Battery replacement system

Abstract

A battery replacement system can provide a battery replacement service for users in areas where conditions such as sites and power capacity are limited, and the battery replacement experience of the users is improved. The battery replacing system comprises a charging station (210), at least one battery replacing station (220) and at least one moving mechanism (230), the charging station (210) is used for providing a battery, the battery replacing station (220) is used for replacing the battery on an electric device, and the moving mechanism (230) is used for transporting the battery of the charging station (210) to the battery replacing station (220) and transporting the battery replaced by the battery replacing station (220) to the charging station (210).

Description

Battery swap system

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of electric vehicles, and in particular to a battery replacement system.

[0002] With the rapid development of electric vehicle technology, electric vehicles have become an important part of the sustainable development of the automobile industry due to their advantages of energy saving and environmental protection. At present, in addition to charging the batteries in electric vehicles through charging devices to ensure the continuous operation of electric vehicles, batteries in electric vehicles can also be replaced through battery swap stations to quickly replenish energy for electric vehicles with insufficient energy.

[0003] However, traditional battery swap stations have certain requirements for site, power capacity and other conditions. When site or power capacity and other conditions in certain areas are limited, how to provide battery swap services to users in that area is an urgent problem that needs to be solved.

[0004] Summary of the invention

[0005] The embodiment of the present application provides a battery replacement system that can provide battery replacement services to users in areas with limited conditions such as site or power capacity, thereby improving the user's battery replacement experience.

[0006] In a first aspect, a battery exchange system is provided, comprising: a charging station, at least one battery exchange station and at least one mobile mechanism; the charging station is used to provide batteries; the battery exchange station is used to replace batteries on electrical devices; the mobile mechanism is used to transport the batteries of the charging station to the battery exchange station, and to transport the batteries replaced at the battery exchange station to the charging station.

[0007] In the embodiments of the present application, the battery swap station and the charging station are separated, that is, the charging station can be set up in an area where conditions such as site size and power capacity are not restricted, and the battery swap station can be set up in an area with restricted conditions. Batteries are transported by a mobile mechanism to provide batteries for the battery swap station, thereby being able to provide battery swap services to users in areas with limited site size or power capacity, thereby improving users' battery swap experience.

[0008] In some possible implementations, the charging station includes a charging bin, a charger, and a first transfer device; the charging bin is used to place batteries, and the charger is used to charge the batteries in the charging bin; the first transfer device is used to transfer the batteries in the charging bin to the mobile mechanism, and to transfer the batteries on the mobile mechanism to the charging bin.

[0009] The above technical solution, by arranging a charging compartment, a charger and a first transfer device in the charging station, can provide available batteries for at least one battery swap station located in an area with restricted conditions, thereby providing battery swap services to users in the area. In addition, by arranging the first transfer device in the charging station, the intensity of manual labor can be reduced and the degree of automation of the battery swap system can be improved.

[0010] In some possible implementations, the first transfer device is a stacker or a transfer palletizer.

[0011] In the above technical solution, the stacker has a high and narrow structure, which is suitable for operation in the lanes of the charging warehouse. In addition, the power control system of the stacker is fast, stable and accurate, which can ensure that the batteries can be quickly, accurately and safely taken and placed.

[0012] In some possible implementations, the charging station further includes a first transfer channel for parking the mobile mechanism.

[0013] The above technical solution provides a first transfer channel in the charging station specifically for parking the mobile mechanism, which is beneficial to the orderly management of the mobile mechanism in the charging station.

[0014] In some possible implementations, a first positioning device is provided on the first transfer channel; a second positioning device is provided on the moving mechanism; and the first positioning device cooperates with the second positioning device to limit the moving mechanism.

[0015] The above technical solution can ensure that the mobile mechanism does not move during the loading and unloading of the battery by limiting the position of the mobile mechanism, so as to improve the safety of the battery on the mobile mechanism.

[0016] In some possible implementations, the first positioning device is a positioning column and the second positioning device is a positioning hole.

[0017] The above technical solution limits the moving mechanism by means of the positioning column and the positioning hole, which can further ensure that the moving mechanism does not move during the loading and unloading of the battery, thereby improving the safety of the battery on the moving mechanism.

[0018] In some possible implementations, the first transfer channel is disposed on both sides of the charging bin.

[0019] In the above technical solution, when the first transfer channel is set on both sides of the charging bin, the charging station 210 has two battery loading and unloading channels, namely the first transfer channels, and the mobile mechanism is closer to the charging bin during battery loading and unloading, which is beneficial to improving the battery loading and unloading efficiency.

[0020] In some possible implementations, the battery swap station includes a battery swap device, a first battery compartment and a second transfer device; the battery swap device is used to replace the battery of the electrical device; the first battery compartment is used to place the battery; the second transfer device is used to transfer the battery replaced by the battery swap station in the first battery compartment to the mobile mechanism, and transfer the battery on the mobile mechanism to the first battery compartment.

