Battery rack, battery swap station or energy storage station

Abstract

The invention discloses a battery rack and a battery replacing station or an energy storage station, the battery rack comprises a rack body used for placing a battery, the rack body is provided with a connecting device used for connecting the battery, the connecting device comprises a transmission mechanism, the transmission mechanism comprises a fixed end fixed on the rack body, a moving end connected with a connector, and a moving point connected with a driving mechanism, the driving mechanism is connected with the frame body by driving the mounting frame and drives the movable point to move in the first direction, so that the transmission mechanism drives the connector to move in the second direction connected with or away from the battery; the transmission mechanism is a connecting rod, one end of the connecting rod is a fixed end, the other end is an acting end, and a hinge point of the connecting rod is a movable point; the driving mechanism comprises a power source and a driving rod, the power source drives the driving rod to move, and the driving rod is connected to the hinge point of the connecting rod. The driving mechanism acts on the movable point of the connecting rod to drive the connecting rod to be bent, the linear distance between the fixed end and the acting end is shortened, and the connector and the driving mechanism have different movement paths.

Description

[0001] This application is a division of a Chinese invention patent with an application date of December 2, 2021, application number 202111460190.1, and name “Battery rack, battery swap station or energy storage station”. Technical Field

[0002] The present application relates to the field of battery replacement, and in particular to a battery rack, a battery replacement station or an energy storage station. Background Art

[0003] As new energy vehicles become more and more popular, battery swap technology provides a solution to the endurance problem of electric vehicles. The existing battery swap technology is centered on a battery rack for charging batteries. When in use, the battery is moved into the battery rack, and the connector drive assembly drives the connector to connect to the battery to charge the battery.

[0004] However, the existing battery racks have the following defects:

[0005] In existing battery racks, the driving mechanism of the connector generally drives the connector directly in the direction of movement of the connector, and a large amount of space needs to be reserved for the movement of the connector and the driving mechanism. Therefore, additional accommodation space needs to be reserved in the battery rack, the location of the connector is also subject to corresponding restrictions, and the volume of the battery rack is increased, which increases the cost. Summary of the invention

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to overcome the defect of the prior art that it occupies a large space and to provide a battery rack, a battery swap station or an energy storage station.

[0007] The present invention solves the above technical problems through the following technical solutions:

[0008] A battery rack, comprising a frame for placing batteries, characterized in that: a connecting device for connecting the batteries is provided on the frame, the connecting device comprises a transmission mechanism, the transmission mechanism comprises a fixed end fixed to the frame, an actuating end connected to a connector, and an active point connected to a driving mechanism, the driving mechanism is connected to the frame by a driving mounting frame, the driving mechanism can drive the active point to move along a first direction, so that the transmission mechanism can drive the connector to move along a second direction connected to or away from the battery;

[0009] The transmission mechanism is a connecting rod, one end of the connecting rod is the fixed end, the other end is the active end, the hinge point of the connecting rod is the active point, and the driving mechanism includes a power source and a driving rod. The power source drives the driving rod to move, and the driving rod is connected to the hinge point of the connecting rod.

[0010] In this solution, the driving mechanism acts on the active point of the connecting rod to drive the connecting rod to bend, thereby shortening the straight-line distance between the fixed end and the moving end, so that the connector and the driving mechanism have different movement paths. The power source can drive the driving rod to telescopically move, and the driving rod acts on the hinge point of the connecting rod to drive the connecting rod to bend.

[0011] Preferably, the first direction is not parallel to the second direction.

[0012] In this solution, by setting the running paths of the driving mechanism and the actuating end in two different directions, at least one of the width, length and height occupied by the connecting device can be shortened, thereby reducing the volume occupied by the battery rack and improving the flexibility of the connector setting.

[0013] Preferably, the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction.

[0014] In this solution, a vertically-steering driving structure is adopted, which can reduce the volume occupied by the connecting device to the greatest extent.

[0015] Preferably, the connecting rod includes a first rod body and a second rod body, the non-connecting end of the first rod body is the fixed end, the non-connecting end of the second rod body is the actuating end, the first rod body and the second rod body are respectively provided with a first pin hole and a second pin hole, the driving rod is provided with a connecting portion, the connecting portion is provided with a third pin hole, and the first pin hole, the second pin hole and the third pin hole are hinged at the hinge point through a first pin shaft.

[0016] In this solution, an articulated connection is achieved among the first rod body, the second rod body and the driving rod.

[0017] Preferably, the power source is at least one of a cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder or a motor.

[0018] Preferably, the connecting device includes a bracket connected to the frame body, a first connecting frame is also provided on the bracket, a fourth pin hole is provided at the non-connecting end of the first rod body, a fifth pin hole is provided on the first connecting frame, and the fourth pin hole and the fifth pin hole are hingedly connected by a second pin shaft.

[0019] In this solution, the first rod body can be fixed to the frame body through the bracket, so that the non-connected end of the first rod body becomes a relatively fixed end.

[0020] Preferably, the actuating end is connected to the connector via a second connecting frame, a sixth pin hole is provided at the non-connecting end of the second rod body, a seventh pin hole is provided on the second connecting frame, and the sixth pin hole and the seventh pin hole are hingedly connected via a third pin shaft.

