Battery rack, battery swap station or energy storage station

Abstract

The application discloses a battery rack, a battery swap station or an energy storage station. The battery rack comprises a rack body for placing a battery, and a connecting device for connecting the battery is arranged on the rack body. The connecting device comprises a transmission mechanism. The transmission mechanism comprises a fixed end fixed to the rack body, a working end connected to a connector, and a moving point connected to a driving mechanism. The driving mechanism is connected to the rack body through a driving mounting rack. The driving mechanism drives the moving point to move in a first direction, so that the transmission mechanism drives the connector to move in a second direction away from or close to the battery. The transmission mechanism is a connecting rod. One end of the connecting rod is the fixed end, and the other end is the working end. The hinge point of the connecting rod is the moving point. The driving mechanism comprises a power source and a driving rod. The power source drives the driving rod to move. The driving rod is connected to the hinge point of the connecting rod. The driving mechanism acts on the moving point of the connecting rod to drive the connecting rod to bend, so as to shorten the linear distance between the fixed end and the working end, and make the connector and the driving mechanism have different movement paths.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of Chinese invention patent filed on December 2, 2021, with application number 202111460190.1 and titled "Battery rack, battery swapping station or energy storage station". Technical Field

[0002] This application relates to the field of battery swapping, and in particular to a battery rack, battery swapping station or energy storage station. Background Technology

[0003] With the increasing popularity of new energy vehicles, battery swapping technology offers a solution to the range anxiety problem of electric vehicles. Existing battery swapping technologies are centered around a battery rack for charging the battery. During use, the battery is moved into the battery rack, and a connector drive assembly activates a connector to connect with the battery, thus charging it.

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

[0005] In existing battery racks, the connector drive mechanism typically drives the connector directly in its direction of movement, requiring ample space for both the connector and the drive mechanism. This necessitates additional storage space within the battery rack, restricts the connector's placement, increases the overall size of the battery rack, and raises costs. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the existing technology in that it occupies a large space, and to provide a battery rack, battery swapping station or energy storage station.

[0007] The present invention solves the above-mentioned technical problems through the following technical solution:

[0008] A battery rack includes a frame for placing batteries, characterized in that: the frame is provided with a connecting device for connecting batteries, the connecting device includes a transmission mechanism, the transmission mechanism includes a fixed end fixed to the frame, an actuating end connected to a connector, and a movable point connected to a drive mechanism, the drive mechanism is connected to the frame through a drive mounting bracket, and the drive mechanism can drive the movable point to move along a first direction, so that the transmission mechanism drives 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 which is the fixed end and the other end is the actuating end. The hinge point of the connecting rod is the movable 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.

[0010] In this solution, the drive mechanism acts on the movable point of the connecting rod to cause the connecting rod to bend, thereby shortening the straight distance between the fixed end and the moving end, so that the connector and the drive mechanism have different motion paths. The power source can drive the drive rod to extend and retract, and the drive rod acts on the hinge point of the connecting rod to cause 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 drive 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 connector setup.

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

[0014] In this solution, a vertical steering drive structure is adopted, which can minimize the volume occupied by the connecting device.

[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, and 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 part, and the connecting part is provided with a third pin hole. The first pin hole, the second pin hole and the third pin hole are hinged to the hinge point by a first pin shaft.

[0016] In this design, a hinged connection is achieved between the first rod, the second rod, and the drive rod.

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

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

[0019] In this scheme, the first rod can be fixed to the frame by a bracket, so that the non-connecting end of the first rod becomes a relatively fixed fixed end.

[0020] Preferably, the actuating end is connected to the connector via a second connecting frame, the non-connecting end of the second rod is provided with a sixth pin hole, the second connecting frame is provided with a seventh pin hole, and the sixth pin hole and the seventh pin hole are hinged together by a third pin shaft.

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

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

[0023] In this solution, by setting a first limiting mechanism, the movement path of the active point is limited to the first limiting position connected to the battery, which can prevent the connector from moving beyond the limit and causing damage to the battery or connector.