[0021] With the above technical solution, the battery swap station only needs to swap batteries for power-consuming devices and does not need to charge the replaced batteries, which can save the space occupied by the battery charging devices. Furthermore, the battery swap station can be set up in areas with limited conditions such as site or power capacity, thereby providing battery swap services to users in the area and improving users' battery swap experience.

[0022] In some possible implementations, the second transfer device is a stacker or a transfer palletizer.

[0023] In the above technical solution, the whole structure of the stacker or transfer stacker is high and narrow, suitable for running in the lane in the first battery compartment. In addition, the power control system of the stacker or transfer stacker is fast, stable and accurate, which can ensure that the batteries can be loaded and unloaded quickly, accurately and safely.

[0024] In some possible implementations, the battery swap station further includes a second transfer channel for parking the mobile mechanism.

[0025] The above technical solution sets up a second transfer channel in the battery swap station specifically for parking the mobile mechanism, which is conducive to the orderly management of the mobile mechanism in the battery swap station.

[0026] In some possible implementations, a third positioning device is provided on the second transfer channel; the third positioning device cooperates with the second positioning device of the moving mechanism to limit the moving mechanism.

[0027] The above technical solution can ensure that the moving mechanism does not move during the loading and unloading process of the battery by limiting the moving mechanism, so as to improve the safety of the battery.

[0028] In some possible implementations, the third positioning device is a positioning column.

[0029] The above technical solution limits the moving mechanism by means of the positioning column and the positioning hole, which can further ensure that the moving mechanism does not move during the loading and unloading process of the battery, thereby improving the safety of the battery.

[0030] In some possible implementations, the battery exchange system also includes a battery exchange channel for parking the electrical device.

[0031] The above technical solution sets up a second transfer channel in the battery swap station specifically for parking power-consuming devices, which is conducive to the orderly management of power-consuming devices in the battery swap station.

[0032] In some possible implementations, the battery replacement channel and the second transfer channel are respectively located on both sides of the first battery compartment.

[0033] The above technical solution arranges the battery exchange channel and the second transfer channel on both sides of the first battery compartment respectively, which can prevent the electrical devices of the battery exchange channel from interfering with the mobile mechanism on the second transfer channel.

[0034] In some possible implementations, the battery exchange system further includes a third transfer device for transferring the battery in the first battery compartment to the battery exchange device, and transferring the battery replaced by the battery exchange device to the first battery compartment.

[0035] In the above technical solution, during the battery replacement process, there is no need for a large battery replacement device to shuttle between the first battery compartment, and the third transfer device can quickly take and place the battery, thereby improving the battery replacement efficiency. In addition, the two transfer devices (the second transfer device and the third transfer device) are set up in the battery replacement station to ensure that the battery loading and unloading of the mobile mechanism and the battery loading and placing during the battery replacement process do not interfere with each other.

[0036] In some possible implementations, the third transfer device is a stacker or a transfer palletizer.

[0037] In the above technical solution, the whole structure of the stacker or transfer stacker is high and narrow, suitable for running in the lane in the first battery compartment. In addition, the power control system of the stacker or transfer stacker is fast, stable and accurate, which can ensure that the batteries can be taken and placed quickly, accurately and safely.

[0038] In some possible implementations, the moving mechanism includes a second battery compartment for accommodating batteries.

[0039] The above technical solution, by transporting the battery in the second battery compartment, can prevent the battery from being squeezed during transportation or electrolyte leakage due to bumps, thereby improving the safety of the battery. In addition, by using a mobile mechanism to transport the battery in the charging station to a battery swap station in a restricted area, battery swap services can be provided to users in the restricted area, improving the user's battery swap experience.

[0040] In some possible implementations, the mobile mechanism is a transport vehicle.

[0041] In some possible implementations, the battery swap station and the mobile mechanism are integrated into one.

[0042] The above technical solution can be used as an emergency mobile battery swap station to provide battery swap services for users in areas with temporary or sudden battery swap needs, which can further improve users' battery swap experience.

[0043] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the drawings required for use in the embodiments of the present application will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on the drawings without paying creative work.

[0044] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a battery replacement scenario according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0045] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a battery replacement system disclosed in an embodiment of the present application;

[0046] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a charging station disclosed in an embodiment of the present application;

[0047] FIG4 is a schematic structural diagram of a battery swap station disclosed in an embodiment of the present application;

[0048] In the drawings, the drawings are not drawn to scale.

[0049] The following detailed description and drawings of the embodiments of the present application are used to illustrate the principles of the present application, but cannot be used to limit the scope of the present application, that is, the present application is not limited to the described embodiments.

[0050] In the description of the present application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, "multiple" means more than two; the terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "inside", "outside", etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship, are only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the present application. In addition, the terms "first", "second", "third", etc. are only used for descriptive purposes and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance. "Vertical" is not strictly vertical, but is within the allowable error range. "Parallel" is not strictly parallel, but is within the allowable error range.

[0051] The directional words appearing in the following description are all directions shown in the figures, and do not limit the specific structure of this application. In the description of this application, it should also be noted that, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installed", "connected", and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in this application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0052] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this application have the same meanings as those commonly understood by technicians in the technical field to which this application belongs; the terms used in the specification of this application are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit this application; the terms "including" and "having" in the specification and claims of this application and the above-mentioned figure descriptions and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions.

