened and the lifting shaft is inserted therein, the lifting mechanism and the battery installation part can be more closely matched.

[0044] Preferably, a guide cylinder is provided in the positioning groove, one end of the guide cylinder extends into the positioning groove, and the guide groove and the guide block are respectively provided on the lifting member and the guide cylinder;

[0045] The lifting member is arranged in the guide cylinder.

[0046] In the above structure, the guide tube is used to guide the movement of the lifting member and / or the elastic mechanism, and at the same time plays a role in positioning the elastic mechanism, weakening the left and right swing of the elastic mechanism, and further improving the stability of the elastic mechanism on the battery mounting portion.

[0047] Preferably, the guide cylinder is a cylindrical structure, and the outer wall of the guide cylinder matches the shape of the notch of the positioning groove.

[0048] Preferably, the transmission mechanism comprises:

[0049] A worm gear disposed on the lifting shaft;

[0050] A worm is meshed with the worm wheel, and one end of the worm wheel away from the worm wheel is connected to the power output end of the driving mechanism.

[0051] In the above structure, by setting up a transmission mechanism, the motion parameters output by the drive mechanism can be adjusted, such as the motion direction and speed, to meet the technical requirements of the levelable battery replacement equipment. In this structure, the change in the motion direction output by the drive mechanism can be achieved by using the structure of the worm gear and the worm gear, thereby driving the lifting member to drive the elastic mechanism to move.

[0052] Preferably, the height adjustment mechanism includes a plurality of lifting mechanisms, and the lifting mechanisms are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with the elastic mechanisms.

[0053] In the above structure, multiple lifting mechanisms are provided to drive the corresponding elastic mechanisms to adjust their height relative to the battery mounting portion, so that the horizontality of the battery pack can be adjusted more accurately. That is, when adjusting a tilted battery pack, if only one elastic mechanism needs to be adjusted, only one lifting mechanism needs to be controlled. If multiple elastic mechanisms need to be adjusted jointly, the purpose of leveling can also be achieved by controlling the lifting mechanisms corresponding to these elastic mechanisms. In addition, multiple elastic mechanisms jointly support the battery pack, reducing the compression of a single elastic mechanism, thereby improving the reliability of the levelable battery exchange equipment.

[0054] Preferably, the driving mechanism and the lifting mechanism are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence.

[0055] In the above structure, by providing a driving mechanism corresponding to each lifting mechanism, the height adjustment of the elastic mechanism can be made more flexible, which facilitates the leveling of the battery pack.

[0056] Preferably, the driving mechanism is connected to at least two lifting mechanisms.

[0057] In the above structure, the same driving mechanism drives multiple lifting mechanisms to drive their corresponding elastic mechanisms to move synchronously, and the movement direction and amount are consistent. This solution has a better adjustment effect for battery packs that are heavier on one side and a small adjustment error.

[0058] Preferably, the driving mechanism is connected to two lifting mechanisms, and the two lifting mechanisms are located on the same side of the battery pack.

[0059] In the above structure, when one side of the battery pack is heavier, the driving mechanism controls the two elastic mechanisms on that side to rise and fall synchronously, which on the one hand improves the stability of the battery pack during the adjustment process, and on the other hand can better control the movement of the two elastic mechanisms and improve the adjustment accuracy.

[0060] Preferably, the elastic mechanism is a spring.

[0061] In the above structure, the horizontality of the battery pack is adjusted by adjusting the position of the spring, which facilitates assembly.

[0062] Preferably, the levelable battery exchange device also includes a battery positioning portion for supporting the battery pack, and the battery positioning portion is arranged on the top of the elastic mechanism.

[0063] In the above structure, an elastic mechanism is used to provide elastic support for the battery positioning part, and then the battery positioning part supports the battery pack. The lifting mechanism adjusts the position of the battery positioning part relative to the battery mounting part by adjusting the position of the elastic mechanism in the height direction, thereby finally achieving the horizontal adjustment of the battery pack, avoiding direct damage to the battery pack caused by direct contact between the elastic mechanism and the battery pack, and also improving the stability of the battery pack during the process of placing it on the battery positioning part.

[0064] Preferably, the battery positioning portion is provided with a positioning rod protruding toward the battery mounting portion, and the positioning rod corresponds to the elastic mechanism one by one;

[0065] The positioning rod is plugged into the top of the elastic mechanism.

[0066] In the above structure, the positioning rod is arranged on the battery positioning part to position the corresponding end of the elastic mechanism, and the structure is convenient for plugging and unplugging the battery positioning part.

[0067] Preferably, the levelable battery exchange device further includes:

[0068] A height detection device, the height detection device is arranged on the battery mounting portion;

[0069] The battery positioning portion is provided with a detection object for matching with the height detection device.

