Emergency bin for thermal runaway battery

Abstract

The utility model discloses an emergency cabin for a thermal runaway battery, which comprises a cabin body, a cabin door and a battery transfer component, and is characterized in that a cabin door limiting component for limiting the top of the cabin door is arranged on the cabin body; the bin door limiting assembly comprises a spring bolt matched with a lock catch on the bin door and a push plate which moves in the length direction of the bin body to enable the spring bolt to leave the lock catch after making contact with a battery entering the battery transferring assembly through the battery inlet, and the push plate is connected with the spring bolt and is limited on the bin body in a sliding mode. The bin door limiting device has the advantages that a mechanical bin door limiting structure is adopted, the battery drives the push plate to move together in the process of moving towards the interior of the sliding frame on the overturning frame, so that the spring bolt leaves the lock catch to release limiting of the bin door, performance is stable, and reliability is high; the bin door opening assembly is designed between the push plate and the bin body, linkage of releasing limiting of the bin door and opening of the bin door is achieved under driving of the push plate, and the structural compactness degree of the whole equipment is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model belongs to the technical field of battery replacement equipment, and specifically relates to an emergency compartment for thermal runaway batteries. Background Art

[0002] With the development of new energy technologies, more and more vehicles are powered by batteries. Electric vehicles can be recharged through charging or battery swapping. To save charging time, electric vehicles such as logistics vehicles, light trucks, and other new energy commercial vehicles, as well as heavy trucks, often use battery swapping. Drivers drive their vehicles to the nearest battery swapping station for battery swapping.

[0003] Battery swap stations include charging silos for storing and charging batteries, battery swapping equipment, and battery transport equipment (such as stackers). Improper storage of battery packs within the silos or during charging can inevitably lead to thermal runaway. Failure to promptly address thermal runaway batteries can cause fires or even explosions.

[0004] To handle batteries experiencing thermal runaway, an emergency compartment is installed within the battery storage bin. Batteries experiencing thermal runaway are placed into and removed from the emergency compartment via a transfer device or battery exchange device. The emergency compartment is equipped with a battery removal device, and during this process, the compartment door opens to allow the batteries to pass through. Patents such as CN113665410A, CN219360862U, and CN213565502U disclose related technical solutions.

[0005] In existing technology, the emergency compartment door is opened and closed using an actuator controlled by a controller. Due to the unreliability of electrical control, if it cannot be opened during the transfer of a thermal runaway battery, it will cause immeasurable damage and losses to the entire battery compartment and even the battery swap station. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an emergency warehouse for thermal runaway batteries, in which the limitation of the warehouse door on the warehouse door by the warehouse door limiting assembly in the emergency warehouse is released during the movement of the thermal runaway battery into the warehouse body, and the warehouse door after the limitation is released is opened by the linkage between the warehouse door opening assembly and the warehouse door limiting assembly. The mechanical method of opening the warehouse door has good stability and high reliability.

[0007] In order to solve the above technical problems, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is: an emergency warehouse for thermal runaway batteries, comprising a warehouse body with a battery inlet and a battery outlet, a warehouse door located at the battery outlet, and a battery transfer assembly arranged in the warehouse body and moving the batteries entering the warehouse body out through the battery outlet. The key lies in: the bottom of the warehouse door is hinged on the warehouse body, and a warehouse door limiting assembly for limiting the top of the warehouse door is provided on the warehouse body. The warehouse door limiting assembly includes a lock tongue that cooperates with the lock buckle on the warehouse door and a push plate that moves along the length direction of the warehouse body to make the lock tongue leave the lock buckle after contacting the battery entering the battery transfer assembly through the battery inlet. The push plate is connected to the lock tongue and is slidably limited on the warehouse body.

[0008] Furthermore, the lock buckles and matching lock tongues are provided in multiple groups along the length direction of the warehouse door, and all the lock tongues are connected to the connecting rods limited on the warehouse body.

[0009] Furthermore, a limiting plate with a guide limiting groove is provided on the warehouse body, and a locking tongue located on the outer side of the limiting plate is connected to a connecting rod located on the inner side of the limiting plate by means of a guide pin passing through the guide limiting groove.

