Connector driving assembly, connecting device, battery rack and battery swap station or energy storage station

Abstract

The invention discloses a connector driving assembly, a connecting device, a battery rack and a battery swap station or an energy storage station. The connector driving assembly comprises a driving mechanism and a transmission mechanism, the transmission mechanism is provided with a fixed end, a moving end and a movable point located between the fixed end and the moving end, the fixed end is rotatably arranged at a relative fixed position, the moving end is connected with the connector, the driving mechanism drives the movable point to move in the first direction so as to drive the connector to move in the second direction, and the moving path of the movable point comprises a first limiting position; when the movable point reaches the first limiting position, the connector is connected with the battery; the driving assembly further comprises a first limiting mechanism, and the first limiting mechanism is arranged on the moving path of the connecting rod so that the connector can be limited to the first limiting position. And / or, the moving path of the movable point comprises a second limiting position, and when the movable point reaches the second limiting position, the connector is separated from the battery; the connector driving assembly further comprises a second limiting mechanism, and the second limiting mechanism is arranged on the moving path of the connecting rod so that the connector can be limited to the second limiting position.

Description

[0001] This application is a division of a Chinese invention patent with an application date of December 2, 2021, application number 202111463415.9, and name “Connector drive assembly, connecting device, battery rack, and 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 connector drive assembly, a connecting device, a battery rack, and a battery replacement station or 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 connector drive components have the following defects:

[0005] In existing connector drive assemblies, the drive mechanism generally drives the connector directly, which can easily cause the connector to move beyond the limit and cause damage to components such as the battery, connector or drive mechanism. When the battery and connector are separated, it is also easy for the separation position of the connector to be too far away from the battery, reducing the battery replacement efficiency. Summary of the invention

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to overcome the defects of the prior art that components are easily damaged and the battery replacement efficiency is low, and to provide a connector drive assembly, a connecting device, a battery rack, and a battery replacement station or an energy storage station.

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

[0008] A connector drive assembly is used to drive a connector to connect a battery on a battery rack, the connector drive assembly comprises a drive mechanism and a transmission mechanism; wherein the transmission mechanism has a fixed end, an actuating end and an active point between the fixed end and the actuating end, the fixed end is rotatably arranged at a relatively fixed position, the actuating end is connected to the connector, and the drive mechanism drives the active point to move along a first direction to drive the connector to move along a second direction;

[0009] 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; the driving assembly also includes a first limit mechanism, and the first limit mechanism is arranged on the moving path of the connecting rod to limit the connector to the first limit position;

[0010] And / or, 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 in a separated position from the battery; the connector drive assembly also includes a second limit mechanism, and the second limit mechanism is arranged on the moving path of the connecting rod to limit the connector to the second limit position.

[0011] In this solution, by setting a first limiting mechanism, the moving path of the active point is limited to a first position connected to the battery, which can prevent the connector from moving too far and causing damage to the battery or connector. By setting a second limiting mechanism, the moving path of the active point is limited to a second limiting position away from the battery, thereby preventing the drive mechanism from being damaged due to excessive movement of the connector, and preventing the separation position of the connector from being too far away from the battery, which reduces the battery replacement efficiency.

[0012] Preferably, the first direction is not parallel to the second direction.

[0013] In this solution, by setting the running paths of the driving end and the actuating end in two different directions with an angle, at least one of the width, length and height of the battery rack space occupied by the connector driving component can be shortened, thereby reducing the volume occupied by the connector driving component and improving the flexibility of the connector setting.

[0014] Preferably, the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction.

[0015] In this solution, a vertical steering drive structure is adopted, which can minimize the volume occupied by the connector drive component.

[0016] Preferably, the transmission mechanism is a connecting rod, one end of the connecting rod is the fixed end, the other end is the actuating end, and the hinge point of the connecting rod is the active point.

[0017] In this solution, the driving mechanism acts on the active point to drive the connecting rod to bend, shortening the straight-line distance between the fixed end and the actuating end, causing the actuating end to move toward the fixed end, thereby making the connector connected to the fixed end and the driving mechanism have different movement directions.