[0070] In the above structure, the height detection device is used in conjunction with the detection object to obtain the distance information between the battery positioning part and the battery mounting part. When the levelable battery exchange equipment carries the battery pack for installation, the battery positioning part and the battery pack are relatively stationary. By setting the detection object on the battery positioning part, the distance information between the battery pack and the battery mounting part can be calculated based on the obtained distance information, that is, the distance information can reflect the positional relationship of the battery pack placed above the battery positioning part relative to the battery mounting part. The distance information can be used to accurately determine which elastic mechanisms need to be adjusted, the displacement adjustment amount of the elastic mechanism, and the specific position to which the elastic mechanism should be adjusted.

[0071] A battery swap station, comprising any of the above-described levelable battery swap equipment, the battery swap station also comprising:

[0072] A control unit is connected to the driving mechanism, and the control unit adjusts the position of the elastic mechanism relative to the battery mounting portion through the driving mechanism.

[0073] In the above structure, precise control of the driving mechanism is achieved by setting a control unit, which is more intelligent and has higher leveling accuracy for the battery pack.

[0074] Preferably, the control unit is connected to the height detection device, and the control unit is used to receive and process distance information obtained from the height detection device.

[0075] In the above structure, the height detection device collects distance information representing the horizontality of the battery pack, and then transmits the distance information to the control unit for processing. The control unit then sends a signal to the drive mechanism according to the actual situation, thereby enabling the drive mechanism to level the battery pack, thereby realizing the automatic leveling function of the battery pack.

[0076] A battery swap control method is used to control the levelable battery swap device as described above, wherein the height adjustment mechanism includes a lifting mechanism and a driving mechanism, wherein the driving mechanism drives the lifting mechanism to drive the elastic mechanism to move, wherein there are multiple lifting mechanisms, and the lifting mechanisms and the elastic mechanisms are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence, and the levelable battery swap device also includes a battery positioning portion for supporting a battery pack, wherein the battery positioning portion is arranged on the top of the elastic mechanism, and wherein the battery swap control method includes the following steps:

[0077] S1. Acquire distance information at each elastic mechanism, where the distance information is the distance between the battery positioning portion and the battery mounting portion;

[0078] S2. Control the driving mechanism to drive the lifting mechanism to adjust the distance between the elastic mechanism and the battery mounting portion according to the distance information.

[0079] The horizontality of the battery positioning part is calculated by using the acquired distance information, and then the height adjustment mechanism is controlled to level the battery positioning part according to the calculation result, thereby achieving leveling of the battery pack.

[0080] Preferably, after step S2, the following steps are further included:

[0081] S3, obtaining distance information at each elastic mechanism again;

[0082] S4. Determine whether the difference between any two distance information is within a preset distance range. If not, return to step S1.

[0083] After leveling, the level of the battery pack is checked again to verify the leveling effect. If the leveling requirement is still not met, further leveling is performed until it meets the requirement. The level of the battery pack is judged by checking whether the difference between any two distance information is within the preset distance range. If the difference between any two distance information is not within the preset distance range, it is necessary to re-level. If they are all within the preset distance range, it is considered that the level meets the requirement.

[0084] Preferably, the step S4 specifically includes: determining whether the difference between any two distance information is less than a preset distance, and if not, returning to execute step S1.

[0085] By using the above method, it is determined whether the difference between any two distance information is less than the preset distance. If so, it is considered that the levelness meets the requirements. If the difference between any two distance information is greater than the preset distance, re-leveling is required.

[0086] On the basis of being in accordance with the common sense in the art, the above-mentioned preferred conditions can be arbitrarily combined to obtain the preferred embodiments of the present invention.

[0087] The positive and progressive effects of the present invention are:

[0088] The present invention adjusts the distance between the elastic mechanism and the battery mounting portion through a height adjustment mechanism, thereby achieving a leveling function of the battery pack, ensuring that the battery pack has a good level before being installed on the vehicle, so that during the process of installing the battery pack on the vehicle, the lock shaft of the battery pack can smoothly enter the lock base on the body bracket, and finally be smoothly locked to achieve the installation of the battery pack on the vehicle. Although the center of gravity of battery packs of different models is different, leveling can be performed before the battery pack is installed. Therefore, the levelable battery exchange equipment of the present invention can be used to exchange batteries for electric vehicles of various models, thereby improving the inclusiveness of battery exchange stations to different models. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0089] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the levelable battery exchange device according to Example 1 of the present invention.

[0090] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the levelable battery exchange device of Example 1 of the present invention.

[0091] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Enlarged view of part A.

[0092] Figure 4 This is a partial enlarged view of the lifting component.

[0093] Figure 5 This is a flow chart of the battery replacement control method of embodiment 4 of the present invention.

[0094] Description of reference numerals:

[0095] Levelable battery replacement device 100

[0096] Battery installation part 1

[0097] Mounting hole 11

[0098] Positioning slot 12

[0099] Elastic mechanism 2

[0100] Height adjustment mechanism 3

[0101] Lifting mechanism 31

[0102] Transmission mechanism 311

[0103] Worm gear 3111

[0104] Worm 3112

[0105] Lifting assembly 312

[0106] Lifting parts 3121

[0107] Lifting shaft 3122

[0108] First shaft 31221

[0109] Second shaft 31222

[0110] Step surface 31223

[0111] Driving mechanism 32

[0112] Guide mechanism 33

[0113] Guide groove 331

[0114] Guide block 332

[0115] Guide cylinder 333 DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0116] The present invention is further described below by way of examples, but the present invention is not limited to the scope of the following examples.

