Method for replacing on-board battery, device for replacing on-board battery and trolley for replacing on-board battery

Abstract

This invention provides a technology that enables the miniaturization and cost reduction of equipment required for replacing vehicle-mounted batteries using a trolley. This disclosure relates to a method for replacing vehicle-mounted batteries, a device for replacing vehicle-mounted batteries, and a trolley for replacing vehicle-mounted batteries. The replacement method includes: mounting the vehicle-mounted battery on a low-height trolley, the height of which, when the vehicle-mounted battery is mounted, is lower than the lowest ground level of the vehicle; and moving the low-height trolley carrying the vehicle-mounted battery below the floor of the vehicle to replace the vehicle-mounted battery.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to methods, apparatus, and trolleys for replacing onboard batteries in vehicles. Background Technology

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a battery replacement system for replacing a battery (storage battery) mounted in a vehicle. In the battery replacement system disclosed in Patent Document 1, a space is provided under the road surface where the electric vehicle travels for a traveling trolley to move. The traveling trolley travels and moves in the space under the road surface to replace the electric vehicle's battery.

[0003] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-168127

[0004] There are known methods for replacing vehicle-mounted batteries using a mobile trolley. In such battery replacement methods, if a dedicated space is provided beneath the road surface for the mobile trolley to move, the equipment is expected to become larger, increasing costs. Summary of the Invention

[0005] One object of this disclosure is to provide a technology that enables the miniaturization and cost reduction of the equipment required for replacing onboard batteries in vehicles using a trolley.

[0006] The first aspect of this disclosure relates to a method for replacing an onboard battery. This replacement method includes: mounting the onboard battery on a low-height trolley, whose height when equipped with the onboard battery is lower than the lowest ground level of the vehicle; and moving the low-height trolley equipped with the onboard battery under the floor of the vehicle to replace the onboard battery.

[0007] The second aspect of this disclosure relates to a trolley for replacing vehicle-mounted batteries. The trolley, when equipped with the vehicle-mounted battery, is configured such that its height is lower than the vehicle's lowest ground clearance.

[0008] A third aspect of this disclosure relates to an on-board battery replacement device for replacing an on-board battery. The on-board battery replacement device includes an on-board battery and a trolley equipped with a lift for raising the on-board battery. The trolley is configured such that its height when carrying the on-board battery is lower than the lowest ground height of the vehicle.

[0009] According to the technology disclosed herein, a low-height trolley is used for replacing vehicle batteries. Because the height of the trolley with the vehicle battery mounted is lower than the vehicle's lowest ground level, it can be moved under the vehicle's floor even without a dedicated space below the road surface. Therefore, the equipment can be miniaturized, reducing the cost of replacing vehicle batteries. Attached Figure Description

[0010] Figure 1This is a diagram showing the vehicle battery replacement device according to this embodiment as viewed from the top surface.

[0011] Figure 2 This is a diagram showing the vehicle battery replacement device according to this embodiment as viewed from the bottom surface.

[0012] Figure 3 This is a side view of the vehicle battery replacement device involved in this embodiment.

[0013] Figure 4 This diagram illustrates the operation of replacing a vehicle battery using the vehicle battery replacement device according to this embodiment.

[0014] Figure 5 This diagram illustrates the operation of replacing a vehicle battery using the vehicle battery replacement device according to this embodiment.

[0015] Figure 6 This diagram illustrates the operation of replacing a vehicle battery using the vehicle battery replacement device according to this embodiment.

[0016] Figure 7 This diagram illustrates the operation of replacing a vehicle battery using the vehicle battery replacement device according to this embodiment.

[0017] Figure 8 A diagram of the vehicle battery replacement device in the modified example, viewed from the lower surface.

[0018] Figure 9 This is a diagram used to illustrate a variation of the use of a stepped plate.

[0019] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0020] 1...On-board battery replacement device; 10...Trolley; 11...Frame; 12...Wheel; 13...Lifting mechanism; 14...Disassembly and assembly mechanism; 20...Battery pack; 21...Protective panel; 22...Retaining part; 23...Connector; 30...Vehicle; 32...Fixing part; 33...Connector; 40...Step plate. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The embodiments of this disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0022] 1. Structure of the vehicle battery replacement device

[0023] exist Figures 1 to 3 The image shows the vehicle battery replacement device 1 according to this embodiment. The vehicle battery replacement device 1 includes a vehicle battery and a trolley 10 for replacing the vehicle battery.

[0024] Figure 1 This is a view of the trolley 10 from its top surface. Figure 2 This is a view of the trolley 10 from below. The horizontal direction of the trolley 10 represents its front-to-back direction, and the vertical direction represents its left-to-right direction. The trolley 10 has a frame 11 that can carry a battery pack 20 for the vehicle-mounted battery. The frame 11 is shaped with holes on the inside of the plate, and the battery pack 20 is held in place by the holes.