[0018] Preferably, 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 a hinge point of the connecting rod.

[0019] In this solution, the power source drives 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.

[0020] 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 head, the connecting head 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.

[0021] In this solution, an articulated connection is achieved among the first rod body, the second rod body and the driving rod.

[0022] Preferably, the power source is at least one of a pneumatic cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder or a motor.

[0023] Preferably, the first rod body is rotatably arranged in a relatively fixed position through a first mounting frame, 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 mounting frame, and the fourth pin hole and the fifth pin hole are hingedly connected by a second pin shaft.

[0024] In this solution, an articulated connection between the first rod body and the first mounting frame is achieved.

[0025] 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.

[0026] In this solution, an articulated connection between the second rod body and the connector is achieved.

[0027] 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; the driving assembly also includes a first limit mechanism, and the first limit mechanism is arranged on the moving path of the connecting rod to limit the connector to the first limit position.

[0028] In this solution, by providing a first limiting mechanism, the moving path of the active point is limited to the first position connected to the battery, thereby preventing the connector from moving too far and causing damage to the battery or the connector.

[0029] 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 separated position from the battery; the driving assembly also includes a second limit mechanism, and the second limit mechanism is arranged on the moving path of the connecting rod to limit the connector to the second limit position.

[0030] In this solution, by setting a second limiting mechanism, the moving path of the active point is limited to a second limiting position away from the battery, thereby avoiding damage to the connecting rod or driving mechanism due to excessive movement of the connector, and preventing the separation position of the connector from being too far away from the battery, reducing the battery replacement efficiency.

[0031] Preferably, the transmission mechanism is a rope assembly, one end of the rope assembly is a fixed end, and the other end is an active end, and the connection point between the driving mechanism and the rope assembly is the active point.

[0032] Preferably, a movable pulley is wound around the rope assembly, the movable pulley is connected to the driving mechanism, and the movable pulley constitutes the active point. The above structure can make the transmission mechanism smoother to use.

[0033] The present invention also provides a connecting device, comprising a connector, a bracket and a connector drive assembly as described above, wherein the bracket is used for fixed connection between the connecting device and a battery rack for placing batteries, and the fixed end is rotatably connected to the bracket.

[0034] In this solution, the connector is fixed to the battery rack by a bracket to achieve connection between the connector and the battery.

[0035] 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 connected to the actuating end.

[0036] In this solution, the installation is more flexible by providing a mounting base to accommodate connectors of different models.

[0037] 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.

[0038] In this solution, the moving direction of the connector is constrained by the guide portion, so that the connector can be docked with the battery more accurately.

[0039] 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.

[0040] In this solution, the sliding guidance of the connector is achieved through the sliding cooperation between the slider and the slide rail.

[0041] 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.

[0042] In this solution, the battery is charged through an electrical connector.

[0043] 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.

[0044] In this solution, the cable tray can be used to constrain the routing, making the routing more neat and convenient for subsequent maintenance. It can also avoid the problem of line movement or line entanglement during connector operation, causing malfunctions.

[0045] 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.

[0046] In this solution, the battery being charged is cooled by a liquid cooling connector.

[0047] 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.

[0048] 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.

[0049] 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.

[0050] 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.

[0051] The present invention also provides a battery rack, comprising a frame, a support plate and the above-mentioned connecting device, wherein the support plate is used to carry batteries, the support plate is arranged on the frame, and the connecting device is fixed to the frame through the bracket.

[0052] In this solution, the battery rack is capable of charging the batteries moved into the battery rack.

[0053] Preferably, the battery can be moved onto the support plate along a third direction, and the connecting device is provided on at least one side of the battery moving path.

[0054] In this solution, by arranging the connecting device on one side of the battery moving path, the volume occupied by the battery rack in the battery moving direction can be reduced.

[0055] Preferably, the third direction is parallel to the first direction.

[0056] In this solution, the driving 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 due to the movement of the driving mechanism.