[0117] [Example 1]

[0118] The present embodiment provides a battery swap station for replacing batteries of electric vehicles, including a levelable battery swap device 100 and a control unit. The control unit is communicatively connected to the levelable battery swap device 100 to control the operation of the levelable battery swap device 100 .

[0119] During the battery swapping process, the levelable battery swapping device 100 runs to the bottom of the electric vehicle, removes the depleted battery pack and transports it to the vicinity of the palletizer. After the palletizer removes the depleted battery pack, it places the fully charged battery pack on the levelable battery swapping device 100. The levelable battery swapping device 100 carries the fully charged battery pack and runs to the bottom of the electric vehicle and installs the fully charged battery pack on the electric vehicle.

[0120] like Figure 1As shown, the levelable battery exchange device 100 includes a battery mounting portion 1, an elastic mechanism 2 and a height adjustment mechanism 3. The battery mounting portion 1 is used to disassemble and assemble the battery pack on the electric vehicle. The elastic mechanism 2 is arranged on the battery mounting portion 1 to elastically support the battery pack; the height adjustment mechanism 3 is arranged on the battery mounting portion 1 to adjust the position of the elastic mechanism 2 relative to the battery mounting portion 1. During specific operation, the height adjustment mechanism 3 controls the height of the elastic mechanism 2, so that the battery pack placed on the upper end of the elastic mechanism 2 can be placed in a horizontal state, that is, it has a good levelness.

[0121] This embodiment adjusts the position of the elastic mechanism 2 relative to the battery mounting part 1 through the height adjustment mechanism 3, thereby realizing automatic adjustment of the position of battery packs of different models on the battery mounting part 1, so that the battery pack is in a standard battery replacement position that can be smoothly installed in the battery pack mounting seat of the electric vehicle, thereby improving the accuracy and efficiency of the levelable battery replacement equipment 100 in disassembly and assembly of battery packs of multiple models, and improving the inclusiveness of battery replacement stations to different models.

[0122] like Figure 1 As shown, in the levelable battery exchange device 100, the height adjustment mechanism 3 includes a lifting mechanism 31 and a driving mechanism 32. The driving mechanism 32 drives the lifting mechanism 31 to drive the elastic mechanism 2 to rise and fall relative to the battery mounting part 1. The driving mechanism 32 is installed on the battery mounting part 1 and moves synchronously with the movement of the battery mounting part 1. Its output end is connected to the lifting mechanism 31. The driving mechanism 32 is electronically controlled and operates according to the start and stop instructions; the lifting mechanism 31 outputs movement in the up and down directions, thereby driving the elastic mechanism 2 to rise and fall. With the above structure, the distance adjustment of the elastic mechanism 2 relative to the battery mounting part 1 can be achieved by driving the lifting mechanism 31 through the driving mechanism 32. No manual adjustment is required during the battery exchange process, which is more intelligent.

[0123] In the battery swap station, the control unit is connected to the drive mechanism 32 of the levelable battery swap device 100, and the control unit adjusts the position of the elastic mechanism 2 relative to the battery mounting portion 1 through the drive mechanism 32. The precise control of the drive mechanism 32 is achieved by setting the control unit, which is more intelligent and has a higher leveling accuracy of the battery pack.

[0124] like Figure 2 As shown, the lifting mechanism 31 includes a transmission mechanism 311 and a lifting assembly 312. The input end ( Figure 2 The output end of the transmission mechanism 311 (the left end of the transmission mechanism 311) is connected to the output end of the driving mechanism 32, and the output end of the transmission mechanism 311 ( Figure 2 The right end of the transmission mechanism 311 is connected to the lifting component 312, and the driving mechanism 32 drives the lifting component 312 to output up and down movement through the transmission mechanism 311, thereby driving the elastic mechanism 2 to move up and down.

[0125] like Figure 3 As shown, the lifting assembly 312 is used to convert the rotational motion into linear motion. The lifting assembly 312 includes a lifting member 3121 and a lifting shaft 3122 that are meshed with each other. The transmission mechanism 311 drives the lifting shaft 3122 to rotate, so that the lifting member 3121 performs linear motion perpendicular to the battery mounting portion 1, thereby driving the elastic mechanism 2 to rise and fall relative to the battery mounting portion 1. In this embodiment, the lifting member 3121 is an annular plate structure, and the lifting member 3121 is sleeved on the lifting shaft 3122. The lifting member 3121 includes an inner wall and an outer wall, and the inner wall of the lifting member 3121 is meshed with the lifting shaft 3122.

