Battery replacement station

Abstract

The invention belongs to the technical field of battery replacement, and discloses a battery replacement station which comprises a parking area and an equipment area which are arranged in parallel, the parking area is used for parking a battery replacement vehicle and is provided with a battery replacement area for battery dismounting or mounting operation, and the equipment area is used for mounting battery replacement related equipment. The equipment area comprises battery replacing equipment arranged adjacent to the battery replacing area and a battery storage area at least arranged on one side of the battery replacing equipment in the driving direction of the battery replacing vehicle, the battery storage area comprises a plurality of battery bins sequentially arranged in the vertical direction, and the battery replacing equipment is used for executing battery disassembling or assembling operation on the battery replacing vehicle; and battery transfer operation is carried out among the plurality of battery cabins or between the battery cabins and the battery replacing vehicle. Functional partitions are optimized, the battery replacing station can be conveniently arranged according to the functional partitions, a plurality of battery bins are arranged in a battery storage area in the vertical direction, the number of stored batteries is increased, and therefore it is guaranteed that the batteries of the sufficient number and multiple specifications can be used by battery replacing vehicles, and the situation that the battery replacing vehicles wait for too long in a parking area is avoided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of battery swapping technology, specifically to a battery swapping station. Background Technology

[0002] With the development and popularization of new energy vehicles, battery pack fast-swapping technology has also developed rapidly. For large vehicles, such as heavy-duty or light-duty trucks, the large weight of the vehicle body and cargo necessitates a high capacity battery pack to support their operation. However, due to the limited battery capacity of electric vehicles, they cannot maintain long-term high-mileage driving, especially heavy-duty trucks, which are heavy, energy-intensive, and have long charging times. To extend driving range and reduce idle time, the main measure is to set up battery swapping stations. When the vehicle's battery is about to run out, a battery swapping solution can be implemented, extending the driving range by hundreds of kilometers in just a few minutes. Therefore, utilizing specialized battery swapping equipment to achieve automatic battery swapping is the technological development direction for electric vehicle charging and swapping stations.

[0003] Currently, most battery swapping stations on the market are either roof-mounted or side-mounted / top-grabbing types. Roof-mounted stations have high site requirements, needing a large enough area for hoisting equipment to transfer and store batteries, resulting in high construction costs. In roof-mounted systems, battery racks are placed side-by-side on one or both sides of the swapping vehicle, significantly increasing the station's width and failing to utilize its length and height effectively. This leads to a large footprint and longer battery swapping times; individual stations use only one battery specification, incompatible with various vehicle models; and they have strict requirements for parking positions, requiring repeated adjustments by the driver or external drive mechanisms. Furthermore, heavy trucks, due to their weight, are not suitable for hill climbing and parking for battery swapping. Side-mounted / top-grabbing systems require a separate compartment for the swapping robot, resulting in a large overall station size. These two conventional battery swapping station layouts, with their large footprint and high construction costs, hinder the widespread adoption of battery swapping stations. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a battery swapping station to solve at least one of the above-mentioned technical problems.

[0005] The technical solution adopted in this application is as follows:

[0006] A battery swapping station for battery swapping vehicles includes: a parking area and an equipment area arranged side by side. The parking area is for parking the battery swapping vehicles and has a battery swapping area for battery removal or installation operations. The equipment area is for installing battery swapping related equipment. The equipment area includes battery swapping equipment arranged adjacent to the battery swapping area and a battery storage area located at least on one side of the battery swapping equipment along the driving direction of the battery swapping vehicles. The battery storage area includes multiple battery compartments arranged sequentially in a vertical direction. The battery swapping equipment is used to perform battery removal or installation operations on the battery swapping vehicles and to perform battery transfer operations between the multiple battery compartments or between the battery compartments and the battery swapping vehicles.

[0007] By setting up parallel parking and equipment areas at the battery swapping station, functional zoning is optimized, facilitating the layout of the station according to functional zones. Battery swapping equipment enables battery removal and installation for swapping vehicles. Swapping vehicles wait in the parking area, while the battery storage area is positioned along the vehicle's travel direction, allowing for efficient use of the equipment area space and facilitating battery pack transfer between the storage area and the vehicles. The parallel arrangement of the parking and equipment areas allows for parallel placement of swapping vehicles and the battery storage area, fully utilizing the length of the equipment area. This enables rapid movement of the swapping equipment between the vehicles in the parking area and the storage area, improving vehicle swapping efficiency. Multiple battery compartments are vertically arranged in the battery storage area, maximizing the use of the equipment area's height. This increases the number of batteries that can be stored and accommodates different battery pack sizes, ensuring a sufficient supply of batteries for swapping vehicles and eliminating the need for vehicles to wait in the parking area, thus improving the user experience.

[0008] In addition, since the equipment area and parking area are set up side by side, equipment areas can be set up on both sides of the parking area, which helps to increase the battery storage space of the battery swapping station, increase the number of batteries of various specifications, and select the appropriate side for battery swapping according to actual needs.