[0057] Preferably, the connecting device comprises a first connecting device whose connecting head is an electrical connecting head, and a second connecting device whose connecting head is a liquid cooling connecting head, and the first connecting device and the second connecting device are respectively arranged on both sides of the battery moving path.

[0058] In this solution, the battery can be charged and cooled at the same time.

[0059] Preferably, the battery rack includes multiple layers of the support plates, and the multiple layers of the support plates are arranged along the fourth direction, and each layer of the support plates should be provided with the connecting device.

[0060] In this solution, by providing a multi-layer frame, multiple batteries can be charged simultaneously, which is more efficient and has a more compact structure.

[0061] Preferably, the fourth direction is perpendicular to the first direction.

[0062] The present invention provides a battery swap station or energy storage station, characterized by comprising a battery rack as described in any one of the above.

[0063] The positive and progressive effects of the present invention are:

[0064] By making the movement directions of the drive mechanism and the connector non-parallel through the transmission mechanism, at least one of the width, length and height of the battery rack space occupied by the connector drive assembly can be reduced, thereby reducing the volume occupied by the connector drive assembly and improving the flexibility of the connector setting. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0065] Figure 1 is a front view schematic diagram of a connector driving assembly in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0066] Figure 2 It is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a connector driving assembly in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0067] Figure 3 Another perspective schematic diagram of a connector drive assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0068] Figure 4 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of an electrical connector in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0069] Figure 5It is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a liquid cooling connector in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0070] Figure 6 FIG. 4 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a battery rack in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0071] Description of reference numerals:

[0072] Connector drive assembly 10

[0073] Connector 20

[0074] Mounting Block 21

[0075] Connector 22

[0076] Battery rack 30

[0077] Frame 31

[0078] Pallet 32

[0079] Driving mechanism 100

[0080] Power Source 110

[0081] Driving rod 120

[0082] The third pin hole 122

[0083] The first pin 123

[0084] Transmission mechanism 200

[0085] Fixed end 210

[0086] Do dynamic end 220

[0087] Activity point 230

[0088] First Direction 240

[0089] Second Direction 250

[0090] Connecting rod 300

[0091] The first rod body 310

[0092] First pin hole 311

[0093] Fourth pin hole 312

[0094] The second rod body 320

[0095] Second pin hole 321

[0096] Sixth pin hole 322

[0097] First mounting frame 330

[0098] Fifth pin hole 331

[0099] Second pin 332

[0100] Second connecting frame 340

[0101] Seventh pin hole 341

[0102] The third pin 342

[0103] The first limit seat 350

[0104] Limit bracket 351

[0105] The second limit seat 360

[0106] Connecting device 400

[0107] Bracket 410

[0108] Guide assembly 420

[0109] Guide Rail 421

[0110] Slider 422

[0111] Electrical connector 500

[0112] Connector 510

[0113] Power supply line 520

[0114] Line support plate 530

[0115] Liquid Cooling Connector 600

[0116] Pipe interface 610

[0117] Liquid cooling tube 620

[0118] Pipeline rack 630

[0119] First connecting device 700

[0120] Second connecting device 800 DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0121] A preferred embodiment is given below, and the present invention is described more clearly and completely in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0122] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3As shown, a connector drive assembly 10 is used to drive a connector 20 to connect a battery located on a battery rack 30. The connector drive assembly 10 includes a drive mechanism 100 and a transmission mechanism 200; wherein the transmission mechanism 200 has a fixed end 210, an actuating end 220 and an active point 230 located between the fixed end 210 and the actuating end 220, the fixed end 210 is rotatably arranged in a relatively fixed position, the actuating end 220 is connected to the connector 20, the drive mechanism 100 drives the active point 230 to move along a first direction 240 to drive the connector 20 to move along a second direction 250, and the first direction 240 is not parallel to the second direction 250.

[0123] The drive mechanism 100 and the connector 20 have different movement directions through the transmission mechanism 200. Compared with the existing connector drive assembly 10 in which the connector 20 and the drive mechanism 100 are on the same axis, at least one of the width, length and height of the space occupied by the connector drive assembly can be shortened, thereby reducing the volume occupied by the connector drive assembly 10 and improving the flexibility of the connector 20. Therefore, when the connector drive assembly 10 is applied to the battery rack 30, it can reduce the overall volume of the battery rack 30 and make the structure more compact.