[0126] The elastic mechanism 2 is installed on the lifting member 3121. The bottom of the elastic mechanism 2 ( Figure 3 The lower end of the elastic mechanism 2 is mounted on the lifting member 3121. In other specific embodiments, the elastic mechanism 2 can also be detachably connected, fixedly connected or inserted on the lifting member 3121. For example, the bottom of the elastic mechanism 2 is welded to the lifting member 3121, etc., which will not be repeated here. The lifting shaft 3122 is connected to the transmission mechanism 311. The driving mechanism 32 drives the lifting shaft 3122 to rotate through the transmission mechanism 311 to drive the lifting member 3121 to move in the vertical direction. The lifting member 3121 drives the elastic mechanism 2 to rise and fall in the height direction. The lifting assembly 312 has a simple structure and is easy to install.

[0127] like Figure 3 As shown, the elastic mechanism 2 is sleeved on one end of the lifting shaft 3122, so that the lifting shaft 3122 is used to position the elastic mechanism 2 in the horizontal direction, thereby improving the assembly efficiency of the elastic mechanism 2 and the lifting assembly 312. At the same time, the lifting shaft 3122 can also guide the elastic mechanism 2, thereby improving the stability of the elastic mechanism 2.

[0128] The lifting shaft 3122 includes a first shaft 31221 and a second shaft 31222 which are coaxially connected in sequence. The radial dimension of the first shaft 31221 is larger than the radial dimension of the second shaft 31222. The portion of the first shaft 31221 which radially exceeds the second shaft 31222 forms a step surface 31223. The battery mounting portion 1 has a mounting hole 11 for the second shaft 31222 to pass through. The step surface 31223 cooperates with the mounting hole 11 to limit the lifting shaft 3122 from sliding out of the mounting hole 11. The step surface 31223 between the first shaft 31221 and the second shaft 31222 limits the lifting shaft 3122 from passing through the mounting hole 11 and coming out from the bottom of the mounting hole 11, thereby improving the reliability of the lifting assembly 312.

[0129] Specifically, the first rotating shaft 31221 is located above the mounting hole 11, and the outer diameter of the first rotating shaft 31221 is larger than the inner diameter of the mounting hole 11, so that the step surface 31223 is used to press against the battery mounting part 1 when the lifting rotating shaft 3122 moves downward relative to the battery mounting part 1 to prevent the lifting rotating shaft 3122 from slipping out of the mounting hole 11.

[0130] The transmission mechanism 311 is connected to the second rotating shaft 31222, the first rotating shaft 31221 is threadedly engaged with the lifting member 3121, the driving mechanism 32 drives the transmission mechanism 311 to move and drive the second rotating shaft 31222 and the first rotating shaft 31221 to rotate, the first rotating shaft 31221 drives the lifting member 3121 to move in the vertical direction, the second rotating shaft 31222 passes through the mounting hole 11, and one end of the second rotating shaft 31222 ( Figure 4 The lower end of the second rotating shaft 31222 is located below the battery mounting portion 1, and the transmission mechanism 311 is connected to one end of the second rotating shaft 31222 located below the battery mounting portion 1.

[0131] By adopting the above structure, the volume of the lifting mechanism 31 is smaller, which reduces the space occupied by the lifting mechanism 31 on the levelable battery exchange device 100, makes full use of the space at the battery mounting part 1 to set the transmission mechanism 311 and the driving mechanism 32, simplifies the setting of the surface of the battery mounting part 1, avoids interference with the battery mounting part 1 in the action of removing and installing the battery, and converts the rotational motion of the driving mechanism 32 into the movement of the lifting mechanism 31 in the height direction, thereby driving the elastic mechanism 2 to move closer to or away from the battery mounting part 1.

[0132] like Figure 2 and 3 As shown, the height adjustment mechanism 3 further includes a guide mechanism 33 for guiding the lifting member 3121 to move along the axial direction of the lifting shaft 3122. By providing the guide mechanism 33, the lifting member 3121 can be guided to move in the vertical direction, thereby improving the stability of the lifting member 3121 during the movement, thereby achieving the position adjustment of the elastic mechanism 2 relative to the battery mounting portion 1 in the vertical direction.

[0133] The guide mechanism 33 includes a guide groove 331 and a guide block 332. The guide block 332 is arranged on the battery mounting part 1. The guide groove 331 is opened on the outer wall of the lifting member 3121. The shape of the guide block 332 matches that of the guide groove 331, that is, the outer surface of the guide block 332 has the same shape as the inner wall of the guide groove 331, so that the guide block 332 slides along the inner wall of the guide groove 331. The extension direction of the guide block 332 is perpendicular to the plane where the battery mounting part 1 is located. When in use, the lifting shaft 3122 rotates to drive the lifting member 3121 to move. Under the mutual cooperation of the guide groove 331 and the guide block 332, the guide groove 331 slides along the extension direction of the guide block 332.

[0134] The guide mechanism 33 limits the rotation of the lifting member 3121. When the lifting shaft 3122 rotates, the lifting member 3121 can move along the extension direction of the guide block 332. Since the shape of the guide block 332 matches the shape of the inner wall of the guide groove 331, the stability during movement can be better.

[0135] In other specific embodiments, a guide block 332 may be provided on the lifting member 3121, and a guide groove 331 may be provided on the battery mounting portion 1. The extension direction of the guide groove 331 is perpendicular to the plane where the battery mounting portion 1 is located. The guide block 332 moves along the extension direction of the guide groove 331, thereby limiting the rotation of the lifting member 3121, which will not be repeated here.

