Unmanned aerial vehicle solid-state battery pressurized charger

Abstract

The unmanned aerial vehicle solid-state battery pressurized charger comprises a shell, a circuit board and a storage unit, the storage unit comprises a battery rack, a mounting seat and a transmission assembly, the battery rack is provided with a first accommodating space for storing a solid-state battery, the mounting seat is fixedly connected with the battery rack and is provided with a second accommodating space, the second accommodating space is communicated with the first accommodating space, and the transmission assembly is arranged on the mounting seat and partially extends out of the second accommodating space and moves towards the first accommodating space to press and fix the unmanned aerial vehicle solid-state battery. The unmanned aerial vehicle solid-state battery charger provided by the application pressurizes and fixes the unmanned aerial vehicle solid-state battery by arranging the mounting seat and the transmission assembly, so that the recoverable swelling deformation of the unmanned aerial vehicle solid-state battery is avoided during the charging process, and the service life of the unmanned aerial vehicle solid-state battery is prolonged.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to the field of charging technology, and in particular to a pressurized charger for a drone solid-state battery. [Background Technology]

[0002] Lithium-metal solid-state batteries (LiMeS batteries) have garnered significant attention in the aerospace field due to their unique high energy density, particularly in applications like drones. However, very few LiMeS batteries have been successfully commercialized for use in drones. This is primarily due to the limitations of their operating mechanism. The operating mechanism involves Li+ ions being extracted from the porous positive electrode, passing through the solid electrolyte layer, and depositing onto the negative electrode surface to form lithium metal. Because the lithium metal negative electrode has a planar structure, rather than the porous structure of graphite, the free-state charging during cycling causes the Li+ deposition to be loose and uneven, leading to increased thickness. This directly impacts the cell's cycle stability and volumetric energy density.

[0003] In existing technologies, to address the issue of increased thickness due to volume changes in solid-state batteries, a fixed pressurization structure is added to the outer periphery of the solid-state battery to ensure that its volume remains unchanged. However, the increased weight and volume resulting from the pressurization structure significantly diminishes the high energy density advantage of solid-state batteries and reduces the drone's flight time. These issues severely hinder the application of lithium metal solid-state batteries in drone products. [Summary of the Invention]

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a drone solid-state battery pressurized charger that solves the problem of increased thickness during drone solid-state battery charging, as well as the problems of low energy density and insufficient battery life, so as to enable drone solid-state batteries to fully utilize their high energy density advantages and improve the drone's battery life.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: a drone solid-state battery pressurizing charger for charging drone solid-state batteries, comprising a housing, a circuit board, and a storage unit. The circuit board is disposed within the housing and has a power input terminal for charging the drone solid-state battery. The storage unit is disposed opposite the circuit board. The storage unit includes a battery rack, a mounting base, and a transmission assembly. The battery rack has a first accommodating space for storing the solid-state battery. The mounting base is fixedly connected to the battery rack and has a second accommodating space, which communicates with the first accommodating space. The transmission assembly is disposed on the mounting base, and a portion of the transmission assembly extends out of the second accommodating space and moves toward the first accommodating space to pressurize and fix the drone solid-state battery.

[0006] Compared to existing technologies, the drone solid-state battery pressurized charger connects the second accommodating space within the mounting base to the first accommodating space within the battery holder by setting up the mounting base and the transmission component. Then, the transmission component extends out of the second accommodating space and moves towards the first accommodating space, thereby pressurizing and securing the drone solid-state battery. This design ensures that the drone solid-state battery is subjected to pressure from both the battery holder and the transmission component during charging. Pressurized charging effectively ensures uniform Li+ deposition in the flat panel structure, ensuring consistent cell thickness. This allows for smooth installation of the drone solid-state battery and avoids safety hazards caused by variations in thickness.