[0124] Specifically, in the present invention, the first direction 240 is perpendicular to the second direction 250, the first direction 240 is a horizontal direction, and the second direction 250 is a vertical direction, thereby being able to minimize the volume occupied by the connector drive assembly 10. Of course, the present invention is not limited to making the first direction 240 and the second direction 250 perpendicular, and in other embodiments, the first direction 240 and the second direction 250 may also have other angles between 0°-180°.

[0125] In this embodiment, the driving mechanism 100 includes a power source 110 and a driving rod 120. The power source 110 is used to drive the driving rod 120 to move. The driving rod 120 is connected to the hinge point of the connecting rod 300. The power source 110 drives the driving rod 120 to telescopically move. The driving rod 120 acts on the hinge point of the connecting rod 300 to drive the connecting rod 300 to bend.

[0126] In the present embodiment, the power source 110 may be at least one of a cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder or a motor. When the power source 110 is a cylinder, the drive rod 120 may be a piston rod that can be telescopic relative to the cylinder barrel. When the power source 110 is a hydraulic cylinder, the drive rod 120 may be a piston rod that can be telescopic relative to the cylinder barrel of the hydraulic cylinder. When the power source 110 is a motor, the drive rod 120 may be provided with 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 120 through the rack. Of course, the motor may also be a linear motor that directly drives the drive rod 120 to telescopically move forward and backward.

[0127] In this embodiment, the transmission mechanism 200 is a connecting rod 300, one end of the connecting rod 300 is a fixed end 210, and the other end is an actuating end 220. The hinge point of the connecting rod 300 is an active point 230. During operation, the driving mechanism 100 acts on the active point 230 to bend the connecting rod 300, shortening the linear distance between the fixed end 210 and the actuating end 220, so that the actuating end 220 moves toward the fixed end 210. In this way, the connector 20 connected to the actuating end 220 can have a different movement direction from that of the driving mechanism 100.

[0128] Obviously, the present invention is not limited to the above structure. For a connecting rod 300 having multiple hinge points (such as a three-link structure), the active point 230 may also be arranged on the rod body between the multiple hinge points.

[0129] In other optional embodiments, the transmission mechanism 200 can also be a rope assembly, one end of which is a fixed end 210 and the other end is a moving end 220, and the connection point between the drive mechanism 100 and the rope assembly is an active point 230. During operation, the drive mechanism 100 acts on the active point 230 to shorten the straight-line distance between the fixed end 210 and the moving end 220, so that the moving end 220 moves toward the direction close to the fixed end 210. Thereby, the connector 20 connected to the moving end 220 can have a different movement direction from that of the drive mechanism 100. More preferably, a movable pulley can also be wound around the rope assembly, the movable pulley is connected to the drive mechanism 100, and the movable pulley constitutes the active point 230. The above structure can make the rope assembly smoother to use.

[0130] In this embodiment, the connecting rod 300 is a double connecting rod 300 extending in the vertical direction (i.e., the second direction 250), and includes a first rod body 310 and a second rod body 320. The non-connecting end of the first rod body 310 (i.e., the upper end of the first rod body 310) is the fixed end 210. The non-connecting end of the second rod body 320 (i.e., the lower end of the second rod body 320) is the actuating end 220. A first pin hole 311 is provided on the connecting end of the first rod body 310 (i.e., the lower end of the first rod body 310). A second pin hole 321 is provided on the connecting end of the second rod body 320 (i.e., the upper end of the second rod body 320). The end of the driving rod 120 is provided with a connecting portion, and a third pin hole 122 is provided on the connecting portion. The first pin hole 311, the second pin hole 321 and the third pin hole 122 are hinged at the hinge point through a first pin shaft 123. Thereby, an articulated connection between the connecting rod 300 and the driving rod 120 is achieved.