[0053] Reference to "embodiments" in this application means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in conjunction with the embodiments may be included in at least one embodiment of the present application. The appearance of the phrase in various locations in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it an independent or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive with other embodiments. It is explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described in this application may be combined with other embodiments.

[0054] With the development of new energy technologies, the application fields of batteries are becoming more and more extensive. For example, they can be used as a power source to provide power for electrical devices, such as vehicles, to reduce the use of non-renewable resources. When the power of the battery in the electrical device is not enough to support the continued driving of the electrical device, the electrical device can be charged using charging equipment such as charging piles, that is, the battery in the electrical device is charged to realize the charging and discharging cycle of the battery. Alternatively, battery replacement services can be provided for electrical devices through battery swap stations, that is, the battery can be quickly removed or installed from the electrical device. The battery removed from the electrical device can be placed in the battery storage mechanism of the battery swap station for charging, so as to be ready for subsequent power swaps for electrical devices entering the battery swap station.

[0055] Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an application scenario of the method for replacing a battery according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Fig. 1, the application scenario of the method for replacing a battery may involve a battery swap station 11, an electrical device 12 and a battery.

[0056] The battery swap station 11 may refer to a place that provides battery swap services for power-consuming devices. For example, the battery swap station 11 may be a fixed place, or the battery swap station 11 may be a movable place such as a mobile battery swap vehicle, which is not limited here.

[0057] The power device 12 can be detachably connected to the battery. In some examples, the power device 12 can be a car, truck, motorcycle, special vehicle, etc. that uses a power battery as a power source, or a device that uses a power battery to provide power or supply electricity, such as a battery-swapping ship or aircraft.

[0058] The battery may include a battery disposed in the power-consuming device 12 and a battery located in the battery swap station 11 for battery swapping. For ease of distinction, as shown in FIG1 , the battery to be replaced in the power-consuming device 12 is recorded as battery 141, and the battery used for battery swapping in the battery swap station is recorded as battery 142. The battery may be a lithium-ion battery, a lithium metal battery, a lead-acid battery, a nickel-cathode battery, a nickel-hydrogen battery, a lithium-sulfur battery, a lithium-air battery, or a sodium-ion battery, etc., but is not limited here. In terms of scale, the battery may be a battery cell, a battery module, or a battery pack, but is not limited here. In addition to being used as a power source to power the motor of the power-consuming device 12, the battery can also power other power-consuming devices in the power-consuming device 12. For example, the battery can also power the in-vehicle air conditioner, a car player, etc.

[0059] When the electric device 12 equipped with the battery 141 enters the battery swap station 11, the battery swap station 11 removes the battery 141 from the electric device 12 through the battery swap device, takes out the battery 142 from the battery swap station 11, and then installs the battery 142 on the electric device 12. After that, the electric device 12 equipped with the battery 142 can leave the battery swap station 11. Through this battery swap technology, the energy of the electric device can be quickly replenished within a few minutes or even tens of seconds, which improves the user experience.

[0060] As shown in FIG1 , a battery swap cabinet 13 may be provided in the battery swap station 11. The battery swap cabinet 13 includes a first battery management unit 131 and a charging unit 132. The battery swap cabinet 13 may also be provided with a plurality of charging compartments 133, and the batteries used for battery swapping may be placed in the charging compartments 133 of the battery swap cabinet 13 of the battery swap station 11. The first battery management unit 131 may be a battery management unit provided in the battery swap cabinet 13, for example, the first battery management unit 131 may be referred to as a central battery management unit (CBMU). The charging unit 132 may charge the battery in the charging compartment 133. In some examples, the charging unit may include an AC / DC module, i.e., an AC / DC module, or other components, devices, or equipment with a charging function, which is not limited here. The charging unit 132 may be provided in a one-to-one correspondence with the charging compartment 133, or multiple charging compartments 133 may share one charging unit 132, which is not limited here.

[0061] The battery may be provided with a corresponding second battery management unit 143. For example, the second battery management unit 143 may be called a slave battery management unit (SBMU).

[0062] The electric device 12 is also provided with a third battery management unit 121. The third battery management unit 121 can be used to manage a plurality of batteries 141 installed on the electric device. For example, the third battery management unit 121 can be called a main battery management unit (MBMU).

[0063] In a possible implementation, the SBMU may be implemented using a battery management system (BMS) of the corresponding battery; the MBMU may be implemented through a control module of a battery disconnect unit (BDU) or through the BMS of one of the batteries.

[0064] The battery swap station 11 may also be provided with a corresponding management device. The management device may be a centralized structure or a distributed structure, which is not limited here. The management device may be arranged inside the battery swap station 11 or outside the battery swap station 11. In the case where the management device is a distributed structure, the management device may also be partially arranged inside the battery swap station 11 and partially arranged outside the battery swap station 11. For example, as shown in Figure 1, the management device may include a station control system 151 inside the battery swap station 11 and a cloud server 152 outside the battery swap station 11, which is not limited here. The station control system 151 may also be referred to as a battery management unit in the battery swap station 11, which is used to manage and control the batteries 142 in the battery swap station 11.

