Battery storage device

Abstract

The invention discloses a battery storage device which comprises a battery transfer device, and the battery transfer device comprises a fixedly-arranged supporting frame, a compartment body capable of moving in a lifting mode and a telescopic mechanism which is arranged in the compartment body and can move outwards in a telescopic mode. The battery transfer device further comprises a moving assembly which is arranged between the supporting frames and can move up and down along the supporting frames, and the compartment body is rotationally connected to the moving assembly so as to adjust the orientation of the telescopic mechanism. The battery storage device further comprises at least one battery rack arranged on the peripheral side of the battery transfer device, a plurality of battery bin positions are distributed on the battery rack in the longitudinal direction, and the battery bin positions are provided with bin openings facing the compartment body. According to the scheme, the arrangement mode of the battery rack is flexible, the expandability is high, the battery rack can adapt to installation conditions in different installation environments, the space utilization rate is increased, and the storage capacity of the battery pack is increased; and through cooperation with the rotatable lift car, the battery transfer device can perform battery pack interaction with the battery rack at any position, so that the battery transfer efficiency is greatly improved.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese patent application No. 202410380046.4, filed on March 29, 2024. This application incorporates the entirety of the aforementioned patent application. Technical Field

[0002] The present application relates to the technical field of battery replacement for electric vehicles, and in particular to a battery storage device. Background Art

[0003] With the development and popularization of new energy vehicles, battery pack quick-swap technology has also developed rapidly. For large vehicles, such as heavy trucks and light trucks, the heavy weight of the body and cargo leads to higher battery pack capacity requirements, requiring a sufficiently large capacity of electricity to support the operation of large vehicles.

[0004] In traditional battery swapping, large new energy vehicles use a top-lift method to secure large battery containers to the vehicle's beams. These containers are located close to the cab, posing significant safety risks to both the driver and the vehicle during operation and during top-lift battery swapping. Furthermore, battery failures can directly harm the driver. Furthermore, the top-lift method places high demands on the site for battery swap stations, requiring sufficient space for lifting equipment to transport and store batteries, resulting in high construction costs.

[0005] Therefore, for large vehicles, there is an urgent need for a safer, more reliable and easy-to-popularize battery replacement mode. For example, a chassis-type battery replacement mode for passenger cars is adopted. In the chassis-type battery replacement mode, it is necessary to control the battery transfer device to move as a whole to the battery replacement position under the battery replacement vehicle, and then perform the lifting operation and the removal or installation of the battery pack to complete the entire battery replacement process. In this battery replacement process, due to the limited space under the body of the battery replacement vehicle, especially heavy-duty battery replacement vehicles that are difficult to drive and park on a platform above the ground, the space under the body of the battery replacement vehicle is even more limited. If a battery transfer device is used for battery replacement, the battery transfer device needs to carry the low-charged battery or the fully charged battery back and forth and in and out of the bottom of the battery replacement vehicle during the battery replacement process. In order to meet the power requirements of heavy-duty battery replacement vehicles, the battery packs are very large, which leads to a great restriction on the available space of the battery transfer device. At this time, if the available space of the battery transfer device is to be increased, the battery transfer device can only be moved in the space sunken from the ground. Due to the multiple driving of heavy-duty battery-swapping vehicles before and after battery-swapping, the ground structure under this method will inevitably be unreliable and difficult to bear the multiple loads of the battery-swapping vehicles, reducing the life of the equipment structure and posing a safety hazard to the battery-swapping vehicles.

[0006] In addition, a battery swap station is usually equipped with a battery rack that can carry multiple battery packs. The battery rack is equipped with many battery compartments that can temporarily store battery packs. The depleted batteries removed from the battery swap vehicle need to be sent to the battery compartment for storage and charging. At the same time, the fully charged batteries to be installed on the battery swap vehicle need to be obtained from the battery rack. Therefore, the battery transfer equipment needs to use the battery tray and unlocking pin to unlock the depleted batteries on the battery swap vehicle and transfer them to the battery compartment for charging, and take out the fully charged batteries in the battery compartment and install and lock them on the battery swap vehicle. For the chassis-type battery swap mode, the more popular method currently is to hang the battery pack on the chassis of the battery swap vehicle through a battery locking mechanism. This method is friendly to the battery tray, and the battery locking mechanism on the chassis will not interfere with the battery tray under the battery pack. However, the low-power batteries sent into the battery compartment are usually supported by the supporting structure at the bottom of the battery compartment. Therefore, it is necessary to set space on the supporting structure to avoid the battery tray, which brings difficulties to the design of the supporting structure. Therefore, the battery rack mostly supports the battery pack through two longitudinal beams, and the battery tray enters the battery compartment from between the two longitudinal beams, but the load-bearing stability of the two longitudinal beams is poor and the safety risk is high. Furthermore, since the installation method of the battery pack on the battery swap vehicle is different from the storage method in the battery compartment, the burden of the battery transfer equipment in exchanging battery packs between the battery compartment and the battery swap vehicle is increased, and the battery swap efficiency is low.