[0010] Furthermore, a guide rod and a sliding bracket slidably limited on the guide rod are provided in the bin body, the push plate is fixed on the sliding bracket, and the connecting rod is connected to the sliding bracket.

[0011] Furthermore, a warehouse door opening assembly is provided between the push plate and the warehouse body, and the warehouse door opening assembly includes a drive rod hinged to the push plate and an outer push rod hinged to the drive rod and the warehouse body respectively. The outer push rod rotates outward with the help of the driving force of the push plate to move the free end outward and push outward the warehouse door that has been released from the limit.

[0012] Furthermore, after the door is opened outward, a passage is formed on the inner side for the battery to move downward through the door to the fire extinguisher box.

[0013] Furthermore, a sliding smooth strip is provided on the inner side of the warehouse door.

[0014] Furthermore, a sliding frame is provided on one side of the fire extinguisher box, and the free end of the door is overlapped on the sliding frame.

[0015] Furthermore, the battery transfer assembly includes a flip frame hinged to the warehouse body at the bottom, a drive motor driving the flip frame to rotate toward the warehouse door, a slide located on the top of the flip frame and used to receive the battery, and a removal smooth strip fixed on the top of the flip frame and limited to below the slide.

[0016] Furthermore, the battery transfer assembly includes a flip frame whose bottom is hinged to the warehouse body and rotates toward the warehouse door under the action of gravity when in a free state, a flip frame limiting assembly driven by the battery entering the warehouse body through the battery entrance to release the limit on the flip frame and put the battery flip frame in a free state, a slide located at the top of the flip frame and used to receive the battery, and a removal smooth strip fixed to the top of the flip frame and located below the slide, the flip frame limiting assembly includes one or more flip frame limiting plates arranged along the length direction of the flip frame for limiting the top surface of the flip frame to a horizontal state, a limiting rod, a limiting sleeve fixed on the inner side wall of the warehouse body and limiting the limiting rod, and a contact plate connected to the limiting rod and in contact with the battery, the two ends of the limiting rod are respectively connected to two adjacent flip frame limiting plates or respectively connected to the flip frame limiting plate and the contact plate.

[0017] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: 1. A mechanical door limiting structure is adopted, and the push plate is driven to move together when the battery moves into the slide on the flip frame, so that the lock tongue leaves the lock buckle to release the limit on the door. The mechanical door unlocking structure has stable performance and high reliability; 2. A door opening component is designed between the push plate and the warehouse body, which realizes the linkage of releasing the limit on the door and opening the door under the drive of the push plate, which is convenient for the battery to be removed from the battery outlet, thereby improving the structural compactness of the entire device; 3. A connection structure of the flip frame and a flip frame limiting component driven by the battery are designed. After the battery contacts the push plate and moves a certain distance, the contact plate contacts the battery. When the door is opened, the associated structure breaks the horizontal state maintained by the flip frame. Under the action of gravity, the flip frame drives the battery side to tilt and slide out of the cabin, realizing the release and opening of the door limit and the linkage of the limit release and flipping of the flip frame, thereby further improving the integration and reliability of the entire device.

[0018] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of an emergency chamber for a thermal runaway battery according to the present invention;

[0020] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A partial enlarged view of point A in the middle;

[0021] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the emergency compartment of the utility model for thermal runaway batteries when in use.

