Transfer device and battery replacing station

Abstract

The utility model discloses a transfer device and a battery replacing station. The transfer device is applied to the battery replacing station and comprises a rack and a hoisting mechanism. The rack is used for being rotatably connected to a battery replacing station body. The hoisting mechanism is used for hoisting batteries. The hoisting mechanism is connected with the rack, and the rack is used for driving the hoisting mechanism to be switched between a first position located in the battery replacing station and a second position located outside the battery replacing station. According to the technical scheme, the working efficiency of the battery replacing station can be improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of battery swapping technology, and more specifically, to a transfer device and a battery swapping station. Background Art

[0002] Energy conservation and emission reduction are key to the sustainable development of the automotive industry. Electric vehicles, due to their energy-saving and environmentally friendly advantages, have become a crucial component of this sustainable development. With the increasing popularity of electric vehicles, battery swapping stations have emerged to ensure timely replenishment of power losses during driving. For electric vehicles, battery swapping technology is a crucial factor in their development.

[0003] In the development of battery swapping technology, how to improve the working efficiency of battery swapping stations is a technical problem that needs to be solved urgently. Utility Model Content

[0004] The present application provides a transfer device and a battery swap station. The technical solution provided in the present application can improve the working efficiency of the battery swap station.

[0005] This application is achieved through the following technical solutions:

[0006] In a first aspect, some embodiments of the present application provide a transfer device for use in a battery swap station. The transfer device includes a frame and a lifting mechanism. The frame is rotatably connected to the battery swap station body. The lifting mechanism is used to lift batteries. The lifting mechanism is connected to the frame, and the frame is used to drive the lifting mechanism to switch between a first position inside the battery swap station and a second position outside the station.

[0007] In the above scheme, the transfer device is set at the battery swap station, and the frame is rotatably connected to the battery swap station body. Through the rotation of the frame, the battery can be quickly transferred between the set first position and the second position, so that the battery swap station can quickly exchange batteries with the outside world, improve the battery update and maintenance efficiency of the battery swap station, and thus improve the working efficiency of the battery swap station.

[0008] According to some embodiments of the present application, one end of the rack is used to be rotatably connected to the battery swap station body, and the other end is provided with a handhold for being held by hand to push the rack to rotate relative to the battery swap station body.

[0009] In the above solution, by providing a handhold, the transport personnel can hold the handhold to push the entire rotating device, so that the battery can be transported between inside and outside the battery swap station.

[0010] According to some embodiments of the present application, the lifting mechanism includes a lifting mechanism and a grabbing mechanism. The lifting mechanism is connected to the frame. The lifting mechanism is used to drive the grabbing mechanism to rise and fall. The grabbing mechanism is used to grab the battery.

[0011] In the above scheme, through the cooperation of the lifting mechanism and the grasping mechanism, the battery can be effectively grasped and separated from the supporting surface. On the one hand, it can reduce the risk of damage to the battery surface caused by the friction between the battery and the supporting surface. On the other hand, in conjunction with the rotation of the rack, the battery can be quickly transferred between the inside and outside of the battery swap station.

[0012] According to some embodiments of the present application, the grasping mechanism includes a bracket and a plurality of grasping members, the bracket is connected to the lifting mechanism, and the plurality of grasping members are connected to the bracket.

[0013] In the above scheme, on the one hand, by setting up multiple grasping members, the transfer device can effectively grasp the battery and reduce the risk of the battery falling off. On the other hand, by setting up a bracket to connect the lifting mechanism and multiple grasping members, the multiple grasping members can be lifted and lowered at the same time to apply uniform force to the battery, so that the battery can be transferred in a stable posture, reducing the risk of the battery tilting or even falling off the transfer device, and making the transfer device have higher reliability.

[0014] According to some embodiments of the present application, the grabbing member includes a hook, a slot is provided on the battery, and the hook is used to engage with the upper edge of the slot.

[0015] In the above solution, the hook cooperates with the battery slot, so that the battery can be efficiently connected to or detached from the battery, so that the transfer device has a higher transfer efficiency.

[0016] According to some embodiments of the present application, the grabbing member further includes an anti-slip member, which is movably connected to the hook and is used to engage with the lower edge of the slot.

[0017] In the above solution, when the hook is engaged with the upper edge of the battery slot, the anti-slip part can abut and engage with the lower edge of the slot, thereby locking the hook in the slot and limiting the hook from being detached from the slot, effectively reducing the risk of the battery falling off the transfer device, and making the transfer device more reliable.