[0009] The battery swapping vehicle is a heavy-duty truck. The equipment area is formed by two stacked boxes. The battery storage area and the battery swapping equipment are respectively installed through the two boxes. The battery storage area includes an upper battery rack and a lower battery rack with the battery compartment. The battery swapping station includes a charging device located on the other side of the upper battery rack. The charging device is used to charge the batteries in the battery compartments of the upper battery rack and the lower battery rack.

[0010] The equipment area formed by stacking two enclosures not only increases the space of the equipment area but also improves land utilization, effectively increasing the area of ​​the battery swapping station's equipment area. This allows for a larger battery storage space in the battery storage area that runs through both enclosures, meeting the battery swapping needs of heavy-duty trucks and providing ample space for the battery swapping station to accommodate multiple functions. The battery storage area features upper and lower battery racks, increasing the number of batteries that can be stored and ensuring that vehicles can swap batteries promptly at the station, avoiding situations where vehicles wait for battery charging. The two-layer enclosure also improves space utilization. The battery swapping equipment moves between the battery compartments on the upper and lower battery racks to retrieve and place batteries in the storage area. Simultaneously, charging equipment is installed on one side of the upper battery rack within the upper enclosure. The proximity of the charging equipment to the battery storage area facilitates wiring for charging the batteries on both the upper and lower battery racks. The battery rack arrangement fully utilizes the height of the two enclosures, thus accommodating the storage of a larger number of batteries and batteries of various sizes.

[0011] The stacking of two enclosures provides more possibilities for equipment arrangement within the battery swapping station in the vertical direction, and makes the structure between the equipment inside the enclosures more compact. The upper and lower battery racks, arranged using the stacking height of the upper and lower enclosures, increase the number of batteries that can be stored. The stacked arrangement of the upper and lower battery racks also ensures that they remain close to the battery swapping vehicles located in the parking area. This allows for rapid, short-distance movement of the battery swapping equipment between the battery storage area and the vehicles, eliminating the need for multiple battery racks along the vehicle's travel direction to increase battery capacity, which leads to complex movement paths and slower swapping efficiency. This method enables rapid transfer of battery packs between the battery storage area and the swapping vehicles, improving swapping efficiency and enhancing the user experience.

[0012] Charging equipment provides high-quality, safe, and stable charging services for battery-swapping vehicles. It features excellent safety performance, high stability, fast charging speed, strong adaptability, and convenient maintenance, effectively shortening charging time, improving power supply efficiency, and contributing to the development of the new energy vehicle market.

[0013] The charging device is positioned close to the side wall of the enclosure to form a heat dissipation structure on the side wall of the enclosure.

[0014] By adjusting the air pressure and temperature inside the enclosure through the heat dissipation structure, the charging equipment, battery storage area and other devices or mechanisms need to be installed inside the enclosure. Especially for the charging equipment area, the charging process inevitably causes changes in the surrounding temperature. The heat dissipation structure can dissipate heat inside the enclosure and at the same time avoid excessive air pressure difference between the inside and outside of the enclosure, which is conducive to maintaining the stability of the battery swapping station.

[0015] The heat dissipation structure includes an air inlet and an air outlet. One of the air inlet and the air outlet is arranged horizontally along the side wall of the housing, and the other is arranged vertically along the side wall of the housing.

[0016] Air inlets and outlets are installed on the side walls of the enclosure corresponding to the area where the charging equipment is located. This serves two purposes: firstly, it prevents insufficient structural strength due to weight reduction in the lower enclosure; secondly, it facilitates better exchange of air between the inside and outside of the charging equipment, achieving pressure balance and internal temperature regulation. Positioning the air inlets horizontally and vertically ensures airflow in all directions within the enclosure.

[0017] The air inlet and the air outlet are located on two adjacent side walls of the housing.

[0018] The air inlet and air outlet are located on two different side walls of the enclosure to avoid excessive weight reduction on a single side wall, which could lead to overall instability in the stress distribution.

[0019] The heat dissipation structure includes a sealing plate that seals the charging device to isolate the charging device from the battery storage area.

[0020] The sealing plate further divides the functional areas of the equipment zone and helps protect the battery storage area from the temperature fluctuations of the charging equipment, thus ensuring the optimal performance of the battery packs located in the storage area. Simultaneously, the sealing plate strengthens the enclosure structure, further ensuring its stability around the charging equipment. Furthermore, the sealing plate, combined with the air inlets and outlets on the side walls of the enclosure, enables faster and more effective gas exchange between the charging equipment area and the surrounding environment, effectively maintaining pressure balance and temperature regulation within the charging equipment zone.

[0021] The battery swapping equipment includes a counterweight device that extends through the two housings and is located on the other side of the lower battery rack.

[0022] A counterweight device is installed to ensure the battery swapping equipment operates at a uniform speed and stability in the vertical direction. The counterweight device extends through both housings. Since the battery storage area also has upper and lower battery racks extending through both housings, the counterweight device ensures stable movement of the battery swapping equipment throughout the process of loading and unloading battery packs from the upper and lower battery racks. This achieves stable transfer of battery packs and guarantees the reliability of the battery swapping equipment.