[0022] In the accompanying drawings, 1. warehouse body, 1-1. battery inlet, 1-2. battery outlet, 2. warehouse door, 3. lock tongue, 4. lock buckle, 5. push plate, 6. connecting rod, 7. limit plate, 7-1. guide limit groove, 8. guide pin, 9. guide rod, 10. sliding bracket, 11. sliding smooth strip, 12. fire box, 13. sliding rack, 14. driving rod, 15. outer push rod, 16. flip rack, 16-1. avoidance groove, 17. slide, 18. guide strip, 19. remove smooth strip, 20. limit rod, 21. limit sleeve, 22. contact plate, 23. hinged seat, 24. buffer block, 25. flip rack limit plate, 26. force plate. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] See attached Figure 1-3 The utility model provides an emergency warehouse for thermal runaway batteries, comprising a warehouse body 1 with a battery inlet 1-1 and a battery outlet 1-2, a warehouse door 2 located at the battery outlet 1-2, and a battery transfer assembly arranged in the warehouse body 1 and moving the batteries entering the warehouse body 1 out through the battery outlet 1-2. The key lies in: the bottom of the warehouse door 2 is hinged to the warehouse body 1, and a warehouse door limiting assembly for limiting the top of the warehouse door 2 is provided on the warehouse body 1. The warehouse door limiting assembly includes a lock tongue 3 that cooperates with a lock buckle 4 on the warehouse door 2 and a push plate 5 that contacts the battery entering the battery transfer assembly through the battery inlet 1-1 and moves along the length direction of the warehouse body 1 together with the battery to make the lock tongue 3 leave the lock buckle 4. The push plate 5 is connected to the lock tongue 3 and is slidably limited on the warehouse body 1. The door's locking and unlocking mechanisms are mechanical. When the battery transfer device or battery swapping device pushes a battery experiencing thermal runaway through battery inlet 1-1 toward the battery transfer assembly, the battery, after moving a certain distance, contacts push plate 5, pushing it into position along with the battery. During this process, lock tongue 3 moves horizontally and away from lock catch 4, releasing the lock on door 2.

[0024] See attached Figure 1 and 2 Multiple sets of lock catches 4 and matching lock tongues 3 are provided along the length of the door 2. All lock tongues 3 are connected to a connecting rod 6 that is restrained on the door body 1. One end of the connecting rod 6 extends to a position close to the battery inlet 1-1, so that when the door 2 is reset, the connecting rod 6 is pulled to move the lock tongue 3 and re-restrain it.

[0025] In order to ensure stable horizontal movement of the lock tongue 3, a limit plate 7 with a guide limit groove 7-1 is provided on the housing 1. The lock tongue 3 is located outside the limit plate 7 and is connected to the connecting rod 6 located inside the limit plate 7 by a guide pin 8 passing through the guide limit groove 7-1.

[0026] In order to make the push plate 5 move stably, a guide rod 9 and a sliding bracket 10 that is slidably limited on the guide rod 9 are provided in the warehouse body 1. The push plate 5 is fixed on the sliding bracket 10, and the connecting rod 6 is connected to the sliding bracket 10.

[0027] After the limit on the top of the warehouse door 2 is released, there are two ways to open the warehouse door 2: one is to open it through the warehouse door opening component, that is, using the movement of the push plate 5 to drive the connecting rod structure to push the top of the warehouse door 2 outward to open the warehouse door 2; the other is through the battery transfer component, that is, when the battery transfer component transfers the battery to the warehouse door 2, the warehouse door 2 is pushed outward by the battery to open it.

[0028] When opened, the interior of door 2 forms a passage for batteries to pass through door 2 and down into fire hood 12. To facilitate the movement of batteries inside door 2, a sliding guide 11 is provided inside door 2. A sliding rack 13 is also provided on one side of fire hood 12, onto which the free end of door 2 is attached. This rack is also equipped with a guide bar to facilitate the passage of batteries through it into fire hood 12. Batteries can also be dropped directly into fire hood 12 without passing through door 2 or the sliding rack 13.

[0029] See attached Figure 2 When the door is opened using the door opening assembly, it is positioned between the push plate 5 and the warehouse body 1 and includes a drive rod 14 hingedly connected to the push plate 5 or the sliding bracket 10 connected to the push plate 5, and an external push rod 15 hingedly connected to the drive rod 14 and the warehouse body 1, respectively. The external push rod 15 rotates outward with the driving force of the push plate 5, causing its free end to move outward and push the unrestricted door 2 outward. In this embodiment, the drive rod 14 is hingedly connected to the sliding bracket 10. When the push plate 5 moves, the external push rod 15 rotates outward via the drive rod 14. During this rotation, its free end contacts the warehouse door 2 and pushes the warehouse door 2 outward, causing the warehouse door 2 to overlap the sliding bracket 13 under the action of gravity.