[0136] In this embodiment, further, a positioning groove 12 is provided on the battery mounting portion 1, a guide block 332 is provided on the positioning groove 12, and a mounting hole 11 is provided at the bottom of the positioning groove 12, and the lifting shaft 3122 passes through the mounting hole 11. In specific application, the second shaft 31222 passes through the mounting hole 11, and the step surface 31223 on the first shaft 31221 abuts against the bottom surface of the positioning groove 12, and the positioning groove 12 is a groove formed by the surface of the battery mounting portion 1 being recessed downward, wherein the positioning groove 12 includes a side wall and a bottom wall, the guide block 332 is provided on the side wall of the positioning groove 12, the mounting hole 11 is provided on the bottom wall of the positioning groove 12, and the first shaft 31221 is located above the bottom wall of the positioning groove 12.

[0137] like Figure 3 As shown, one end of the elastic mechanism 2 is located in the positioning groove 12 and is sleeved on the lifting shaft 3122. The inner side of the elastic mechanism 2 is positioned by the lifting shaft 3122, and the outer side can be limited by the positioning groove 12, thereby realizing the limitation of the end of the elastic mechanism 2. The positioning groove 12 and the lifting shaft 3122 respectively constrain the elastic mechanism 2 from the outside and inside, thereby avoiding the deflection of the elastic mechanism 2 and improving the stability of the elastic mechanism 2.

[0138] With the above structure, the positioning groove 12 plays a positioning role in the assembly of the lifting component 312 and the elastic mechanism 2, which is equivalent to using the positioning groove 12 to predetermine the position of the lifting component 312 and the elastic mechanism 2 relative to the battery mounting part 1, thereby improving the assembly efficiency. The positioning groove 12 and the guide groove 331 provide a lifting channel for the lifting member 3121 to ensure that the elastic mechanism 2 operates stably and effectively.

[0139] like Figure 3 and Figure 4As shown, in order to further improve the stability of the elastic mechanism 2 and reduce the amplitude of the left-right swing of the elastic mechanism 2, a guide cylinder 333 is provided in the positioning groove 12, one end of the elastic mechanism 2 is located in the guide cylinder 333, and a guide block 332 is provided on the inner surface of the guide cylinder 333. One end of the guide cylinder 333 extends into the positioning groove 12, and the bottom of the guide cylinder 333 is connected and fixed to the bottom wall of the positioning groove 12, and a part of the guide cylinder 333 is located outside the positioning groove 12. The guide groove 331 is provided on the lifting member 3121, and the lifting member 3121 is arranged in the guide cylinder 333. The guide cylinder 333 is used to guide the lifting member 3121 and / or the elastic mechanism 2, so that the amplitude of the left-right swing of the elastic mechanism 2 is reduced.

[0140] Specifically, Figure 3 As shown, the guide cylinder 333 is a cylindrical structure, and the outer wall of the guide cylinder 333 matches the notch shape of the positioning groove 12, so that the guide cylinder 333 fits on the inner wall of the positioning groove 12. The guide cylinder 333 and the positioning groove 12 have an interference fit, so that the connection is more reliable. During installation, the guide cylinder 333 is pressed into the positioning groove 12 using a press-fitting device.

[0141] The transmission mechanism 311 includes a worm wheel 3111 disposed on the lifting shaft 3122 and a worm 3112 meshing with the worm wheel 3111. The end of the worm 3112 away from the worm wheel 3111 is connected to the power output end of the driving mechanism 32. Specifically, the worm wheel 3111 is connected to the end of the second shaft 31222 away from the first shaft 31221 ( Figure 4 The lower end of the second rotating shaft 31222), the second rotating shaft 31222 and the worm gear 3111 can be made by an integral molding process, or they can be fixed to each other by a detachable connection. By setting the transmission mechanism 311, the motion parameters output by the driving mechanism 32 can be adjusted, such as the motion direction and speed, to meet the technical requirements of the levelable battery exchange device 100. In this structure, the direction of the motion output by the driving mechanism 32 can be converted by using the worm gear 3111 and the worm 3112, thereby driving the lifting member 3121 to drive the elastic mechanism 2 to move in a direction close to or away from the battery mounting part 1. In other embodiments, as an alternative means, the transmission mechanism 311 can also use a gear set or other mechanism that can convert motion rotating around the horizontal direction into motion rotating around the vertical direction.

[0142] The height adjustment mechanism 3 includes four lifting mechanisms 31, and the lifting mechanisms 31 are arranged one by one corresponding to the elastic mechanisms 2. The arrangement of four elastic mechanisms 2 can more accurately adjust the levelness of the battery pack, making the adjustment of the levelness of the battery pack more flexible. When adjusting a tilted battery pack, if one elastic mechanism 2 needs to be adjusted, only one lifting mechanism 31 needs to be controlled.

[0143] In other embodiments, the number of lifting mechanisms 31 is adaptively adjusted according to actual needs.