[0023] The counterweight device includes a lifting mechanism connected to the battery swapping equipment. The lifting mechanism drives the battery swapping equipment to move vertically along the battery storage area so that the battery swapping equipment can pick up and put down batteries in the upper battery rack and the lower battery rack.

[0024] The lifting mechanism drives the battery swapping equipment to move up and down, allowing the battery swapping equipment to be picked up and put in at various heights. This enables it to be used in conjunction with the battery storage area that runs through both boxes, and allows for efficient use of the space when the two boxes are stacked.

[0025] The battery swapping station includes two battery storage areas, located on both sides of the battery swapping equipment. Along the driving direction, a monitoring room is located on the other side of the lower battery rack in the direction of the vehicle's front, and a control room and / or air conditioning room is located on the other side of the lower battery rack in the other direction.

[0026] A control room is set up to distribute power to the various devices within the battery swapping station, ensuring its normal operation. A monitoring room is set up to facilitate the monitoring of vehicle battery swapping, enabling timely detection and handling of any problems. It also facilitates the monitoring of the interior of the container, further enhancing its functionality.

[0027] The battery swapping station also includes a walking passage located between the counterweight device and the monitoring room or between the counterweight device and the control room, and the walking passage connects to the upper-level enclosure.

[0028] A walking passageway is provided to facilitate staff access to the upper enclosure for inspection and maintenance of equipment within the battery swapping station.

[0029] The monitoring room is equipped with a display screen facing the parking area, which displays the battery swapping progress of the battery swapping vehicle.

[0030] Drivers can view the vehicle's battery swapping progress on a display screen, further enhancing the user experience. Preferably, the monitoring room is located on the side of the enclosure closest to the parking area, and is positioned in the driver's cab of the corresponding parking area, so that drivers can view the display screen and it also facilitates communication between staff in the monitoring room and drivers when necessary.

[0031] A mounting position is formed by recessing the top of the upper housing corresponding to the walking channel, and the mounting position is equipped with a liquid cooling device.

[0032] Liquid cooling equipment is installed recessed in the corresponding walking passage area to make reasonable use of the cabinet space, ensure that the installation space of other devices inside the cabinet is not affected, and provide shielding protection for the outer perimeter of the liquid cooling equipment. At the same time, the large empty space in the walking passage facilitates the layout of pipelines.

[0033] The technical effects achieved by this application due to the adoption of the above technical solution are as follows: By setting up parallel parking areas and equipment areas at the battery swapping station, the functional zoning is optimized, facilitating the layout of the battery swapping station according to functional zones. Battery swapping equipment enables battery removal and installation for swapping vehicles. Swapping vehicles wait in the parking area, while the battery storage area is set along the vehicle's travel direction, facilitating the rational arrangement of the equipment area space and enabling battery pack transfer between the battery storage area and the swapping vehicles. Because the parking area and equipment area are set up side-by-side, the swapping vehicles and battery storage area can be aligned, fully utilizing the length of the equipment area for the battery storage area. The swapping equipment can quickly move between the swapping vehicles in the parking area and the battery storage area in the equipment area, improving vehicle swapping efficiency. Multiple battery compartments are set up vertically in the battery storage area, maximizing the use of the equipment area's height to increase battery storage capacity and accommodate different battery pack sizes. This ensures a sufficient number and variety of battery packs for swapping vehicles, avoiding the need for vehicles to wait in the parking area and improving the user's swapping experience.

[0034] In addition, since the equipment area and parking area are set up side by side, equipment areas can be set up on both sides of the parking area, which helps to increase the battery storage space of the battery swapping station, increase the number of batteries of various specifications, and select the appropriate side for battery swapping according to actual needs. Attached Figure Description

[0035] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of this application and form part of this application, illustrate exemplary embodiments and are used to explain this application, but do not constitute an undue limitation of this application. In the drawings:

[0036] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the external structure of a battery swapping station according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of a battery swapping station in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of a battery swapping station from another angle in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of one of the lower boxes in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 5 To and Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the internal structure of the opposite lower-level box;

[0041] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the battery rack and counterweight device in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0043] 1-Parking area; 2-Equipment area; 21-Battery storage area; 211-Battery rack; 212-Battery compartment; 22-Counterweight device; 221-Counterweight block; 222-Lifting motor; 223-Synchronous shaft; 224-Sprocket; 225-Chain; 23-Battery swapping main body; 231-Mobile component; 232-Box body; 233-Battery swapping device; 24-Air inlet; 25-Air outlet; 26-Sealing plate; 27-Charging equipment; 28-Monitoring room; 281-Door switch; 29- Walking passage, 291-handrail, 292-stairs, 293-standing platform, 30-partition, 31-separation door, 32-liquid cooling equipment, 33-cover plate, 34-control room, 341-main control room, 342-secondary control room, 35-vacant room, 36-fan, 37-display screen, 38-air conditioner outdoor unit; 3-box, 301-upper box, 311-connection port, 312-fence, 313-guardrail, 302-lower box; 4-rain shelter; 5-ladder. Detailed Implementation

[0044] To more clearly illustrate the overall concept of this application, a detailed explanation is provided below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0045] Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of this application. However, this application may also be implemented in other ways different from those described herein. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments of this application and the features thereof can be combined with each other.