[0018] According to some embodiments of the present application, the grabbing member also includes an elastic member; the anti-slip member is hinged to the side of the hook away from the bracket, and a bending portion is provided at the end of the anti-slip member, which is used to engage the lower edge of the card slot. The elastic member is provided between the anti-slip member and the hook, and is used to provide elastic force to the anti-slip member, so that the anti-slip member has a tendency to deflect relative to the hook so that the bending portion moves toward the side away from the hook.

[0019] In the above scheme, by providing an elastic member, the bent portion can always have a tendency to move away from the side of the hook, so that when the hook is engaged with the battery slot, the bent portion can effectively engage with the lower edge of the slot, thereby achieving locking between the hook and the battery, effectively reducing the risk of the battery falling off the transfer device, and making the transfer device more reliable.

[0020] According to some embodiments of the present application, the grasping mechanism further includes a plurality of flexible slings, and each grasping member is connected to the bracket via a flexible sling.

[0021] In the above solution, each grabbing piece is connected to the bracket through a flexible sling, which can adapt to batteries of different sizes and evenly distribute the pressure of the hanging point, reducing the risk of battery tilting or even falling due to unstable center of gravity, making the transfer device more reliable.

[0022] According to some embodiments of the present application, multiple gripping members are arranged in pairs, each pair of gripping members includes two gripping members spaced apart along a first direction, and the multiple pairs of gripping members are spaced apart along a second direction, and the first direction, the second direction and the direction of gravity are perpendicular to each other.

[0023] In the above solution, by arranging the grabbing members in pairs and arranging multiple pairs of grabbing members at intervals, the battery can be grabbed evenly with force, reducing the risk of the battery tilting or even falling off due to unstable center of gravity, and making the transfer device more reliable.

[0024] According to some embodiments of the present application, along the direction of gravity, the straight line where the connection position between the bracket and the lifting mechanism is located passes through the center of gravity of the grasping mechanism.

[0025] In the above scheme, by setting the connection position of the lifting mechanism and the bracket corresponding to the center of gravity of the grasping mechanism, it can ensure to a certain extent that the battery remains in a horizontal state during the transportation process, so that the battery can be transported in a stable posture, thereby improving the transportation efficiency of the battery and facilitating the improvement of the working efficiency of the battery swap station.

[0026] According to some embodiments of the present application, the frame includes a first beam, a second beam and a third beam, the first beam is arranged in a horizontal direction, the second beam is arranged in a vertical direction, the second beam is connected to one end of the first beam, the third beam is arranged at an angle and connects the first beam and the second beam, and the lifting mechanism is connected to the first beam.

[0027] In the above scheme, on the one hand, the frame structure is simple, easy to manufacture, and has low manufacturing cost; on the other hand, the frame is composed of a first beam, a second beam and a third beam connected to each other, has a high structural strength, can effectively bear the gravity of the battery, so that the transfer device has high reliability.

[0028] In a second aspect, some embodiments of the present application provide a battery swap station, which includes a battery swap station body and a transfer device provided in the first aspect. The transfer device is connected to the battery swap station body and is used to transfer batteries between the inside and outside of the battery swap station.

[0029] In the above scheme, the battery swap station has a transfer device, which can quickly transfer the battery between the set first position and the second position through the rotation of the frame, so that the battery swap station has the ability to quickly exchange batteries with the outside world, which is beneficial to the battery update and maintenance efficiency of the battery swap station, thereby improving the working efficiency of the battery swap station.

[0030] According to some embodiments of the present application, the rotation axis of the frame is parallel to the direction of gravity.

[0031] In the above scheme, by setting the rotation axis of the frame to be parallel to the direction of gravity, it can ensure to a certain extent that the battery is transported in a horizontal posture between the battery swap station and outside the battery swap station, thereby facilitating the placement of the battery in the battery storage system in the battery swap station or facilitating the placement of the battery on a transfer cart outside the battery swap station.

[0032] According to some embodiments of the present application, the frame is connected to the battery swap station body via a bearing.