[0007] It can be seen that the many drawbacks of the existing technology need to be further improved and enhanced. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The present application provides a battery storage device, in which the battery rack is flexibly arranged and highly scalable, and can adapt to the installation conditions of different installation environments, improve space utilization, and increase the storage capacity of battery packs; and by cooperating with a rotatable car, the battery transfer device can interact with battery racks at any position for battery packs, thereby greatly improving the battery transfer efficiency, thereby solving at least one of the above-mentioned technical problems.

[0009] The technical solutions adopted in this application are:

[0010] A battery storage device includes a battery transport device, the battery transport device including a fixed support frame, a liftable and movable box, and a telescopic mechanism disposed within the box and capable of telescoping and moving outward. The battery transport device also includes a moving assembly disposed between the support frames and capable of lifting and moving along the support frames. The box is rotatably connected to the moving assembly to adjust the orientation of the telescopic mechanism.

[0011] The battery storage device also includes at least one battery rack arranged on the peripheral side of the battery transport device. The battery rack is provided with a plurality of battery positions distributed longitudinally, and the battery positions have a position opening facing the compartment body.

[0012] In the above scheme, the battery rack is set up flexibly and has strong scalability. It can adapt to the installation conditions of different installation environments, improve space utilization, and increase the storage capacity of battery packs. The circumferential arrangement of multiple battery racks around the battery transfer device can make full use of the installation space on the side of the battery transfer device, and by cooperating with the rotatable car, the battery transfer device can interact with battery racks at any position for battery packs, thereby greatly improving the battery transfer efficiency.

[0013] As a preferred embodiment of the present application, a plurality of battery racks are provided, and the plurality of battery racks are arranged circumferentially around the battery transfer device. The support frame includes a plurality of columns formed on the outer peripheral side of the vehicle body, and the battery rack and the support frame reuse the columns; or, the battery rack and the support frame are independent of each other.

[0014] In the above scheme, the reuse of columns for the battery rack and the support frame can shorten the battery transfer distance between the battery rack and the battery transfer device, thereby further improving the battery replacement efficiency. At the same time, it can also simplify the equipment structure, save installation space and equipment costs; the independence of the battery rack and the support frame makes it easier to arrange the battery rack flexibly.

[0015] As a preferred embodiment of the present application, it also includes a battery swap platform, and the battery transfer device is provided on at least one side of the battery swap platform along the direction of travel of the battery swap vehicle;

[0016] The battery rack includes at least a first battery rack arranged on at least one side of the battery transfer device in a direction parallel to the driving direction of the battery-swapping vehicle. The opening of the first battery rack is arranged toward the battery transfer device. The first battery rack is vertically arranged with a plurality of first battery positions in sequence.

[0017] In the above scheme, the battery transfer device can be set on one side or both sides of the battery swap platform along the driving direction of the battery swap vehicle, so that single-sided and / or double-sided battery swap can be realized, thereby improving the battery swap efficiency; the first battery rack and the support frame reuse columns can shorten the battery transfer distance between the first battery rack and the battery transfer device, thereby further improving the battery swap efficiency, and at the same time, it can also simplify the equipment structure, save installation space and equipment costs; the first battery rack and the support frame are independent of each other, which is more convenient for the flexible arrangement of the battery rack.

[0018] As a preferred embodiment of the present application, it also includes a second battery rack arranged on the side opposite to the battery transfer device and the battery exchange platform, the opening of the second battery rack is arranged toward the battery transfer device, and the second battery rack is vertically arranged with multiple second battery positions in sequence.

[0019] In the above solution, the provision of the second battery rack can further utilize the installation space around the battery transport device to increase the storage capacity of the battery packs.

[0020] As a preferred embodiment of the present application, it also includes a third battery rack arranged on at least one side of the second battery rack in a direction parallel to the driving direction of the battery-swap vehicle. The third battery rack has at least one third battery position in any horizontal direction. A battery conveying mechanism is arranged between the third battery position and the second battery position at the same vertical height. The battery conveying mechanism can transfer battery packs between the second battery position and the third battery position.

[0021] In the above scheme, the arrangement of the second battery rack and the third battery rack can further utilize the installation space around the battery transfer device, and the arrangement of the battery conveying mechanism can enable the transfer operation to be performed by conveying the batteries to the second battery rack when fully charged batteries or low-charged batteries need to be transferred between the third battery rack and the battery transfer device, thereby increasing the battery storage space and thus increasing the number of available batteries in the battery storage device.

[0022] As a preferred embodiment of the present application, a row of first battery racks are arranged on each side of the battery transfer device in a direction parallel to the traveling direction of the battery swapping vehicle; a row of second battery racks are arranged on the side of the battery transfer device opposite to the battery swapping platform in a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction of the battery swapping vehicle; and the first battery rack and the second battery rack are arranged in a triangular shape on the surrounding side of the battery transfer device in a direction parallel to the traveling direction of the battery swapping vehicle.

[0023] In the above scheme, the first battery rack and the second battery rack are arranged in a triangular shape on the peripheral side of the battery transfer device so that the compartment in this application can fix a single rotation angle, that is, a single rotation of 90° can achieve a precise turn, which is more convenient for controlling the rotation of the compartment; and the above setting method is adopted.