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

[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 retraction. The drive mechanism does not need to apply continuous force to keep the connector connected to the battery, which reduces the wear of the drive mechanism, improves the overall service life, reduces energy consumption, and improves the reliability of the whole system.

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

[0027] In this design, the angle between the first rod and the second rod is close to 180°. This ensures that the moving point is restricted by the dead point when it is in the first limit position, and also prevents the power consumption of the drive mechanism from increasing when the connector is separated from the battery due to the first limit position being too far from the dead point position.

[0028] Preferably, the movement path of the active point includes a second limiting position, and when the active point reaches the second limiting position, the connector is in a position separated from the battery.

[0029] In this solution, by limiting the connector to the second limit position, damage to the connecting rod due to excessive movement can be avoided, and the separation position of the connector from the battery can be prevented from being too far away, thus reducing the battery swapping efficiency.

[0030] Preferably, the connector includes a mounting base and a connector head, the connector head being fixedly mounted on the mounting base, and the mounting base being rotatably connected to the second rod body.

[0031] In this solution, the modularization of the connection device is achieved by setting up a mounting base, which helps to reduce production costs and improve compatibility and flexibility.

[0032] Preferably, the mounting base is further provided with a connecting frame, the non-connecting end of the second rod is provided with a sixth pin hole, the connecting frame is provided with a seventh pin hole, and the sixth pin hole and the seventh pin hole are hinged together by a third pin shaft.

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

[0034] Preferably, the connecting device further includes a guide assembly, which includes a guide portion and a mating portion. The guide portion is disposed on the bracket, and the mating portion is disposed on the mounting base. The guide portion and the mating portion cooperate to limit the movement direction of the connector.

[0035] In this solution, the connector can move along a predetermined direction of movement by means of the constraint of the guide component, thereby enabling more accurate docking with the battery.

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

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

[0038] Preferably, the battery can extend into the frame in a third direction, and the connecting device is located on one side of the battery's movement path.

[0039] In this solution, by placing the connecting device on the battery side, the volume occupied by the battery rack in the battery movement direction 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 design, the drive mechanism is positioned to move along the battery's direction of movement, which reduces the volume occupied by the drive mechanism on the battery holder perpendicular to the battery's direction of movement. Positioning the connector to move vertically further reduces the volume occupied by the battery holder on the plane where the battery is located, resulting in a more compact battery holder.

[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 design, the drive mechanism is configured to move along the battery movement direction, which reduces the volume occupied by the drive mechanism on the battery holder in the direction perpendicular to the battery movement direction. The connector is configured to slide along this second direction, which reduces the volume occupied by the battery holder in the height direction, thereby making the battery holder more compact.

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

[0045] In this solution, power can be supplied to the battery via an electrical connector.

[0046] Preferably, the connecting device further includes a wire support plate, which is disposed on the mounting base and is used to support the power supply wire.

[0047] In this solution, the cable trays accommodate the cable bundles, making the cable management neater and preventing the power supply cables from moving or getting tangled during use, which could lead to malfunctions.

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

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

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

[0051] In this design, the coolant enters the battery's cooling circuit through the inlet pipe to cool the battery, and the heated coolant returns to the cooling system through the outlet pipe, thereby removing the heat from the battery.

[0052] Preferably, the connecting device further includes a pipe bracket, which is disposed on the mounting base and 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 neater and preventing the pipes from moving or getting tangled during connector operation, which could lead to leaks, blockages, or other malfunctions.

[0054] Preferably, the battery rack includes multiple layers of trays arranged at vertical intervals, the trays being used to place batteries, and each layer of the trays having a corresponding connecting device.

[0055] In this solution, by setting up multi-layer trays, multiple batteries can be charged simultaneously, resulting in higher efficiency and a more compact structure.

[0056] Preferably, the connecting device includes a first connecting device with an electrical connector and a second connecting device with a liquid-cooled connector, the first connecting device and the second connecting device being disposed on both sides of the tray.