[0007] Meanwhile, the aforementioned solid-state battery for drones requires no additional fixed pressurization structure, fully leveraging the volumetric energy density advantage of lithium metal solid-state batteries. This can significantly double the range of existing drones, demonstrating its immense application value. Based on this, lithium metal solid-state batteries can be widely used in drones, successfully combining the two and further promoting the common development of the drone industry and the lithium metal solid-state battery industry. [Attached Image Description]

[0008] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort, wherein:

[0009] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the drone solid-state battery pressurization charger described in this invention;

[0010] Figure 2 This is an exploded perspective view of the solid-state battery pressurized charger for drones according to the present invention;

[0011] Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional structural installation diagram of the storage unit provided by the present invention;

[0012] Figure 4 This is an exploded three-dimensional structural view of the storage unit provided by the present invention;

[0013] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 An enlarged view of the worm gear shown; and

[0014] Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional view of the storage unit provided by the present invention.

Detailed Implementation Methods

[0015] 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 a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of them. 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.

[0016] Please refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 A drone solid-state battery pressurizing charger 100 is used to charge a drone solid-state battery 200. It includes a housing 1, a circuit board 3, and a storage unit 5. The circuit board 3 is located inside the housing 1 and has a power input terminal 31 for charging the drone solid-state battery. The storage unit 5 is positioned opposite the circuit board 3. The storage unit 5 includes a battery rack 51, a mounting base 53, and a transmission assembly 55. The battery rack 51 has a first accommodating space 501 for storing the drone solid-state battery 200. The mounting base 53 is fixedly connected to the battery rack 51 and has a second accommodating space 503, which communicates with the first accommodating space 501. The transmission assembly 55 is located on the mounting base 53, and a portion of the transmission assembly 55 extends out of the second accommodating space 503 and moves towards the first accommodating space 501 to pressurize and fix the drone solid-state battery 200. The transmission component 55 ensures that the drone solid-state battery 200 is subjected to pressure jointly applied by the battery rack 51 and the transmission component 55 during the charging process. This effectively ensures uniform deposition of Li+ in the flat structure and consistent cell thickness, thereby greatly improving the lifespan and volumetric energy density of the lithium metal solid-state battery.

[0017] In this embodiment, the housing 1 contains two storage units 5, which are spaced apart and have essentially the same internal structure. This allows for simultaneous charging of two drone solid-state batteries 200, improving single-charge efficiency. Alternatively, in another embodiment, different numbers of storage units 5 can be used, such as storing a single unit or multiple units spaced apart. Correspondingly, the same number of power input terminals 31 can be provided on the circuit board 3; no limitation is made here. The circuit board 3 is positioned corresponding to the battery holder 51, ensuring that the drone solid-state battery 200 can be directly connected to the power input terminal when inserted into the battery holder 51 without additional adjustment, which is very convenient. The housing 1 can also be equipped with a display module (not shown), electrically connected to the circuit board 3, displaying the remaining power of the drone solid-state battery 200, facilitating monitoring and reminding the user of the charging status of the drone solid-state battery 200.

[0018] The transmission assembly 55 can have various implementations. In this embodiment, a transmission method in which the worm gear 551 and the worm wheel 553 cooperate is preferred. The transmission assembly 55 includes a worm gear 551 and a worm wheel 553. The worm gear 551 is disposed on the mounting base 53. The worm wheel 553 is movably connected to the worm gear 551 and the battery rack 51, and the worm wheel 553 has an eccentric wheel structure. The rotation of the worm gear 551 drives the worm wheel 553 to rotate relative to the battery rack 51. When the worm gear 551 is controlled to rotate, the worm wheel 553 and the worm gear 551 are transmitted through meshing. Since the worm wheel 553 is an eccentric wheel, as the worm wheel 553 rotates relative to the battery rack 51, part of the structure of the worm wheel 553 will move from the second accommodating space 503 to the first accommodating space 501 and apply pressure to the UAV solid-state battery 200. This setup is simple and stable, saving space and limiting the rotation of the worm gear 553 through the worm 551, ensuring a uniform and stable force applied to the drone's solid-state battery 200. During installation, the worm 551 can be controlled to rotate to a preset position. During charging, due to the limitation imposed by the worm 551, the worm gear 553 will not rotate arbitrarily, resulting in excellent stability.