[0024] As a preferred embodiment of the present application, the first battery rack is arranged on both sides of the battery transfer device in a direction parallel to the driving direction of the battery-swapping vehicle, and the battery storage device also includes a second battery storage device arranged in a fan shape around the battery transfer device. The second battery storage device includes at least two rows of second battery racks arranged toward the battery transfer device, and the second battery rack has a plurality of second battery compartments arranged in sequence along the vertical direction.

[0025] In the above solution, the arrangement of the second battery rack is more flexible and more conducive to expanding the storage capacity of the battery storage device. At the same time, the above arrangement can also make full use of the installation space inside the battery transport device and improve space utilization.

[0026] As a preferred embodiment of the present application, the second battery rack and the support frame are independent of each other, or the second battery rack and the support frame reuse columns.

[0027] In the above solution, the second battery rack and the supporting frame reuse the columns to shorten the battery transfer distance between the second battery rack and the battery transfer device, thereby further improving the battery replacement efficiency. At the same time, it can also simplify the equipment structure, save installation space and equipment costs; the second battery rack and the supporting frame are independent of each other, which is more convenient for the flexible arrangement of the battery rack.

[0028] As a preferred embodiment of the present application, the columns are arranged to avoid the opening areas of the battery compartments of the battery rack so that the battery transport device can transport batteries between the battery compartments.

[0029] In the above scheme, this arrangement can prevent the pillars from interfering with the rotation of the car body and the extension of the mechanism / battery-changing mechanism outside the car body, thereby ensuring the smooth operation of the battery-changing work.

[0030] As a preferred embodiment of the present application, the first battery rack is arranged on both sides of the battery transfer device in a direction parallel to the driving direction of the battery swapping vehicle;

[0031] The first battery rack is fixed, and the second battery rack and the third battery rack can move relative to the battery transfer device in a direction parallel to the driving direction of the battery-swapping vehicle.

[0032] In the above solution, in the above solution, the second battery rack and the third battery rack can be moved relative to the battery transfer device. When the second battery rack is fully loaded, the second battery rack can be moved away, and the third battery rack can be moved to the position of the original second battery rack for standby use, which is beneficial to improving the overall utilization efficiency of the battery storage device.

[0033] As a preferred embodiment of the present application, support beams for supporting the battery pack are provided on both sides of the battery compartment along the entry and exit direction of the battery pack. The support beams are located in the top area of ​​the battery compartment, and the battery pack is suspended and fixed on the support beams.

[0034] In the above solution, the battery pack is suspended and fixed on the supporting beam. This fixing method is the same as the fixing method of the battery pack on the chassis of the battery swap vehicle. This design can facilitate the replacement and maintenance of the battery pack, and can also effectively utilize the space in the battery compartment.

[0035] As a preferred embodiment of the present application, a battery locking mechanism for locking the battery pack is also provided in the battery compartment. The battery locking mechanisms are arranged one by one on the supporting beam. The battery locking mechanism includes a plurality of lock bases with lock slots, lock tongues movably arranged in the lock slots, and a lock link connecting the plurality of lock tongues. The battery locking mechanism cooperates with a plurality of lock shafts on both sides of the battery pack to suspend and fix the battery pack from both sides.

[0036] In the above scheme, the battery locking mechanism can not only fix the battery pack, but its unlocking and locking principles are the same as those of the battery pack on the battery swap vehicle. The same operation can be used to take or place the battery pack in the battery compartment without adding additional mechanisms or equipment, thereby reducing costs. Therefore, the versatility of the battery swap mechanism in storing and retrieving batteries in the battery compartment and disassembling and installing batteries at the bottom of the battery swap vehicle is improved, greatly improving the battery swap efficiency.

[0037] As a preferred embodiment of the present application, an electrical connector is provided in the battery compartment. The electrical connector is provided on the side wall of the battery compartment facing the opening, so that when the battery pack is moved to be locked with the battery locking mechanism, the charging port of the battery pack is electrically connected to the interface end of the electrical connector.

[0038] In the above solution, the electrical connector can charge the battery pack placed on the battery compartment. Furthermore, after the battery locking mechanism fixes the battery pack, the interface end of the battery pack can be docked with the electrical connector. This design ensures that the battery pack can be safely charged in the locked state, and is also convenient for management and maintenance.

[0039] Due to the adoption of the above technical solution, the beneficial effects achieved by this application are as follows:

[0040] In the above solution, the battery rack arrangement is flexible and highly scalable, adapting to the installation conditions of different installation environments. This improves space utilization while also increasing the battery pack storage capacity. The circumferential arrangement of multiple battery racks around the battery transporter fully utilizes the installation space on the side of the battery transporter. Furthermore, by cooperating with a rotatable car, the battery transporter can exchange battery packs with battery racks at any position, greatly improving battery transport efficiency. Furthermore, the second and third battery racks can be moved relative to the battery transporter. When the second battery rack is fully loaded, the second battery rack can be removed, allowing the third battery rack to be moved to the original second battery rack's location for standby use, which helps improve the overall utilization efficiency of the battery storage device.