[0131] In this embodiment, the non-connecting end of the first rod body 310 is rotatably connected to the first mounting frame 330 disposed at a relatively fixed position, thereby forming the fixed end 210. The first mounting frame 330 can be disposed on a structure such as a battery rack to achieve relative fixation of the position of the fixed end 210. Specifically, a fourth pin hole 312 is provided on the non-connecting end of the first rod body 310, and a fifth pin hole 331 is provided on the first mounting frame 330. The fourth pin hole 312 and the fifth pin hole 331 are hingedly connected via a second pin shaft 332. Thus, a hinged connection between the first rod body 310 and the first mounting frame 330 is achieved.

[0132] In this embodiment, the non-connecting end of the second rod body 320 is rotatably connected to the second connecting frame 340 connected to the connector 20. Thus, the actuating end 220 is formed. Specifically, a sixth pin hole 322 is provided on the non-connecting end of the second rod body 320, and a seventh pin hole 341 is provided on the second connecting frame 340. The sixth pin hole 322 and the seventh pin hole 341 are hingedly connected via a third pin shaft 342. Thus, the hinged connection between the second rod body 320 and the connector 20 is realized.

[0133] To prevent the connector 20 from over-limiting the movement and causing damage to the battery, connector 20 or connecting rod 300. Preferably, in the invention, the movement path of the active point 230 includes a first limit position and a second limit position, and the active point 230 can be limited when it moves to the first limit position and the second limit position. When the active point 230 is at the first limit position, the corresponding connector 20 is at a position connected to the battery. When the active point 230 is at the second limit position, the corresponding connector 20 is at a position separated from the battery.

[0134] Limiting the active point 230 to the first limit position can prevent the battery from being impacted by the excessive movement of the connector 20, resulting in damage to the battery or the connector 20. Limiting the active point 230 to the second limit position can prevent the connecting rod 300 connected to the connector 20 from being damaged by excessive stress due to the excessive movement of the connector 20, and can also prevent the separation position of the connector 20 from being too far from the battery, reducing the battery replacement efficiency. By setting the first limit position and the second limit position, the structural reliability and safety of the connector drive assembly 10 can be improved.

[0135] Limiting the active point 230 to the first limit position and the second limit position is achieved in the following manner: a first limit seat 350 and a second limit seat 360 are respectively provided on the active path of the first rod body 310, and the first limit seat 350 can limit the non-connected end (i.e., the active point 230) of the first rod body 310 to the first limit position. The second limit seat 360 can limit the non-connected end (i.e., the active point 230) of the first rod body 310 to the second limit position. The first limit seat 350 and the second limit seat 360 can both be bolts screwed onto the limit bracket 351. The axial position of the bolt can be adjusted by rotating the bolt. Thus, fine adjustment of the first limit position and the second limit position is achieved. The use of such a structure can reduce the requirements for installation accuracy and reduce processing costs. And it is more flexible in use.

[0136] In other optional embodiments, the first limit position and the second limit position of the active point 230 can be achieved by setting a limit component on the active path of the second rod body 320, or by setting an angle limiting structure between the rotation connection link between the first rod body 310 and the first mounting frame 330.

[0137] Combination Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 The present invention also provides a connecting device 400, including a connector 20, a bracket 410 and the above-mentioned connector driving assembly 10.

[0138] The bracket 410 may include a vertical plate with a hollow middle portion, and the four corners of the vertical plate have bolts fixedly connected to the battery rack 30 for placing batteries, and the bracket 410 is fixedly connected to the battery rack 30 through the bolts. The connector drive assembly 10 is arranged on one side of the bracket 410, and the connector 20 is correspondingly arranged on the other side of the bracket 410, and is connected to the actuating end 220 (i.e., the non-connecting end of the second rod body 320) of the connector drive assembly 10 through the second connecting frame 340 passing through the notch in the middle of the bracket 410.

[0139] The connector driving assembly 10 can drive the connector 20 to move relative to the battery rack 30, so as to achieve connection and disconnection between the connector 20 and the battery.