[0065] Optionally, the first battery management unit 131 can communicate and interact with other units, modules, devices, etc. in a wired or wireless manner. The second battery management unit 143 can communicate and interact with other units, modules, devices, etc. in a wired or wireless manner. The third battery management unit 121 can communicate and interact with other units, modules, devices, etc. in a wired or wireless manner. The station control system 151 can communicate and interact with other units, modules, devices, etc. in a wired or wireless manner. Wired communication methods include, for example, CAN communication buses. Wireless communication methods include, for example, Bluetooth communication, WiFi communication, ZigBee communication, and other various methods, which are not limited here.

[0066] For example, the first battery management unit 131 can communicate with the second battery management unit 143 to control the charging of the battery 142 in the battery compartment 133. For another example, the third battery management unit 121 can communicate with the second battery management unit 143 to centrally manage multiple batteries 141 on the power device 12. For another example, the station control system 151 can communicate with the first battery management unit 131, the second battery management unit 143 or the third battery management unit 121 to obtain relevant information about the battery 141 on the power device 12 or the battery 142 in the charging compartment 133. For another example, the station control system 151 can also communicate with the cloud server 152 to obtain relevant information about the battery 141 on the power device 12 or the battery 142 in the charging compartment 133.

[0067] It can be seen that the battery swap station 11 in Figure 1 integrates the charging function and the battery swap function, and can realize the rapid battery swap of the power consumption device, wherein the charging function refers to the function of charging the battery replaced by the power consumption device, and the battery swap function refers to the function of replacing the battery for the power consumption device. However, the battery swap station 11 has certain requirements for conditions such as site size and power capacity. When the site size or power capacity in certain areas are limited, the battery swap station 11 cannot be established, and users in this area need to move to a farther battery swap station for battery swap, resulting in waste of resources and reduced user experience.

[0068] In view of this, an embodiment of the present application provides a battery exchange system that can provide battery exchange services for areas with limited site size or power capacity. Users in the area do not need to move to a more distant battery exchange station for battery exchange, thereby improving the user's battery exchange experience.

[0069] Fig. 2 shows a schematic structural diagram of a battery swap system 200 provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Fig. 2 , the battery swap system 200 may include a charging station 210 , at least one battery swap station 220 , and at least one mobile mechanism 230 .

[0070] The charging station 210 can be used to provide batteries. Specifically, the charging station 210 can charge the batteries and provide batteries to at least one battery swap station 220 through the mobile mechanism 230.

[0071] The battery swap station 220 can be used to replace batteries on electrical devices.

[0072] It should be understood that the electrical device is an electrical device to be replaced or an electrical device that needs to have its power replaced.

[0073] Exemplarily, the electrical device may be a car, a truck, a motorcycle, or other vehicle that uses a power battery as a power source.

[0074] It should be understood that the battery swap station 220 of the present application is different from the battery swap station 11 in FIG. 1 , and only needs to swap power for power-consuming devices, and does not need to charge the replaced battery. The battery used for battery swapping in the battery swap station 220 comes from the charging station 210 .

[0075] The mobile mechanism 230 can travel back and forth between the charging station 210 and the battery swap station 220 to transport the batteries of the charging station 210 to the battery swap station 220 , and to transport the batteries replaced at the battery swap station 220 to the charging station 210 .

[0076] In the embodiment of the present application, by separating the charging station 210 from the battery swap station 220, the charging station 210 is set in an area where conditions such as site and power capacity are not restricted, and the battery swap station 220 is set in an area where conditions are restricted. The mobile mechanism 230 can transport the batteries provided by the charging station 210 to the battery swap station 220, thereby providing battery swap services to users in the restricted area, which can improve the user's battery swap experience.

[0077] According to some embodiments of the present application, optionally, as shown in FIG3 , the charging station 210 may include a charging compartment 211, a charger 212, and a first transfer device 213. The charging compartment 211 is used to place batteries. The charger 212 is used to charge the batteries in the charging compartment 211. The first transfer device 213 is used to transfer the batteries in the charging compartment 211 to the mobile mechanism 230, and to transfer the batteries on the mobile mechanism 230 to the charging compartment 211.

[0078] In one embodiment, the charging compartment 211 may include a plurality of compartments, and the battery may be placed in the compartments of the charging compartment 211. The number of compartments of the charging compartment 211 may be set according to the size of the site of the charging station 210, and may also be set to a stacked structure according to the size of the site, thereby reducing the footprint of the charging station 210.

[0079] In one embodiment, the charger 212 can be connected to each slot of the charging compartment 211. The charger 212 can include an AC / DC module or other components, devices or equipment with charging functions, which can directly charge the batteries in the charging compartment 211.

[0080] In one embodiment, the first transfer device 213 can identify an empty space in the charging compartment 211 so as to transfer the battery replaced by the battery swap station 220 on the mobile mechanism 230 to the empty space, thereby charging the battery. The first transfer device 213 can also identify the charged battery in the charging compartment 211 so as to transfer the charged battery to the mobile mechanism 230, thereby providing the battery swap station 220 with available batteries.