[0057] This solution enables simultaneous charging and cooling of the battery.

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

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

[0060] The positive and progressive effects of this invention are as follows:

[0061] By driving the linkage to bend through the action of the drive mechanism at the moving point, the straight distance between the fixed end and the moving end is shortened, so that the connector and the drive mechanism have different motion paths. This power source can drive the drive rod to extend and retract. The drive rod acts on the hinge point of the linkage, thereby causing the linkage to bend. This reduces the overall volume of the battery rack and achieves higher space utilization. Attached Figure Description

[0062] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0063] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A magnified view of part A in the middle;

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

[0065] Figure 4 This is a perspective view of the connecting device in one embodiment of the present invention;

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

[0067] Figure 6 This is another perspective view of the electrical connector in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0068] Figure 7 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a liquid-cooled connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0069] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0070] Battery holder 10

[0071] Frame 11

[0072] pallet 12

[0073] Drive mount 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] 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] First rod 130

[0087] First pin hole 131

[0088] Fourth pin hole 132

[0089] Second rod 140

[0090] Second pin hole 141

[0091] Sixth pin hole 142

[0092] Third pin 143

[0093] First limiting mechanism 150

[0094] Limit bracket 151

[0095] Limit bolt 152

[0096] Second limiting mechanism 160

[0097] Connector 200

[0098] Mounting base 210

[0099] Connector 211

[0100] Seventh pin hole 212

[0101] Connector 220

[0102] Electrical connector 230

[0103] Connector 231

[0104] Power line 232

[0105] Liquid cooling connector 240

[0106] Pipe Interface 241

[0107] Liquid cooling pipe 242

[0108] Pipe rack 243

[0109] Drive mechanism 300

[0110] Power Source 310

[0111] Drive lever 320

[0112] Third pin hole 321

[0113] First pin 322

[0114] Guide component 400

[0115] Guide rail 410

[0116] Slider 420 Detailed Implementation

[0117] The present invention will be described more clearly and completely below with reference to a preferred embodiment and 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 11, which consists of four rectangularly distributed uprights, multiple crossbars for connecting the uprights, and a tray 12 disposed in a square space enclosed by the uprights. The tray 12 is used to place batteries.

[0120] The frame 11 is provided with a connecting device 20 for connecting a battery. The connecting device 20 includes a transmission mechanism 100, a connector 200, and a drive mechanism 300. The transmission mechanism 100 has a fixed end that is fixedly hinged to the frame 11, an actuating end that is connected to the connector 200, and a movable point that is connected to the drive mechanism 300. The drive mechanism 300 is connected to the frame 11 via a drive mounting bracket 13.

[0121] During operation, the drive mechanism 300 can drive the movable 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, which is 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 drive mechanism 300 and the connector 200 to move in different directions. Compared to existing connection devices 20 where the connector 200 and drive mechanism 300 are on the same axis, this reduces at least one of the width, length, and height of the space occupied by the connection device 20, thereby reducing its volume and increasing its flexibility. Therefore, when this connection device 20 is applied to the battery rack 10, it reduces the overall volume of the battery rack 10, resulting in a more compact structure.

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

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

[0125] In this embodiment, the power source 310 can 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 can be a piston rod capable of extending and retracting relative to the cylinder barrel. When the power source 310 is a hydraulic cylinder, the drive rod 320 can be a piston rod capable of extending and retracting relative to the cylinder barrel. When the power source 310 is a motor, the drive rod 320 can have a gear rail that meshes with a gear connected to the motor shaft, converting the rotation of the motor into the extension and retraction of the drive rod 320 through the gear rail. Of course, the motor can also be a linear motor that directly drives the extension and retraction of the drive rod 320.