[0046] Furthermore, it should be understood in the description of this application that the terms "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

[0047] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, or a communication connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0048] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the "above" or "below" of the second feature can mean that the first and second features are in direct contact, or that the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. In the description of this specification, references to terms such as "an embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0049] This application provides a battery swapping station, such as Figures 1 to 6 As shown, the system for battery swapping vehicles includes: a parking area 1 and an equipment area 2 arranged side by side. The parking area 1 is for parking battery swapping vehicles and has a battery swapping area for battery removal or installation operations. The equipment area 2 is for installing battery swapping related equipment. The equipment area 2 includes battery swapping equipment arranged adjacent to the battery swapping area and a battery storage area 21 located at least on one side of the battery swapping equipment along the driving direction of the battery swapping vehicle. The battery storage area 21 includes multiple battery compartments 212 arranged sequentially in a vertical direction. The battery swapping equipment is used to perform battery removal or installation operations on the battery swapping vehicle and to perform battery transfer operations between the multiple battery compartments 212 or between the battery compartments 212 and the battery swapping vehicle.

[0050] By setting up parallel parking area 1 and equipment area 2 at the battery swapping station, the functional zoning is optimized, facilitating the layout of the station according to functional zones. Battery swapping equipment is installed to enable battery removal and installation for swapping vehicles. The swapping vehicles wait in parking area 1, while the battery storage area 21 is positioned along the vehicle's travel direction, allowing for efficient use of space in equipment area 2 and facilitating battery pack transfer between the swapping equipment and the vehicle. The parallel arrangement of parking area 1 and equipment area 2 allows for parallel placement of the swapping vehicles and battery storage area 21, fully utilizing the length of equipment area 2. This enables the swapping equipment to move quickly between the swapping vehicles in parking area 1 and the battery storage area 21 in equipment area 2, improving vehicle swapping efficiency. Multiple battery compartments 212 are set up vertically in the battery storage area 21. The height of the equipment area 2 is fully utilized to set up as many battery compartments 212 as possible, increasing the number of batteries that can be stored and enabling the storage of battery packs of different specifications. This ensures that there are enough battery packs of various specifications available for battery swapping vehicles, avoiding the need for battery swapping vehicles to wait in the parking area 1 and improving the user's battery swapping experience.

[0051] In addition, since the equipment area 2 and the parking area 1 are set up side by side, the equipment area 2 can be set up on both sides of the parking area 1, which is conducive to increasing the space of the battery storage area 21 of the battery swapping station, increasing the number of batteries of various specifications, and selecting the appropriate side for battery swapping according to actual needs.

[0052] In a preferred embodiment, such as Figure 2 , Figure 3 As shown, the battery swapping vehicle is a heavy-duty truck. The equipment area 2 is formed by stacking two boxes 3. The battery storage area 21 and the battery swapping equipment are respectively installed through the two boxes 3. The battery storage area 21 includes an upper battery rack 211 and a lower battery rack 211 with a battery compartment 212. The battery swapping station includes a charging device 27 located on the other side of the upper battery rack 211. The charging device 27 is used to charge the batteries in the battery compartment 212 of the upper battery rack 211 and the lower battery rack 211.

[0053] The equipment area 2 formed by stacking two boxes 3 increases the space of the equipment area 2, which is conducive to improving land utilization and effectively increasing the area of ​​the battery swapping station equipment area 2. This allows the battery storage area 21, which runs through the two boxes 3, to have a larger battery storage space to meet the battery swapping needs of heavy trucks and to provide sufficient space for the battery swapping station to realize multi-functional settings. The battery storage area 21 is equipped with an upper battery rack 211 and a lower battery rack 211 to increase the number of batteries that can be stored, ensuring that battery swapping vehicles can be swapped in a timely manner at the battery swapping station and avoiding the situation where vehicles wait for battery charging. At the same time, the combination of two boxes 3 improves the space utilization. The battery swapping equipment moves between the battery compartments 212 of the upper battery rack 211 and the lower battery rack 211 to realize the retrieval and placement of batteries in the battery storage area 21. At the same time, the space in the upper box 301 is used to set up a charging device 27 on one side of the upper battery rack 211. The charging device 27 is close to the battery storage area 21, which facilitates the arrangement of wiring to charge the batteries in the upper battery rack 211 and the lower battery rack 211. The battery racks are arranged by making full use of the height of the two-layer enclosure 3, which can meet the storage needs of more batteries and more battery specifications.