[0081] The above-mentioned charged battery may be a fully charged battery, or a battery whose power level is greater than a preset threshold.

[0082] There may be one or more first transfer devices 213 , which is not limited in the present application.

[0083] In the above embodiment, by setting a charging compartment 211, a charger 212 and a first transfer device 213 in the charging station 210, available batteries can be provided for at least one battery swap station 220 located in a restricted area, thereby providing battery swap services to users in the area. In addition, by setting a first transfer device 213 in the charging station 210, the intensity of manual labor can be reduced and the degree of automation of the battery swap system can be improved.

[0084] Optionally, the first transfer device 213 is a stacker or a transfer palletizer.

[0085] The overall structure of the stacker is high and narrow, suitable for operation in the lanes in the charging compartment 211. In addition, the power control system of the stacker is fast, stable and accurate, which can ensure that the batteries can be taken and placed quickly, accurately and safely.

[0086] According to some embodiments of the present application, optionally, as shown in FIG. 3 , the charging station 210 may further include a first transfer channel 214 for parking the mobile mechanism 230 .

[0087] It should be noted that the first transfer channel 214 for parking the mobile mechanism 230 refers to the channel where the mobile mechanism 230 is parked when the first transfer device 213 is loading and unloading batteries.

[0088] In the embodiment of the present application, at least one moving mechanism can be parked on the first transfer channel 214 at the same time.

[0089] In one embodiment, when the moving mechanism 230 moves or drives to a predetermined position of the first transfer channel 214, the first transfer device 213 can load and unload the batteries.

[0090] The first transfer channel 214 can be disposed near the charging compartment 211 , so that when the moving mechanism 230 is located on the first transfer channel 214 , the time required for the first transfer device 213 to load and unload batteries is reduced, thereby improving the efficiency of loading and unloading batteries.

[0091] It should be understood that the battery exchange system 200 may include multiple mobile mechanisms 230, and multiple mobile mechanisms 230 may exist in the charging station 210 at the same time to load and unload batteries.

[0092] In the above embodiment, a first transfer channel 214 specifically used for parking the mobile mechanism 230 is provided in the charging station 210 , which is beneficial to the orderly management of the mobile mechanism 230 in the charging station 210 .

[0093] According to some embodiments of the present application, optionally, as shown in FIG3 , a first positioning device 2141 may be provided on the first transfer channel 214, and a second positioning device may be provided on the moving mechanism 230. The first positioning device 2141 cooperates with the second positioning device to limit the moving mechanism 230.

[0094] In one embodiment, the first positioning device 2141 on the first transfer channel 214 can be an automatically rising and falling roadblock device, and the second positioning device on the mobile mechanism 230 can be a tire or a running wheel of the mobile mechanism 230. When the mobile mechanism 230 enters the target position of the first transfer channel 214, it stops and the roadblock device rises to prevent the mobile mechanism 230 from moving forward and backward. After the battery loading and unloading is completed, the roadblock device descends and the mobile mechanism 230 can leave the first transfer channel 214.

[0095] In the above embodiment, by limiting the position of the moving mechanism 230 , it can be ensured that the moving mechanism 230 does not move during the loading and unloading process of the battery, so as to improve the safety of the battery on the moving mechanism 230 .

[0096] According to some embodiments of the present application, optionally, the first positioning device 2141 may be a positioning column and the second positioning device may be a positioning hole.

[0097] In one embodiment, a positioning column is provided on the first transfer channel 214 of the charging station 210, and a positioning hole matching the positioning column is provided on the mobile mechanism 230. When the mobile mechanism 230 enters the target position of the first transfer channel 214, the positioning column rises and is inserted into the positioning hole on the mobile mechanism 230, thereby fixing the mobile mechanism 230 at the target position.

[0098] In the above embodiment, the positioning column and the positioning hole are used to limit the movable mechanism 230 , which can further ensure that the movable mechanism 230 does not move during the battery loading and unloading process, thereby improving the safety of the battery on the movable mechanism 230 .

[0099] According to some embodiments of the present application, optionally, as shown in FIG. 3 , the first transfer channel 214 can be disposed on both sides of the charging compartment 211 .

[0100] Exemplarily, as shown in FIG. 3 , a charger 212 is disposed on the left and right sides of the charging compartment 211 , and the first transfer channel 214 can be placed on the remaining two sides of the charging compartment 211 .

[0101] In the embodiment of the present application, there may be one or more first transfer channels 214, which is not limited in the present application.

[0102] In the above embodiment, when the first transfer channel 214 is set on both sides of the charging compartment 211, the charging station 210 has two battery loading and unloading channels, namely the first transfer channel 214, and the moving mechanism 230 is closer to the charging compartment 211 during battery loading and unloading, which is beneficial to improving the battery loading and unloading efficiency.