[0126] In this embodiment, the transmission mechanism 100 is a connecting rod, with one end being a fixed end and the other end being an actuating end. The hinge point of the connecting rod is the movable point. In use, the drive rod 320 acts on the movable point, causing the connecting rod to bend. This shortens the distance between the fixed end and the actuating end of the connecting rod, driving the connector 200 connected to the actuating end to move towards the fixed end (i.e., the second direction 120). At this time, the drive mechanism 300 moves along a 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, while the first direction 110 moves in a 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 is achieved.

[0127] Obviously, the present invention is not limited to the above structure. For a linkage with multiple hinge points (e.g., a three-bar linkage), the movable point can also be located on the rod between the multiple hinge points.

[0128] In other alternative embodiments, the transmission mechanism 100 can also be a rope assembly, with one end being a fixed end and the other end being an actuating end, and the connection point between the drive mechanism 300 and the rope assembly being a movable point. During operation, the drive mechanism 300 acts on this movable point to shorten the straight-line distance between the fixed end and the actuating end, causing the actuating end to move closer to the fixed end. This allows the connector 200 connected to the actuating end to have a different direction of movement than the drive mechanism 300. More preferably, a movable pulley can also be wound around the rope assembly, connecting the drive mechanism 300, and the movable pulley constitutes the movable point. This structure allows for smoother operation of the rope assembly.

[0129] In this embodiment, the connecting rod is a double connecting rod arranged vertically (i.e., in the second direction 120), comprising a first rod 130 and a second rod 140. The non-connecting end of the first rod 130 (i.e., the upper end of the first rod 130) is rotatably connected to a relatively fixed position on the frame 11, thereby forming the fixed end. The non-connecting end of the second rod 140 (i.e., the lower end of the second rod 140) is the actuating end. A first pin hole 131 is provided on the connecting end of the first rod 130 (i.e., the lower end of the first rod 130). A second pin hole 141 is provided on the connecting end of the second rod 140 (i.e., the upper end of the second rod 140). The end of the drive rod 320 is provided with a connecting portion, on which a third pin hole 321 is provided. The first pin hole 131, the second pin hole 141, and the third pin hole 321 are hinged at the hinge point by a first pin 322. This achieves a hinged connection between the connecting rod and the drive rod 320.

[0130] In this embodiment, the connecting device 20 further includes a bracket 21 connected to the frame 11. The bracket 21 may include a vertical plate with a hollowed-out center. The four corners of the vertical plate have bolts for fixing to the frame 11, and the fixing connection to the frame 11 is achieved through these bolts.

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

[0132] Thus, the first rod 130 can be rotatably fixed to the frame 11 via the bracket 21, making the non-connecting end of the first rod 130 a relatively fixed end.

[0133] The connector 200 is located on the other side of the bracket 21, that is, on the side opposite to the direction of the transmission mechanism 100, and is connected to the actuating end of the transmission mechanism 100 (i.e., the non-connecting end of the second rod 140) through a second connecting bracket 25 passing through an opening in the middle of the bracket 21. The second connecting bracket 25 has a seventh pin hole 212, and the non-connecting end of the second rod 140 has a sixth pin hole 142. The sixth pin hole 142 and the seventh pin hole 212 are hinged together by a third pin 143.

[0134] This achieves a hinged connection between the second rod 140 and the connector 200.

[0135] In this embodiment, the movement path of the linkage also includes a first limiting position. When the moving point reaches the first limiting position, the connector 200 is located at the connection position with the battery.

[0136] By limiting the movement path of the active point to the first limit position connected to the battery, damage to the battery or connector 200 due to excessive movement of the connector 200 can be avoided.

[0137] When the drive mechanism 300 drives the linkage to move the connector 200 to the position where it is connected to the battery, in order to keep the connector 200 continuously connected to the battery, the drive mechanism 300 needs to constantly provide a driving force to the connector 200, which increases energy loss.

[0138] To solve the above problems, the moving 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, which corresponds to the collinear position of the first rod 130 and the second rod 140.