[0033] The above description is only an overview of the technical solution of the present application. In order to more clearly understand the technical means of the present application, it can be implemented in accordance with the contents of the specification. In order to make the above and other purposes, features and advantages of the present application more obvious and easy to understand, the specific implementation methods of the present application are listed below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the following is a brief introduction to the drawings required for use in the embodiments. It should be understood that the following drawings only show certain embodiments of the present application and therefore should not be regarded as limiting the scope. For ordinary technicians in this field, other relevant drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work.

[0035] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a battery swap station in some embodiments of the present application;

[0036] Figure 2 A perspective view of a transfer device in some embodiments of the present application;

[0037] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the battery swap station body and the transfer device in some embodiments of the present application;

[0038] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the battery swap station body and the transfer device in some embodiments of the present application;

[0039] Figure 5 Schematic diagram of a transport device and a battery in some embodiments of the present application;

[0040] Figure 6 Schematic diagram of a transport device and a battery in some embodiments of the present application;

[0041] Figure 7 Schematic diagram of a grabbing member in some embodiments of the present application;

[0042] Figure 8 for Figure 6 Enlarged view of point A in the middle.

[0043] Icons: 100-battery swap station; 101-battery swap station body; 1010-battery swap channel; 10-transfer device; 11-frame; 110-first beam; 111-second beam; 112-third beam; 113-deep groove ball bearing; 114-thrust ball bearing; 12-hoisting mechanism; 13-lifting mechanism; 14-grabbing mechanism; 140-bracket; 141-grabbing part; 1413-hook; 1410-anti-slip part; 14100-bending part; 1411-elastic part; 1412-hinge shaft; 1414-convex part; 1415-gasket; 142-flexible sling; 15-handhold; 20-battery; 21-card slot; x-first direction; y-second direction; z-gravity direction. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] The following embodiments of the technical solution of the present application will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments are only used to more clearly illustrate the technical solution of the present application and are therefore only examples and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present application.

[0045] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this application belongs; the terms used herein are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit this application; the terms "including" and "having" and any variations thereof in the specification and claims of this application and the above-mentioned figure descriptions are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions.

[0046] In the description of the embodiments of this application, the technical terms "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish different objects and should not be understood to indicate or imply relative importance or implicitly specify the quantity, specific order, or primary and secondary relationship of the indicated technical features. In the description of the embodiments of this application, the meaning of "plurality" is more than two, unless otherwise clearly and specifically defined.

[0047] References herein to "embodiments" mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments may be included in at least one embodiment of the present application. The appearance of this phrase in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor does it constitute an independent or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive of other embodiments. It is understood, both explicitly and implicitly, by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein may be combined with other embodiments.

[0048] In the description of the embodiments of this application, the term "and / or" is simply a description of the association relationship between associated objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent the following three situations: A exists, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists. In addition, the character " / " in this document generally indicates that the associated objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0049] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, the term "multiple" refers to more than two (including two). Similarly, "multiple groups" refers to more than two groups (including two groups), and "multiple pieces" refers to more than two pieces (including two pieces).

[0050] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, the technical terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc., indicating the orientation or position relationship, are based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of the present application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the embodiments of the present application.

[0051] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, technical terms such as "installed," "connected," "connected," and "fixed" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integration; mechanical connections or electrical connections; direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; internal connections between two components or interactions between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meanings of the above terms in the embodiments of the present application based on specific circumstances.

[0052] With the development of new energy technologies, the number of devices using batteries has increased. When the power of electrical equipment runs out, it is often supplemented by connecting to charging equipment. For example, electric vehicles can be connected to charging piles for charging. Compared with the method of supplementing power by connecting to charging piles and other charging equipment, replacing batteries can supplement power faster. There are currently battery swap stations specifically for replacing batteries. The battery swap station includes a battery swap station body, which has a battery swap channel. The battery swap station body is equipped with a battery storage device and a battery swap device. The battery swap channel is used to park vehicles, and the battery storage device is used to store batteries. When battery swapping is required, the vehicle is parked in the designated area within the battery swap channel. The battery swap device removes the depleted battery from the vehicle and transports the battery to the battery storage device through relevant equipment. The fully charged battery on the battery storage device is installed on the vehicle through the battery swap device to achieve battery swapping for the vehicle. During the entire life cycle of the battery swap station, it is necessary to exchange batteries externally. For example, old batteries are taken out of the battery storage device for maintenance, refurbishment or recycling outside, and the maintained batteries or new batteries from outside are placed in the battery storage device to achieve battery updates and maintenance, so as to provide good batteries for vehicle battery swaps.