[0103] According to some embodiments of the present application, optionally, as shown in FIG. 4 , the battery swap station 220 includes a battery swap device 221, a first battery compartment 222, and a second transfer device 223. The battery swap device 221 can be used to replace the battery of the electrical device. The first battery compartment 222 can be used to place the battery. The second transfer device 223 can be used to transfer the battery replaced by the battery swap station 220 in the first battery compartment 222 to the mobile mechanism 230, and to transfer the battery on the mobile mechanism 230 to the first battery compartment 222.

[0104] The batteries in the first battery compartment 222 may include batteries replaced from an electric device and usable batteries, wherein the usable batteries may be batteries provided by the charging station 210 to the battery swap station 220 .

[0105] The first battery compartment 222 may include multiple compartments for placing multiple batteries. The number of compartments in the first battery compartment 222 may be set according to the size of the available space of the battery swap station 220. The compartments in the first battery compartment 222 may also be stacked according to the size of the space, thereby reducing the floor space of the battery swap station 220.

[0106] Optionally, the first battery compartment 222 can be divided into two groups of battery compartments, one group for placing usable batteries and the other group for placing batteries replaced from electrical devices, so that the second transfer device 223 can identify and distinguish between usable batteries and replaced batteries.

[0107] It should be understood that the second transfer device 223 is used to transfer the usable batteries on the moving mechanism 230 to the first battery compartment 222 .

[0108] The battery swap station 220 in the embodiment of the present application can swap batteries for electrical devices, but does not need to charge the batteries. Therefore, there is no need to consider the power capacity of the area where the battery swap station 220 is located. The space occupied by the battery charging device can also be saved. In this way, the battery swap station 220 can be set up in areas with limited site or power capacity.

[0109] In one embodiment, the battery replacement device 221 can remove the battery from the power-consuming device, transfer and place the removed battery in an empty compartment in the first battery compartment 222, then obtain the usable battery from the first battery compartment 222, and install the usable battery in the power-consuming device, thereby completing the battery replacement.

[0110] Exemplarily, the battery replacement device can be an automated guided vehicle (AGV) with a battery replacement function. Its travel path and behavior can be controlled by a computer, or its travel path can be established using an electromagnetic track that is attached to the floor. The AGV can move and act based on the information provided by the electromagnetic track.

[0111] In another embodiment, the battery replacement device 221 can remove the battery from the power-consuming device and hand over the removed battery to the second transfer device 223. The second transfer device 223 transfers the battery to an empty position in the first battery compartment 222, and then obtains a usable battery from the first battery compartment 222, and transfers the usable battery to the battery replacement device 221. The battery replacement device 221 installs the usable battery in the power-consuming device, and the battery replacement is completed. That is, by reusing the second transfer device 223 to take and place the battery during the battery replacement process, the battery replacement device 221 can remove and install the battery on the power-consuming device at a fixed position, such as the bottom of the power-consuming device.

[0112] In the above embodiment, the battery swap station 220 only needs to swap batteries for electrical devices and does not need to charge the replaced batteries, which can save the space occupied by the battery charging device. The battery swap station 220 can then be set up in areas with limited conditions such as site or power capacity, thereby providing battery swap services to users in the area and improving users' battery swap experience.

[0113] According to some embodiments of the present application, optionally, the second transfer device 223 may be a stacker or a transfer palletizer.

[0114] The overall structure of the stacker or transfer stacker is high and narrow, suitable for operation in the lane in the first battery compartment 222. In addition, the power control system of the stacker or transfer stacker is fast, stable and accurate, which can ensure fast, accurate and safe loading and unloading of batteries.

[0115] According to some embodiments of the present application, optionally, as shown in FIG. 4 , the battery swap station 220 may further include a second transfer channel 224 for parking the mobile mechanism 230 .

[0116] It should be noted that the second transfer channel 224 for parking the mobile mechanism 230 refers to the position where the mobile mechanism 230 can be parked when the second transfer device 223 is loading and unloading batteries.

[0117] In one embodiment, when the moving mechanism 230 moves or drives to a predetermined position of the second transfer channel 224, the second transfer device 223 can load and unload the batteries.

[0118] The second transfer channel 224 can be disposed near the first battery compartment 222 , so that when the moving mechanism 230 is on the second transfer channel 224 , the time required for the second transfer device 223 to load and unload batteries is reduced, thereby improving the efficiency of loading and unloading batteries.

[0119] It should be understood that the battery exchange system 200 may include multiple mobile mechanisms 230, and multiple mobile mechanisms 230 may exist simultaneously in the battery exchange station 220 to load and unload batteries.

[0120] In the above embodiment, a second transfer channel 224 specifically used for parking the mobile mechanism 230 is provided in the battery swap station 220 , which is beneficial to the orderly management of the mobile mechanism 230 in the battery swap station 220 .

[0121] According to some embodiments of the present application, optionally, a third positioning device 2241 may be provided on the second transfer channel 224 , and the third positioning device 2241 cooperates with the second positioning device of the moving mechanism 230 to limit the moving mechanism 230 .