[0054] The stacking of two enclosures 3 provides more possibilities for equipment arrangement within the battery swapping station in the height direction and makes the structure between the equipment in the enclosures 3 more compact. The upper and lower battery racks 211, arranged using the stacking height of the upper enclosure 301 and the lower enclosure 302, increase the number of batteries that can be stored. The stacked arrangement of the upper and lower battery racks 211 ensures that they remain close to the battery swapping vehicles located in the parking area 1, allowing for rapid short-distance movement of the swapping equipment between the battery storage area 21 and the swapping vehicles. This avoids the need to install multiple battery racks 211 along the vehicle's travel direction to increase the number of batteries stored, which would complicate the movement path of the swapping equipment and slow down the swapping efficiency. This method enables rapid transfer of battery packs between the battery storage area 21 and the swapping vehicles, improving swapping efficiency and enhancing the user's swapping experience.

[0055] The charging equipment 27 provides high-quality, safe, and stable charging services for battery-swapping vehicles; it saves space and costs, avoiding the construction of new charging facilities; it improves the overall utilization rate of battery-swapping stations. The charging equipment 27 boasts excellent safety performance: it adopts professional design and construction standards to ensure the safety of the charging process; high stability: it can stably provide power and maintain a constant charging voltage and current; fast speed: it can quickly charge, shortening charging time and providing more convenient service; strong adaptability: it can support different models of new energy vehicles and adapt to different charging needs; and convenient maintenance: it typically has remote monitoring and maintenance functions, allowing for troubleshooting and operation management at any time.

[0056] Preferably, the charging device 27 is disposed near the side wall of the housing 3 to form a heat dissipation structure on the side wall of the housing 3.

[0057] The air pressure and temperature inside the housing 3 are adjusted by the heat dissipation structure. Since the housing 3 needs to house the charging equipment 27, the battery storage area 21, and other devices or mechanisms, especially the charging equipment 27 area, the charging process inevitably causes changes in the surrounding temperature. The heat dissipation structure dissipates heat inside the housing 3 and avoids excessive pressure difference between the inside and outside of the housing 3, which is conducive to maintaining the stability of the battery swapping station.

[0058] Furthermore, the heat dissipation structure includes an air inlet 24 and an air outlet 25. One of the air inlet 24 and the air outlet 25 is arranged horizontally along the side wall of the housing 3, and the other is arranged vertically along the side wall of the housing 3.

[0059] Air inlets 24 and outlets 25 are provided on the side walls of the corresponding enclosure 3 in the area where the charging device 27 is located. This serves two purposes: firstly, it prevents insufficient structural strength due to weight reduction in the lower enclosure 302; secondly, it facilitates better exchange of internal and external gases at the charging device 27, achieving internal and external air pressure balance and internal temperature regulation. Positioning the air inlets 24 horizontally and the outlets 25 vertically respectively ensures airflow in all directions within the enclosure 3.

[0060] Preferably, the air inlet 24 and the air outlet 25 are respectively located on two adjacent side walls of the housing 3.

[0061] The air inlet 24 and the air outlet 25 are respectively located on the side walls of two different boxes 3 to avoid excessive weight reduction of a single box 3 side wall, which would lead to overall instability of the stress.

[0062] In addition, the heat dissipation structure includes a sealing plate 26 for the sealed charging device 27 to isolate the charging device 27 from the battery storage area 21.

[0063] The sealing plate 26 further divides the functional areas of the equipment area 2 and helps protect the battery storage area 21 from the temperature influence of the charging equipment 27, thus ensuring the good performance of the battery pack located in the battery storage area 21. Simultaneously, the sealing plate 26 strengthens the structural integrity of the enclosure 3, further ensuring the structural stability of the enclosure 3 at the charging equipment 27. Furthermore, the sealing plate 26, in conjunction with the air inlet 24 and air outlet 25 on the side wall of the enclosure 3, enables faster and more effective gas exchange between the inside and outside of the charging equipment 27 area, effectively ensuring pressure balance and temperature regulation in the charging equipment 27 area.

[0064] In one embodiment, such as Figures 2 to 4 As shown, the battery swapping equipment includes a counterweight device 22, which is installed through both housings 3 and located on the other side of the lower battery rack 211.

[0065] The counterweight device 22 ensures the stable and uniform vertical operation of the battery swapping equipment. The counterweight device 22 extends through both housings 3. Since the battery storage area 21 also has upper and lower battery racks 211 extending through both housings 3, the counterweight device 22 ensures stable movement of the battery swapping equipment during the process of loading and unloading battery packs from the upper and lower battery racks 211 and battery compartments 212. This achieves stable transfer of the battery packs and ensures the reliability of the battery swapping equipment.

[0066] Furthermore, the counterweight device 22 includes a lifting mechanism connected to the battery swapping equipment. The lifting mechanism drives the battery swapping equipment to move vertically along the battery storage area 21 so that the battery swapping equipment can pick up and put down batteries in the upper battery rack 211 and the lower battery rack 211.

[0067] The lifting mechanism drives the battery swapping equipment to move up and down, enabling the battery swapping equipment to pick up and put in batteries at various heights. This allows it to be used in conjunction with the battery storage area 21 that runs through the two boxes 3, thus maximizing the space utilization of the stacked two boxes 3.

