Battery replacing method, battery compartment and battery replacing station

Abstract

The invention provides a battery replacing method, a battery bin and a battery replacing station, and relates to the technical field of battery replacing, the battery replacing method comprises the steps that a cache position of the battery bin is recognized, the cache position comprises a fixed cache position or a random cache position, the fixed cache position is a preset bin position for transferring batteries, and the random cache position is a random cache position for transferring the batteries; the random cache bit is the idle charging bit; transferring the power-deficient battery on the vehicle to the cache position, and if the cache position adopts the random cache position, charging the power-deficient battery through the random cache position; taking out the fully-charged battery from the charging position and transferring the fully-charged battery to the vehicle to complete battery replacement operation; and if the cache position adopts the fixed cache position, transferring the power-deficient battery on the fixed cache position to the charging position for charging. According to the invention, different scene requirements are considered while efficient battery replacement is realized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of battery swapping technology, and more specifically, to a battery swapping method, a battery compartment, and a battery swapping station. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of battery swapping for new energy vehicles, especially in the operation of heavy-duty trucks where efficiency requirements are stringent, improving the operational efficiency of battery swapping stations and the turnover speed of batteries is a key need.

[0003] In related technologies, during battery swapping, in order to store the depleted batteries removed from the vehicle, a transfer compartment is set up, and the depleted batteries are transported through a process of "vehicle → transfer compartment → charging position".

[0004] The related technologies have the following shortcomings: the charging time required for batteries based on transit bays is relatively long and the charging efficiency is relatively low; and they lack flexibility in responding to different operating scenarios. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present invention aims to solve at least one of the following problems: long charging time required for batteries based on transit bays, low charging efficiency, and lack of flexibility in responding to different operating scenarios.

[0006] To address the aforementioned problems, in a first aspect, the present invention provides a battery swapping method applicable to swapping the battery of a vehicle via a battery compartment, wherein the battery compartment includes a charging position, or may further include a charging position and a fixed buffer position, and the battery swapping method includes: Identify the cache position of the battery compartment, the cache position includes the fixed cache position or the random cache position, the fixed cache position is a preset compartment for transferring batteries, and the random cache position is the idle charging position; The depleted battery on the vehicle is transferred to the buffer position. If the buffer position is the random buffer position, the depleted battery is charged through the random buffer position. The fully charged battery is removed from the charging position and transferred to the vehicle to complete the battery swapping operation. If the cache position uses the fixed cache position, the depleted battery on the fixed cache position is transferred to the charging position for charging.

[0007] Optionally, the battery swapping method further includes: After a single battery swap is completed, the random cache position where the depleted battery is stored and charged is determined as the occupied charging position, and the charging position that becomes idle after the fully charged battery is removed is determined as the random cache position.

[0008] Optionally, the cache bits of the battery compartment include: The status of each charging position is monitored in real time, and the charging position that is currently without a battery and is charging normally is determined as the random buffer position; Alternatively, the preset compartment in the battery compartment used for transferring batteries can be designated as the fixed buffer location.

[0009] Optionally, transferring the depleted battery from the vehicle to the buffer location includes: The depleted battery on the vehicle is in a disassembled state, and the battery swapping equipment is controlled to transfer the depleted battery to the buffer position through a preset path; If the cache bit uses the random cache bit, the charging operation will be started after the transfer is completed.

[0010] Optionally, a battery swapping channel is provided within a preset range of the battery compartment, and when the vehicle enters the battery swapping channel, the depleted battery on the vehicle is at least parallel to the buffer position; The control of the battery swapping device to transfer the depleted battery to the buffer location via a preset path includes: Based on the location of the depleted battery of the vehicle and the location of the buffer position on the battery swapping channel, the battery swapping equipment is controlled to perform at least grab, move, and release actions to transfer the depleted battery from the vehicle to the buffer position.

[0011] Optionally, the charging station is provided with multiple charging positions, and the step of removing the fully charged battery from the charging station and transferring it to the vehicle to complete the battery swapping operation includes: Based on the charging status of the multiple charging positions and the relative position between the vehicle and the battery compartment, the target charging potential among the multiple charging positions is determined; The fully charged battery is removed from the target potential and transferred to the vehicle.

[0012] Optionally, the plurality of charging positions are arranged in a linear array, wherein each row or column of charging positions is parallel to each other; determining the target charging potential among the plurality of charging positions based on the charging status of the plurality of charging positions and the relative position between the vehicle and the battery compartment includes: Filter the charging positions that are in a fully charged state; Select the charging station that is closest to the vehicle from the fully charged charging stations as the target charging station.