[0122] In one embodiment, the third positioning device 2241 on the second transfer channel 224 can be an automatically rising and falling roadblock device, and the second positioning device on the mobile mechanism 230 can be a tire or a running wheel of the mobile mechanism 230. When the mobile mechanism 230 enters the target position of the second transfer channel 224, it stops and the roadblock device rises to prevent the mobile mechanism 230 from moving forward and backward. After the battery loading and unloading is completed, the roadblock device descends and the mobile mechanism 230 can leave the second transfer channel 224.

[0123] In the above embodiment, by limiting the position of the moving mechanism 230, it can be ensured that the moving mechanism 230 does not move during the loading and unloading process of the battery, so as to improve the safety of the battery.

[0124] According to some embodiments of the present application, optionally, the third positioning device 2241 is a positioning column.

[0125] In one embodiment, a positioning column is provided on the second transfer channel 224 of the battery swap station 220, and a positioning hole matching the positioning column is provided on the mobile mechanism 230. When the mobile mechanism 230 enters the target position of the second transfer channel 224, the positioning column rises and is inserted into the positioning hole on the mobile mechanism 230, thereby fixing the mobile mechanism 230 at the target position.

[0126] In the above embodiment, the movable mechanism 230 is limited by the positioning column and the positioning hole, which can further ensure that the movable mechanism 230 does not move during the loading and unloading process of the battery, so as to improve the safety of the battery.

[0127] According to some embodiments of the present application, the battery swap station 220 also includes a battery swap channel 225 for parking electrical devices.

[0128] The battery exchange channel 225 refers to the parking position of the power-consuming device when the battery exchange device 221 in the battery exchange station 220 is used to replace the battery.

[0129] In one implementation, in order to facilitate the battery replacement of the electrical device by the battery replacement device 221, the battery replacement channel 225 can be set near the first battery compartment 222. On the one hand, it can save the time of taking and placing the battery during the battery replacement process of the battery replacement device 221 and improve the efficiency of battery replacement. On the other hand, it can increase the compactness between the various parts of the battery replacement station 220 and reduce the floor space of the battery replacement station 220.

[0130] In the above embodiment, a second transfer channel 224 specifically used for parking electrical devices is provided in the battery swap station 220 , which is beneficial to the orderly management of the electrical devices in the battery swap station 220 .

[0131] According to some embodiments of the present application, optionally, as shown in FIG. 4 , the battery exchange channel 225 and the second transfer channel 224 are respectively located on both sides of the first battery compartment 222 .

[0132] It should be noted that both the battery exchange channel 225 and the second transfer channel 224 have an entrance and an exit. The battery exchange channel 225 and the second transfer channel 224 are arranged on both sides of the first battery compartment 222 to prevent the power-consuming device of the battery exchange channel 225 from interfering with the mobile mechanism 230 on the second transfer channel 224.

[0133] According to some embodiments of the present application, optionally, the battery swap station 220 also includes a third transfer device 226 for transferring the batteries in the first battery compartment 222 to the battery swap device 221 , and transferring the batteries replaced by the battery swap device 221 to the first battery compartment 222 .

[0134] That is to say, the removal and placement of the battery during the battery replacement process can be completed by the third transfer device 226.

[0135] In one embodiment, the battery exchange device 221 removes the battery from the power-consuming device and hands it over to the third transfer device 226. The third transfer device 226 transfers the written battery to an empty position in the first battery compartment 222, then obtains a usable battery from the first battery compartment 222, and transfers it to the battery exchange device 221. The battery exchange device 221 installs the usable battery in the power-consuming device. At this point, the battery exchange is completed.

[0136] In the above embodiment, during the battery replacement process, the large battery replacement device 221 does not need to shuttle in the first battery compartment 222, and the third transfer device 226 can quickly take and place the battery, thereby improving the battery replacement efficiency. In addition, the two transfer devices (the second transfer device 223 and the third transfer device 226) are set in the battery replacement station 220 to achieve the battery loading and unloading of the mobile mechanism 230 and the battery loading and placing during the battery replacement process without interfering with each other.

[0137] According to some embodiments of the present application, optionally, the third transfer device 226 is a stacker or a transfer palletizer.

[0138] The overall structure of the stacker or transfer stacker is high and narrow, suitable for operation in the lane in the first battery compartment 222. In addition, the power control system of the stacker or transfer stacker is fast, stable and accurate, which can ensure that the batteries can be quickly, accurately and safely taken and placed.

[0139] According to some embodiments of the present application, optionally, the moving mechanism 230 may include a second battery compartment for placing batteries.

[0140] The second battery compartment may include a plurality of compartments for placing batteries replaced from electrical devices in the first battery compartment 222 of the battery swap station 220 or charged and usable batteries obtained from the charging station 210 .

[0141] The number of positions of the second battery compartment may be determined according to the load of the mobile mechanism 230. For example, assuming that the load of the mobile mechanism is less than 5T, the single weight of the battery or battery pack is 250kg, the second battery compartment may include 20 or less positions.

[0142] It should be noted that by transporting the battery in the second battery compartment, the battery can be prevented from being squeezed during transportation or electrolyte leakage due to bumps, thereby improving the safety of the battery.