[0041] At the same time, the battery rack in the present application not only serves to carry and temporarily store the battery pack, but can also charge the depleted battery pack through the setting of the electrical connector 6 in the battery compartment, thereby greatly improving the rotation efficiency of the battery pack and facilitating the improvement of the battery replacement efficiency. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] The drawings described herein are used to provide a further understanding of the present application and constitute a part of the present application. The illustrative embodiments of the present application and their descriptions are used to explain the present application and do not constitute an improper limitation on the present application. In the drawings:

[0043] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the structure of the battery storage device in embodiment 1;

[0044] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the structure of the battery storage device in the second embodiment;

[0045] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the structure of the battery storage device in the third embodiment;

[0046] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the structure of the battery storage device in the fourth embodiment;

[0047] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the structure of a battery transport device in an example;

[0048] Figure 6 This is a structural diagram of a telescopic mechanism in an example;

[0049] Figure 7 It is a partial structural diagram of the battery rack;

[0050] Figure 8 Schematic diagram of the structure of the battery locking mechanism and the bolster in Example 1;

[0051] Figure 9 Schematic diagram of the structure of the battery locking mechanism and the support beam in Example 2.

[0052] List of parts and reference numerals:

[0053] 1 battery transfer device, 11 support frame, 111 column, 12 compartment, 13 battery replacement device, 131 telescopic mechanism, 132 battery tray, 133 unlocking pin, 14 moving assembly;

[0054] 2. Battery swap platform;

[0055] 31 first battery rack, 32 second battery rack, 33 third battery rack;

[0056] 41 supporting beam, 411 square tube, 412 first U-shaped plate, 413 second U-shaped plate, 414 reinforcing rib plate, 42 mounting beam;

[0057] 5 battery locking mechanism, 51 lock base, 511 lock slot, 52 lock tongue, 53 lock connecting rod;

[0058] 6 electrical connectors. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0059] In order to more clearly illustrate the overall concept of the present application, a detailed description is given below in an illustrative manner in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0060] The following description sets forth many specific details to facilitate a thorough understanding of the present application. However, the present application may also be implemented in other ways than those described herein, and therefore, the scope of protection of the present application is not limited by the specific embodiments disclosed below. It should be noted that the embodiments of the present application and the features of each embodiment may be combined with each other unless there is a conflict.

[0061] In addition, in the description of the present application, it should be understood that the terms "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc., indicating orientations or positional relationships, are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. They 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. Therefore, they cannot be understood as limitations on the present application.

[0062] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, terms such as "installed," "connected," "connect," and "fixed" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they may refer to fixed connection, detachable connection, or integration; mechanical connection, electrical connection, or communication; direct connection or indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and internal communication between two components or interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in this application based on specific circumstances.

[0063] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, a first feature "above" or "below" a second feature may be that the first and second features are in direct contact, or the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. In the description of this specification, the description with reference to the terms "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "example", "specific example", or "some examples" means that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present application. In this specification, the schematic representation of the above terms does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described may be combined in an appropriate manner in any one or more embodiments or examples.

[0064] Reference Figure 1-9 As shown, the present application discloses a battery storage device 1, which includes a battery transport device 1 and at least one battery rack arranged around the battery transport device 1. Figure 5As shown, the battery transfer device 1 includes a fixed support frame 11, a liftable compartment 12, and a telescopic mechanism 131 provided in the compartment 12 and telescopically movable outward. The battery transfer device 1 also includes a moving component 14 provided between the support frames 11 and liftable along the support frames 11. The compartment 12 is rotatably connected to the moving component 14 to adjust the direction of the telescopic mechanism 131. The battery rack is provided with a plurality of battery compartments distributed longitudinally, and the battery compartments have a compartment opening facing the compartment 12.

[0065] In the above scheme, the battery rack is set up flexibly and has strong scalability. It can adapt to the installation conditions of different installation environments, improve space utilization, and increase the storage capacity of battery packs. The circumferential arrangement of multiple battery racks around the battery transfer device 1 can make full use of the installation space on the side of the battery transfer device 1, and by cooperating with the rotatable car, the battery transfer device 1 can interact with battery racks at any position and battery compartments at any height on the battery rack for battery packs, thereby greatly improving the battery transfer efficiency.

[0066] In addition, the present application sets the telescopic mechanism 131 in the compartment 12 so that the telescopic mechanism 131 can be extended from the compartment 12 to perform the operation of taking and placing the battery pack. When actually taking and placing the battery pack, the telescopic mechanism 131 only needs to be extended from the compartment 12 to enter under the battery-swapping vehicle or into the battery compartment, avoiding the battery transfer device 1 as a whole entering the bottom of the battery-swapping vehicle and the battery compartment, thereby occupying the bottom space of the vehicle and the space inside the battery compartment. Even if the battery-swapping vehicle is changing batteries on a battery-swapping platform 2 flush with the ground, the bottom of the vehicle body can provide more operating space for the disassembly or installation of the battery pack, making the battery-swapping operation simpler and faster, and avoiding the reduction in life and safety hazards caused by digging a pit under the battery-swapping platform 2 to create a sunken space on the ground.

[0067] Preferably, refer to Figure 6 As shown, the telescopic mechanism 131 can use a fork, which is extended and retracted relative to the vehicle body 12. The telescopic mechanism 131 can be provided with a battery tray 132 for carrying the battery pack and an unlocking pin 133 for locking and unlocking the battery pack. When the telescopic mechanism 131 is extended toward the battery swap vehicle on the battery swap platform 2, the battery tray 132 is sent to the bottom of the battery swap vehicle for locking and unlocking the battery pack and for disassembly and transportation. When the telescopic mechanism 131 is extended toward the battery rack, the battery tray 132 is sent into the battery compartment for locking and unlocking the battery pack and for disassembly and transportation.