[0068] Furthermore, such as Figure 4 As shown, the battery swapping equipment includes a battery swapping body 23 that carries the battery pack between the battery storage area 21 and the battery swapping vehicle. The battery swapping body 23 has an upper battery rack 211 and a lower battery rack 211 on both sides, and two independent lifting mechanisms on both sides of the battery swapping body 23. The lifting mechanism includes a lifting motor 222 located above the upper battery rack 211 and a counterweight device 22 including a counterweight block 221. The counterweight block 221 is connected to the battery swapping body 23 through a chain 225, and a sprocket 224 is located above the battery rack 211 that works with the chain 225 for transmission. The lifting motor 222 drives the synchronous shaft 223 to rotate, thereby simultaneously driving the chains 225 located on both sides of the battery swapping body 23 to move the battery swapping body 23 vertically.

[0069] Two independent lifting mechanisms are installed to independently control the lifting height of both sides of the battery swapping unit 23, allowing the unit to tilt. In actual operation, the trolley chassis may have a certain tilt angle and is not level. To adapt to the tilt angle of the trolley chassis, the tilt angle of the extended part of the battery swapping device 233 needs to be adjusted. By independently controlling the lifting height of both sides of the battery swapping unit 23, the unit can be tilted, allowing it to better fit the trolley chassis for battery removal and transfer.

[0070] The lifting motor 222 drives the synchronous shaft 223 to rotate, thereby simultaneously driving two chains 225 located on the same side of the battery swapping body 23 to move the battery swapping body 23 vertically. This controls the height and tilt angle of the battery swapping body 23, allowing for precise battery swapping operations while maintaining close contact with the vehicle chassis. By setting counterweights 221, chains 225, and sprockets 224 to connect with the corresponding side of the battery swapping body 23, synchronous lifting and lowering of the battery swapping body 23 on the same side is achieved. Furthermore, the counterweights 221 enhance the stability of the lifting and lowering movement of the battery swapping body 23, reducing vibration and oscillation of the battery swapping equipment during lifting and lowering, preventing deviation, and ensuring that the lifting drive mechanism and the battery swapping body 23 maintain stable and balanced lifting and lowering within a specified range.

[0071] Preferably, such as Figure 4As shown, the counterweight 221 is located on the side opposite to the battery swapping body 23, that is, the upper battery rack 211 and the lower battery rack 211 are located between the counterweight 221 and the battery swapping body 23. The chain 225 connects to the counterweight 221 and the battery swapping body 23 from two opposite directions, driving the counterweight 221 and the battery swapping body 23 to move synchronously, making reasonable use of space, and facilitating the battery swapping body 23 to pick up and put down the battery pack on the upper battery rack 211 and the lower battery rack 211.

[0072] In one embodiment, such as Figures 2 to 4 As shown, the battery swapping station includes two battery storage areas 21, which are located on both sides of the battery swapping equipment. Along the driving direction, a monitoring room 28 is located on the other side of the lower battery rack 211 in the direction of the vehicle's front, and a control room 34 and / or an air conditioning room is located on the other side of the lower battery rack 211 in the other direction.

[0073] A control room 34 is set up to distribute power to the various devices within the battery swapping station, ensuring its normal operation. A monitoring room 28 is set up to facilitate the monitoring of vehicle battery swapping, enabling timely detection and handling of any problems. It also facilitates the monitoring of the interior of the container, further enhancing its functionality. Understandably, the monitoring room 28 is equipped with a switchable door 281 connecting it to the outside world.

[0074] Both battery storage areas 21 are provided with an upper battery rack 211 and a lower battery rack 211 arranged vertically, and the upper battery rack 211 and the lower battery rack 211 are respectively provided with multiple charging compartments. The battery swapping body 23 includes a compartment 232 and a moving component 231 located between the battery storage areas 21 and capable of moving up and down along the upper battery rack 211 and the lower battery rack 211. The compartment 232 is provided with a retractable battery swapping device 233. The compartment 232 is rotatably connected to the moving component 231 to adjust the orientation of the battery swapping device 233 inside. The battery swapping main body 23 is movable and can be raised and lowered, which drives the battery swapping device 233 located in the compartment 232 to move and lower. The height of the battery swapping device 233 is adjusted. When it is necessary to remove and install the battery, the battery swapping device 233 is adjusted to a height position corresponding to the vehicle chassis and then extends to realize the removal and installation of the battery in the battery swapping vehicle. When it is necessary to put the depleted battery into the battery compartment 212 for charging or to take out the fully charged battery from the battery compartment 212, it is adjusted to a height corresponding to the battery compartment 212 and then the battery swapping device 233 extends to realize the battery picking and placing at the battery compartment 212, realizing the battery removal and installation operation of the battery swapping vehicle and / or the battery transfer operation between the battery compartment 212 of the battery rack 211.