[0013] The battery swapping method provided by this invention first establishes the operational foundation by identifying available buffer positions within the battery compartment. The dynamic determination mechanism of random buffer positions allows any idle charging position to be converted into a buffer in real time, providing a foundation for the flexible and efficient operation of subsequent processes. Next, by transferring a depleted battery to a buffer position, charging can be initiated immediately if it is a random buffer position, achieving "removal and storage for immediate charging," significantly shortening battery charging waiting time and directly improving battery turnover efficiency and charging response speed. Furthermore, by retrieving a fully charged battery from the charging position and installing it into the vehicle (e.g., by planning the shortest or near-optimal movement path), the transfer efficiency is improved, effectively reducing the time for a single battery swapping operation and enhancing the service capacity of the battery swapping station. Finally, for fixed buffer modes, [the method further addresses this issue]. The step-by-step transfer of depleted batteries from fixed buffer positions to charging positions ensures process stability and controllability, providing a reliable operating mode. For the random buffer mode corresponding to random buffer positions, compared to the fixed buffer mode corresponding to fixed buffer positions, the step of transferring depleted batteries from fixed buffer positions to charging positions is reduced, shortening the single battery swap time and improving swapping efficiency. It also allows for pre-charging of depleted batteries (storage allows for immediate charging, eliminating the charging waiting period after transfer and reducing swapping time), improving battery charging efficiency. Furthermore, the improved charging and swapping efficiency enhances the operational efficiency of the battery swapping station. Both battery swapping modes achieve efficient swapping while catering to different scenario requirements, ultimately improving the overall efficiency and reliability of battery swapping.

[0014] Secondly, the present invention provides a battery compartment that applies the battery swapping method described in any of the above claims. The battery compartment includes a charging position, or may also include a charging position and a fixed buffer position. The idle charging position is a random buffer position. The fixed buffer position or the random buffer position constitutes a buffer position. Both the charging position and the buffer position are provided with storage structures. The charging position also includes a charging component.

[0015] Optionally, the storage structure includes a frame and a guide assembly. The guide assembly is disposed on the frame, which is used to carry the battery. The guide assembly cooperates with the battery to guide and position the battery during transport and storage. The battery includes a depleted battery or a fully charged battery.

[0016] The battery compartment provided by this invention, in addition to having the beneficial effects of the battery swapping method, also uses a control room as a centralized control and data processing center, and operates in coordination with the modularly designed battery compartment. The battery compartment integrates several carrier units, and any idle charging position can be dynamically defined as a cache position to support the execution of a random cache battery swapping strategy. The control room includes corresponding controls for executing the battery swapping method, so as to realize the automated replacement of battery packs by directing the battery swapping equipment in the battery swapping channel.

[0017] Thirdly, the present invention provides a battery swapping station, including a control room and a battery compartment as described in any of the preceding claims, wherein the control room is used to perform the battery swapping method as described in the first aspect.

[0018] The battery swapping station provided by this invention has advantages over existing technologies, including the advantages of the battery swapping method and the battery compartment, which will not be elaborated here. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 A schematic flowchart of a battery swapping method according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown; Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the battery compartment structure in the fixed buffer mode of an embodiment of the present invention is shown; Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the battery compartment structure in random caching mode is shown in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This diagram illustrates the structure of a battery swapping station using a fixed buffer mode as an example in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the battery pack structure in an embodiment of the present invention is shown; Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the structure of the carrier aircraft in an embodiment of the present invention is shown; Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the battery storage rack in an embodiment of the present invention is shown; Figure 8 A schematic diagram of the layout of a battery swapping station in an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0020] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 1. Control room; 2. Battery compartment; 21. Loader; 22. Battery storage rack; 3. Battery swapping channel; 4. Vision module; 5. Battery swapping equipment; 6. Battery pack; 61. Battery pack body; 62. Limiting frame; 63. Guide sleeve; 64. Charging / discharging docking component; 7. Frame; 8. First guide positioning component; 9. Second guide positioning component; 10. Charging / discharging connector; 11. Main road. Detailed Implementation

[0021] To make the above-mentioned objects, features and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0022] It should be noted that relational terms such as "first" and "second" in this invention are used merely to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0023] In the description of this specification, references to terms such as "embodiment," "one embodiment," and "one implementation" indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or implementation is included in at least one embodiment or illustrative implementation of the present invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or implementation. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or implementations.

[0024] Reference Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown in the figure, an embodiment of the present invention proposes a battery swapping method; applicable to swapping batteries in a vehicle via a battery compartment 2, wherein the battery compartment 2 includes a charging position, or may further include a charging position and a fixed buffer position; the battery swapping method includes: S100: Identify the cache position of the battery compartment 2, the cache position includes the fixed cache position or the random cache position, the fixed cache position is a preset compartment for transferring batteries, and the random cache position is the idle charging position.

[0025] Specifically, based on the operating mode or configuration strategy, the type of cache slot currently in use is determined: if it is a fixed cache mode, then a pre-defined physical slot within battery compartment 2, dedicated to battery transfer, is directly designated as the fixed cache slot, for example, such as... Figure 2 As shown, in a battery compartment 2 with 8 charging positions, position B0 is a fixed buffer position; the rest are charging positions. In random buffer mode, the status information of each charging position is polled in real time, and charging positions that are idle, have no battery usage, and are functioning normally are dynamically marked as available random buffer positions. For example, as... Figure 3As shown, in a battery compartment 2 with 8 charging positions, if at least charging position B5 is detected to be currently empty and the charger is ready via sensors or communication interfaces, it can be marked as a random cache position, while the rest are normal charging positions. This mechanism enables the system to have configurable operating modes and adaptable resource allocation.