[0030] A force-bearing plate 26 in contact with the free end of the outer push rod 15 is provided on the inner side of the door 2. The outer thrust is transmitted to the door 2 via the force-bearing plate 26.

[0031] See attached Figure 1 and 3 The battery transfer assembly is used to transfer the battery entering thereon to the battery outlet 1-2 and slide it into the fire box 12. The direction of battery transfer is perpendicular to the direction of entry, that is, the direction in which the battery is removed from the emergency compartment is perpendicular to the direction in which it enters.

[0032] Example 1 of the battery transfer assembly: In this embodiment, the assembly includes a flip frame 16 hinged to the warehouse body 1 at the bottom, a drive motor that drives the flip frame 16 to rotate toward the warehouse door 2, a slide 17 located at the top of the flip frame 16 and used to receive the battery, and a removal smooth strip 19 fixed to the top of the flip frame 16 and located below the slide 17. Under the action of the transfer device or the battery replacement device, the battery in thermal runaway is moved as a whole into the slide 17 along the guide strip 18 on the slide 17, and the limit on the top of the warehouse door 2 is released in the process. Driven by the drive motor, the flip frame 16 rotates toward the battery outlet, and under the action of gravity, the battery in thermal runaway and the slide 17 move downward as a whole and slide through the battery outlet 1-2 into the fire extinguishing box 12. If a warehouse door opening assembly is provided, the warehouse door 2 will also be opened during the process of releasing the limit. Otherwise, the warehouse door 2 will be pushed open by the movement of the battery and slide into the fire extinguishing box 12.

[0033] Battery transfer assembly embodiment 2: Different from embodiment 1, the battery transfer assembly in this embodiment is also a mechanical structure rather than an electrically controlled structure, that is, the limit on the flip frame 16 is released by the movement of the battery, and the flip frame 16 flips toward the battery outlet 1-2 under the action of gravity so that the battery and the slide 17 are moved out of the battery outlet 1-2 as a whole and slide into the fire extinguisher box 12.

[0034] The battery transfer assembly includes a flip frame 16 hinged at its bottom to the chamber body 1 and, when in a free position, rotating toward the chamber door 2 under the action of gravity; a flip frame retaining assembly, driven by batteries entering the chamber body 1 through the battery inlet 1-1, to release the restraints on the flip frame 16 and free the battery flip frame 16; a slide 17 located at the top of the flip frame 16 and used to receive the batteries; and a removal smoothing strip 19 fixed to the top of the flip frame 16 and restrained below the slide 17. The design of the smoothing strip 19 reduces resistance during the movement of the slide 17 and the batteries toward the battery outlet 1-2. Multiple sets of smoothing strips 19 are provided along the length of the flip frame 16, and the bottom of the slide 17 is provided with multiple retaining grooves. The two sides of the smooth strip 19 are located in the limit groove to limit the slide 17, and the pulleys thereon support the slide 17 to ensure that the battery does not cause the slide 17 to move along when it moves onto the slide 17 and does not restrict the movement of the slide 17 to the battery outlet 1-2 after the flip frame 16 is flipped.

[0035] The tilt frame limiting assembly includes one or more tilt frame limiting plates 25 disposed along the length of the tilt frame 16 to keep the top surface of the tilt frame 16 horizontal; a limiting rod 20; a limiting sleeve 21 fixed to the inner sidewall of the bin body 1 to limit the limiting rod 20; and a contact plate 22 connected to the limiting rod 20 and in contact with the battery. In this embodiment, multiple tilt frame limiting plates 25 are provided, and thus multiple limiting rods 20 are provided. The ends of each limiting rod 20 are connected to two adjacent tilt frame limiting plates 25, or to a tilt frame limiting plate 25 and a contact plate 22. As the battery enters the tilt frame 16, it first contacts the push plate 5 to release the restraint on the bin door 2 and open the bin door 2. It then contacts the contact plate 22 to release the restraint on the tilt frame 16 from the tilt frame limiting plates 25. Alternatively, the release of the restraint on the bin door 2 and the release of the restraint on the tilt frame 16 from the tilt frame limiting plates 25 can occur simultaneously.