[0144] In addition, multiple elastic mechanisms 2 jointly support the battery pack, reducing the compression of a single elastic mechanism 2, thereby improving the reliability of the levelable battery exchange device 100.

[0145] In this embodiment, each driving mechanism 32 is connected to two lifting mechanisms 31, and the same driving mechanism 32 drives the two lifting mechanisms 31 to drive the elastic mechanism 2 to move synchronously, and the movement direction and amount are consistent. This solution has a better adjustment effect for a battery pack with a unilateral weight bias and a small adjustment error.

[0146] In specific applications, one driving mechanism 32 is connected to two lifting mechanisms 31, and the two lifting mechanisms 31 are located on the same side of the battery pack. When one side of the battery pack is heavier, the driving mechanism 32 controls the two elastic mechanisms 2 on that side to rise and fall synchronously, which improves the stability of the battery pack during the adjustment process, and can better control the movement of the two elastic mechanisms 2 and improve the adjustment accuracy.

[0147] In this embodiment, the elastic mechanism 2 is a spring. The spring is a coil spring with a diameter of 7 mm, a middle diameter of 33 mm, 5 effective turns, a free height of 73 mm, and the upper end of the coil spring is ground flat. The horizontality of the battery pack is adjusted by adjusting the position of the spring for easy assembly. In other embodiments, as an alternative means, the elastic mechanism 2 is a rectangular spring.

[0148] [Example 2]

[0149] The basic structure of Example 2 is the same as that of Example 1, except that the levelable battery exchange device 100 further includes a battery positioning portion for supporting the battery pack, and the battery positioning portion is arranged on the top of the elastic mechanism 2. The battery positioning portion is used to support the battery pack, and the battery positioning portion can be a battery tray. The elastic mechanism 2 is used to provide elastic support for the battery positioning portion. The elastic mechanism 2 adjusts the horizontality of the battery pack by adjusting the position of the battery positioning portion relative to the battery mounting portion 1, thereby avoiding direct damage to the battery pack by the elastic mechanism 2 and improving the stability of the battery pack during placement on the battery positioning portion.

[0150] In order to improve the stability of the elastic mechanism 2, a positioning rod protruding toward the battery mounting part 1 is provided at the position of the battery positioning part corresponding to the elastic mechanism 2, that is, the positioning rod extends downward from the lower surface of the battery positioning part, and the positioning rod corresponds to the elastic mechanism 2 one by one. The positioning rod is plugged into the top of the elastic mechanism 2, so that the positioning rod has a guiding and positioning effect on the elastic mechanism 2. In addition, the lower end of the elastic mechanism 2 is provided with a lifting mechanism 31 and / or a guiding mechanism 33 for guiding and positioning, which further improves the stability of the elastic mechanism 2. In addition, by arranging a positioning rod on the battery positioning part to limit the corresponding end position of the elastic mechanism 2, it is convenient to plug and unplug the battery positioning part. Specifically, when the battery positioning part is placed on the battery mounting part 1, the positioning rod on the battery positioning part is inserted into the spring on the battery mounting part 1.

[0151] The principle of the leveling battery swapping device 100 for leveling the battery pack is as follows:

[0152] The driving mechanism 32 drives the worm 3112 to rotate along its own axis. The worm 3112 is meshed with the worm wheel 3111 so that the worm wheel 3111 drives the lifting shaft 3122 to rotate. The lifting shaft 3122 drives the lifting member 3121 to adjust the height in the vertical direction through a thread, thereby realizing the height of the elastic mechanism 2 set on the lifting member 3121. The elastic mechanism 2 will drive the battery positioning part placed thereon to adjust the height, and finally realize the adjustment of the height of the battery pack placed on the battery positioning part relative to the battery mounting part 1, thereby completing the position adjustment of the battery pack.

[0153] [Example 3]

[0154] The basic structure of Example 3 is the same as that of Example 2, except that the levelable battery exchange device 100 further includes a height detection device (not shown in the figure). The height detection device is arranged on the battery mounting portion 1. The height detection device may adopt a sensor. A detection object for matching with the height detection device is arranged on the battery positioning portion. The detection object may be a surface attached to the battery positioning portion or a specific identification object matched with the height detection device. The height detection device is used in conjunction with the detection object to obtain the distance information between the battery positioning portion and the battery mounting portion 1. The battery positioning portion and the battery pack are relatively stationary. By setting the detection object on the battery positioning portion, the distance information of the battery pack can be calculated based on the distance information obtained, that is, the distance information of the battery pack can reflect the positional relationship of the battery pack placed above the battery positioning portion relative to the battery mounting portion 1. The distance information of the battery pack can accurately determine which elastic mechanisms 2 need to be adjusted, the displacement adjustment amount of the elastic mechanism 2, and the specific position to which the elastic mechanism 2 is adjusted.

[0155] In the battery swap station, the control unit is connected to the height detection device for communication, and the control unit is used to receive and process the distance information obtained from the height detection device. The height detection device collects distance information representing the horizontality of the battery pack, and then transmits the distance information to the control unit for processing. The control unit sends a signal to the drive mechanism 32 according to the actual situation, so that the drive mechanism 32 can level the battery pack, thereby realizing the automatic leveling function of the battery pack.