[0026] S200: Transfer the depleted battery on the vehicle to the buffer position. If the buffer position is the random buffer position, charge the depleted battery through the random buffer position.

[0027] Specifically, the depleted battery in the vehicle is transferred to a pre-identified charging bay using transfer equipment or manually. If the bay is a random bay (i.e., an available charging bay), the battery immediately begins charging via the charging system integrated into that bay upon placement. For example, when the battery is placed in a... Figure 3 When the battery is in the B5 random buffer slot, the charger in that slot automatically connects to the battery and starts charging, achieving "charge immediately after removal". This eliminates the idle time of the battery waiting to be charged in the station, and significantly improves the charging response speed and turnover efficiency of the battery.

[0028] S300: Remove the fully charged battery from the charging station and transfer it to the vehicle to complete the battery swapping operation.

[0029] Specifically, a fully charged battery is selected from the set of charging positions in battery compartment 2, removed, and installed into the vehicle. This process can be optimized through system scheduling algorithms, such as prioritizing the selection of the nearest fully charged charging position based on the vehicle's location and planning the optimal transfer path. Taking battery swapping device 5 as an example, after receiving the instruction, the device moves to the target charging position, grabs a fully charged battery, and then precisely installs it into the vehicle's battery compartment. This step directly completes the energy swap for the vehicle and is the core action of the battery swapping service.

[0030] S400: If the cache position uses the fixed cache position, the depleted battery on the fixed cache position is transferred to the charging position for charging.

[0031] Specifically, in fixed-buffer mode, a depleted battery is first temporarily stored in a fixed buffer location that does not have charging capability; subsequently, after the vehicle's battery swap is completed or when resources permit, the depleted battery is moved from the fixed buffer location to an available charging location for charging. For example, in Figure 2 In this process, the battery is first stored in a fixed buffer position numbered B0. Then, the battery swapping device 5 is controlled to take it out and move it to a charging position such as B5 to start charging. This step-by-step processing method ensures the certainty and controllability of the process through clear separation of procedures, and is suitable for scenarios with strict requirements for operational stability.

[0032] In practical application, this embodiment first establishes the operational foundation by identifying available buffer positions within battery compartment 2. The dynamic determination mechanism for random buffer positions allows any idle charging position to be converted into a buffer in real time, providing a foundation for flexible and efficient operation of subsequent processes. Next, by transferring a depleted battery to a buffer position (if it's a random buffer position), charging can be initiated immediately, achieving "removal and storage for immediate charging," significantly shortening battery charging waiting time and directly improving battery turnover efficiency and charging response speed. Furthermore, by (e.g., planning the shortest or near-optimal movement path) retrieving a fully charged battery from the charging position and installing it into the vehicle, transfer efficiency is improved, effectively reducing the time for a single battery swap operation and enhancing the service capacity of the battery swapping station. Finally, for the fixed buffer mode… By transferring depleted batteries from fixed buffer positions to charging positions in stages, the process is kept stable and controllable, providing a reliable operating mode. For the random buffer mode corresponding to random buffer positions, compared to the fixed buffer mode corresponding to fixed buffer positions, the step of transferring depleted batteries from fixed buffer positions to charging positions is reduced, shortening the single battery swap time and improving swapping efficiency. It also allows for pre-charging of depleted batteries (storage allows for immediate charging, eliminating the waiting period after transfer and reducing swapping time), thus improving battery charging efficiency. Furthermore, the improved charging and swapping efficiency enhances the operational efficiency of the battery swapping station. Both battery swapping modes achieve efficient swapping while catering to different scenario requirements, ultimately improving the overall efficiency and reliability of battery swapping.

[0033] This invention is mainly applicable to battery swapping stations for new energy heavy trucks and other vehicles, and can also be applied to battery swapping stations for passenger cars, light trucks and other electric vehicles that adopt the battery swapping mode.

[0034] like Figure 3 As shown, as an optional embodiment of the present invention, the battery swapping method further includes: After a single battery swap is completed, the random cache position where the depleted battery is stored and charged is determined as the occupied charging position, and the charging position that becomes idle after the fully charged battery is removed is determined as the random cache position.

[0035] Specifically, after each battery swap, not only is the physical location of the batteries exchanged, but the logical state is also redistributed simultaneously. The charging slots originally used as random cache slots (e.g., B5) automatically change their state from "idle random cache slot" to "occupied charging slot" because they now hold a depleted battery and are in a charging state. At the same time, the original charging slots (e.g., B7) freed up by the removal of fully charged batteries are automatically identified by the system as new random cache slots (e.g., B7) because they are now idle and functioning normally. This process realizes the reclamation and redistribution of cache slot resources.

[0036] In practical applications, this embodiment ensures the consistency between the internal state of the system and the physical reality, providing an accurate basis for scheduling decisions of subsequent battery swapping tasks. It avoids resource allocation conflicts or work interruptions caused by state asynchrony. The entire battery swapping process forms a "caching → charging → power extraction → re-caching" process, supporting continuous, automated, and efficient operation.