[0140] In this embodiment, the connector 20 includes a mounting seat 21 and a connector 22, wherein the connector 22 is fixedly disposed on the mounting seat 21, and the mounting seat 21 is connected to the active end 220 (i.e., the non-connected end of the second rod body 320). By providing the mounting seat 21 to be suitable for connectors 22 of different models, the modularization of the drive assembly can be achieved, the manufacturing cost can be reduced, and the installation is more flexible.

[0141] In this embodiment, the connection device 400 further includes a guide assembly 420, which includes a guide portion and a matching portion, wherein the guide portion is disposed on the bracket 410 corresponding to one side of the connector 20, and the matching portion is disposed on the mounting seat 21, and the matching portion cooperates with the guide portion to limit the moving direction of the connector 20 on the mounting seat 21. The moving direction of the connector 20 is constrained by the guide portion, so that the connector 20 can be more accurately docked with the battery.

[0142] Specifically, the guide portion may include a guide rail 421 extending in the vertical direction, and the matching portion includes a slider 422 with a slide groove provided on the mounting seat 21 at a position corresponding to the guide rail 421, and the slide groove is embedded in the guide rail 421 so that the slider 422 can slide along the guide rail 421 to achieve sliding guidance of the movement direction of the connector 20. The number of the guide rail 421 and the slider 422 can be determined according to actual needs, and preferably two in this embodiment.

[0143] In the present invention, there are two types of connectors 22, one of which is an electrical connector 500, which includes a connector 510 and a power supply line 520. The connector 510 is arranged downward for connecting to the battery. The power supply line 520 passes through the opening in the middle of the bracket 410 and extends horizontally outward to be electrically connected to the power supply system of the battery swap station or energy storage station.

[0144] During operation, the electrical connector 500 is lifted and lowered in the vertical direction under the constraint of the guide assembly 420. When the electrical connector 500 is lowered to the first limit position of the corresponding active point 230, the electrical connector 500 is located at a position connected to the battery. When the electrical connector 500 is raised to the second limit position of the corresponding active point 230, the electrical connector 500 is located at a position separated from the battery. In this way, the battery can be charged through the electrical connector 500.

[0145] In this embodiment, the connection device 400 further includes a wire support plate 530, which is disposed on the mounting seat 21 and extends horizontally in a direction away from the mounting seat 21 through the opening on the bracket 410. Baffles are provided on both sides of the wire support plate 530. The wire support plate 530 is used to carry the power supply line 520. When in use, the power supply line 520 can be tied to the wire support plate 530 by a wire tie, or the wire tie is not used, and the power supply line 520 is only constrained by the restraining effect of the baffle to achieve the constraint.

[0146] By constraining the power supply line 520 through the line support plate 530, the wiring can be arranged more neatly, which is convenient for subsequent maintenance and repair. It can also prevent the power supply line 520 from moving or getting entangled when the connector 20 is in operation, thereby preventing a malfunction.

[0147] In the present invention, another connector 22 is a liquid-cooled connector 600, which includes a pipe interface 610 and a liquid cooling pipe 620, and the pipe interface 610 is arranged downward for connecting to the battery. The liquid cooling pipe 620 passes through the opening in the middle of the bracket 410 and extends horizontally outward to connect with the cooling system in the battery swap station or energy storage station. When the liquid-cooled connector 600 is lowered to the corresponding active point 230 in the first limit position, the liquid-cooled connector 600 is located in a position connected to the battery. When the liquid-cooled connector 600 is raised to the corresponding active point 230 in the second limit position, the liquid-cooled connector 600 is located in a position separated from the battery. In this way, the charging battery can be cooled by the liquid-cooled connector 600.

[0148] The liquid cooling pipe 620 includes a liquid inlet pipe and a liquid outlet pipe, and the pipe interface 610 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 610 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.