[0036] A hinge seat 23 connected to the flip frame 16 is provided in the bin body 1. The center of gravity of the flip frame 16 is located between the hinge seat 23 and the battery outlet 1-2 so that the flip frame 16 always rotates toward the battery outlet 1-2 after the limit is released.

[0037] In this embodiment, multiple tilt frame limit plates 25 are provided, and two sets of limit rods 20 and limit sleeves 21 are arranged along the height of the tilt frame limit plates 25. The contact plate 22 is connected to both limit rods 20. The tilt frame 16 is provided with an escape groove 16-1 that mates with the tilt frame limit plates 25. When the battery contact plate 22 contacts the limit rods 20, the tilt frame limit plates 25 move, causing the tilt frame limit plates 25 to enter the escape groove 16-1 or to be positioned outside the tilt frame 16, thereby releasing the limit on the tilt frame 16.

[0038] In the above embodiment, a buffer block 24 is provided at the bottom of the bin body 1 to cooperate with the turnover frame 16 and play the role of buffering and limiting.

[0039] The use process of the emergency warehouse of this utility model is as follows: Figure 3 The emergency compartment is located within the battery storage compartment, at the top of its side wall. An opening is provided in the side wall, corresponding to compartment door 2. The battery entrance 1-1 of the emergency compartment is located on the same side as the battery entrance and exit of the battery storage compartment. The emergency compartment is equipped with a compartment door stop assembly, a compartment door opening assembly, and a mechanical battery transfer assembly.

[0040] On one side of the battery storage compartment are provided a transfer device for transferring batteries (such as stacking machines and other equipment), a battery replacement device (such as a push-pull battery replacement device) and other devices (not shown in the figure) and a driving channel for vehicles to perform battery replacement.

[0041] When a battery in the battery storage compartment is found to be experiencing thermal runaway, a transfer device or battery replacement device can transfer the battery to the emergency compartment. During this transfer, the battery moves along the guide strips 18 on the carriage 17 toward the inside of the carriage 17. After moving a certain distance, it contacts the push plate 5 and drives it inward. During this process, the push plate 5 also drives the lock tongue 3 away from the lock catch 4, thereby releasing the restraint on the compartment door 2. It also drives the drive rod 14 to rotate the outer push rod 15 outward, causing its end to contact the compartment door 2 and push the compartment door 2 outward. After the compartment door 2 is opened, its free end will overlap the sliding frame 13, allowing the battery to pass through the battery outlet 1-2, through the inside of the compartment door 2, and then through the sliding frame 17 into the fire extinguisher 12. After the restraint on the compartment door 2 is released, the battery contacts the contact plate 22, driving the contact plate 22 and the push plate 5 together into the compartment until they reach the preset position. As contact plate 22 moves, it also drives flip frame limiter plate 25 inward, releasing the limiter on flip frame 16. At this point, the thermal runaway battery is completely within slide 17. Under the influence of gravity, flip frame 16 rotates toward battery outlet 1-2, allowing slide 17 and the thermal runaway battery to slide out of the battery outlet via removal smooth strip 19 on flip frame 16. After flipping, flip frame 16 is restrained by buffer block 24.

[0042] After the thermal runaway battery is removed from the emergency compartment, the compartment door limit assembly and battery transfer assembly are manually reset.

[0043] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solution of the utility model and not to limit it; although the utility model is described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments, ordinary technicians in the field should understand that the specific implementation methods of the utility model can still be modified or some technical features can be replaced by equivalents; without departing from the spirit of the technical solution of the utility model, they should all be included in the scope of the technical solution for protection of the utility model.