[0019] In this embodiment, there is one worm gear 551 and two worm wheels 553. The two worm wheels 553 are arranged side-by-side with a gap in the first accommodating space 501 and are movably connected to the worm gear 551 and the battery holder 51. The two worm wheels 553 can make the force applied to the UAV solid-state battery 200 more uniform. It should be noted that the number of worm wheels 553 can also be two or more to increase the area of ​​pressure application, depending on the specific structural settings, and no further limitation is made here. Of course, the number of worm gears 551 can also be one or more. The spaced-apart worm gears 551 can allow multiple worm wheels 553 to not only be arranged side-by-side under one worm gear 551, but also to be arranged laterally, making the applied pressure more uniform.

[0020] Please continue to refer to the reference. Figure 5 and Figure 6In this embodiment, the worm gear 553 includes a main body 5531, a toothed portion 5533, a rotating shaft 5535, and a pressing portion 5537. The toothed portion 5533 is disposed on the periphery of the main body 5531 relative to the worm 551. The rotating shaft 5535 is disposed on both sides of the main body 5531 and is movably connected to the battery holder 51, ensuring that the worm gear 553 can rotate relative to the battery holder 51. The pressing portion 5537 is disposed on the periphery of the main body 5531 near the battery holder 51 relative to the toothed portion 5533. The main body 5531, through the rotating shaft 5535, enables the worm gear 553 to rotate relative to the battery holder 51, causing the pressing portion 5537 to move from the second accommodating space 503 toward or away from the first accommodating space 501 following the rotation of the main body 5531, thereby adjusting the pressure applied to the UAV battery 200. The main body 5531, the toothed part 5533, the rotating shaft 5535 and the pressing part 5537 cooperate with each other to effectively convert the force of the worm gear 551 rotation into pressure applied vertically to the fixed battery 200 of the UAV. The structure is ingeniously designed and relatively labor-saving.

[0021] To save on processing costs, the toothed portion 5533 is disposed in a predetermined area around the main body portion 5531, and the placement of this predetermined area is related to the placement of the pressing portion 5537. Specifically, the arc of the toothed portion 5533 relative to the center of the main body portion 5531 is greater than or equal to the arc of the pressing portion 5537 relative to the center of the main body portion 5531, and both are located at the central ends of the main body portion 5531. Further explanation is provided in conjunction with the working principle of the UAV solid-state battery pressurization charger 100:

[0022] During the installation of the drone solid-state battery 200, the worm 551 and the worm wheel 553 mesh at one end of the toothed portion 5533; during the pressing stage, the pressing portion 5537 gradually increases the force from being unloaded. When the point of the pressing portion 5537 furthest from the center of the main body 5531 is subjected to pressure and the force reaches its maximum, the worm 551 and the worm wheel 553 mesh at the other end of the toothed portion 5533.

[0023] Of course, under normal circumstances, a slightly larger number of the meshing teeth 5533 will be provided to reserve a certain range to protect the main body 5531. That is, the arc of the meshing teeth 5533 relative to the center of the main body 5531 is slightly larger than the arc of the pressing part 5537 relative to the center of the main body 5531. This not only enables effective force transmission but also saves processing costs.

[0024] In this embodiment, the crimping part 5537 is separately disposed from the main body part 5531. The crimping part 5537 is separately installed on the periphery of the main body part 5531 near the battery holder 51. The crimping part 5537 protrudes from the main body part 5531 and can be used to apply pressure. After long-term use, the crimping part 5537 is prone to wear. At this time, the crimping part 5537 can be replaced separately without replacing the entire worm gear 553, thus saving maintenance costs. The crimping part 5537 is configured as a roller structure and is embedded in the periphery of the main body 5531 near the battery holder 51. The crimping part 5537 can rotate relative to the main body 5531. During the pressing stage, the axis of the crimping part 5537 rotates with the main body 5531, but the force point of the crimping part 5537 remains unchanged. The rotation of the crimping part 5537 relative to the main body 5531 reduces the frictional force on the crimping part 5537. This not only protects the crimping part 5537 but also reduces the resistance encountered when the worm gear 551 rotates. Correspondingly, the force required to control the rotation of the worm gear is also reduced, making it easier to control.