[0139] Because the first limit position is close to the dead point, when the moving point is in the first limit position, even if the connector 200 is subjected to external force, the moving point can still be restricted by the dead point position. The force on the connector 200 is hardly transmitted to the drive mechanism 300. The drive mechanism 300 can maintain the moving point in the first limit position by its own internal friction without applying continuous force to the moving point. Therefore, the drive mechanism 300 can close when the moving point is driven to the first limit position, reducing the wear of the drive mechanism 300 and improving the reliability of the entire system.

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

[0141] In this scheme, the angle between the first rod 130 and the second rod 140 is close to 180°, which can ensure that the moving point is restricted by the dead point position when it is in the first limit position, and can also prevent the power consumption of the drive mechanism 300 from increasing when the connector 200 is separated from the battery due to the first limit position being too far from the dead point position.

[0142] In this embodiment, the movement path of the active point also includes a second limiting position. When the active point reaches the second limiting position, the connector 200 is in a separated position from the battery. By limiting the connector 200 to the second limiting position, damage to the connecting rod due to excessive movement can be avoided, and the separation position of the connector 200 from the battery can be prevented from being too far away, thus reducing the battery swapping efficiency.

[0143] In this embodiment, the movable point is limited to the first limiting position by the first limiting mechanism 150, and to the second limiting position by the second limiting mechanism 160. The first limiting mechanism 150 and the second limiting mechanism 160 have the same or identical structure, both including a limiting bracket 151 installed in a relatively fixed position and a limiting bolt 152 screwed onto the limiting bracket 151. The end of the limiting bolt 152 facing the first rod 130 has a limiting seat for abutting against the first rod 130. With this structure, the first or second limiting position can be finely adjusted by rotating the limiting bolt 152, providing greater flexibility.

[0144] In other alternative embodiments, the first and second limiting positions of the moving point can be achieved by setting a limiting component on the moving path of the first rod 130, or by setting a rotation angle limiting structure on the non-connecting end of the first rod 130.

[0145] In this embodiment, the connector 200 includes a mounting base 210 and a connector head 220. The connector head 220 is fixedly mounted on the mounting base 210, and the mounting base 210 is rotatably connected to the second rod body 140. By setting the mounting base 210, the connection device 20 is modularized, which helps to reduce production costs and improve compatibility and flexibility.

[0146] Specifically, the mounting base 210 is provided with a connecting bracket 211, the non-connecting end of the second rod 140 has a sixth pin hole 142, and the connecting bracket 211 has a seventh pin hole 212. The sixth pin hole 142 and the seventh pin hole 212 are hinged together by a third pin 143. This achieves a hinged connection between the second rod 140 and the connector 200.

[0147] In this embodiment, the connecting device 20 further includes a guide assembly 400, which includes a guide portion and a mating portion. The guide portion is correspondingly disposed on the bracket 21 on one side of the connector 200, and the mating portion is disposed on the mounting base 210. The mating portion cooperates with the guide portion to limit the movement direction of the connector 200 on the mounting base 210. By constraining the movement direction of the connector 200 by the guide portion, the connector 200 can more accurately dock with the battery.

[0148] Specifically, the guide portion may include a guide rail 410 extending along the second direction 120, and the mating portion includes a slider 420 with a groove disposed on the mounting base 210 at a position corresponding to the guide rail. The groove is embedded in the guide rail 410 so that the slider 420 can slide along the guide rail 410, thereby achieving sliding guidance of the connector 200 in the direction of movement, so that the connector 200 can accurately dock with the battery along the second direction 120. The number of guide rails 410 and sliders 420 can be determined according to actual needs; in this embodiment, two are preferred.