[0143] In the above embodiment, the battery in the charging station 210 is transported to a battery swap station in a restricted area by the mobile mechanism 230, so that battery swap services can be provided to users in the restricted area, thereby improving the user's battery swap experience.

[0144] According to some embodiments of the present application, optionally, the moving mechanism 230 is a transport vehicle.

[0145] Exemplarily, the mobile mechanism 230 is a light truck.

[0146] When an emergency occurs, such as a fixed battery swap station malfunctions, or a large-scale event is held, the existing battery swap stations cannot meet the sharp increase in battery swap demand in the short term. If a temporary battery swap station is built, it will not only increase the construction and maintenance costs, but also after the emergency is resolved, the demand for battery swap will decrease, and the newly built battery swap station will also cause a waste of resources.

[0147] Based on this, according to some embodiments of the present application, optionally, the battery swap station 220 can be integrated with the mobile mechanism 230.

[0148] In one embodiment, the battery swap station 220 can be fixedly or detachably mounted on a mobile mechanism 230, and the mobile mechanism 230 can transport the battery swap station 220 and available batteries to any area with sudden battery swap needs, thereby providing battery swap services to users in the area.

[0149] In the above embodiment, the battery swap station 220 and the mobile mechanism 230 are integrated into one, which can be used as an emergency mobile battery swap station to provide battery swap services for users in areas with temporary or sudden battery swap needs, which can further improve the user's battery swap experience.

[0150] Although the present application has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, various modifications may be made thereto and parts thereof may be replaced with equivalents without departing from the scope of the present application. In particular, the various technical features mentioned in the various embodiments may be combined in any manner as long as there are no structural conflicts. The present application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but includes all technical solutions falling within the scope of the claims.

Claims

A power exchange system, comprising: A charging station (210), at least one battery swap station (220) and at least one mobile mechanism (230); the charging station (210) is used to provide batteries; the battery swap station (220) is used to replace batteries on electrical devices; the mobile mechanism (230) is used to transport the batteries of the charging station (210) to the battery swap station (220), and to transport the batteries replaced by the battery swap station (220) to the charging station (210). The battery replacement system according to claim 1, wherein: The charging station (210) comprises a charging bin (211), a charger (212), and a first transfer device (213); the charging bin (211) is used to place batteries; the charger (212) is used to charge the batteries in the charging bin (211); the first transfer device (213) is used to transfer the batteries in the charging bin (211) to the mobile mechanism (230), and to transfer the batteries on the mobile mechanism (230) to the charging bin (211). The battery replacement system according to claim 2, wherein: The first transfer device (213) is a stacker or a transfer palletizer. The battery replacement system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein: The charging station (210) also includes a first transfer channel (214) for parking the mobile mechanism (230). The battery replacement system according to claim 4, wherein: The first transfer channel (214) is provided with a first positioning device (2141); the moving mechanism (230) is provided with a second positioning device; the first positioning device (2141) cooperates with the second positioning device to limit the moving mechanism (230). The battery replacement system according to claim 5, wherein: The first positioning device (2141) is a positioning column and the second positioning device is a positioning hole. The battery replacement system according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein: The first transfer channel (214) is arranged on both sides of the charging compartment (211). The battery replacement system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein: The battery replacement station (220) comprises a battery replacement device (221), a first battery compartment (222) and a second transfer device (223); the battery replacement device (221) is used to replace batteries in the power-consuming device; the first battery compartment (222) is used to place batteries; The second transfer device (223) is used to transfer the battery replaced by the battery swap station (220) in the first battery compartment (222) to the mobile mechanism (230), and to transfer the battery on the mobile mechanism (230) to the first battery compartment (222). The battery replacement system according to claim 8, wherein: The second transfer device (223) is a stacker or a transfer palletizer. The battery replacement system according to claim 8 or 9, wherein: The battery swap station (220) further includes a second transfer channel (224) for parking the mobile mechanism (230). The battery replacement system according to claim 10, wherein: The second transfer channel (224) is provided with a third positioning device (2241); the third positioning device (2241) cooperates with the second positioning device of the moving mechanism (230) to limit the moving mechanism (230). The battery replacement system according to claim 11, wherein: The third positioning device (2241) is a positioning column. The battery replacement system according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein: The battery swap station (220) further includes a battery swap channel (225) for parking the power-consuming device. The battery replacement system according to claim 13, wherein: The battery replacement channel (225) and the second transfer channel (224) are respectively located on two sides of the first battery compartment (222). The battery replacement system according to any one of claims 8 to 14, wherein: The battery swap station (220) also includes a third transfer device (226) for transferring the battery in the first battery compartment (222) to the battery swap device (221), and transferring the battery replaced by the battery swap device (221) to the first battery compartment (222). The battery replacement system according to claim 15, wherein: The third transfer device (226) is a stacker or a transfer palletizer. The battery replacement system according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein: The moving mechanism (230) comprises a second battery compartment for accommodating batteries. The battery replacement system according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein: The moving mechanism (230) is a transport vehicle. The battery replacement system according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein: The battery swap station (220) and the mobile mechanism (230) are integrated into one.

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