[0149] In this embodiment, the liquid cooling connector 600 further includes a pipe rack 630, which is disposed on the mounting seat 21, and the pipe interface 610 and the liquid cooling pipe 620 are passed through the mounting seat 21, and the pipe rack 630 and the mounting seat 21 are elastically connected in a floating manner. This prevents the pipe interface 610 from being damaged by the impact generated when the battery is connected. In addition, the pipe rack 630 can also be used to constrain the liquid cooling pipe 620, so that the pipe routing is more orderly, and prevents the pipe from moving or entangled when the connector 20 is in operation, causing leakage, blockage and other faults.

[0150] like Figure 6 As shown, the present invention also provides a battery rack 30, including a frame 31, a support plate 32 arranged on the frame 31, the connecting device 400 is fixed to the side of the frame 31 through a bracket 410, and the connecting head 22 of the connecting device 400 is correspondingly located on the upper side of the support plate 32.

[0151] The support plate 32 is used to carry the battery. When in use, the battery is placed on the support plate 32, and the connector 22 is located at the position of the connecting portion on the battery. In this embodiment, when the battery is on the support plate 32, its connecting portion is located on the upper surface of the battery, and the connector 22 is connected and separated from the battery by lifting. In this way, the battery moved into the battery rack 30 is charged and cooled.

[0152] In this embodiment, the battery can be moved to the pallet 32 ​​along a third direction by a battery transfer device in a battery swap station or an energy storage station. The third direction is parallel to the moving direction of the drive mechanism 100 in the connecting device 400 (ie, the first direction 240).

[0153] By setting the running direction of the driving mechanism 100 to be consistent with the direction of battery movement, the lateral space requirement of the driving mechanism 100 during movement can be reduced. Compared with the existing structure, the volume occupied by the battery rack 30 in the direction perpendicular to the battery movement direction is lower, thereby reducing the overall width of the battery rack 30.

[0154] In this embodiment, the connection device 400 includes a first connection device 700 whose connection head 22 is an electrical connection head 500 and a second connection device 800 whose connection head 22 is a liquid cooling connection head 600. The first connection device 700 and the second connection device 800 are respectively arranged on both sides of the battery moving path. Specifically, the first connection device 700 and the second connection device 800 are respectively fixed on the frame 31 and are correspondingly located above one side of the support plate 32, so that the electrical connection head 500 of the first connection device 700 and the liquid cooling connection head 600 of the second connection device 800 are respectively located above the battery on the support plate 32.

[0155] During operation, the electrical connector 500 and the liquid cooling connector 600 are lowered in the vertical direction to connect the battery, charge and cool the battery respectively. The electrical connector 500 and the liquid cooling connector 600 are arranged to be raised and lowered in the vertical direction. First, the space occupied by the connector 20 in the horizontal direction can be reduced, thereby reducing the volume of the battery rack 30. Secondly, it can also prevent the electrical connector 500 or the liquid cooling connector 600 from impacting the battery during connection, causing the battery position to change. The operation accuracy is improved and the probability of docking failure is reduced.

[0156] In the present invention, the support plate 32 is in the shape of a long strip, is located on both sides of the inner surface of the frame 31, and is extended along the fourth direction. The fourth direction is parallel to the first direction 240 (i.e., the moving direction of the battery or the running direction of the driving mechanism 100). Thus, the overall weight of the battery rack 30 can be reduced while achieving the placement of the battery.

[0157] In order to enable the battery rack 30 to charge multiple batteries, preferably in this embodiment, the battery rack 30 includes multiple layers of pallets 32, the multiple layers of pallets 32 are arranged in an overlapping manner, and each layer of pallet 32 ​​is correspondingly provided with the connecting device 400, and multiple connecting devices 400 are arranged in a vertical interval.

[0158] By providing a multi-layer support plate 32, multiple batteries can be charged simultaneously, with a higher effect and a more compact structure.

[0159] In order to better fix the driving mechanism 100 of the connecting device 400, the battery rack 30 also includes a driving mounting frame, which is arranged in a vertical strip shape and is connected and fixed to the frame 31. The driving mounting frame is connected to the inactive end of the driving mechanism 100, that is, the cylinder end of the hydraulic cylinder or the cylinder.