[0053] Currently, forklifts are often used to transport batteries from outside the station to the station or from inside the station to outside the station. For example, a transfer cart transports the batteries, and a forklift unloads the batteries from the transfer cart and moves them to the station, where they are then forked into the station. However, forklifts are difficult to operate and require high positioning, resulting in low battery transfer efficiency, which affects the operating efficiency of the battery swap station.

[0054] In view of this, to address the issue of low forklift transfer efficiency, which impacts the efficiency of battery swap stations, some embodiments of the present application provide a transfer device for use at battery swap stations. The transfer device includes a frame and a lifting mechanism. The frame is rotatably connected to the battery swap station body. The lifting mechanism is used to lift the battery. The lifting mechanism is connected to the frame, and the frame is used to drive the lifting mechanism to switch between a first position inside the battery swap station and a second position outside the station.

[0055] In the above scheme, the transfer device is set at the battery swap station, and the frame is rotatably connected to the battery swap station body. Through the rotation of the frame, the battery can be quickly transferred between the set first position and the second position, thereby enabling the battery swap station to quickly exchange batteries with the outside world, improving the battery update and maintenance efficiency of the battery swap station, and thus improving the working efficiency of the battery swap station.

[0056] The battery swap station disclosed in the embodiments of the present application can be used, but is not limited to, to replace vehicle batteries. It can also be used to replace batteries in other electrical equipment such as ships and aircraft, such as electric toys, electric tools, battery-powered vehicles, electric cars, ships, and spacecraft. Electric toys can be fixed or mobile, such as game consoles, electric car toys, electric ship toys, and electric airplane toys; electric tools can be fixed or mobile, such as electric machine tools and electric road sweepers; and spacecraft can include airplanes, rockets, space shuttles, and spacecraft.

[0057] For the convenience of explanation, the following embodiments are described by taking an example of a battery swap station for vehicle battery swapping in some embodiments of the present application.

[0058] See Figure 1 , Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a battery swap station in some embodiments of the present application.

[0059] The battery swap station 100 is used to swap batteries for vehicles. Exemplarily, the battery swap station 100 may include a battery swap station body 101. In some embodiments, the battery swap station body 101 may be constructed by assembling and modifying containers. The battery swap station body 101 has a battery swap channel 1010 for vehicles to enter and exit, and vehicles are parked in the battery swap channel 1010 for battery swapping. The battery swap station body 101 may be equipped with a battery storage device (not shown in the figure), a battery charging device (not shown in the figure), a turnover device (not shown in the figure), and a battery swap device (not shown in the figure). The battery storage device may include a cabinet in which batteries may be placed. The battery storage device and the battery charging device are disposed within the battery swap station body 101. The battery storage device is used to store fully charged batteries and depleted batteries. The battery charging device can charge the batteries stored in the battery storage device. The turnover device can be used to transfer fully charged batteries and depleted batteries between the battery storage device and the battery swap device. In some embodiments, the turnover device may be a turnover cart. The battery swap device is used to remove batteries from a vehicle and install batteries on the vehicle. In some embodiments, the battery swapping device may include a battery swapping cart or a battery swapping robot, etc.

[0060] In some embodiments, a door can be provided on the exterior side of the battery swap station body 101, which can be opened to connect the interior of the body with the outside world. When the battery in the battery swap station 100 needs to be replaced, the door can be opened to exchange batteries with the outside world. In some embodiments, the door can be provided on a wall facing away from the battery swap channel, or on a wall connected to the battery swap channel.

[0061] According to some embodiments of the present application, a transfer device 10 is provided, see Figure 2-Figure 4 , Figure 2 This is a perspective view of the transfer device 10 in some embodiments of the present application. Figure 3This is a schematic diagram of the battery swap station body 101 and the transfer device 10 in some embodiments of the present application. Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the battery swap station body 101 and the transfer device 10 in some embodiments of this application. It should be noted that, Figure 3 and Figure 4 Schematic diagrams showing the battery swap station body 101 and the transfer device 10 at different viewing angles, for example, Figure 3 It is a side view of the battery swap station body 101 and the transfer device 10. Figure 4 It is a front view of the battery swap station body 101 and the transfer device 10.