[0156] [Example 4]

[0157] like Figure 5 As shown, this embodiment provides a battery swap control method for controlling the above-mentioned levelable battery swap device 100. This embodiment adopts the levelable battery swap device 100 of Example 3 to perform battery swap control, including the following steps:

[0158] S1, obtaining distance information at each elastic mechanism 2, where the distance information is the distance between the battery positioning portion and the battery mounting portion 1;

[0159] S2 . According to the distance information, the driving mechanism 32 is controlled to drive the lifting mechanism 31 to adjust the distance between the elastic mechanism 2 and the battery mounting portion 1 .

[0160] The horizontality of the battery positioning portion is calculated by using the acquired distance information, and then the height adjustment mechanism 3 is controlled to level the battery positioning portion according to the calculation result, thereby achieving leveling of the battery pack.

[0161] S3, obtaining the distance information of each elastic mechanism 2 again;

[0162] S4. Determine whether the difference between any two distance information is within a preset distance range. If not, return to step S1.

[0163] By detecting the distance information at each elastic mechanism 2 and the horizontality of the battery positioning part again after leveling, the leveling effect can be verified. If the levelness requirement is still not met, further leveling is performed.

[0164] Specifically, step S4 includes: determining whether the difference between any two distance information is less than a preset distance; if not, returning to step S1.

[0165] The above-mentioned step S4 stipulates that the maximum numerical difference allowed between any two distance information is a preset distance. If it is greater than or equal to the preset distance, it is considered that step S2 has not adjusted the battery pack to the required level, so it is necessary to continue the leveling operation, that is, return to step S1. If it is less than the preset distance, it is considered that the battery pack has been adjusted to the required level, that is, the battery pack in its current state can allow the levelable battery exchange device 100 to be lifted and successfully matched with the lock base on the electric vehicle.

[0166] [Example 5]

[0167] This embodiment provides a specific implementation of a levelable battery exchange device 100, which is different from Embodiment 1 in the corresponding relationship between the driving mechanism 32 and the lifting mechanism 31. In this embodiment, the driving mechanism 32 and the lifting mechanism 31 are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence, that is, in this embodiment, four driving mechanisms 32 are provided.

[0168] In this embodiment, the driving mechanism 32 drives the corresponding lifting mechanism 31 to drive the elastic mechanism 2 to move synchronously, so that the direction of the battery pack can be adjusted from four positions of the battery pack, making the leveling of the battery pack more flexible and accurate.

[0169] In specific applications, when one side of the battery pack is heavier, the lifting mechanisms 31 corresponding to the two elastic mechanisms 2 located on this side are driven by their corresponding driving mechanisms 32, so that the elastic mechanisms 2 are lifted and lowered synchronously. On the one hand, the flexibility of leveling the battery pack is improved, and on the other hand, the movement amount of each elastic mechanism 2 can be better controlled to improve the adjustment accuracy.

[0170] The other parts of the levelable battery exchange device 100 of this embodiment are the same as those of Embodiment 3 and will not be described in detail here.

[0171] This embodiment also provides a battery swap station, which is different from Embodiment 3 in that the corresponding relationship between the driving mechanism 32 and the lifting mechanism 31 can make the height adjustment of the elastic mechanism 2 more flexible and facilitate the leveling of the battery pack.

[0172] The other parts of the battery swap station of this embodiment are the same as those of Embodiment 1 and will not be described in detail here.

[0173] This embodiment also provides a battery replacement control method, which is different from the battery replacement control method of Example 4 in that the battery replacement control method of this embodiment is used to control the levelable battery replacement device 100 of this embodiment. Other parts of the battery replacement control method of this embodiment are the same as Example 1 and will not be repeated here.

[0174] Although the specific embodiments of the present invention are described above, those skilled in the art should understand that this is only an example, and the protection scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims. Those skilled in the art may make various changes or modifications to these embodiments without departing from the principles and essence of the present invention, but these changes and modifications all fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A levelable battery exchange device, characterized in that: include: The battery installation part is used to disassemble and install the battery pack on the electric vehicle; An elastic mechanism, provided on the battery mounting portion, for elastically supporting the battery pack; a height adjustment mechanism, provided on the battery mounting portion, for adjusting the position of the elastic mechanism relative to the battery mounting portion; The height adjustment mechanism includes a lifting mechanism and a driving mechanism, wherein the driving mechanism drives the lifting mechanism to move so as to drive the elastic mechanism to move up and down relative to the battery installation part; The lifting mechanism comprises a transmission mechanism and a lifting assembly; The lifting assembly comprises a lifting member and a lifting shaft meshing with each other, and the elastic mechanism is mounted on the lifting member; The lifting shaft is connected to the transmission mechanism, and the driving mechanism drives the lifting shaft to rotate through the transmission mechanism to drive the lifting member to move in the vertical direction, and the lifting member drives the elastic mechanism to move up and down along the height direction.