[0068] As a preferred embodiment of the present application, a plurality of battery racks are provided, and the plurality of battery racks are arranged circumferentially around the battery transport device 1. The support frame 11 includes a plurality of columns 111 formed on the outer peripheral side of the compartment 12. The battery rack and the support frame 11 reuse the columns 111; alternatively, the battery rack and the support frame 11 are independent of each other. In the above scheme, the reuse of the columns 111 by the battery rack and the support frame 11 can shorten the battery transport distance between the battery rack and the battery transport device 1, thereby further improving the battery replacement efficiency, while also simplifying the equipment structure, saving installation space and equipment costs; the independence of the battery rack and the support frame 11 makes it easier to flexibly arrange the battery racks.

[0069] Continue to refer to Figure 1-4 As shown, the battery storage device in the present application also includes a battery exchange platform 2, and the battery transfer device 1 is arranged on at least one side of the battery exchange platform 2 along the driving direction of the battery exchange vehicle. As a preferred embodiment of the present application, the battery rack includes at least a first battery rack 31 arranged on at least one side of the battery transfer device 1 in a direction parallel to the driving direction of the battery exchange vehicle, the first battery rack 31 is opened toward the battery transfer device 1, and the first battery rack 31 is vertically arranged in sequence with multiple first battery positions. In the above scheme, the battery transfer device 1 can be arranged on one side or both sides of the battery exchange platform 2 along the driving direction of the battery exchange vehicle, so that single-sided and / or double-sided battery exchange can be achieved, thereby improving the battery exchange efficiency; the first battery rack 31 and the support frame 11 reuse the column 111, which can shorten the battery transfer distance between the first battery rack 31 and the battery transfer device 1, thereby further improving the battery exchange efficiency, and at the same time can also simplify the equipment structure, save installation space and equipment costs; the first battery rack 31 and the support frame 11 are independent of each other, which is more convenient for the flexible arrangement of the battery rack. Preferably, continue to refer to Figure 2 As shown, the battery rack also includes a second battery rack 32 disposed on the side of the battery transporter 1 opposite the battery swap platform 2. The second battery rack 32 is opened toward the battery transporter 1 and is provided with a plurality of second battery compartments in a vertical sequence. The provision of the second battery rack 32 further utilizes the installation space around the battery transporter 1, thereby increasing the storage capacity of battery packs.

[0070] It should be noted here that the present application does not specifically limit the arrangement of the above-mentioned battery rack, and it can adopt the arrangement of any of the following embodiments.

[0071] Implementation method 1: Refer to Figure 1As shown, along the direction parallel to the travel direction of the battery-swapping vehicle, a row of first battery racks 31 are provided on each side of the battery transfer device 1; along the direction perpendicular to the travel direction of the battery-swapping vehicle, a row of second battery racks 32 are provided on the side of the battery transfer device 1 opposite to the battery-swapping platform 2; along the direction parallel to the travel direction of the battery-swapping vehicle, the first battery rack 31 and the second battery rack 32 are arranged in a herringbone shape on the circumference of the battery transfer device 1. In the above scheme, the first battery rack 31 and the second battery rack 32 are arranged in a herringbone shape on the circumference of the battery transfer device 1, so that the compartment 12 in this application can fix a single rotation angle, that is, a single rotation of 90° can achieve a precise turn, which is more convenient for controlling the rotation of the compartment 12.

[0072] Implementation method 2: Reference Figure 2 As shown, based on the first embodiment, a third battery rack 33 is further provided on at least one side of the second battery rack 32 in a direction parallel to the travel direction of the battery swapping vehicle. The third battery rack 33 has at least one third battery position in any horizontal direction. Preferably, a battery conveying mechanism is provided between the third battery position and the second battery position at the same vertical height. The battery conveying mechanism can transfer battery packs between the second battery position and the third battery position. The provision of the third battery rack 33 can further utilize the installation space around the battery transfer device 1. The provision of the battery conveying mechanism can enable the transfer operation to be performed by transferring fully charged batteries or low-charged batteries between the third battery rack 33 and the battery transfer device 1 by transferring the batteries to the second battery rack 32. This increases the battery storage space and thus increases the number of available batteries in the battery storage device.

[0073] Implementation method three: reference Figure 3 As shown, along a direction parallel to the direction of travel of the battery-swapping vehicle, the first battery rack 31 is arranged on both sides of the battery transport device 1, and the battery storage device also includes a second battery storage device arranged in a fan shape around the battery transport device 1. The second battery storage device includes at least two rows of second battery racks 32 arranged toward the battery transport device 1, and the second battery rack 32 is vertically arranged with multiple second battery compartments. In the above scheme, the arrangement of the second battery rack 32 is more flexible and more conducive to expanding the storage capacity of the battery storage device. At the same time, the above arrangement can also make full use of the installation space inside the battery transport device 1 and improve space utilization.