Claims

1. An emergency warehouse for thermal runaway batteries, comprising a warehouse body (1) having a battery inlet (1-1) and a battery outlet (1-2), a warehouse door (2) located at the battery outlet (1-2), and a battery transfer assembly disposed in the warehouse body (1) and configured to move batteries entering the warehouse body (1) out through the battery outlet (1-2), characterized in that: The bottom of the warehouse door (2) is hinged on the warehouse body (1), and a warehouse door limiting assembly for limiting the top of the warehouse door (2) is provided on the warehouse body (1). The warehouse door limiting assembly includes a lock tongue (3) that cooperates with the lock catch (4) on the warehouse door (2) and a push plate (5) that moves along the length direction of the warehouse body (1) to make the lock tongue (3) leave the lock catch (4) after contacting the battery entering the battery transfer assembly through the battery inlet (1-1). The push plate (5) is connected to the lock tongue (3) and is slidably limited on the warehouse body (1).

2. The emergency chamber for thermal runaway batteries according to claim 1, characterized in that: The lock buckles (4) and matching lock tongues (3) are arranged in multiple groups along the length direction of the warehouse door (2), and all the lock tongues (3) are connected to the connecting rods (6) limited on the warehouse body (1).

3. The emergency chamber for thermal runaway batteries according to claim 2, characterized in that: A limiting plate (7) having a guide limiting groove (7-1) is provided on the bin body (1), and a locking tongue (3) located outside the limiting plate (7) is connected to a connecting rod (6) located inside the limiting plate (7) by means of a guide pin (8) passing through the guide limiting groove (7-1).

4. The emergency chamber for thermal runaway batteries according to claim 2, characterized in that: A guide rod (9) and a sliding bracket (10) slidably limited on the guide rod (9) are provided in the bin body (1); the push plate (5) is fixed on the sliding bracket (10); and the connecting rod (6) is connected to the sliding bracket (10).

5. The emergency chamber for thermal runaway batteries according to claim 1, characterized in that: A door opening assembly is provided between the push plate (5) and the bin body (1), and the door opening assembly comprises a driving rod (14) hinged to the push plate (5) and an outer push rod (15) hinged to the driving rod (14) and the bin body (1), respectively. The outer push rod (15) rotates outward with the help of the driving force of the push plate (5) so that the free end moves outward and pushes outward the bin door (2) that has been released from the limit.

6. The emergency chamber for thermal runaway batteries according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the door (2) is opened outward, a passage is formed on the inner side thereof for the battery to move downward through the door (2) to the fire fighting box (12).

7. The emergency chamber for thermal runaway batteries according to claim 6, characterized in that: A sliding smooth strip (11) is provided on the inner side of the bin door (2).

8. The emergency chamber for thermal runaway batteries according to claim 6, characterized in that: A sliding frame (13) is provided on one side of the fire extinguishing box (12), and the free end of the warehouse door (2) is overlapped on the sliding frame (13).

9. The emergency chamber for thermal runaway batteries according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: The battery transfer assembly includes a flip frame (16) whose bottom is hinged to the warehouse body (1), a driving motor for driving the flip frame (16) to rotate toward the warehouse door (2), a slide (17) located on the top of the flip frame (16) and used to receive the battery, and a removal smooth strip (19) fixed to the top of the flip frame (16) and limited below the slide (17).

10. The emergency chamber for a thermal runaway battery according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: The battery transfer assembly comprises a flip frame (16) whose bottom is hinged to the bin body (1) and rotates toward the bin door (2) under the action of gravity when in a free state, a flip frame limiting assembly driven by the battery entering the bin body (1) through the battery entrance (1-1) to release the limit of the flip frame (16) and put the battery flip frame (16) in a free state, a slide (17) located on the top of the flip frame (16) and used to receive the battery, and a removal smooth strip (19) fixed on the top of the flip frame (16) and located below the slide (17). The component comprises one or more flip frame limiting plates (25) arranged along the length direction of the flip frame (16) for limiting the top surface of the flip frame (16) to a horizontal state, a limiting rod (20), a limiting sleeve (21) fixed on the inner side wall of the bin body (1) and limiting the limiting rod (20), and a contact plate (22) connected to the limiting rod (20) and in contact with the battery, wherein the two ends of the limiting rod (20) are respectively connected to two adjacent flip frame limiting plates (25) or respectively connected to the flip frame limiting plate (25) and the contact plate (22).

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