[0075] By setting up a retractable and movable battery swapping device 233, when actually removing and installing the battery pack of the battery swapping vehicle, and when taking the battery pack out of the battery compartment 212, the battery swapping main body 23 drives the battery swapping device 233 to rise and fall to a suitable height position. Then, only the battery swapping device 233 needs to be extended, without the need to extend and retract the entire battery swapping main body 23. Thus, when removing and installing the battery pack of the battery swapping vehicle, the battery swapping main body 23 can be prevented from entering the chassis of the battery swapping vehicle and occupying the space under the vehicle, reducing the space restriction of the battery swapping main body 23. The battery swapping main body 23 does not need to move in the ground sinking space. When swapping batteries in heavy trucks, it can avoid the problem of unreliable ground structure caused by repeated vehicle driving, thereby further improving the long-term stability of the battery swapping main body 23.

[0076] In addition, when two battery storage areas 21 are set up, two stacked boxes 3 are set up on each side of the parking area 1. To adapt to actual needs and optimize the layout, a monitoring room 28 is set up only on the lower box 302 on one side, and an empty room 35 is set up on the other side opposite to the monitoring room 28 as a spare. The empty room 35 can be used as a warehouse for the battery swapping station, making reasonable use of space. The control rooms 34 set up on both sides are configured as a main control room 341 and a secondary control room 342 to facilitate the overall control of the power distribution within the battery swapping station.

[0077] In addition, air-conditioned rooms can be set up in both the monitoring room 28 and the control room 34 to cool down the enclosure 3. The monitoring room 28 can also be equipped with a separate outdoor air conditioning unit 38 to optimize the working environment for staff and ensure a suitable temperature inside the monitoring room 28.

[0078] Preferably, the outdoor unit 38 of the air conditioner is located at the bottom of the housing 3, which helps to ensure the overall strength of the housing 3 is more stable and facilitates installation.

[0079] Meanwhile, multiple fans 36 can be distributed on the outer wall of the enclosure 3 to achieve gas exchange between the inside and outside of the enclosure 3. The monitoring room 28 and the area where the charging equipment 27 is located can also achieve further gas exchange through the fans 36.

[0080] The battery swapping station also includes a walking passage 29 located between the counterweight device 22 and the monitoring room 28 or between the counterweight device 22 and the control room 34, and the walking passage 29 connects to the upper-level enclosure 3.

[0081] The walkway 29 is provided to facilitate staff access to the upper enclosure 301 for inspection and maintenance of the equipment inside the battery swapping station.

[0082] Preferably, handrails 291 are provided on both sides of the walkway 29 to ensure the safety of staff during the walk. In addition, a partition 30 is provided between the walkway 29 and the monitoring room 28 or control room 34, and the partition 30 is provided with a partition door 31 connecting the control room 34 or monitoring room 28 and the walkway 29, so as to further realize functional zoning and facilitate staff entry and exit.

[0083] In one implementation, such as Figure 3 As shown, the passageway 29 is configured as a staircase 292. The bottom end of the staircase 292 is fixed to the side away from the partition door 31 and extends diagonally upwards towards the partition door 31 to the upper-level box 301. Passengers can enter the upper-level box 301 from the lower-level box 302 via the staircase 292 to inspect or maintain relevant equipment, while avoiding obstruction of the partition door 31 and ensuring sufficient space for personnel passage. The bottom plate of the upper-level box 301 has a connecting opening 311 that connects to the extended end of the staircase 292. The connecting opening 311 extends along the bottom plate so that its projection in the horizontal plane at least covers the projection of the staircase 292 in the horizontal plane. Protective railings 312 are provided on both sides of the connecting opening 311 to enhance the safety of the staircase 292 and the connecting opening 311 and prevent personnel injury. The connecting opening 311 is set to extend along the base plate so that the length of its projection in the horizontal plane at least covers the length of the projection of the staircase 292 in the horizontal plane, thereby ensuring that there is no obstruction during the ascent and descent of the staircase 292 and facilitating the passage of people.

[0084] Meanwhile, the control room 34 is equipped with a power distribution cabinet and a transformer cabinet, which are located on the opposite side of the partition 30 and on both sides of the switch door 281. This makes reasonable use of space, and since the power distribution cabinet and transformer cabinet have a certain width and height, their placement on the opposite side of the partition 30 facilitates the opening and closing of the partition door 31 by the staff, while also providing sufficient space for the power distribution cabinet and transformer.

[0085] The extended end of the staircase 292 has a horizontal section to fix it to the inner wall of the lower housing 302, and the horizontal section is equipped with a standing platform 293, which abuts against the side wall of the connecting opening 311. The horizontal section secures the upper end of the staircase 292, ensuring its stability and safety. The standing platform 293 provides a stable transition for workers walking from the staircase 292 to the upper housing 301, enhancing safety.

[0086] The monitoring room 28 is equipped with a display screen 37 facing the parking area 1. The display screen 37 shows the battery swapping progress of the battery swapping vehicles. Drivers can view the battery swapping progress through the display screen 37, further enhancing the user's battery swapping experience. Preferably, the monitoring room 28 is located on the side of the housing 3 closest to the parking area 1, and is positioned at the location corresponding to the driver's cab of the parking area 1, so that the driver can view the display screen 37, and also facilitates communication between the staff in the monitoring room 28 and the driver when necessary.

[0087] In addition, the display screen 37 can be set at the location where the battery swapping vehicle is parked in the equipment area 2, and is set on the driver's side of the battery swapping vehicle.