[0021] In this solution, a hinged connection between the second rod body and the connector is achieved.

[0022] Preferably, the moving path of the active point includes a first limit position, and when the active point reaches the first limit position, the connector is located at a connection position with the battery.

[0023] In this solution, by providing a first limiting mechanism, the moving path of the active point is limited to the first limiting position connected to the battery, thereby preventing the connector from moving too far and causing damage to the battery or the connector.

[0024] Preferably, the active point reaches the first limit position after passing the dead point position of the connecting rod, and the first limit position is close to the dead point position, and the dead point position corresponds to the position where the first rod body and the second rod body are collinear.

[0025] In this solution, since the first limit position is close to the dead point, the connector can maintain a stable position at the first limit position through the connecting rod without retreating, and the driving mechanism does not need to continuously apply force to keep the connector connected to the battery, thereby reducing the loss of the driving mechanism, increasing the overall service life, reducing energy consumption, and improving the reliability of the entire system.

[0026] Preferably, when the active point reaches the first limit position, an angle between the first rod body and the second rod body is 177°-179°.

[0027] In this solution, the angle between the first rod body and the second rod body is close to 180°, which can ensure that the active point can be restricted by the dead point position when it is in the first limit position, and prevent the first limit position from being too far away from the dead point position, resulting in an increase in the power consumption of the driving mechanism when the connector is separated from the battery.

[0028] Preferably, the moving path of the active point includes a second limit position, and when the active point reaches the second limit position, the connector is located at a separation position from the battery.

[0029] In this solution, by limiting the connector at the second limit position, it is possible to avoid damage to the connecting rod due to excessive movement, and it is also possible to prevent the separation position of the connector from being too far away from the battery, thereby reducing the battery replacement efficiency.

[0030] Preferably, the connector includes a mounting seat and a connecting head, the connecting head is fixedly arranged on the mounting seat, and the mounting seat is rotatably connected to the second rod body.

[0031] In this solution, modularization of the connecting device is achieved by providing a mounting seat, which is beneficial to reducing production costs and improving compatibility and flexibility.

[0032] Preferably, a connecting frame is further provided on the mounting seat, a sixth pin hole is provided at the non-connecting end of the second rod body, a seventh pin hole is provided on the connecting frame, and the sixth pin hole and the seventh pin hole are hingedly connected via a third pin shaft.

[0033] In this solution, hinged fixation between the second rod body and the connector is achieved.

[0034] Preferably, the connecting device further comprises a guide assembly, the guide assembly comprises a guide portion and a mating portion, the guide portion is arranged on the bracket, the mating portion is arranged on the mounting seat, and the guide portion and the mating portion cooperate to limit the moving direction of the connector.

[0035] In this solution, the restraining effect of the guide assembly enables the connector to move along a predetermined moving direction, thereby enabling more accurate docking with the battery.

[0036] Preferably, the guiding portion includes a guide rail, the matching portion includes a slider, and the mounting seat and the bracket are slidably connected via the guide rail and the slider.

[0037] In this solution, the sliding guide of the mounting seat is achieved by sliding the slider on the guide rail.

[0038] Preferably, the battery can extend into the frame along a third direction, and the connecting device is arranged on one side of the battery moving path.

[0039] In this solution, by arranging the connecting device on one side of the battery, the volume occupied by the battery rack in the direction of battery movement can be reduced, and the overall layout of the battery rack can be made more reasonable.

[0040] Preferably, the first direction is parallel to the third direction, and the second direction is perpendicular to the plane where the battery is located.

[0041] In this solution, the drive mechanism is arranged to move along the battery moving direction, which can reduce the volume occupied by the battery rack in the direction perpendicular to the battery moving direction when the drive mechanism moves. The connector is arranged to move in the vertical direction, which can further reduce the volume occupied by the battery rack on the plane where the battery is located, making the volume of the battery rack more compact.

[0042] Preferably, the first direction is parallel to the third direction, and the second direction is parallel to the plane where the battery is located and perpendicular to the third direction.

[0043] In this solution, the drive mechanism is arranged to move along the battery moving direction, which can reduce the volume occupied by the battery rack in the direction perpendicular to the battery moving direction when the drive mechanism moves. The connector is arranged to slide along the second direction, which can reduce the volume occupied by the battery rack in the height direction, thereby making the battery rack more compact.

[0044] Preferably, the connector is an electrical connector, one end of which is used to be electrically connected to the battery, and the other end of which is electrically connected to the power supply system through a power supply line.

[0045] In this solution, the battery can be powered by an electrical connector.

[0046] Preferably, the connecting device further comprises a wire support plate, wherein the wire support plate is arranged on the mounting seat, and the wire support plate is used for carrying the power supply line.

[0047] In this solution, the wire harness is accommodated by the wire support plate, so that the wires can be arranged more neatly and orderly, and the power supply wires can be prevented from moving or getting tangled during use, causing malfunctions.

[0048] Preferably, the connector is a liquid cooling connector, one end of which is used for liquid cooling connection with the battery, and the other end of which is connected to the cooling system through a liquid cooling pipe.