[0037] like Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, in an optional embodiment of the present invention, the buffer space of the battery compartment 2 includes: The status of each charging position is monitored in real time, and the charging position that is currently without a battery and is charging normally is determined as the random buffer position; Specifically, the real-time status of all charging positions is continuously monitored (including whether they are occupied by the battery, whether the charging function is normal, etc.), and charging positions that are currently idle (without battery) and have good charging function are dynamically marked as random buffer positions (e.g. Figure 3 (B5). This means that the random cache position is not fixed, but is updated in real time with the access of the battery and the status of the charging position. It is an intelligent allocation strategy based on real-time resource availability. Its effect is to maximize the utilization of charging position resources, so that any idle charging position can temporarily take on the function of cache, thereby realizing "discharge and charge", shortening the waiting time for the battery to enter the charging state, and improving the overall energy turnover efficiency.

[0038] Alternatively, the preset compartment in the battery compartment 2 used for transferring batteries can be designated as the fixed buffer position.

[0039] Specifically, the fixed buffer slot is a pre-defined specific slot within battery compartment 2 dedicated to battery transfer (e.g., ...). Figure 2 The location and function of the B0 compartment are determined during system initialization or layout design. Regardless of the status of other compartments, this compartment is always used as a buffer. It typically does not have a charging function or the charging function is not enabled. Its effect is to provide a stable and predictable battery storage point, which is suitable for work modes with regular processes or fixed requirements for buffer location, ensuring the operational determinism and process controllability of the system under specific working conditions.

[0040] In practical applications, this embodiment can flexibly choose between dynamic random caching or fixed transfer caching based on actual operational strategies, vehicle queuing conditions, or equipment scheduling needs. This achieves a balance between prioritizing efficiency and ensuring process stability, enhancing the adaptability of the battery swapping station to different operational scenarios and improving its resource allocation capabilities.

[0041] like Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4As shown, in an optional embodiment of the present invention, transferring the depleted battery from the vehicle to the buffer location includes: The depleted battery on the vehicle is in a disassembled state, and the battery swapping device 5 is controlled to transfer the depleted battery to the buffer position through a preset path; Specifically, the battery swapping device 5 performs disassembly and gripping operations. In one embodiment, the battery locking mechanism on the vehicle first unlocks in response to a control signal, putting the depleted battery in a disassembled state, and then the battery swapping device 5 grips and transports it. In another embodiment, after the battery swapping device 5 moves to the vehicle battery installation position, its end effector (such as a robotic arm) first couples with the battery interface or locking mechanism and directly performs an unlocking operation (e.g., triggering a release mechanism mechanically or electrically), achieving gripping while completing disassembly, and then moving the battery out and transporting it together.

[0042] The control system 5 performs grabbing, moving, and placing actions along a preset optimized path to safely and accurately transfer the depleted battery from the vehicle to the designated buffer position. This process is based on path planning according to the vehicle's parking position, battery posture, and buffer position coordinates to ensure a smooth and efficient transfer process. The preset path refers to the spatial trajectory that the battery swapping device 5 pre-calculates and generates using algorithms based on the task start point (such as the vehicle battery interface), the end point (such as the target buffer), the device's motion parameters, and environmental layout constraints before performing the battery transfer task. The core of this path lies in its pre-planning and task-specific nature, aiming to connect actions such as grasping, moving, and releasing in the optimal way to ensure that the transfer process is efficient, smooth, and reliable.

[0043] In practical applications, the specific form of the preset path can take various forms depending on the equipment capabilities and layout characteristics. Under the standardized battery swapping station layout, thanks to the fixed vehicle parking positions (battery swapping waiting positions) and the regular arrangement of the 2-position array of battery compartments, the optimized preset path can usually be simplified into a geometrically clear motion trajectory, such as an "L"-shaped broken line path mainly composed of vertical lifting and horizontal translation, or a straight path formed when the positions are aligned at the same height. This type of simplified path reflects the control convenience brought about by design optimization, but the preset path itself does not exclude other curved or composite trajectory forms used in more complex working conditions or to achieve specific motion qualities (such as smooth speed changes and obstacle avoidance).

[0044] If the cache bit uses the random cache bit, the charging operation will be started after the transfer is completed.

[0045] Specifically, after the transfer is completed, the system performs differentiated processing based on the type of the current cache bit: if the cache bit used is a random cache bit (e.g. Figure 3If the storage compartment (B5) is a charging bay with built-in charging functionality, the system will automatically initiate charging of the depleted battery immediately after it is placed in place, achieving "discharge and charge instantly"; if the storage compartment used is a fixed storage compartment (e.g., B5), the system will automatically initiate charging of the depleted battery immediately after it is placed in place, achieving "discharge and charge instantly"; Figure 2 If the battery is in the B0 position, it will only temporarily store the battery and will not trigger charging until the battery is subsequently transferred to the charging position.