[0025] The worm gear 553 also includes a limiting part 5539, which is a protruding structure located on the periphery of the main body 5531. The meshing part 5533, the pressing part 5537, and the limiting part 5539 are spaced apart from each other. The limiting part 5539 cooperates with the mounting base 53 to limit the transmission position between the worm 551 and the worm gear 553. The installation position of the limiting part 5539 is related to the positions of the meshing part 5533 and the pressing part 5538. Continuing with the working principle of the UAV solid-state battery pressurization charger 100, further explanation follows:

[0026] During the depressurization phase, the meshing position of the worm 551 and the worm wheel 553 slowly returns to its initial position until the pressing part 5537 is no longer under pressure. The drone solid-state battery 200 is then removed. At this point, the limiting part 5539 abuts against the mounting base 53. The limiting part 5539 effectively restricts the worm wheel 553 from continuing to rotate, preventing the worm 551 from driving the worm wheel 553 to continue rotating, which could cause the meshing part to disengage from the worm 551. This protects the overall structure and allows for continued use, increasing the overall stability and reliability of the transmission assembly 55.

[0027] To further ensure that the thickness of the drone solid-state battery 200 does not change during charging, in this embodiment, the transmission assembly 55 is further provided with a partition 557 and a slide bar 559. The partition 557 is disposed in the second accommodating space 503 and is located between the worm gear 553 and the drone solid-state battery 200. The slide bar 559 passes through the mounting base 53 and the battery rack 51 and is connected to the partition 557. The worm gear 551 controls the rotation of the worm gear 553, thereby pushing the partition 557 to move relative to the battery rack 51.

[0028] The partition 557 and the drone solid-state battery 200 are disposed together in the second accommodating space 503. During the pressing phase, the worm gear 553 pushes the partition 557 to abut against the drone solid-state battery 200, working in conjunction with the three sides 11 of the battery holder 51 to restrict the position of the drone solid-state battery 200. During the depressurization phase, the slide bar 559 drives the partition 557 back to its initial position. The partition 557 ensures full contact with the drone solid-state battery 200, guaranteeing that every position on the drone solid-state battery 200 is subjected to pressure, preventing localized thickening.

[0029] To ensure the partition 557 returns to its initial position, a spring device can be added to the slide rod 559. When the partition 557 is under pressure, the slide rod 559 slides downwards, compressing the spring device. When the partition 557 is no longer under pressure, the slide rod 559 is subjected to the elastic force of the spring device, causing the partition 557 to return to its initial position. It should be noted that the slide rod 559 and the partition 557 can also return to their initial positions in other ways, such as by electrically or manually controlling the slide rod 559, or by providing a connection point on the worm gear 553, which is elastically connected to the partition 557. The rotation of the worm gear 553 causes the position of the connection point to change, thereby pulling the partition 557 back to its initial position. No further limitations are imposed here. By configuring the slide rod 559 and the partition to cooperate, the position of the partition 557 will not deviate during movement, ensuring complete contact with the drone's battery 200 during each installation, resulting in good positioning and convenient, effortless restoration.

[0030] In this embodiment, the transmission assembly 55 further includes reinforcing ribs 559, which are parallel to and spaced apart from the worm gear 551 on the mounting base 53. To facilitate the layout of the worm gear 551 and the worm wheel 553, the mounting base 53 has first mounting portions 505 on both sides, with the worm gear 551 positioned between these first mounting portions 505. During the rotation of the worm gear 551 and the worm wheel 553, the first mounting portions 505 are subjected to torque and forces parallel to the direction of the worm gear 551, especially during the clamping stage where the force gradually increases. Repeated use can easily damage the first mounting portions 505, necessitating replacement of the mounting base 53, which is costly. Installing the reinforcing ribs 559 at a position where the first mounting portions 505 are parallel to the worm gear 551 effectively fixes the positions of the first mounting portions 505 on both sides, preventing them from moving too close or too far apart, balancing the parallel forces, protecting the first mounting portions 505, extending the structural lifespan, and saving costs.

[0031] To further ensure the charging safety of the drone solid-state battery 200, the storage unit 5 is equipped with an electrical connection controller 57, which is electrically connected to the circuit board 3 and is used to control the charging status of the drone solid-state battery 200.