[0049] In this solution, the charging battery can be cooled through the liquid cooling connector.

[0050] Preferably, the liquid cooling pipe includes a liquid inlet pipe and a liquid outlet pipe, and the liquid cooling connector includes a liquid inlet connected to the liquid inlet pipe and a liquid outlet connected to the liquid outlet pipe; the coolant enters the battery through the liquid inlet pipe and the liquid inlet, and then returns to the cooling system from the battery through the liquid outlet and the liquid outlet pipe.

[0051] In this solution, the coolant enters the cooling circuit of the battery through the liquid inlet pipe to cool the battery, and the heated coolant returns to the cooling system through the liquid outlet pipe, thereby taking out the heat in the battery.

[0052] Preferably, the connecting device further comprises a pipe rack, the pipe rack is arranged on the mounting seat, and the pipe rack is used to fix the liquid cooling pipe.

[0053] In this solution, the pipe rack can be used to constrain the cooling pipes, making the pipe routing more orderly and preventing the pipes from moving or getting tangled when the connector is running, causing leakage, blockage and other faults.

[0054] Preferably, the battery rack comprises multiple layers of support plates arranged at intervals in a vertical direction, the support plates are used to place batteries, and the connecting device is correspondingly provided at each layer of the support plates.

[0055] In this solution, by providing a multi-layer support plate, multiple batteries can be charged simultaneously, with a higher effect and a more compact structure.

[0056] Preferably, the connecting device comprises a first connecting device having an electrical connecting head and a second connecting device having a liquid cooling connecting head, and the first connecting device and the second connecting device are respectively arranged on both sides of the support plate.

[0057] In this solution, the battery can be charged and cooled at the same time.

[0058] Preferably, the drive mounting frame is arranged vertically, and the drive mechanisms on the plurality of connecting devices are all connected to the drive mounting frame.

[0059] A battery swap station or energy storage station, comprising a battery rack as described in any one of the above.

[0060] The positive and progressive effects of the present invention are:

[0061] The driving mechanism acts on the active point of the connecting rod to drive the connecting rod to bend, thereby shortening the straight-line distance between the fixed end and the moving end, so that the connector and the driving mechanism have different movement paths. The power source can drive the driving rod to telescopically move, and the driving rod acts on the hinge point of the connecting rod to drive the connecting rod to bend, thereby reducing the overall volume of the battery rack and achieving higher space utilization. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0062] Figure 1 It is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0063] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A partial enlarged schematic diagram of part A;

[0064] Figure 3 A schematic side view of a connecting device in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0065] Figure 4 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a connecting device in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0066] Figure 5 is another side view schematic diagram of a connecting device in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0067] Figure 6 is another three-dimensional schematic diagram of an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0068] Figure 7 Schematic diagram of a three-dimensional liquid cooling connector in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0069] Description of reference numerals:

[0070] Battery rack 10

[0071] Frame 11

[0072] Pallet 12

[0073] Drive mounting bracket 13

[0074] Connecting device 20

[0075] Bracket 21

[0076] First connecting frame 22

[0077] Fifth pin hole 23

[0078] Second pin 24

[0079] Second connecting frame 25

[0080] The third direction 30

[0081] First connecting device 40

[0082] Second connecting device 50

[0083] Transmission mechanism 100

[0084] First Direction 110

[0085] Second direction 120

[0086] The first rod body 130

[0087] First pin hole 131

[0088] Fourth pin hole 132

[0089] The second rod body 140

[0090] Second pin hole 141

[0091] Sixth pin hole 142

[0092] The third pin 143

[0093] The first limiting mechanism 150

[0094] Limit bracket 151

[0095] Limit bolt 152

[0096] The second limiting mechanism 160

[0097] Connector 200

[0098] Mounting Block 210

[0099] Connecting frame 211

[0100] Seventh pin hole 212

[0101] Connector 220

[0102] Electrical connector 230

[0103] Connector 231

[0104] Power supply line 232

[0105] Liquid cooling connector 240

[0106] Pipe interface 241

[0107] Liquid cooling tube 242

[0108] Pipe rack 243

[0109] Driving mechanism 300

[0110] Power Source 310

[0111] Drive rod 320

[0112] The third pin hole 321

[0113] First pin 322

[0114] Guide assembly 400

[0115] Guide Rail 410

[0116] Slider 420 DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0117] A preferred embodiment is given below, and the present invention is described more clearly and completely in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0118] Example 1

[0119] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the present invention provides a battery rack 10, including a frame body 11, which is composed of four rectangularly distributed columns, a plurality of cross bars for connecting the columns, and a support plate 12 arranged in a square space surrounded by the columns, and the support plate 12 is used to place batteries.

[0120] The frame 11 is provided with a connecting device 20 for connecting the battery, and the connecting device 20 includes a transmission mechanism 100, a connector 200 and a driving mechanism 300. The transmission mechanism 100 has a fixed end fixedly hinged to the frame 11, a moving end connected to the connector 200, and a moving point connected to the driving mechanism 300. The driving mechanism 300 is connected to the frame 11 through the driving mounting frame 13.