[0149] In this embodiment, the battery can be inserted into the frame 11 along a third direction 30 via battery transfer equipment in a battery swapping station or energy storage station. Specifically, the trays 12 disposed within the frame 11 extend along a third direction 30 and are distributed on both sides of the frame 11. The battery inserted into the frame 11 along the third direction 30 can be placed on the trays 12 on both sides of the frame 11. The connecting device 20 is disposed on one side of the battery movement path, i.e., on one side of the tray 12. By placing the connecting device 20 on one side of the battery movement path, the volume occupied by the battery rack 10 in the battery movement 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, meaning the operating direction of the drive mechanism 300 is parallel to the moving direction of the battery. The second direction 120 is perpendicular to the plane where the battery is located, meaning the connector 200 moves vertically. Specifically, when the battery is on the tray 12, the connector 200 is located above the battery. The connector 200 connects to the battery when lowered and disconnects from the battery when raised. This layout avoids the problem of the connector 200 disconnecting from the battery due to a malfunction of the drive mechanism 300 during battery charging, ensuring the normal operation of the charging process. Furthermore, it prevents the connector 200 from impacting the battery during connection, thus avoiding changes in the battery's position. This improves operational accuracy and reduces the probability of docking failure.

[0151] By configuring the drive mechanism 300 to move along the battery movement direction, the lateral space requirement during the movement of the drive mechanism 300 can be reduced. Compared with the existing structure, the volume occupied by the battery rack 10 in the direction perpendicular to the battery movement direction is smaller, thereby reducing the overall width occupied by the battery rack 10. By configuring the connector 200 to move in the vertical direction, the space occupied by the battery rack 10 in the horizontal direction can be further reduced, allowing the battery rack 10 to have a more compact volume.

[0152] like Figure 6 In this invention, there are two types of connectors 220, one of which is an electrical connector 230. The electrical connector 230 includes a connector 231 and a power supply line 232. The connector 231 is arranged downwards for connection with the battery. The power supply line 232 passes through the opening in the middle of the bracket 21 and extends horizontally outwards to connect with the power supply system.

[0153] During operation, the electrical connector 230 moves vertically upwards and downwards under the constraint of the guide assembly 400. When the electrical connector 230 descends to the first limit position corresponding to the active point, it is in a position connected to the battery. When the electrical connector 230 rises to the second limit position corresponding to the active point, it is in a position separated from the battery. This allows the battery to be charged via the electrical connector 230.

[0154] In this embodiment, the connecting device 20 further includes a cable tray 12, which is disposed on the mounting base 210 and extends horizontally away from the mounting base 210 through an opening on the bracket 21. The cable tray 12 has baffles on both sides. The cable tray 12 is used to support the power supply cable 232. In use, the power supply cable 232 can be tied to the cable tray 12 with cable ties, or the cable ties can be omitted, and the constraint of the baffles alone can constrain the power supply cable 232.

[0155] By constraining the power supply line 232 with the cable tray 12, the wiring can be made neater, which is convenient for subsequent maintenance and repair. It can also prevent the power supply line 232 from moving or getting tangled during the operation of the connector 200, which could lead to failure.

[0156] like Figure 7 In this invention, another type of connector 220 is a liquid-cooled connector 240, which includes a pipe interface 241 and a liquid-cooled pipe 242. The pipe interface 241 is arranged downwards for connection to the battery. The liquid-cooled pipe 242 passes through an opening in the middle of the bracket 21 and extends horizontally outwards to connect to the cooling system in the battery swapping station or energy storage station. When the liquid-cooled connector 240 is lowered to the first limit position corresponding to the active point, the liquid-cooled connector 240 is in a position connected to the battery. When the liquid-cooled connector 240 is raised to the second limit position corresponding to the active point, the liquid-cooled connector 240 is in a position separated from the battery. This allows the liquid-cooled connector 240 to cool the battery during charging.

[0157] The liquid cooling pipe 242 includes an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe. The pipe interface 241 includes an inlet port communicating with the inlet pipe and an outlet port communicating with the outlet pipe. When the pipe interface 241 is connected to the battery, the coolant from the cooling system enters the cooling circuit in the battery through the inlet pipe. After flowing through the cooling circuit, the heated coolant flows back to the cooling system through the outlet port and the outlet pipe, thereby carrying away the heat from the battery and reducing the battery temperature during charging.