[0025] The battery pack 20 has a housing. The housing includes an upper housing and a lower housing. The lower surface of the battery pack 20 is covered by a protective panel 21, which is used to prevent impacts such as flying stones during installation on the vehicle. The protective panel 21 is configured to cover the lower housing from below. The battery pack 20 can be mounted on the frame 11 of the trolley 10 with the protective panel 21 inside. In addition, the trolley 10 has wheels 12, which allow it to move forward and backward or left and right.

[0026] Figure 3 This is a side view of the trolley 10. The horizontal direction of the figure represents the front-to-back direction of the trolley 10, and the vertical direction represents the height direction of the trolley 10. The trolley 10 is equipped with a lifting mechanism (lifting machine) 13 for raising and lowering the battery pack 20 during battery replacement. A disassembly and assembly mechanism 14 for removing and installing the battery is provided above the lifting mechanism 13. A portion of the protective panel 21 has a convex shape when viewed from the top surface; this convex shape serves as a holding part 22 for holding the battery pack 20 installed in the vehicle. While the battery is mounted on the trolley 10, the holding part 22 can be supported by the disassembly and assembly mechanism 14 to hold the protective panel 21 and the battery pack 20 on the trolley 10. Furthermore, as shown, the battery connector 23 is provided on the front side of the battery pack 20; by inserting the connector from the front onto the vehicle side, the connectors can be engaged with each other.

[0027] 2. Operation of the vehicle battery replacement device

[0028] Next, use Figures 4 to 6 The movement of the trolley 10 during the replacement of the vehicle battery is explained. Figures 4 to 6 The image shows a view of the trolley 10 from the side. Furthermore, in... Figures 4 to 6 In this drawing, reference numerals for parts not used in the illustration are omitted.

[0029] In (1), the trolley 10 moves in the direction of the arrow and enters the floor of the vehicle 30.

[0030] In (2), the trolley 10 stops at a position closer to the front than the fixed position. A fixing part 32 for fixing the vehicle battery is provided on the underside of the vehicle body 30. The fixed position mentioned here is the position where the retaining part 22 of the protective panel 21 engages with the fixing part 32.

[0031] In (3), the battery pack 20 and the protection panel 21 are lifted together by the lifting mechanism 13. In order to enable the connector 23 on the vehicle battery side to engage with the connector 33 on the vehicle side, the battery pack 20 is lifted by the lifting mechanism 13 to a height that is approximately the same as the height of the connector 23 and the connector 33.

[0032] In (4), the trolley 10 moves forward. By moving the trolley 10, the connector 33 on the vehicle side is inserted into the connector 23 on the vehicle battery side. Additionally, the retaining part 22 of the protection panel 21 moves to a position where it can be mounted on the fixing part 32, that is, a position where the retaining part 22 and the fixing part 32 are approximately aligned when viewed from the front-rear direction. Then, while the battery pack 20 is supported by the disassembly and assembly mechanism 14, the retaining part 22 of the protection panel 21 is fixed to the fixing part 32 of the vehicle 30. Any mechanism can be used to fix the protection panel 21 to the fixing part 32. For example, a mechanism called a wedge plate mechanism, a push-lock mechanism, a tapping mechanism, a ball-type latching mechanism, a free-sliding locking mechanism, or the protection panel 21 can be fixed by magnets.

[0033] When the battery pack 20 is secured to the vehicle 30, in (5), the lifting mechanism 13 descends to its initial position. The disassembly and assembly mechanism 14 also descends to its initial position along with the lifting mechanism 13. Thereafter, as in (6), the trolley 10 moves forward, passing under the floor of the vehicle 30 in its original position. Thus, the vehicle battery is installed. When removing the vehicle battery from the vehicle 30, the reverse steps are performed. When removing it, the protective panel 21 is released from the vehicle 30 using the disassembly and assembly mechanism 14, allowing the vehicle battery to be removed from the vehicle 30 with the protective panel 21 installed. In this way, the vehicle battery can be removed and installed, thereby enabling battery replacement.

[0034] 3. Features of on-board battery replacement devices

[0035] The features of the vehicle battery replacement device 1 according to this embodiment will be described.

[0036] As shown in the figure, in the vehicle battery replacement device 1, the connector 23 of the vehicle battery is disposed on the front side of the battery pack 20, and the connector 33 on the vehicle side is inserted from the front relative to the connector 23 of the battery pack 20.