[0121] During operation, the driving mechanism 300 can drive the active point to move along the first direction 110 , so that the transmission mechanism 100 can drive the connector 200 to move along the second direction 120 connected to or away from the battery. The first direction 110 and the second direction 120 are not parallel.

[0122] The transmission mechanism 100 enables the driving mechanism 300 and the connector 200 to have different movement directions. Compared with the existing connection device 20 in which the connector 200 and the driving mechanism 300 are on the same axis, at least one of the width, length and height of the space occupied by the connection device 20 can be shortened, thereby reducing the volume occupied by the connection device 20 and improving the flexibility of setting the connection device 20. Therefore, when the connection device 20 is applied to the battery rack 10, it can reduce the overall volume of the battery rack 10 and make the structure more compact.

[0123] Combination Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 In this embodiment, the first direction 110 is perpendicular to the second direction 120. With such a structure, the volume occupied by the connecting device 20 can be reduced to the maximum extent. Of course, the present invention is not limited to making the first direction 110 and the second direction 120 perpendicular. In other embodiments, the first direction 110 and the second direction 120 may also have other angles between 0° and 180°. This can also reduce the overall volume occupied to a certain extent.

[0124] In this embodiment, the driving mechanism 300 includes a power source 310 and a driving rod 320 . The power source 310 is used to drive the driving rod 320 to move back and forth along the first direction 110 . The driving rod 320 is connected to the active point, thereby being able to drive the active point to move along the first direction 110 .

[0125] In the present embodiment, the power source 310 may be at least one of a cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder or a motor. When the power source 310 is a cylinder, the drive rod 320 may be a piston rod that can be telescopic relative to the cylinder barrel of the cylinder. When the power source 310 is a hydraulic cylinder, the drive rod 320 may be a piston rod that can be telescopic relative to the cylinder barrel of the hydraulic cylinder. When the power source 310 is a motor, the drive rod 320 may have a rack that meshes with a gear connected to a motor shaft, and the rotation of the motor is converted into a telescopic motion of the drive rod 320 through the rack. Of course, the motor may also be a linear motor that directly drives the drive rod 320 to telescopically move.

[0126] In this embodiment, the transmission mechanism 100 is a connecting rod, one end of which is a fixed end, the other end is an actuating end, and the hinge point of the connecting rod is an active point. When in use, the driving rod 320 acts on the active point to bend the connecting rod. As a result, the distance between the fixed end and the actuating end of the connecting rod is shortened, driving the connector 200 connected to the actuating end to move in the direction of the fixed end (i.e., the second direction 120). At this time, the driving mechanism 300 moves along the first direction 110 that deviates from the line connecting the fixed end and the actuating end. Since the second direction 120 moves along the line connecting the fixed end and the actuating end, and the first direction 110 moves along the direction deviating from the line connecting the fixed end and the actuating end, the effect of making the first direction 110 and the second direction 120 non-parallel to each other is achieved.

[0127] Obviously, the present invention is not limited to the above structure. For a connecting rod with multiple hinge points (such as a three-link structure), the active point can also be set on the rod body between the multiple hinge points.

[0128] In other optional embodiments, the transmission mechanism 100 can also be a rope assembly, one end of which is a fixed end and the other end is a moving end, and the connection point between the drive mechanism 300 and the rope assembly is an active point. During operation, the drive mechanism 300 acts on the active point to shorten the straight-line distance between the fixed end and the moving end, so that the moving end moves toward the direction close to the fixed end. Thereby, the connector 200 connected to the moving end can have a different movement direction from the drive mechanism 300. More preferably, a movable pulley can also be wound around the rope assembly, and the movable pulley is connected to the drive mechanism 300, and the movable pulley constitutes an active point. The above structure can make the rope assembly smoother to use.

[0129] In this embodiment, the connecting rod is a double connecting rod arranged in the vertical direction (i.e., the second direction 120), which includes a first rod body 130 and a second rod body 140. The non-connecting end of the first rod body 130 (i.e., the upper end of the first rod body 130) is rotatably connected to a relatively fixed position on the frame body 11, thereby forming the fixed end. The non-connecting end of the second rod body 140 (i.e., the lower end of the second rod body 140) is the moving end. A first pin hole 131 is provided on the connecting end of the first rod body 130 (i.e., the lower end of the first rod body 130). A second pin hole 141 is provided on the connecting end of the second rod body 140 (i.e., the upper end of the second rod body 140). The end of the driving rod 320 is provided with a connecting portion, and a third pin hole 321 is provided on the connecting portion. The first pin hole 131, the second pin hole 141 and the third pin hole 321 are hinged at the hinge point through a first pin shaft 322. Thereby, an articulated connection between the connecting rod and the driving rod 320 is achieved.

[0130] In this embodiment, the connecting device 20 further includes a bracket 21 connected to the frame 11, and the bracket 21 may include a vertical plate with a hollow middle portion. The four corners of the vertical plate are provided with bolts for fixedly connecting with the frame 11, and the fixed connection with the frame 11 is achieved through the bolts.