[0074] It should be noted here that in the above-mentioned embodiments one, two, and three, the first battery rack 31, the second battery rack 32, and the third battery rack 33 are all fixedly arranged, and the support frame 11 can also reuse the aforementioned column 111 with the second battery rack 32, thereby shortening the battery transfer distance between the second battery rack 32 and the battery transfer device 1 to further improve the battery replacement efficiency, and at the same time, it can also simplify the equipment structure, save installation space and equipment costs. However, this application does not make specific restrictions on this. The support frame 11 can also be independent of the second battery rack 32, so that the arrangement of the second battery rack 32 and the third battery rack 33 is more flexible, as shown in the following embodiment four.

[0075] Implementation method 4: Reference Figure 4 As shown, based on the aforementioned second embodiment, the first battery rack 31 is fixedly arranged on both sides of the battery transfer device 1 in a direction parallel to the driving direction of the battery-swapping vehicle, and the second battery rack 32 and the third battery rack 33 can be moved relative to the battery transfer device 1 in a direction parallel to the driving direction of the battery-swapping vehicle. Since the second battery rack 32 and the third battery rack 33 can be moved relative to the battery transfer device 1, the second battery rack 32 can be removed when the second battery rack 32 is fully loaded, and the third battery rack 33 can be moved to the position of the original second battery rack 32 for standby use, which is beneficial to improving the overall utilization efficiency of the battery storage device.

[0076] Further, refer to Figure 7 and Figure 8As shown, the battery compartment is provided with support beams 41 for supporting the battery pack on both sides along the in-and-out direction of the battery pack. The support beams 41 are located in the top area of ​​the battery compartment, and the battery pack is suspended and fixed on the support beams 41. A battery locking mechanism 5 for locking the battery pack is also provided in the battery compartment. The battery locking mechanisms 5 are arranged one-to-one on the support beams 41. The battery locking mechanism 5 includes a plurality of lock bases 51 with lock slots 511, lock tongues 52 movably arranged in the lock slots 511, and a lock link 53 connecting the plurality of lock tongues 52. The battery locking mechanism 5 cooperates with the plurality of lock shafts on both sides of the battery pack to suspend and fix the battery pack from both sides. Specifically, the lock bases 51 on each support beam 41 can be arranged at intervals along the in-and-out direction of the battery pack. The same side of the battery pack is suspended and locked by multiple lock bases 51 to avoid stress concentration and improve the suspension and locking stability of the battery pack in the battery compartment. The first battery locking mechanism 5 includes a plurality of lock bases 51, each lock base 51 is provided with a corresponding lock tongue 52, all the lock tongues 52 on the same support beam 41 are connected by a lock link 53, and the lock tongue 52 is used to open or close the lock slot 511. When the battery pack is locked, since the lock shaft on the battery pack needs to enter the lock slot 511, the lock link 53 can be pushed up to drive all the lock tongues 52 to move upward to open the lock slot 511, so that the lock shaft can enter the lock slot 511, and then the push on the lock link 53 is canceled, and the lock link 53 is locked. The locking pin 52 is driven downward to reclose the locking slot 511. At this time, the locking pin 52 blocks the locking shaft from disengaging from the locking slot 511, thereby locking the battery pack. When the battery pack is unlocked, since the locking shaft on the battery pack needs to be disengaged from the locking slot 511, the locking link 53 can be pushed up to make the locking link 53 drive all the locking pins 52 to move upward to open the locking slot 511, so that the locking shaft can be disengaged from the locking slot 511. After the locking shaft is disengaged from the locking slot 511, the pushing of the locking link 53 is cancelled, and the locking link 53 drives the locking pin 52 to move downward to reclose the locking slot 511.The skilled in the art can understand that, compared with the traditional battery rack adopting two longitudinal beams 42 to bear the battery pack, the present scheme adopts the first battery locking mechanism 5 to suspend the battery pack on the two side beams 41 on the top of the battery compartment, so that the connection between the battery pack and the battery rack is realized at the top of the battery compartment and the battery pack. On the one hand, there is no need to set the longitudinal beam 42 to support the battery pack at the bottom of the battery compartment, so that a part of space below the battery pack can be reserved to avoid the battery tray 132 of the battery swapping device 13, thereby avoiding the interference of the battery rack with the entry of the battery tray 132 into the battery compartment. On the other hand, for the scheme of locking the battery pack on the battery swapping vehicle (especially heavy truck, light truck, etc.) by suspension, in the present application, the battery pack is also locked by suspension in the battery rack, so that the battery rack and the battery swapping vehicle have greater relevance and better matching degree, to ensure that the same set of telescopic mechanisms 131 perform the same action between the battery swapping vehicle and the battery rack, for example, the telescopic mechanism 131 locks the battery pack in the battery locking mechanism 5 of the battery compartment and the battery locking mechanism 5 of the battery swapping vehicle. The locking shaft enters the vertical opening of the lock groove 511 by the upward movement of the battery swapping main body in advance, then translates forward into the lock groove 511, and then the locking shaft is limited and locked in the lock groove 511 by the locking tongue 52.