[0037] If the connector for the vehicle-mounted battery is positioned on the upper surface of the battery pack, the overall height of the trolley when the vehicle-mounted battery is installed will increase accordingly. Furthermore, in the case where the connector on the vehicle side is inserted from the top of the battery pack, sufficient height must be maintained between the bottom of the connector on the vehicle body side and the top of the battery pack mounted on the trolley. Therefore, to ensure the floor of the vehicle body is sufficiently high relative to the trolley, a dedicated space for the trolley to move along must be provided below the road surface where the vehicle is parked, or the vehicle body must be raised to increase the floor level when changing the vehicle-mounted battery.

[0038] In contrast, in the vehicle battery replacement device 1 of this embodiment, by providing the connector 23 on the side of the vehicle battery and inserting the connector 33 on the vehicle side horizontally, the vehicle battery can be replaced even without providing a dedicated space for the trolley 10 or lifting the vehicle body, simply by moving the trolley 10 carrying the vehicle battery to the floor of the vehicle 30 while keeping it in its original position. This eliminates the height constraint mainly caused by the connector.

[0039] Furthermore, the connector 23 of the vehicle battery can be located on the rear side of the battery pack 20, or it can be configured to insert into the vehicle side from the rear. Alternatively, the connector 23 can be located on either the left or right side of the battery pack 20, or it can be configured to insert into the vehicle side laterally.

[0040] Furthermore, in the vehicle-mounted battery swapping device 1, the frame 11 of the trolley 10 does not support the battery pack 20 from the bottom. The frame 11 of the trolley 10 is configured as a plate-like structure with holes on the inside. The battery pack 20 is mounted on the trolley 10 such that the retaining portion 22 of the protective panel 21 is held in place by the mounting / removing mechanism 14, and the battery pack 20 is positioned within the holes. Moreover, when the battery pack 20 is mounted on the trolley 10, as... Figure 3 As shown, when viewed from the side, the height is adjusted by the lifting mechanism so that the lower surface of the battery pack 20 (the lower surface of the protective panel 21) is lower than the lower surface of the frame 11. Therefore, compared to supporting the battery pack 20 from the bottom, the overall height of the trolley 10 can be kept lower, making it easier for the trolley 10 to enter the floor of the vehicle 30 to replace the vehicle battery.

[0041] Furthermore, the upper surface of the retaining part 22 of the protective panel 21 is positioned lower than the upper surface of the battery pack 20, allowing the mounting / removing mechanism 14 to support the retaining part 22 from below. Additionally, the wheel 12 is sized such that its upper part is positioned lower than the upper surface of the battery pack 20 mounted on the trolley 10. This minimizes the overall height of the trolley 10 when the battery pack 20 is mounted, preventing the retaining part 22, wheels 12, and mounting / removing mechanism 14 from restricting the height of the vehicle 30's floor.

[0042] In the vehicle battery replacement device 1, for the reasons described above, the height of the trolley 10 can also be suppressed, and the height of the trolley 10 when equipped with the vehicle battery can be suppressed to be lower than the lower surface of the fixing part 32. Since the fixing part 32 is configured to protrude from the floor of the vehicle 30 towards the road surface, it can also be said that the height of the trolley 10 when equipped with the vehicle battery can be suppressed to be lower than the lowest ground height of the vehicle 30. The lowest ground height is the height from the flat ground to the lowest part of the vehicle body (here, the lower surface of the fixing part 32). Therefore, even without providing a dedicated space, the trolley 10 can be inserted under the floor of the vehicle 30 to install and remove the vehicle battery. Since no dedicated space is required, the size of the equipment can be suppressed, and the cost can be reduced. The trolley 10 configured to suppress height can also be called a low-height trolley.

[0043] Furthermore, the vehicle battery replacement device 1 can install the battery pack 20 and the protection panel 21 together on the vehicle 30. Similarly, when removing it, the battery pack 20 and the protection panel 21 can be removed from the vehicle together. That is, the vehicle battery can be replaced without removing the protection panel 21 from the battery pack 20. This reduces the number of steps required to replace the vehicle battery and shortens the replacement time.

[0044] In addition, Figure 7 The diagram shows a view of the trolley 10 from the front. (a) shows the process of transporting the onboard battery, i.e., with... Figure 4 (1) and (2) correspond to the cases shown in (b), which shows the case when the trolley 10 passes under the floor of the vehicle 30 after the vehicle battery is fixed to the vehicle 30. Figure 6 The corresponding case for (6).

[0045] like Figure 7As shown, the lifting mechanism 13 and the mounting / removing mechanism 14 are configured to be located outside the battery pack 20 and the protective panel 21 in the width direction. Furthermore, with the vehicle battery mounted on the vehicle 30, the upper surface of the frame 11 is lower than the lower surface of the battery pack 20 (protective panel 21). Therefore, after the trolley 10 has mounted the vehicle battery on the vehicle 30 and lowered the lifting mechanism 13, it can move forward in this state, thereby passing under the floor of the vehicle 30. This allows for smooth replacement of the vehicle battery.