[0131] The transmission mechanism 100 is arranged on one side of the bracket 21, and a first connecting frame 22 is arranged above the opening of the bracket 21. A fifth pin hole 23 is provided on the first connecting frame 22, and a fourth pin hole 132 is provided on the non-connecting end (i.e., the upper end) of the first rod body 130. The fourth pin hole 132 and the fifth pin hole 23 are hingedly connected by a second pin shaft 24.

[0132] Thus, the first rod 130 can be relatively rotatably fixed to the frame 11 through the bracket 21 , so that the non-connected end of the first rod 130 becomes a relatively fixed end.

[0133] The connector 200 is correspondingly arranged on the other side of the bracket 21, that is, the side opposite to the direction of the transmission mechanism 100, and is connected to the working end of the transmission mechanism 100 (that is, the non-connected end of the second rod body 140) through the second connecting frame 25 passing through the opening in the middle of the bracket 21. The second connecting frame 25 is provided with a seventh pin hole 212, and the non-connected end of the second rod body 140 is provided with a sixth pin hole 142, and the sixth pin hole 142 and the seventh pin hole 212 are hingedly connected through a third pin shaft 143.

[0134] Thus, a hinged connection between the second rod body 140 and the connector 200 is achieved.

[0135] In this embodiment, the movable path of the connecting rod further includes a first limit position. When the movable point reaches the first limit position, the connector 200 is located at a connection position with the battery.

[0136] By limiting the moving path of the active point to the first limit position connected to the battery, it is possible to prevent the connector 200 from moving beyond the limit and causing damage to the battery or the connector 200.

[0137] When the driving mechanism 300 drives the connecting rod to drive the connector 200 to move to the position connected with the battery, in order to keep the connector 200 connected with the battery, the driving mechanism 300 needs to provide a driving force for the connector 200 at all times, which increases energy loss.

[0138] To solve the above problem, the active point reaches a first limit position after passing through the dead point of the connecting rod. The first limit position is close to the dead point, which corresponds to the position where the first rod body 130 and the second rod body 140 are collinear.

[0139] Since the first limit position is close to the dead point position, when the active point is at the first limit position, even if the connector 200 is subjected to external force, the active point can still be restricted by the dead point position, and the force on the connector 200 will hardly be transmitted to the drive mechanism 300. The drive mechanism 300 can maintain the first limit position of the active point only by its own internal friction without the need to continuously apply force to the active point. Therefore, the drive mechanism 300 can be closed when the active point is driven to the first limit position, thereby reducing the loss of the drive mechanism 300 and improving the reliability of the entire system.

[0140] More preferably, in this embodiment, the first limit position satisfies the following relationship: when the active point reaches the first limit position, an angle of 177°-179° is formed between the first rod body 130 and the second rod body 140 .

[0141] In this solution, the angle between the first rod body 130 and the second rod body 140 is close to 180°, which can ensure that the active point can be restricted by the dead point position when in the first limit position, and prevent the first limit position from being too far away from the dead point position, resulting in an increase in power consumption of the drive mechanism 300 when the connector 200 is separated from the battery.

[0142] In this embodiment, the moving path of the active point also includes a second limit position, and when the active point reaches the second limit position, the connector 200 is located at a position separated from the battery. By limiting the connector 200 to the second limit position, it is possible to avoid damage to the connecting rod due to excessive movement, and it is also possible to prevent the separation position of the connector 200 from being too far from the battery to reduce the battery replacement efficiency.

[0143] In this embodiment, the movable point is limited to the first limit position by the first limit mechanism 150, and the movable point is limited to the second limit position by the second limit mechanism 160. The first limit mechanism 150 and the second limit mechanism 160 have a specific consistent or identical structure, and both include a limit bracket 151 installed in a relatively fixed position and a limit bolt 152 provided on the limit bracket 151, and the end of the limit bolt 152 facing the first rod body 130 is provided with a limit seat for abutting against the first rod body 130. With such a structure, the first limit position or the second limit position can be finely adjusted by rotating the limit bolt 152, and the use flexibility is higher.

[0144] In other optional embodiments, the first limit position and the second limit position of the active point can be achieved by providing a limit component on the active path of the first rod body 130, or by providing a rotation angle limiting structure on the non-connecting end of the first rod body 130.

[0145] In this embodiment, the connector 200 includes a mounting seat 210 and a connector 220, wherein the connector 220 is fixedly disposed on the mounting seat 210, and the mounting seat 210 is rotatably connected to the second rod 140. By providing the mounting seat 210, the modularization of the connecting device 20 is achieved, which is conducive to reducing production costs and improving compatibility and flexibility.

[0146] Specifically, the mounting seat 210 is provided with a connecting frame 211, the non-connecting end of the second rod body 140 is provided with a sixth pin hole 142, the connecting frame 211 is provided with a seventh pin hole 212, and the sixth pin hole 142 and the seventh pin hole 212 are hingedly connected via a third pin shaft 143. Thus, a hinged connection between the second rod body 140 and the connector 200 is achieved.