[0046] In practical application, this embodiment achieves faster battery turnover within the battery swapping station through the "random caching" method and the control of the battery swapping equipment 5 with a preset path. Specifically, when a depleted battery is removed from the vehicle, it is directly placed into an empty, rechargeable compartment (random caching compartment) and charging begins immediately, eliminating the step of transferring it to a fixed caching compartment, thereby improving battery swapping efficiency and charging efficiency.

[0047] Meanwhile, by controlling the battery swapping device 5 to move along a pre-planned optimal path (such as a simple straight line or L-shaped path), the actions of picking up and placing batteries are made faster and more accurate, further shortening the single battery swapping time and improving the overall operating efficiency of the battery swapping station.

[0048] like Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, in an optional embodiment of the present invention, a battery swapping channel 3 is provided within a preset range of the battery compartment 2. When the vehicle enters the battery swapping channel 3, the depleted battery on the vehicle is at least parallel to the buffer position. The control of the battery swapping device 5 to transfer the depleted battery to the buffer location via a preset path includes: Based on the position of the depleted battery of the vehicle on the battery swapping channel 3 and the position of the buffer position, the battery swapping device 5 is controlled to perform at least grab, move and release actions to transfer the depleted battery from the vehicle to the buffer position.

[0049] Specifically, a battery swapping channel 3 is provided within a preset range of the battery compartment 2. When the vehicle enters the battery swapping channel 3, the depleted battery on the vehicle is at least parallel to the buffer position. The extension direction of the battery swapping channel 3 is perpendicular to the length direction of the battery compartment 2 and perpendicular to the length direction of the charging position. The above defines the spatial layout and initial state conditions for the battery swapping operation. A dedicated battery swapping channel 3 is provided next to the battery compartment 2. When the vehicle drives into and stops in this channel, the depleted battery to be removed from its body is at least parallel to the buffer position used for temporary storage in the battery compartment 2. This parallel orientation provides the alignment basis for the battery swapping equipment 5 to perform subsequent grasping and transfer actions, reduces the complexity of battery spatial attitude adjustment, and is a prerequisite for achieving efficient and precise removal.

[0050] Based on the precise location of the depleted battery after the vehicle stops (obtained via vision module 4) and the fixed location of the target buffer position, a pre-defined optimal path is planned from the vehicle's battery interface to the buffer position. Under the control of this path, the battery swapping device 5 (such as a battery swapping robot) sequentially performs three basic actions: first, accurately grabs and unlocks the depleted battery from the vehicle; then, smoothly moves it out of the vehicle along the pre-defined path and transports it to the direction of battery compartment 2; finally, accurately aligns it above the buffer position and releases and places the battery on the buffer position. This series of coherent automated actions achieves a reliable and efficient transfer of the depleted battery from the vehicle to the temporary storage location.

[0051] In one embodiment, the final parking position of the vehicle after entering the battery swapping channel 3 is explicitly defined as the "battery swapping waiting position," which is located at the intersection of the battery swapping channel 3 and the battery compartment 2 area in the spatial extension direction, or on the corresponding extension line. The standardized parking position of the "battery swapping waiting position" fixes and simplifies the spatial relationship between the vehicle, battery, and battery compartment 2. At this position, whether the battery swapping device 5 performs the operation of grabbing a depleted battery from the vehicle and transferring it to the battery compartment 2, or the operation of retrieving a fully charged battery from the battery compartment 2 and transferring it to the vehicle, the required spatial movement path becomes direct and short. Typically, only simple linear translation or slight lifting and lowering is needed to complete the docking, significantly reducing the complexity of equipment movement and shortening the single operation time, thereby significantly improving the efficiency and reliability of the overall battery swapping process. The battery swapping device 5 itself can be existing technology.

[0052] In practical application, when a vehicle enters the battery swapping channel 3 next to the battery compartment 2, its depleted battery and the buffer position are aligned in parallel. The system then plans the optimal path according to the actual position of the battery and the buffer position, and controls the battery swapping device 5 to perform grabbing, moving and releasing actions in sequence, so as to automatically and accurately transfer the depleted battery from the vehicle to the buffer position, preparing for subsequent charging or scheduling.

[0053] like Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, in an optional embodiment of the present invention, multiple charging positions are provided, and the step of removing a fully charged battery from the charging position and transferring it to the vehicle to complete the battery swapping operation includes: Based on the charging status of the multiple charging positions and the relative position between the vehicle and the battery compartment 2, the target charging potential among the multiple charging positions is determined; Specifically, the system first acquires the charging status of batteries in all charging positions in real time, then filters out those charging positions that are "fully charged" to form a pool of available batteries. Simultaneously, based on the vehicle's precise location within the battery swapping channel 3 and the fixed array layout of the charging positions within the battery compartment 2, the system calculates the spatial relationship between each fully charged charging position and the vehicle. By comprehensively considering both the charging status and the distance, the system determines the optimal "target charging potential" from all fully charged charging positions. This process ensures that the selected battery not only has sufficient energy and is immediately usable, but also that its location minimizes the subsequent power transfer path and maximizes operational convenience. The fully charged battery is removed from the target potential and transferred to the vehicle.