[0158] In this embodiment, the liquid-cooled connector 240 also includes a pipe bracket 243, which is mounted on the mounting base 210. The pipe interface 241 and the liquid-cooled pipe 242 pass through the mounting base 210, and the pipe bracket 243 and the mounting base 210 are elastically floatingly connected. This avoids damage to the pipe interface 241 caused by impact when connecting the battery. In addition, the pipe bracket 243 can also be used to restrain the liquid-cooled pipe 242, making the pipe routing neater and preventing the pipes from getting tangled during the operation of the connector 200, which could lead to leakage, blockage, or other malfunctions.

[0159] To enable the battery rack 10 to charge multiple batteries simultaneously, in this embodiment, the rack 11 preferably has multiple layers of trays 12 arranged vertically at intervals, each layer of tray 12 capable of holding batteries. A connecting device 20 is correspondingly provided at each layer of tray 12. By providing multiple layers of trays 12, multiple batteries can be charged simultaneously, resulting in higher efficiency and a more compact structure.

[0160] To enable simultaneous charging and cooling of the battery, the connection device 20 includes a first connection device 40 with an electrical connector 230 and a second connection device 50 with a liquid cooling connector 240. Specifically, the first connection device 40 and the second connection device 50 are fixed to the frame 11 and are respectively located on the upper side of the two side supports 12.

[0161] The first connecting device 40 and the second connecting device 50 can be connected to the battery on the tray 12 simultaneously to achieve charging and cooling of the battery.

[0162] In this embodiment, the drive mounting bracket 13 is a long strip arranged vertically and is connected and fixed to the frame body 11. The drive mounting bracket 13 is connected to the non-moving end of the drive mechanism 300, i.e., the cylinder end of the hydraulic cylinder or pneumatic cylinder, thereby providing support for the movement of the drive rod 320 of the drive mechanism 300, so that the drive rod 320 can drive the moving point to move along the first direction.

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

[0164] Example 2

[0165] The structure of this embodiment is basically the same as that of Embodiment 1, the only difference being the running direction of the drive mechanism 300 and the connector 200. In this embodiment, the running direction of the drive 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 tray 12, its connecting portion is located on the side surface of the battery. By configuring the drive mechanism 300 to move along the battery movement direction, the volume occupied by the drive mechanism 300 on the battery rack 10 in the direction perpendicular to the battery movement direction can be reduced. By configuring the connector 200 to slide along the second direction 120, the volume occupied by the battery rack 10 in the height direction can be reduced, thereby allowing for more layers of trays 12 to be installed within the battery rack 10 of the same height, increasing the battery placement density in the battery rack 10, and improving the space utilization rate within the battery swapping station or energy storage station.

[0167] It is understood that the relationship between the operating direction of the drive mechanism 300 (i.e., the first direction 110), the operating 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 that described in the above embodiments. 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 connection portion on the battery, the placement position of the connector on the battery holder, and the utilization requirements of the battery holder space. In other optional embodiments, the operating direction of the drive mechanism 300 (i.e., the first direction 110) may also be perpendicular to the moving direction of the battery (i.e., the third direction 30), and the operating direction of the connector 200 (i.e., the second direction 120) may also be parallel to or perpendicular to the moving direction of the battery (i.e., the third direction 30).

[0168] While specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, those skilled in the art should understand that these are merely illustrative examples, and the scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the appended claims. Those skilled in the art can make various changes or modifications to these embodiments without departing from the principles and essence of the present invention, but all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A battery holder, comprising a frame for holding batteries, characterized in that: The frame is provided with a connecting device for connecting the battery. The connecting device includes a transmission mechanism. The transmission mechanism includes a fixed end fixed to the frame, an actuating end connected to the connector, and a movable point connected to the drive mechanism. The drive mechanism is connected to the frame through a drive mounting bracket. The drive mechanism can drive the movable 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. The first direction is perpendicular to the second direction. The transmission mechanism is a connecting rod, one end of which is the fixed end and the other end is the actuating end, and the hinge point of the connecting rod is the movable 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; 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, and 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 part, and the connecting part is provided with a third pin hole. The first pin hole, the second pin hole and the third pin hole are hinged to the hinge point by a first pin shaft.