[0077] In addition, it should be noted that the battery swapping vehicle and the battery locking mechanism 5 on the battery swapping vehicle are not shown in the drawings of the present application, but it is only necessary to make the battery locking mechanism 5 in the battery compartment consistent with the battery locking mechanism 5 on the battery swapping vehicle. The skilled in the art can understand that, by making the battery locking mechanism 5 in the battery compartment consistent with the battery locking mechanism 5 on the battery swapping vehicle, the taking and placing rotation of the telescopic mechanism 131 to the battery pack in the battery compartment and the taking and placing rotation and locking and unlocking actions of the telescopic mechanism 131 to the battery pack under the battery swapping vehicle are completely consistent, which greatly reduces the design burden on the control program and the burden on the structure design when the battery transfer device 1 realizes the interaction between the battery pack in the battery compartment and the battery swapping vehicle. The same or similar program can be used to control the same action, and the same set of battery supporting structure and locking and unlocking structure can be used, for example, the same battery tray 132 and unlocking pin 133 on the battery tray 132. The battery locking mechanism 5 on the battery rack and the battery locking mechanism 5 on the battery swapping vehicle are consistent and have universality, which reduces the design cost of the locking mechanism, improves the smoothness and accuracy of battery swapping, shortens the battery swapping time, and improves the user experience of battery swapping.

[0078] As for the specific structure of the side beam 41, the present application is not limited, which at least includes the following two embodiments:

[0079] Embodiment one: as Figure 8As shown, the supporting beam 41 includes a square tube 411 and a first U-shaped plate 412. The square tube 411 is connected to the two columns 111. The bottom wall of the first U-shaped plate 412 is connected to the side wall of the square tube 411 facing the battery compartment so that the opening of the first U-shaped plate 412 faces the battery compartment. A plurality of lock bases 51 are provided on the lower side wall of the first U-shaped plate 412. The lock link 53 is located between the upper and lower side walls of the first U-shaped plate 412 to form a moving space for the lock link 53 to drive the lock tongue 52. In this technical solution, the bolster 41 is composed of two parts: a square tube 411 and a first U-shaped plate 412. The square tube 411 directly connects the two columns 111, and the first U-shaped plate 412 is connected to the square tube 411. The superposition of the square tube 411 and the first U-shaped plate 412 not only improves the stability of the connection between the two columns 111 and reduces the risk of battery rack shaking, but also ensures that the bolster 41 itself has relatively high strength, thereby significantly improving its pressure-bearing capacity and reducing the risk of deformation when the battery pack is suspended. In addition, the internal space of the first U-shaped plate 412 forms a movement space for the lock link 53 to drive the lock tongue 52. This facilitates the upward movement of the lock link 53 during the locking and unlocking of the battery pack to drive the lock tongue 52 to avoid the lock shaft and allow the lock shaft to enter and exit the lock slot 511. The bottom wall of the square tube 411 and the first U-shaped plate 412 is preferably connected by welding, which has high connection strength and is not easy to deform or loosen.

[0080] Example 2: Figure 9 As shown, the bolster 41 includes a second U-shaped plate 413. The opening of the second U-shaped plate 413 faces upward, and the ends of the side walls are respectively connected to the adjacent columns 111. The side walls of the columns 111 facing the battery compartment are connected to the bottom wall and the side walls at both ends of the second U-shaped plate 413 through multiple reinforcing ribs 414. Multiple lock bases 51 are provided on the bottom wall of the second U-shaped plate 413. The lock link 53 is located above the bottom wall of the second U-shaped plate 413 to form a movement space for the lock link 53 to drive the lock tongue 52. In this technical solution, the bolster 41 is composed of the second U-shaped plate 413 and multiple reinforcing ribs. The space above the bottom wall of the second U-shaped plate 413 forms a movement space for the lock link 53 to drive the lock tongue 52. This facilitates the upward movement of the lock link 53 to drive the lock tongue 52 to avoid the lock shaft during the locking and unlocking process of the battery pack, allowing the lock shaft to enter and exit the lock slot 511. One side wall of the second U-shaped plate 413 forms a large-area connection with the two columns 111, improving the stability of the connection between the two columns 111 and reducing the risk of battery rack shaking. Furthermore, the reinforcing ribs 414 connect the columns 111 to the two side walls and bottom wall of the second U-shaped plate 413, ensuring that the bolster 41 has relatively high structural strength and connection strength, significantly improving its pressure-bearing capacity and reducing the risk of deformation when the battery pack is suspended. The side walls of the second U-shaped plate 413 and the columns 111 are preferably connected by welding, and the columns 111, reinforcing ribs 414, and second U-shaped plate 413 are also preferably connected by welding, which provides high connection strength and is not easily deformed or loosened.

[0081] As a preferred embodiment of this application, refer to Figure 7 As shown, an electrical connector 6 is provided in the battery compartment. The electrical connector 6 is provided on the side wall of the battery compartment facing the opening, so that when the battery pack is moved to be locked with the battery locking mechanism 5, the charging port of the battery pack is electrically connected to the interface end of the electrical connector 6. In one example, the battery rack 31 includes two mounting beams 314 provided on the back side of the side opposite to the opening. The two mounting beams 314 are vertically arranged and fixedly connected to the column group through the longitudinal beam 313. The electrical connector 6 is provided between the two mounting beams 42 and its interface end 341 faces the opening of the battery compartment 32. In the above scheme, the electrical connector 6 can charge the battery pack placed on the battery compartment, and after the battery locking mechanism 5 fixes the battery pack, the interface end of the battery pack can be docked with the electrical connector. This design ensures that the battery pack can be safely charged in the locked state, and is also convenient for management and maintenance.