[0088] In one embodiment, such as Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the top of the upper box 3 is recessed in the area corresponding to the walking channel 29 to form an installation position, and the installation position is equipped with a liquid cooling device 32.

[0089] The liquid cooling equipment 32 is installed recessed in the corresponding walking channel 29 area, making reasonable use of the space of the box 3, improving the assembly compactness, ensuring that the installation space of other devices in the box 3 is not affected, and providing shielding protection for the outer periphery of the liquid cooling equipment 32. At the same time, since the empty space in the walking channel 29 is relatively large, it is convenient to arrange the pipeline.

[0090] A ladder 5 extending to the installation position is provided on the outside of the enclosure 3; and / or, a removable cover 33 is provided on the top of the upper enclosure 301, and the cover 33 is offset from the liquid cooling equipment 32. The liquid cooling equipment 32 on the top can be inspected and maintained by climbing the ladder 5 or removing the cover 33. At the same time, a railing 312 is provided on the top of the upper enclosure 301 to ensure the safety of personnel.

[0091] Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, such as Figure 1 As shown, along the driving direction of the battery swapping vehicle, there are equipment areas 2 on both sides of the parking area 1, and a rain shelter 4 is provided above the parking area 1. The rain shelter 4 extends to the two equipment areas 2 on both sides. On the one hand, it protects the vehicles in the parking area 1, and on the other hand, it can prevent rainwater from entering the equipment area 2, thereby protecting the equipment inside the equipment area 2 and improving the reliability of battery swapping at the station.

[0092] For any parts not mentioned in this application, existing technologies may be used or referenced.

[0093] The various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner. The same or similar parts between the various embodiments can be referred to each other. Each embodiment focuses on describing the differences from other embodiments.

[0094] The above description is merely an embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit this application. Various modifications and variations can be made to this application by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principle of this application should be included within the scope of the claims of this application.

Claims

1. A battery swap station for battery swapping by a battery swap vehicle, characterized by, The application relates to a battery swapping station. The battery swapping station comprises a parking area and an equipment area arranged side by side, the parking area is used for parking the battery swapping vehicle and has a battery swapping area for carrying out battery dismounting or mounting operation, the equipment area is used for mounting battery swapping related equipment, the equipment area comprises a battery swapping device arranged close to the battery swapping area and a battery storage area arranged on at least one side of the battery swapping device along the driving direction of the battery swapping vehicle, the battery storage area comprises a plurality of battery compartments arranged in sequence along the vertical direction, the battery swapping device is used for carrying out battery dismounting or mounting operation on the battery swapping vehicle and carrying out battery transfer operation between the battery compartments or between the battery compartments and the battery swapping vehicle.

2. The battery swap station of claim 1, wherein, The battery swapping vehicle is a heavy truck, the equipment area is formed by two stacked boxes, the battery storage area and the battery swapping device are arranged through the two boxes respectively, the battery storage area comprises an upper battery rack and a lower battery rack provided with the battery compartments, and the battery swapping station comprises a charging device arranged on the other side of the upper battery rack, which is used for charging the batteries in the battery compartments of the upper battery rack and the lower battery rack.

3. The battery swap station of claim 2, wherein, The charging device is arranged close to the side wall of the box to form a heat dissipation structure on the side wall of the box.

4. The battery swap station of claim 3, wherein, The heat dissipation structure comprises an air inlet and an air outlet, one of the air inlet and the air outlet is arranged transversely along the side wall of the box, and the other is arranged vertically along the side wall of the box.

5. The battery swap station of claim 4, wherein, The air inlet and the air outlet are arranged on two adjacent side walls of the box respectively.

6. The battery swap station of claim 3, wherein, The heat dissipation structure comprises a sealing plate sealing the charging device to isolate the charging device from the battery storage area.

7. The battery swap station of claim 2, wherein, The battery swapping device comprises a counterweight device arranged through the two boxes and located on the other side of the lower battery rack. Preferably, the counterweight device comprises a lifting mechanism connected with the battery swapping device, the lifting mechanism drives the battery swapping device to move vertically along the battery storage area so that the battery swapping device takes or places the batteries in the upper battery rack and the lower battery rack. 8.The battery swapping station of claim 1, wherein, The battery swapping station comprises two battery storage areas arranged on two sides of the battery swapping device respectively, the other side of the lower battery rack located in the direction of the vehicle head along the driving direction is provided with a monitoring room, and the other side of the lower battery rack in the other direction is provided with a control room and / or an air conditioning room. 9.The battery swapping station of claim 8, wherein, The battery swapping station further comprises a walking channel arranged between the counterweight device and the monitoring room or between the counterweight device and the control room, and the walking channel is communicated to the box on the upper layer. The monitoring room is provided with a display screen outside, which faces the parking area and displays the battery swapping progress of the battery swapping vehicle. 10.The battery swapping station of claim 9, wherein, The top of the box on the upper layer is recessed to form a mounting position in the area corresponding to the walking channel, and the mounting position is provided with a liquid cooling device.

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