[0147] In this embodiment, the connection device 20 further includes a guide assembly 400, which includes a guide portion and a matching portion, wherein the guide portion is correspondingly arranged on the bracket 21 on one side of the connector 200, and the matching portion is arranged on the mounting seat 210, and the matching portion cooperates with the guide portion to limit the moving direction of the connector 200 on the mounting seat 210. The moving direction of the connector 200 is constrained by the guide portion, so that the connector 200 can be more accurately docked with the battery.

[0148] Specifically, the guide portion may include a guide rail 410 extending along the second direction 120, and the matching portion includes a slider 420 with a slide groove provided on the mounting seat 210 at a position corresponding to the guide rail, and the slide groove is embedded in the guide rail 410 so that the slider 420 can slide along the guide rail 410 to achieve sliding guidance of the movement direction of the connector 200, so that the connector 200 can accurately achieve docking with the battery along the second direction 120. The number of the guide rail 410 and the slider 420 can be determined according to actual needs, and preferably two in this embodiment.

[0149] In this embodiment, the battery can be extended into the frame 11 along the third direction 30 through the battery transfer equipment in the battery swap station or energy storage station. Specifically, the pallet 12 provided in the frame 11 extends along the third direction 30 and is distributed on both sides of the frame 11. The battery extending into the frame 11 along the third direction 30 can be placed on the pallets 12 on both sides of the frame 11. The connecting device 20 is provided on one side of the battery moving path, that is, on one side of the pallet 12. By providing the connecting device 20 on one side of the battery moving path, the volume occupied by the battery rack 10 in the battery moving direction can be reduced, making the overall layout of the battery rack 10 more reasonable.

[0150] In this embodiment, the first direction 110 is parallel to the third direction 30, that is, the running direction of the drive mechanism 300 is parallel to the moving direction of the battery, and the second direction 120 is perpendicular to the plane where the battery is located, that is, the connector 200 moves in the vertical direction. Specifically, when the battery is located on the support plate 12, the connector 200 is located above the battery, and the connector 200 is connected to the battery when it is lowered, and is disconnected from the battery when it is raised. The above layout can avoid the problem of the connector 200 being disconnected from the battery due to a failure of the drive mechanism 300 when the battery is charged, thereby ensuring the normal charging process. Secondly, it can also avoid the connector 200 impacting the battery during connection, causing the battery position to change. The operation accuracy is improved and the probability of docking failure is reduced.

[0151] By arranging the drive mechanism 300 to move along the battery moving direction, the lateral space requirement of the drive mechanism 300 during movement can be reduced, and the volume occupied by the battery rack 10 in the direction perpendicular to the battery moving direction is lower than that of the existing structure, thereby reducing the overall width occupied by the battery rack 10. Arranging the connector 200 to move in the vertical direction can further reduce the space occupied by the battery rack 10 in the horizontal direction, so that the battery rack 10 can have a more compact volume.

[0152] like Figure 6 In the present invention, there are two types of connectors 220, one of which is an electrical connector 230, which includes a connector 231 and a power supply line 232. The connector 231 is arranged downward for connecting to a battery. The power supply line 232 passes through an opening in the middle of the bracket 21 and extends horizontally outward to be electrically connected to a power supply system.

[0153] During operation, the electrical connector 230 is lifted and lowered in the vertical direction under the constraint of the guide assembly 400. When the electrical connector 230 is lowered to the first limit position of the corresponding active point, the electrical connector is located at a position connected to the battery. When the electrical connector 230 is raised to the second limit position of the corresponding active point, the electrical connector 230 is located at a position separated from the battery. In this way, the battery can be charged through the electrical connector 230.

[0154] In this embodiment, the connection device 20 further includes a wire support plate 12, which is disposed on the mounting seat 210 and extends horizontally through the opening on the bracket 21 in a direction away from the mounting seat 210. Baffles are provided on both sides of the wire support plate 12. The wire support plate 12 is used to carry the power supply line 232. When in use, the power supply line 232 can be tied to the wire support plate 12 by a wire tie, or the wire tie is not used, and the power supply line 232 is constrained only by the restraining effect of the baffle.

[0155] By constraining the power supply line 232 by the line support plate 12, the wiring can be arranged more neatly, which is convenient for subsequent maintenance and repair. It can also prevent the power supply line 232 from moving or getting entangled when the connector 200 is in operation, thereby causing a malfunction.

[0156] like Figure 7 In the present invention, another connector 220 is a liquid-cooled connector 240, which includes a pipe interface 241 and a liquid cooling pipe 242. The pipe interface 241 is arranged downward for connecting to the battery. The liquid cooling pipe 242 passes through the opening in the middle of the bracket 21 and extends horizontally outward to connect to the cooling system in the battery swap station or energy storage station. When the liquid-cooled connector 240 is lowered to the corresponding active point in the first limit position, the liquid-cooled connector 240 is located in a position connected to the battery. When the liquid-cooled connector 240 is raised to the corresponding active point in the second limit position, the liquid-cooled connector 240 is located in a position separated from the battery. In this way, the battery being charged can be cooled by the liquid-cooled connector 240.