[0032] In this embodiment, the electrical connection controller 57 includes a first terminal 571 and a second terminal 573. The first terminal 571 is disposed on the mounting base 53, and the second terminal 573 is disposed on the side of the worm gear 553 opposite to the first terminal 571. The worm 551 controls the rotation of the worm gear 553, thereby controlling the connection state between the first terminal 571 and the second terminal 573.

[0033] During the clamping phase, as the worm gear 553 rotates to the clamping position, it drives the second terminal 573 to move towards the first terminal 571 until the first terminal 571 contacts the second terminal 573. At this point, the worm gear 553 has rotated to the preset clamping position. The first terminal 571 and the second terminal 573 cooperate with each other to act as a charging switch. After they are connected, current is conducted, and the drone solid-state battery 200 can begin charging.

[0034] During the depressurization phase, the first terminal 571 separates from the second terminal 573, and the drone solid-state battery 200 cannot be charged.

[0035] This configuration ensures that the drone solid-state battery 200 is installed and fixed by the battery holder 51 and the transmission component 55 before charging begins, making it safer and more reliable. Furthermore, the configuration of the first terminal 571 and the second terminal 573 reduces the steps of manually controlling the charging switch, enabling automatic switching, which is more convenient.

[0036] To control the worm gear 551, the storage unit 5 further includes a transmission controller 59, which is connected to the worm gear 551 and controls its rotation. The transmission controller 59 can control the rotation of the worm gear 551 electrically, such as with existing motors; or it can be a manual knob for manual control of the worm gear 551's rotation. The transmission controller 59 primarily provides the power for the rotation of the worm gear 551, and no further limitations are specified here.

[0037] In this embodiment, the housing 1 includes a first opening 101 and a second opening 102. The first opening 101 is disposed opposite to the battery rack 51, and the first accommodating space 501 communicates with the outside through the first opening 101. The UAV solid-state battery 200 can be placed into the first accommodating space 501 through the first opening 101. The second opening 102 is disposed opposite to the worm gear 551, and the transmission controller 59 is connected to the worm gear 551 through the second opening 102 for user control.

[0038] The working principle of the drone solid-state battery pressurization charger 100 mainly includes four stages: installation, pressing, charging, and depressurization, which cycle with each charging of the drone solid-state battery 200. These four stages rely solely on the cooperation of the worm gear 551 and the worm wheel 553, and are effectively varied using the battery holder 51 and the mounting base 53. The overall design is simple and ingenious, small in size, easy to control, and stable.

[0039] Compared to existing technologies, the drone solid-state battery pressurizing charger 100 connects the second accommodating space 503 within the mounting base 53 to the first accommodating space 501 within the battery rack 51 by setting up the mounting base 53 and the transmission component 55. Then, the transmission component 55 is controlled to partially extend out of the second accommodating space 503 and move towards the first accommodating space 501, thereby pressurizing and fixing the drone solid-state battery 200. This design ensures that during charging, the drone solid-state battery 200 is subjected to pressure from both the battery rack 51 and the transmission component 55, effectively limiting the range of lithium-ion activity and preventing reversible bulging deformation. After charging, the drone solid-state battery 200 can be installed smoothly without irreversible deformation, increasing its lifespan. Furthermore, the energy density of a solid-state battery maintaining its original volume is significantly higher than that of a bulging solid-state battery, allowing for extended flight time when used in drones.

[0040] The transmission component 55 transmits force through the worm gear 553 and the worm 551, converting rotational torque into downward force. This results in a simple and effective overall structure for the drone solid-state battery pressurization charger 100, saving space in the storage unit 5. The worm gear 553, through the interlocking main body 5531, the meshing tooth 5533, the rotating shaft 5535, the pressing part 5537, and the limiting part 5539, not only safely and reliably transmits the force of the worm 551 and effectively limits rotational movement, but also minimizes component manufacturing costs.