[0054] Specifically, after the target charging potential is determined, the battery swapping device 5 (such as a battery swapping robot or vehicle) moves to the target charging position according to system instructions. The device precisely docks with the positioning structure (such as a guide component) on the battery through its actuators, reliably grasping the fully charged battery. Subsequently, the device moves the battery out of the charging position along an optimized path (usually a straight line or a simple zigzag line) and transports it horizontally to the installation position above the vehicle. During the transfer process, the device can make fine adjustments based on feedback from the vehicle positioning system to ensure precise alignment between the battery and the vehicle interface, ultimately completing the installation and locking of the battery, realizing the reliable transfer of power from the battery swapping station to the vehicle. This process fully combines the mechanical precision of the equipment with the intelligent control of the system, and is the core action for achieving efficient and automated battery swapping.

[0055] In practical application, this embodiment first intelligently selects and determines an optimal target charging potential from multiple charging positions based on the real-time charging status of each charging position and the relative position of the vehicle and the battery compartment 2, ensuring that the selected battery is fully charged and relatively close to the vehicle. Subsequently, the battery swapping device 5 moves to the target charging potential according to the instruction, accurately grabs the fully charged battery, and directly transfers and installs it into the vehicle along the optimized path, thereby efficiently and reliably completing the fully automated operation from battery selection to physical replacement.

[0056] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, in an optional embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of charging positions are arranged in a linear array, wherein the charging positions in each row or column are parallel to each other; determining the target charging potential among the plurality of charging positions based on the charging status of the plurality of charging positions and the relative position between the vehicle and the battery compartment 2 includes: The charging positions that are in a fully charged state are selected.

[0057] Specifically, the charging positions are arranged in a regular linear array within the battery compartment 2. Each row of charging positions is aligned horizontally and parallel to each other, and each column of charging positions is aligned vertically and parallel to each other (at least one row or column is provided). This strictly parallel and arrayed spatial layout makes the relative positional relationship between the charging positions fixed and predictable.

[0058] Based on the monitoring data of the charging status of the batteries in each charging position, those charging positions that have reached the "fully charged" state are identified and filtered out from all charging positions. Through this filtering, the set of all available battery resources that can be immediately used for battery swapping is quickly determined, defining an accurate range for the decision of the target charging potential, and ensuring that the batteries in the selected charging positions are fully charged and can be safely and effectively supplied to the vehicle.

[0059] Select the charging station that is closest to the vehicle from the fully charged charging stations as the target charging station.

[0060] Specifically, the charging positions are arranged in a regular linear array within the battery compartment 2. Each row of charging positions is aligned horizontally and parallel to each other, while each column of charging positions is aligned vertically and parallel to each other. This strictly parallel and arrayed spatial layout ensures that the relative positions of the charging positions are fixed and predictable, providing a stable and efficient geometric basis for the system to perform distance calculations, path planning, and equipment scheduling.

[0061] Multiple charging positions are arranged in a linear array within the battery compartment 2, with each row or column of charging positions being parallel to each other. The battery compartment 2 is arranged along one side of the battery swapping channel 3, and the extending direction of the battery swapping channel 3 is perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the charging positions.

[0062] When a vehicle enters and parks in the battery swapping channel 3, its longitudinal axis is aligned with the direction of the battery swapping channel 3, and thus parallel to the arrangement direction of the charging positions. The storage direction of the depleted battery to be removed from the vehicle is also parallel to the charging positions.

[0063] It should be noted that in new energy vehicles such as heavy trucks and light trucks, the battery is usually integrated in the form of a battery pack 6 on the side of the frame (main beam) or between the two axles, that is, on the frame, rather than under the chassis.

[0064] In this configuration, all charging stations that are fully charged are first selected based on their real-time status, forming a set of available battery resources. Then, based on the vehicle's parking position in the battery swapping channel 3, the charging station that is both fully charged and located close to the side of the channel is prioritized as the target charging point. Since the charging station array is arranged perpendicularly to the battery swapping channel 3, and the target charging point is close to the channel, the battery swapping equipment 5 mainly performs translational movement along the channel direction and vertical lifting operations when performing power extraction. It does not require complex rotations or large-scale lateral movements, thus significantly simplifying the equipment's movement path, reducing operation time and energy consumption, and further improving the efficiency of the power extraction process and the overall battery swapping response speed.

[0065] In practical application, multiple charging positions are arranged in a linear array within the battery compartment 2, with each row and column parallel to each other. In a preferred embodiment, the battery compartment 2 (length along the X direction in the figure) is arranged perpendicularly along one side of the battery swapping channel 3 (Y direction in the figure), making the channel direction orthogonal to the charging position arrangement direction. When the vehicle is parked, its body and the depleted battery are parallel to the charging positions. At this time, all fully charged charging positions can be selected as available resources first, and then the charging position that is both fully charged and closest to the battery swapping channel 3 is selected as the target charging position based on the vehicle position. This layout and selection strategy allows the battery swapping device 5 to complete the power extraction by only performing translation and vertical lifting operations along the channel direction, avoiding complex rotation and large-scale lateral movement, thereby significantly simplifying the movement path, shortening the operation time, reducing energy consumption, and comprehensively improving the efficiency of the power extraction process and the overall battery swapping response speed.