[0157] The liquid cooling pipe 242 includes a liquid inlet pipe and a liquid outlet pipe, and the pipe interface 241 includes a liquid inlet port connected to the liquid inlet pipe and a liquid outlet port connected to the liquid outlet pipe. When the pipe interface 241 is connected to the battery, the coolant of the cooling system enters the cooling circuit in the battery through the liquid inlet pipe. After flowing through the cooling circuit, the heated coolant flows through the liquid outlet port and the liquid outlet pipe and flows back to the cooling system, thereby taking out the heat of the battery through the coolant. Reduce the temperature of the battery during charging.

[0158] In this embodiment, the liquid cooling connector 240 further includes a pipe rack 243, which is disposed on the mounting seat 210, and the pipe interface 241 and the liquid cooling pipe 242 are passed through the mounting seat 210, and the pipe rack 243 and the mounting seat 210 are elastically connected in a floating manner. This prevents the pipe interface 241 from being damaged by the impact generated when the battery is connected. In addition, the pipe rack 243 can also be used to constrain the liquid cooling pipe 242, so that the pipe routing is more orderly, and prevents the pipes from getting tangled together when the connector 200 is in operation, causing leakage, blockage and other faults.

[0159] In order to enable the battery rack 10 to charge multiple batteries at the same time, preferably in this embodiment, the rack body 11 is provided with multiple layers of trays 12 arranged at intervals along the vertical direction, and each layer of trays 12 can be used to place batteries. The connecting device 20 is correspondingly provided at each layer of trays 12. By providing multiple layers of trays 12, multiple batteries can be charged at the same time, which is more efficient and has a more compact structure.

[0160] In order to charge and cool the battery at the same time, the connecting device 20 includes a first connecting device 40 having an electrical connector 230 and a second connecting device 50 having a liquid cooling connector 240. Specifically, the first connecting device 40 and the second connecting device 50 are fixed to the frame 11 and are respectively disposed at the upper side of the two side support plates 12.

[0161] The first connecting device 40 and the second connecting device 50 can be connected to the battery on the support plate 12 at the same time to realize charging and cooling of the battery.

[0162] In this embodiment, the drive mounting frame 13 is a long strip arranged in the vertical direction and is connected and fixed to the frame body 11. The drive mounting frame 13 is connected to the non-active end of the drive mechanism 300, that is, the cylinder end of the hydraulic cylinder or the cylinder, so as to provide support for the activity of the drive rod 320 of the drive mechanism 300, so that the drive rod 320 can drive the active point to move along the first direction.

[0163] The present invention also provides a battery swap station or energy storage station, comprising the battery rack 10 as described above. By adopting the above battery rack 10, the flexibility of the connector arrangement in the battery rack 10 can be improved, the space occupied by the battery rack 10 can be reduced, and the space utilization rate of the battery swap station or energy storage station can be improved.

[0164] Example 2

[0165] The structure of this embodiment is basically the same as that of the first embodiment, and the only difference is the running direction of the driving mechanism 300 and the connector 200. In this embodiment, the running direction of the driving mechanism 300 (i.e., the first direction 110) is parallel to the moving direction of the battery (i.e., the third direction 30). The running direction of the connector 200 (i.e., the second direction 120) is parallel to the plane where the battery is located and perpendicular to the moving direction of the battery (i.e., the third direction 30). (not shown in the figure)

[0166] In this embodiment, when the battery is on the support plate 12, its connection portion is located on the side surface of the battery. The drive mechanism 300 is arranged to move along the battery movement direction, which can reduce the volume occupied by the battery rack 10 in the direction perpendicular to the battery movement direction when the drive mechanism 300 moves. The connector 200 is arranged to slide along the second direction 120, which can reduce the volume occupied by the battery rack 10 in the height direction, so that more layers of support plates 12 can be arranged in the battery rack 10 of the same height, thereby increasing the battery placement density in the battery rack 10 and improving the space utilization rate in the battery swap station or energy storage station.

[0167] It is understandable that the relationship between the running direction of the drive mechanism 300 (i.e., the first direction 110), the running direction of the connector 200 (i.e., the second direction 120), and the moving direction of the battery (i.e., the third direction 30) is not limited to the description in the above embodiment. The relationship between the first direction 110, the second direction 120, and the third direction 30 can be specifically determined by the location of the connecting portion on the battery, the setting position of the connector on the battery rack, and the utilization requirements of the battery rack space. In other optional embodiments, the running direction of the drive mechanism 300 (i.e., the first direction 110) can also be perpendicular to the moving direction of the battery (i.e., the third direction 30), and the running direction of the connector 200 (i.e., the second direction 120) can also be parallel or perpendicular to the moving direction of the battery (i.e., the third direction 30) accordingly.

[0168] Although the specific embodiments of the present invention are described above, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that this is only for illustration 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 battery rack, comprising a frame for placing batteries, characterized in that: The frame is provided with a connection device for connecting the battery, the connection device includes a transmission mechanism, the transmission mechanism includes a fixed end fixed to the frame, an actuating end connected to the connector, and an active point connected to the driving mechanism, the driving mechanism is connected to the frame by driving the mounting frame, the driving mechanism can drive the active point to move along a first direction, so that the transmission mechanism can drive the connector to move along a second direction connected to or away from the battery, and the first direction is not parallel to the second direction; The transmission mechanism is a connecting rod, one end of the connecting rod is the fixed end, the other end is the active end, and the hinge point of the connecting rod is the active point; the driving mechanism includes a power source and a driving rod, the power source drives the driving rod to move, and the driving rod is connected to the hinge point of the connecting rod.