[0160] The present invention also provides a battery swap station or energy storage station, comprising the battery rack 30 described above. By adopting the above-described battery rack 30, the flexibility of the connector arrangement in the battery rack 30 can be improved, the space occupied by the battery rack 30 can be reduced, and the space utilization rate of the battery swap station or energy storage station can be improved.

[0161] 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 connector drive assembly, used to drive a connector to connect a battery on a battery rack, characterized in that: The connector drive assembly includes a drive mechanism and a transmission mechanism; wherein the transmission mechanism has a fixed end, an actuating end and an active point located between the fixed end and the actuating end, the fixed end is rotatably arranged in a relatively fixed position, the actuating end is connected to the connector, and the drive mechanism drives the active point to move along a first direction to drive the connector to move along a second direction; 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; the driving assembly also includes a first limit mechanism, and the first limit mechanism is arranged on the moving path of the connecting rod to limit the connector to the first limit position; And / or, 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 in a separated position from the battery; the connector drive assembly also includes a second limit mechanism, and the second limit mechanism is arranged on the moving path of the connecting rod to limit the connector to the second limit position.

2. The connector drive assembly 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.

3. The connector drive assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: 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; Preferably, 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 a hinge point of the connecting rod; Preferably, the power source is at least one of a cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder or a motor.

4. The connector drive assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that: The connecting rod comprises 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, 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; Preferably, the first rod body is rotatably arranged at a relatively fixed position by a first mounting frame, a fourth pin hole is provided at a non-connected end of the first rod body, a fifth pin hole is provided on the first mounting frame, and the fourth pin hole and the fifth pin hole are hingedly connected by 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 connector drive assembly 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; the driving assembly also includes a first limit mechanism, and the first limit mechanism is arranged on the moving path of the connecting rod to limit the connector to the first limit position; And / or, 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 in a separated position from the battery; the connector drive assembly also includes a second limit mechanism, and the second limit mechanism is arranged on the moving path of the connecting rod to limit the connector to the second limit position.

6. The connector drive assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The transmission mechanism is a rope assembly, one end of the rope assembly is a fixed end, the other end is a moving end, and the connection point between the driving mechanism and the rope assembly is the moving point; Preferably, a movable pulley is wound around the rope assembly, the movable pulley is connected to the driving mechanism, and the movable pulley constitutes the active point.

7. A connection device, characterized in that: It comprises a connector, a bracket and a connector drive assembly as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the bracket is used for fixed connection between the connecting device and a battery rack for placing batteries, and the fixed end is rotatably connected to the bracket.

8. The connection device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The connector comprises a mounting seat and a connecting head, wherein the connecting head is fixedly arranged on the mounting seat, and the mounting seat is connected to the actuating end; Preferably, 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, 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 part comprises a guide rail, the matching part comprises a slider, and the mounting seat and the bracket are slidably connected via the guide rail and the slider; And / or, 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, wherein the wire support plate is arranged on the mounting seat, and the wire support plate is used for carrying the power supply line.

9. The connection device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The connector is a liquid cooling connector, one end of which is used for liquid cooling connection with the battery, and the other end 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; And / or, 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.

10. A battery rack, characterized in that: It comprises a frame, a support plate and a connecting device as described in claims 7 to 9, wherein the support plate is used to carry batteries, the support plate is arranged on the frame, and the connecting device is fixed to the frame through the bracket.

11. The battery rack according to claim 10, characterized in that: The battery can be moved onto the support plate along a third direction, and the connecting device is provided on at least one side of the battery moving path; Preferably, the third direction is parallel to the first direction; And / or, the connecting device includes a first connecting device whose connecting head is an electrical connecting head, and a second connecting device whose connecting head is a liquid cooling connecting head, and the first connecting device and the second connecting device are respectively arranged on both sides of the battery moving path.

12. The battery rack according to claim 10, characterized in that: The battery rack comprises multiple layers of the support plates, the multiple layers of the support plates are arranged along the fourth direction, and each layer of the support plates should be provided with the connecting device; Preferably, the fourth direction is perpendicular to the first direction.

13. A battery swap station or energy storage station, characterized in that: Comprising the battery rack as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 12.

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