[0066] like Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 5 , Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, the present invention provides a battery compartment 2, which applies the battery swapping method described in the above embodiments. The battery compartment 2 includes a charging position, or may also include a charging position and a fixed cache position. The idle charging position is a random cache position. The fixed cache position or the random cache position constitutes a cache position. Both the charging position and the cache position are provided with storage structures. The charging position also includes a charging component.

[0067] Specifically, both the charging position and the buffer position are equipped with a storage structure. This storage structure is used to provide physical support and complete positioning when the battery is stored, ensuring that the battery is fixed in position and accurate in attitude within the compartment. In addition, the charging position further integrates a charging component, which includes at least a charging and discharging connector and a charger electrically connected to it, for establishing an electrical connection and performing charging or energy interaction after the battery is positioned.

[0068] In practical application, this embodiment utilizes a unified structure and hierarchical functional design to achieve compatibility and efficient management of both fixed and random caching modes. The storage structure provides a standardized and high-precision physical basis for battery positioning and temporary storage in various compartments, ensuring the reliability and repeatability of battery transfer during the battery swapping process. The charging station, based on the same storage structure, integrates charging components, enabling immediate electrical connection and charging or bidirectional energy interaction after the battery is in place. This directly supports the implementation of the random caching strategy, significantly reducing battery transfer links, improving charging response speed and overall operational efficiency. This solution, while ensuring system modularity and scalability, provides core hardware support for the intelligent scheduling and flexible configuration of battery swapping stations, combining efficiency, reliability, and adaptability.

[0069] like Figure 5 , Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, in an optional embodiment of the present invention, the storage structure includes a frame 7 and a guide assembly. The guide assembly is disposed on the frame 7, the frame 7 is used to carry the battery, and the guide assembly cooperates with the battery to guide and position the battery during transfer and storage. The battery includes a depleted battery or a fully charged battery.

[0070] Specifically, the battery pack 6 includes a battery pack body 61, and a limiting frame 62, a guide sleeve 63, and a charging / discharging docking component 64 mounted on it (e.g., at the bottom). The guiding assembly includes a first guide positioning component 8 and a second guide positioning component 9. The first guide positioning component 8 is a wedge-shaped structure with multiple components forming a positioning protrusion (e.g., forming a semi-U-shaped structure), which cooperates with the limiting frame 62 on the frame 7 to complete coarse positioning. The second guide positioning component 9 is a cylindrical structure that inserts into the guide sleeve 63 on the battery pack 6 to complete tight and precise positioning. The charging / discharging docking component 64 on the battery pack 6 docks with the charging / discharging connector 10 (electrically connected to the charger) on the frame 7. When the battery pack 6 is placed in the charging position, i.e., the carrier 21, this positioning and docking system completes mechanical positioning and electrical connection preparation in one go, so that the charging process starts immediately after the battery is in place, significantly improving charging efficiency. When the battery pack 6 is stored in a fixed buffer position, i.e., on the battery storage rack 22 which does not have a charging function, the first guide positioning component 8 cooperates with the limiting frame 62 to complete coarse positioning, and the second guide positioning component 9 cooperates with the guide sleeve component 63 to complete precise positioning. This system mainly realizes the mechanical guidance and physical positioning of the battery pack 6 in the fixed buffer position, ensuring that the battery pack 6 has a stable posture and accurate position, preparing it for subsequent transfer by the battery swapping equipment 5 to the charging position, i.e., the rack carrier 21, for charging. At this time, since the position of the charging and discharging connector 1 on the battery storage rack 22 is suspended or only a structural support surface, the charging and discharging docking component 64 on the battery pack 6 does not contact or dock with it. The battery pack 6 is held in the predetermined position only through the cooperation of the first guide positioning component 8 and the second guide positioning component 9.

[0071] In practical applications, this embodiment achieves unified, accurate, and reliable positioning of batteries (whether depleted or fully charged) during transfer and storage between the charging position and the fixed buffer position through the guide component integrated on the battery storage rack 22. In the charging position, mechanical positioning and electrical connection preparation can be completed simultaneously to immediately start charging, significantly improving efficiency. In the fixed buffer position, the pure mechanical positioning of the guide component ensures the battery's stable posture, preparing it for subsequent transfer, while avoiding unnecessary electrical contact, thus improving the system's reliability, adaptability, and the smoothness of the overall battery swapping process.

[0072] like Figure 4 and Figure 8 As shown, the present invention provides a battery swapping station, including a control room 1 and a battery compartment 2 as described in any of the preceding claims, wherein the control room 1 is used to perform the battery swapping method as described in any of the preceding claims.

[0073] Specifically, the battery swapping station provided by the present invention uses a control room 1 as a centralized control and data processing center, and operates in coordination with a modularly designed battery compartment 2. The battery compartment 2 integrates several carrier units 21, and any idle charging position can be dynamically defined as a cache position to support the execution of a random cache battery swapping strategy. The control room 1 includes corresponding controls to execute the battery swapping method, so as to realize the automated replacement of battery packs 6 by the battery swapping equipment 5 in the battery swapping channel 3.