2. The battery rack according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first direction is not parallel to the second direction; Preferably, the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction; And / or, the power source is at least one of a cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder or a motor.

3. The battery rack according to claim 1, characterized in that: The connecting rod includes a first rod body and a second rod body, the non-connected end of the first rod body is the fixed end, the non-connected end of the second rod body is the actuating end, the first rod body and the second rod body are respectively provided with a first pin hole and a second pin hole, the driving rod is provided with a connecting portion, the connecting portion is provided with a third pin hole, the first pin hole, the second pin hole and the third pin hole are hinged at the hinge point through a first pin shaft.

4. The battery rack according to claim 3, characterized in that: The connecting device comprises a bracket connected to the frame body, a first connecting frame is further provided on the bracket, a fourth pin hole is provided at the non-connecting end of the first rod body, a fifth pin hole is provided on the first connecting frame, and the fourth pin hole and the fifth pin hole are hingedly connected via a second pin shaft; And / or, the actuating end is connected to the connector via a second connecting frame, a sixth pin hole is provided at the non-connecting end of the second rod body, a seventh pin hole is provided on the second connecting frame, and the sixth pin hole and the seventh pin hole are hingedly connected via a third pin shaft.

5. The battery rack according to claim 3, characterized in that: The moving path of the active point includes a first limit position, and when the active point reaches the first limit position, the connector is located at a connection position with the battery; Preferably, the active point reaches the first limit position after passing the dead point position of the connecting rod, the first limit position is close to the dead point position, and the dead point position corresponds to the position where the first rod body and the second rod body are collinear; Preferably, when the active point reaches the first limit position, an angle between the first rod body and the second rod body is 177°-179°.

6. The battery rack according to claim 3, characterized in that: The moving path of the active point includes a second limit position, and when the active point reaches the second limit position, the connector is located at a separation position from the battery; Preferably, the connector comprises a mounting seat and a connecting head, the connecting head is fixedly arranged on the mounting seat, and the mounting seat is rotatably connected to the second rod body; Preferably, a connecting frame is further provided on the mounting seat, a sixth pin hole is provided at the non-connecting end of the second rod body, a seventh pin hole is provided on the connecting frame, and the sixth pin hole and the seventh pin hole are hingedly connected via a third pin shaft; And / or, the connecting device further comprises a guide assembly, the guide assembly comprises a guide portion and a matching portion, the guide portion is arranged on the bracket of the connecting device, the matching portion is arranged on the mounting seat, and the guide portion cooperates with the matching portion to limit the moving direction of the connector; Preferably, the guiding portion comprises a guide rail, the matching portion comprises a slider, and the mounting seat and the bracket are slidably connected via the guide rail and the slider.

7. The battery rack according to claim 1, characterized in that: The battery can extend into the frame along a third direction, and the connecting device is arranged on one side of the battery moving path; Preferably, the first direction is parallel to the third direction, and the second direction is perpendicular to the plane where the battery is located; And / or, the first direction is parallel to the third direction, and the second direction is parallel to the plane where the battery is located and perpendicular to the third direction.

8. The battery rack according to claim 6, characterized in that: The connector is an electrical connector, one end of which is used to be electrically connected to the battery, and the other end of which is electrically connected to the power supply system through a power supply line; Preferably, the connecting device further comprises a wire support plate, the wire support plate is arranged on the mounting seat, and the wire support plate is used to carry the power supply line; And / or, the connector is a liquid cooling connector, one end of which is used for liquid cooling connection with the battery, and the other end of which is connected to the cooling system through a liquid cooling pipe; Preferably, the liquid cooling pipe comprises a liquid inlet pipe and a liquid outlet pipe, and the liquid cooling connector comprises a liquid inlet connected to the liquid inlet pipe and a liquid outlet connected to the liquid outlet pipe; The coolant enters the battery through the liquid inlet pipe and the liquid inlet, and then returns from the battery to the cooling system through the liquid outlet and the liquid outlet pipe; Preferably, the connecting device further comprises a pipe rack, the pipe rack is arranged on the mounting seat, and the pipe rack is used to fix the liquid cooling pipe.

9. The battery rack according to claim 1, characterized in that: The battery rack comprises multiple layers of support plates arranged at intervals along the vertical direction, the support plates are used to place batteries, and each layer of the support plates is correspondingly provided with the connecting device; Preferably, the connecting device comprises a first connecting device having an electrical connecting head and a second connecting device having a liquid cooling connecting head, and the first connecting device and the second connecting device are respectively arranged on both sides of the support plate; And / or, the drive mounting frame is arranged vertically, and the drive mechanisms on the plurality of connecting devices are all connected to the drive mounting frame.

10. A battery swap station or energy storage station, characterized in that: Comprising the battery rack according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

Images