[0041] The partition 557 and the slide bar 559, working in conjunction with the worm gear 553, apply pressure more evenly to the drone solid-state battery 200. The electrical connection controller 57, in conjunction with the worm gear 553, improves the overall safety of the drone solid-state battery pressurizer 100, effectively ensuring that the drone solid-state battery 200 does not bulge during charging. The worm gear 553 not only transmits force but also functions as a safety switch for the drone solid-state battery pressurizer 100. This multi-functional design cleverly reduces unnecessary structures, lowers production costs, and has significant economic value.

[0042] Meanwhile, the drone solid-state battery pressurization charger 100 provided by this invention eliminates the need for any additional fixed pressurization structure for the drone solid-state battery 200, fully leveraging the volumetric energy density of lithium metal solid-state batteries. This enables the significant application value of doubling the range of existing drones. Based on this, lithium metal solid-state batteries can be widely used in drones, successfully combining the two technologies to achieve rapid popularization of lithium metal solid-state batteries in the drone industry, promoting the upgrading of the drone industry, and enabling drones to be used in more fields while comprehensively improving their range.

[0043] The above description is merely an embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make improvements without departing from the inventive concept of the present invention, but these improvements all fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A drone solid-state battery pressurization charger for charging drone solid-state batteries, characterized in that, include: case; A circuit board, which is disposed inside the housing, has a power input terminal for supplying power; and a storage unit, wherein the storage unit is disposed relative to the circuit board, and includes: The battery rack has a first accommodating space for storing solid-state batteries; The mounting base is fixedly connected to the battery holder and has a second accommodating space that communicates with the first accommodating space; and A transmission assembly is disposed on the mounting base, with a portion of the transmission assembly extending out of the second accommodating space and moving towards the first accommodating space to pressurize and fix the UAV solid-state battery; The transmission assembly includes: The worm gear is disposed on the mounting base; The worm gear is movably connected to both the worm and the battery holder, and the worm gear has an eccentric structure. The rotation of the worm causes the worm gear to rotate relative to the battery holder. A partition, wherein the partition is disposed in the second accommodating space and located between the worm gear and the drone solid-state battery; and A sliding rod passes through the mounting base and the battery rack, and is connected to the partition plate. The worm gear controls the rotation of the worm wheel, thereby pushing the partition plate to move relative to the battery rack. The worm gear includes: Main body; A toothed portion, which is disposed on the periphery of the main body relative to the worm; The rotating shafts are located on both sides of the main body and are movably connected to the battery holder; and A crimping portion is provided on the periphery of the main body near the battery holder, opposite to the toothed portion. The crimping portion is integrally formed with the main body or separately. When separately formed, the crimping portion is configured as a roller structure that rotates relative to the main body.

2. The drone solid-state battery pressurization charger according to claim 1, characterized in that, The number of worm gears is two or more, arranged side by side at intervals in the first accommodating space, and movably connected to the worm and the battery rack.

3. The drone solid-state battery pressurization charger according to claim 1, characterized in that, The worm gear also includes a limiting part, which is a protruding structure that cooperates with the mounting base to limit the position of the transmission between the worm and the worm gear.

4. The drone solid-state battery pressurization charger according to claim 2, characterized in that, The transmission assembly also includes reinforcing ribs, which are parallel to and spaced apart from the worm gear on the mounting base.

5. The drone solid-state battery pressurization charger according to claim 2, characterized in that, The storage unit includes an electrical connection controller, which is electrically connected to the circuit board and used to control the charging status of the drone's solid-state battery. The electrical connection controller includes: A first terminal, wherein the first terminal is disposed on the mounting base; and The second terminal is disposed on the side of the worm gear opposite to the first terminal. The worm gear controls the rotation of the worm gear, thereby controlling the connection state between the first terminal and the second terminal.

6. The drone solid-state battery pressurization charger according to claim 2, characterized in that, The storage unit also includes a transmission controller, which is connected to the worm gear and controls the rotation of the worm gear.

7. The drone solid-state battery pressurization charger according to claim 6, characterized in that, The housing includes: A first opening, positioned relative to the battery holder, and a first accommodating space communicating with the outside through the first opening; and A second opening is provided opposite to the worm gear, and the transmission controller is connected to the worm gear through the second opening.

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