2. The levelable battery exchange device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom of the elastic mechanism is mounted on the lifting member; Or one end of the elastic mechanism is fixedly connected to the lifting member; Or one end of the elastic mechanism is inserted into the lifting member; And / or, the elastic mechanism is sleeved on one end of the lifting shaft; And / or, the height adjustment mechanism further includes a guiding mechanism for guiding the lifting member to move along the axial direction of the lifting shaft.

3. The levelable battery exchange device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The lifting shaft comprises a first shaft and a second shaft which are coaxially connected in sequence, the radial dimension of the first shaft is larger than the radial dimension of the second shaft, and a portion of the first shaft which radially exceeds the second shaft forms a step surface; The battery mounting portion has a mounting hole for the second rotating shaft to pass through, and the step surface cooperates with the mounting hole to limit the lifting rotating shaft from sliding out of the mounting hole; And / or, the guide mechanism comprises a guide groove and a guide block, and the guide block matches the shape of the guide groove; The extending direction of the guide groove is perpendicular to the plane where the battery mounting portion is located; The guide groove and the guide block are respectively arranged on the lifting member and the battery mounting portion; Preferably, a positioning groove is provided on the battery mounting portion; The guide groove and the guide block are respectively arranged on the lifting member and the positioning groove.

4. The levelable battery exchange device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The outer diameter of the first rotating shaft is larger than the inner diameter of the mounting hole; And / or, the transmission mechanism is connected to the second rotating shaft, the first rotating shaft is threadedly engaged with the lifting member, the driving mechanism drives the transmission mechanism to move to drive the second rotating shaft and the first rotating shaft to rotate, and the first rotating shaft drives the lifting member to move in the vertical direction; And / or, one end of the elastic mechanism is located in the positioning groove and sleeved on the lifting shaft; And / or, a mounting hole is provided at the bottom of the positioning groove, and the lifting shaft passes through the mounting hole; And / or, a guide cylinder is provided in the positioning groove, one end of the guide cylinder extends into the positioning groove, and the guide groove and the guide block are respectively provided on the lifting member and the guide cylinder; The lifting member is arranged in the guide cylinder; Preferably, the guide cylinder is a cylindrical structure, and the outer wall of the guide cylinder matches the shape of the notch of the positioning groove.

5. The levelable battery exchange device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The transmission mechanism comprises: A worm gear disposed on the lifting shaft; A worm is meshed with the worm wheel, and one end of the worm wheel away from the worm wheel is connected to the power output end of the driving mechanism.

6. The levelable battery exchange device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The height adjustment mechanism includes a plurality of lifting mechanisms, and the lifting mechanisms are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with the elastic mechanisms; And / or, the elastic mechanism is a spring; And / or, the levelable battery exchange device further includes: A battery positioning portion for supporting a battery pack, wherein the battery positioning portion is arranged on the top of the elastic mechanism; Preferably, the battery positioning portion is provided with a positioning rod protruding toward the battery mounting portion, and the positioning rod corresponds to the elastic mechanism one by one; The positioning rod is inserted into the top of the elastic mechanism; And / or, the levelable battery exchange device further includes: A height detection device, the height detection device is arranged on the battery mounting portion; The battery positioning part is provided with a detection object for matching with the height detection device; And / or, the driving mechanism and the lifting mechanism are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence; And / or, the driving mechanism is connected to at least two lifting mechanisms; More preferably, the driving mechanism is connected to two lifting mechanisms, and the two lifting mechanisms are located on the same side of the battery pack.

7. A battery swap station, comprising the levelable battery swap device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: Also includes: A control unit is connected to the driving mechanism, and the control unit adjusts the position of the elastic mechanism relative to the battery mounting portion through the driving mechanism.

8. The battery swap station according to claim 7, characterized in that: The control unit is connected to the height detection device, and is used to receive and process distance information obtained from the height detection device.

9. A battery exchange control method, used to control the levelable battery exchange device according to claim 1, wherein the height adjustment mechanism comprises a lifting mechanism and a driving mechanism, and the driving mechanism drives the lifting mechanism to drive the elastic mechanism to move, wherein: There are multiple lifting mechanisms, and the lifting mechanisms are arranged one by one with the elastic mechanisms. The levelable battery replacement device also includes a battery positioning portion for supporting the battery pack, and the battery positioning portion is arranged on the top of the elastic mechanism. It is characterized in that the battery replacement control method includes the following steps: S1. Acquire distance information at each elastic mechanism, where the distance information is the distance between the battery positioning portion and the battery mounting portion; S2. Control the driving mechanism to drive the lifting mechanism to adjust the distance between the elastic mechanism and the battery mounting portion according to the distance information.

10. The battery replacement control method according to claim 9, characterized in that: After step S2, the following steps are also included: S3, obtaining distance information at each elastic mechanism again; S4, determining whether the difference between any two distance information is within a preset distance range, if not, returning to step S1; Preferably, the step S4 specifically includes: determining whether the difference between any two distance information is less than a preset distance, and if not, returning to execute step S1.

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