2. The battery rack as described in claim 1: characterized in that: The power source is at least one of a cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, or an electric motor.

3. The battery holder as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The connecting device includes a bracket connected to the frame, and a first connecting frame is also provided on the bracket. A fourth pin hole is opened at the non-connecting end of the first rod, and a fifth pin hole is opened on the first connecting frame. The fourth pin hole and the fifth pin hole are hinged together by a second pin. And / or, the actuating end is connected to the connector via a second connecting bracket, the non-connecting end of the second rod is provided with a sixth pin hole, the second connecting bracket is provided with a seventh pin hole, and the sixth pin hole and the seventh pin hole are hinged together by a third pin shaft.

4. The battery holder as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The movement path of the active point includes a first limiting position. When the active point reaches the first limiting position, the connector is located at the connection position with the battery. The active point reaches the first limiting position after passing the dead point position of the connecting rod. The first limiting position is close to the dead point position, and the dead point position corresponds to the collinear position of the first rod and the second rod. When the active point reaches the first limit position, there is an angle of 177°-179° between the first rod and the second rod.

5. The battery holder as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The movement path of the active point includes a second limiting position. When the active point reaches the second limiting position, the connector is in a position separated from the battery. The connector includes a mounting base and a connector head, the connector head being fixedly mounted on the mounting base, and the mounting base being rotatably connected to the second rod body; The mounting base is also provided with a connecting frame. The non-connecting end of the second rod is provided with a sixth pin hole, and the connecting frame is provided with a seventh pin hole. The sixth pin hole and the seventh pin hole are hinged together by a third pin shaft. And / or, the connecting device further includes a guide assembly, the guide assembly including a guide portion and a mating portion, the guide portion being disposed on the bracket of the connecting device, the mating portion being disposed on the mounting base, the guide portion and the mating portion cooperating to define the movement direction of the connector; The guide portion includes a guide rail, the mating portion includes a slider, and the mounting base and the bracket are slidably connected via the guide rail and the slider.

6. The battery holder as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The battery can extend into the frame in a third direction, and the connecting device is located on one side of the battery's movement path; 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.

7. The battery holder as described in claim 5, characterized in that: The connector is an electrical connector, one end of which is used for electrical connection with the battery, and the other end is electrically connected to the power supply system via a power supply line; The connecting device further includes a wire support plate, which is disposed on the mounting base and is used to support the power supply wire; And / or, the connector is a liquid-cooled connector, one end of which is used for liquid-cooled connection with the battery, and the other end is connected to the cooling system through a liquid-cooling pipe; The liquid cooling pipe includes an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe, and the liquid cooling connector includes an inlet connected to the inlet pipe and an outlet connected to the outlet pipe; the coolant enters the battery through the inlet pipe and the inlet, and then returns to the cooling system from the battery through the outlet and the outlet pipe. The connecting device also includes a pipe bracket, which is mounted on the mounting base and is used to fix the liquid cooling pipe.

8. The battery holder as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The battery rack includes multiple layers of trays arranged at vertical intervals, the trays being used to place batteries, and each layer of the trays being provided with the corresponding connecting device; The connecting device includes a first connecting device with an electrical connector and a second connecting device with a liquid-cooled connector, the first connecting device and the second connecting device being respectively disposed on both sides of the tray; And / or, the drive mounting bracket is arranged vertically, and the drive mechanisms on the plurality of connecting devices are all connected to the drive mounting bracket.

9. A battery swapping station, characterized in that: Includes the battery holder as described in any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. An energy storage station, characterized in that: Includes the battery holder as described in any one of claims 1 to 8.

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