[0046] 4. Variations in the implementation method

[0047] 4-1. First variation example

[0048] The following variations may also exist in the on-board battery replacement device 1. Figure 8 The first variation is shown. In this first variation, the frame 11 is configured such that the connector 23 is located at the very front of the trolley 10. That is, the shape of the hole in the frame 11 for mounting the battery pack 20 is set in a manner that is relatively... Figure 2 In this implementation, the battery pack 20 is positioned towards the front of the trolley 10, such that when the trolley 10 is mounted on it, the frame of the trolley 10 is not located further forward than the connector 23. This arrangement is suitable for replacing the vehicle battery. Figure 4 , Figure 5 Similar to (1) to (3), the trolley 10 enters from the rear of the vehicle 30 under the floor, and by raising the lifting mechanism 13, installs the battery pack 20 and the protection panel 21 onto the vehicle 30, and engages the connector 23 on the battery side with the connector 33 on the vehicle side. Then, the lifting mechanism 13 is lowered to the initial position. Afterwards, with... Figure 6 Unlike other modifications, the trolley 10 moves away from under the floor of the vehicle 30 by reversing. In this variation, the trolley 10 does not pass under the floor of the vehicle 30, thus reducing constraints related to the positional relationship of the trolley 10 during connector and onboard battery replacement.

[0049] 4-2. Parking lot for vehicles

[0050] The installation and removal of the vehicle battery via the vehicle battery replacement device 1 is performed while the vehicle 30 is parked. As described above, the overall height of the trolley 10 can be kept low in the vehicle battery replacement device 1, so that the trolley 10 can be driven to the floor of the vehicle 30 to install and remove the vehicle battery even without lifting the vehicle 30. However, to facilitate the replacement of the vehicle battery, a movable platform can be used to set up steps in the parking lot of the vehicle 30.

[0051] exist Figure 9The diagram illustrates two examples of steps in a parking lot for vehicle 30, utilizing movable platforms. In example (a), a step platform 40 is installed under each wheel of vehicle 30. In example (b), the parking lot for vehicle 30 is equipped with step platforms 40 large enough to simultaneously support both the front and rear wheels of vehicle 30. The step platforms 40 can be moved depending on the position and size of vehicle 30, and can also be removed when not needed.

[0052] The vehicle battery replacement device 1 installs and removes the vehicle battery while the vehicle 30 is placed on the step plate 40. The step plate 40 can be used to raise the height of the floor of the vehicle 30, thus expanding the range of usable trolley heights. In addition, even for vehicles 30 with low vehicle heights, battery replacement can be performed smoothly.

Claims

1. A replacement method, a method for replacing a vehicle battery, characterized in that, include: The vehicle battery is mounted on a low-height trolley, wherein the height of the low-height trolley when the vehicle battery is mounted is lower than the lowest ground height of the vehicle. as well as The low-height trolley carrying the vehicle battery is moved to below the floor of the vehicle to replace the vehicle battery.

2. The replacement method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The height of the low-height trolley when equipped with the vehicle-mounted battery is lower than the lower surface of the mounting part used to fix the vehicle-mounted battery to the vehicle.

3. The replacement method according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the vehicle-mounted battery is mounted on the low-height trolley, the lower surface of the vehicle-mounted battery is located below the lower surface of the trolley frame of the low-height trolley.

4. The replacement method according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the vehicle-mounted battery is mounted on the low-height trolley, the upper ends of the wheels of the low-height trolley are located below the upper surface of the vehicle-mounted battery.

5. The replacement method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The low-height trolley is equipped with a lift for raising the onboard battery. With the vehicle-mounted battery mounted on the low-height trolley, the upper end of the elevator is located below the upper surface of the vehicle-mounted battery.

6. The replacement method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The battery-side connector of the vehicle battery is located on the front side of the vehicle battery. The replacement method includes: with the vehicle battery raised by the lift, the low-height trolley is moved forward, thereby allowing the vehicle-side connector of the vehicle to be inserted into the battery-side connector.

7. The replacement method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The vehicle-mounted battery is mounted on the low-height trolley with the battery covered by a protective panel. The replacement method includes: moving the low-height trolley carrying the vehicle battery to below the floor of the vehicle, and replacing the vehicle battery without removing the protective panel from the vehicle battery.

8. A trolley for replacing onboard batteries, characterized in that, The trolley is configured such that its height when equipped with the onboard battery is lower than the vehicle's lowest ground height.

9. A vehicle-mounted battery replacement device, characterized in that, This includes an onboard battery and a trolley equipped with a lift for raising the onboard battery. The trolley is configured such that its height when equipped with the onboard battery is lower than the vehicle's lowest ground height.

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