[0082] Anything not described in this application can be achieved by adopting or drawing on existing technologies.

[0083] Each embodiment in this specification is described in a progressive manner. The same or similar parts between the embodiments can be referred to each other. Each embodiment focuses on the differences from other embodiments. The above are only embodiments of the present application and are not intended to limit the present application. For those skilled in the art, the present application can have various changes and variations. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present application should be included in the scope of the claims of the present application.

Claims

1. A battery storage device, characterized in that: The battery transport device includes a fixed support frame, a liftable and movable box, and a telescopic mechanism disposed within the box and capable of telescoping and moving outward. The battery transport device also includes a moving assembly disposed between the support frames and capable of lifting and moving along the support frames. The box is rotatably connected to the moving assembly to adjust the direction of the telescopic mechanism. The battery storage device also includes at least one battery rack arranged on the peripheral side of the battery transport device. The battery rack is provided with a plurality of battery positions distributed longitudinally, and the battery positions have a position opening facing the compartment body.

2. The battery storage device according to claim 1, wherein There are multiple battery racks, which are arranged around the circumference of the battery transfer device. The support frame includes multiple columns formed on the outer peripheral side of the vehicle body. The battery racks and the support frame reuse the columns; or, the battery racks and the support frame are independent of each other.

3. The battery storage device according to claim 1, wherein It also includes a battery swap platform, and the battery transfer device is provided on at least one side of the battery swap platform along the direction of travel of the battery swap vehicle; The battery rack at least includes a first battery rack arranged on at least one side of the battery transport device in a direction parallel to the travel direction of the battery swapping vehicle, the opening of the first battery rack is arranged toward the battery transport device, and the first battery rack is vertically sequentially provided with a plurality of first battery positions; Preferably, it also includes a second battery rack arranged on the side opposite to the battery transfer device and the battery exchange platform, the opening of the second battery rack is arranged toward the battery transfer device, and the second battery rack is vertically arranged with multiple second battery positions in sequence.

4. The battery storage device according to claim 3, characterized in that It also includes a third battery rack arranged on at least one side of the second battery rack in a direction parallel to the driving direction of the battery-swap vehicle. The third battery rack has at least one third battery position in any horizontal direction. A battery conveying mechanism is arranged between the third battery position and the second battery position at the same vertical height. The battery conveying mechanism can transfer battery packs between the second battery position and the third battery position.

5. The battery storage device according to claim 3, characterized in that Along the direction parallel to the traveling direction of the battery swapping vehicle, a row of first battery racks are arranged on each side of the battery transfer device; along the direction perpendicular to the traveling direction of the battery swapping vehicle, a row of second battery racks are arranged on the side of the battery transfer device opposite to the battery swapping platform; along the direction parallel to the traveling direction of the battery swapping vehicle, the first battery rack and the second battery rack are arranged in a triangular shape on the surrounding side of the battery transfer device.

6. The battery storage device according to claim 3, characterized in that Along the direction parallel to the driving direction of the battery-swapping vehicle, the first battery rack is arranged on both sides of the battery transfer device. The battery storage device also includes a second battery storage device arranged in a fan shape around the battery transfer device. The second battery storage device includes at least two rows of second battery racks arranged toward the battery transfer device. The second battery rack has multiple second battery compartments arranged in sequence along the vertical direction.

7. The battery storage device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that The second battery rack and the support frame are independent of each other, or the second battery rack and the support frame reuse columns.

8. The battery storage device according to claim 7, characterized in that The upright posts are arranged to avoid the opening areas of the battery compartments of the battery rack, so that the battery transfer device can transfer batteries between the battery compartments.

9. The battery storage device according to claim 4, characterized in that Along a direction parallel to the traveling direction of the battery-swapping vehicle, the first battery rack is arranged on both sides of the battery transfer device; The first battery rack is fixed, and the second battery rack and the third battery rack can move relative to the battery transfer device in a direction parallel to the driving direction of the battery-swapping vehicle.

10. The battery storage device according to claim 5, characterized in that The battery compartment inner package is provided with support beams for supporting the battery pack on both sides along the direction of entry and exit of the battery pack. The support beams are located in the top area of ​​the battery compartment, and the battery pack is suspended and fixed on the support beams. Preferably, a battery locking mechanism for locking the battery pack is further provided in the battery compartment. The battery locking mechanisms are provided one by one on the support beam. The battery locking mechanism includes a plurality of lock bases with lock slots, lock tongues movably provided in the lock slots, and a lock connecting rod connecting the plurality of lock tongues. The battery locking mechanism cooperates with a plurality of lock shafts on both sides of the battery pack to suspend and fix the battery pack from both sides. Preferably, an electrical connector is provided in the battery compartment, and the electrical connector is provided on the side wall of the battery compartment facing the opening, so that when the battery pack is moved to be locked with the battery locking mechanism, the charging port of the battery pack is electrically connected to the interface end of the electrical connector.

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