[0074] In addition, the battery swapping station can be further expanded to include the following components: a modular enclosure system that supports flexible adjustment of capacity and layout; a thermal regulation system for thermal management and environmental control; a fire protection and video system for security monitoring; and a network communication system for data interaction with enterprise cloud platforms and local regulatory platforms. The entire battery swapping station is arranged along the main road 11, forming an efficient, reliable and scalable electric vehicle energy replenishment infrastructure.

[0075] The battery swapping station provided by this invention can significantly improve battery swapping efficiency and battery turnover rate by executing a fixed caching strategy in the control room 1, or by intelligently executing a dynamic caching strategy (defining any idle charging position as a caching position), and by highly efficient collaboration with the modular battery compartment 2. Combined with the expansion and integration of modular enclosure, thermal management system, fire protection and video surveillance, and network communication system, the battery swapping station achieves comprehensive optimization in terms of safety, reliability, and scalability, and ultimately builds a flexible, intelligent, and efficient electric vehicle energy replenishment infrastructure.

[0076] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, enabling those skilled in the art to understand or implement the invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, the present invention is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features of the invention herein.

[0077] While the present invention has been disclosed above, its scope of protection is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and all such changes and modifications will fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A battery swapping method, characterized in that, This method is applicable to battery swapping of vehicles via a battery compartment (2), wherein the battery compartment (2) includes a charging position, or includes a charging position and a fixed buffer position. The battery swapping method includes: identifying a buffer position in the battery compartment (2), wherein the buffer position includes the fixed buffer position or a random buffer position, wherein the fixed buffer position is a preset position for transferring batteries, and the random buffer position is an idle charging position; transferring a depleted battery from the vehicle to the buffer position; if the buffer position is the random buffer position, charging the depleted battery through the random buffer position; removing a fully charged battery from the charging position and transferring it to the vehicle to complete the battery swapping operation; if the buffer position is the fixed buffer position, transferring the depleted battery on the fixed buffer position to the charging position for charging.

2. The battery swapping method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: After a single battery swap is completed, the random cache position where the depleted battery is stored and charged is determined as the occupied charging position, and the charging position that becomes idle after the fully charged battery is removed is determined as the random cache position.

3. The battery swapping method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cache position of the battery compartment (2) includes: real-time monitoring of the compartment status of each charging position, and determining the charging position that is currently without a battery and is charging normally as the random cache position; or, determining the preset compartment in the battery compartment (2) used for transferring batteries as the fixed cache position.

4. The battery swapping method according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The step of transferring the depleted battery on the vehicle to the buffer position includes: the depleted battery on the vehicle is in a disassembled state, and the battery swapping device (5) is controlled to transfer the depleted battery to the buffer position through a preset path; if the buffer position is the random buffer position, the charging operation is started after the transfer is completed.

5. The battery swapping method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The battery compartment (2) is provided with a battery swapping channel (3) within a preset range. When the vehicle enters the battery swapping channel (3), the depleted battery on the vehicle is at least parallel to the buffer position. The control of the battery swapping device (5) to transfer the depleted battery to the buffer position via a preset path includes: according to the position of the depleted battery of the vehicle on the battery swapping channel (3) and the position of the buffer position, controlling the battery swapping device (5) to perform at least grab, move and release actions to transfer the depleted battery from the vehicle to the buffer position.

6. The battery swapping method according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The charging positions are provided in multiple locations. The step of removing the fully charged battery from the charging position and transferring it to the vehicle to complete the battery swapping operation includes: determining the target potential among the multiple charging positions based on the charging status of the multiple charging positions and the relative position between the vehicle and the battery compartment (2); removing the fully charged battery from the target potential and transferring it to the vehicle.

7. The battery swapping method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The multiple charging positions are arranged in a linear array, wherein each row or column of the charging positions is parallel to each other; the step of determining the target potential among the multiple charging positions based on the charging status of the multiple charging positions and the relative position between the vehicle and the battery compartment (2) includes: screening the charging positions that are fully charged; and selecting the charging position closest to the vehicle from the fully charged charging positions as the target potential.

8. A battery compartment, characterized in that, The battery compartment (2) includes a charging position, or may include a charging position and a fixed cache position. The idle charging position is a random cache position. The fixed cache position or the random cache position constitutes a cache position. Both the charging position and the cache position are provided with storage structures. The charging position also includes a charging component.

9. The battery compartment according to claim 8, characterized in that, The storage structure includes a frame (7) and a guide assembly. The guide assembly is disposed on the frame (7). The frame (7) is used to carry the battery. The guide assembly cooperates with the battery to guide and position the battery during transfer and storage. The battery includes a depleted battery or a fully charged battery.

10. A battery swapping station, characterized in that, It includes a control room (1) and a battery compartment (2) as described in any one of claims 8-9, wherein the control room (1) is used to perform the battery swapping method as described in any one of claims 1-7.

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