[0062] The transfer device 10 is applied to the battery swap station 100. The transfer device 10 includes a frame 11 and a hoisting mechanism 12. The frame 11 is used to be rotatably connected to the battery swap station body 101. The hoisting mechanism 12 is used to hoist the battery 20 (see Figure 5 and Figure 6 The hoisting mechanism 12 is connected to the frame 11, and the frame 11 is used to drive the hoisting mechanism 12 to switch between a first position located inside the battery swap station 100 and a second position located outside the battery swap station 100. Figure 3 and Figure 4 ,exist Figure 3 and Figure 4 In the figure, the dotted line shows part of the structure of the battery swap station. Figure 3 In the figure, the hoisting mechanism 12 is in the first position. Figure 4 : shows that the current hoisting mechanism 12 is in the second position.

[0063] The transfer device 10 is used in the battery swap station 100 to transfer batteries 20 between the interior and exterior of the battery swap station 100. For example, a transfer cart outside the battery swap station 100 transports the batteries 20 to a second location. The transfer device 10 can then transfer the batteries 20 from the first location to the first location inside the battery swap station 100. The batteries 20 at the first location are then moved to a battery storage device using other equipment inside the battery swap station 100. Conversely, the transfer device 10 can transfer the batteries 20 from the first location to a transfer cart at a second location outside the battery swap station 100.

[0064] The frame 11 is a structural member that can be directly or indirectly connected to the power station body 101. The frame 11 can rotate relative to the power station body 101. Figure 2 The axial direction (indicated by symbol O) can be parallel to the direction of gravity z.

[0065] For example, the rack 11 can be arranged near the door of the battery swap station body 101 and directly or indirectly connected to the wall of the battery swap station body 101 through structures such as bearings or rotating shafts. "Indirect" can be understood as, in some embodiments, the wall of the battery swap station body 101 and the rack 11 can be connected through additional supporting structures.

[0066] In some embodiments, the frame 11 may be made of aluminum alloy, stainless steel or other metals.

[0067] In some embodiments, the rack 11 may be configured with a drive device that can drive the rack 11 to rotate relative to the battery swap station body 101. Exemplarily, the drive device is a drive motor that drives the rack 11 to rotate. In some embodiments, the rack 11 can be manually pushed to rotate relative to the battery swap station body 101.

[0068] The hoisting mechanism 12 is used to hoist the battery 20, and can lift the battery 20 from the ground or other location to a certain height, and cooperate with the rotation of the frame 11 to realize the transportation of the battery 20. In some embodiments, the hoisting mechanism 12 can be switched between the first position and the second position by rotating the frame 11 90 degrees, 180 degrees, or other angles.

[0069] Illustratively, the transfer cart transports the battery 20 to the second position; by rotating the frame 11, the lifting mechanism 12 is switched to the second position, the lifting mechanism 12 grabs the battery 20 on the transfer cart, and lifts the battery 20 to a certain height so that the battery 20 is separated from the transfer cart; the frame 11 rotates 90 degrees, and switches the lifting mechanism 12 to the first position inside the battery swap station 100, the lifting mechanism 12 releases the battery 20 to the first position, and uses other equipment inside the battery swap station 100 to move the battery 20 at the first position to the battery storage device.

[0070] In the above scheme, the transfer device 10 is set at the battery swap station 100, and the frame 11 is rotatably connected to the battery swap station body 101. Through the rotation of the frame 11, the battery 20 can be quickly transferred between the set first position and the second position, thereby enabling the battery swap station 100 to quickly exchange batteries 20 with the outside world, improving the update and maintenance efficiency of the battery 20 of the battery swap station 100, and thereby improving the working efficiency of the battery swap station 100.

[0071] According to some embodiments of the present application, one end of the frame 11 is used to be rotatably connected to the battery swap station body 101, and the other end is provided with a handhold 15, which is used for being held by hand to push the frame 11 to rotate relative to the battery swap station body 101.

[0072] In some embodiments, along the length of the frame 11, one end of the frame 11 is connected to the battery swap station body 101 via a bearing or a rotating shaft. The other end of the frame 11 is provided with a handgrip 15 that can extend along the gravity direction z. The handgrip 15 can be rod-shaped and can be grasped by the hand of the battery swap station 100 staff to promote the rotation of the frame 11.

[0073] In some embodiments, the top end of the handhold 15 can be connected to the frame 11 by welding, clamping, riveting or screw connection.

[0074] In the above solution, by providing the handhold 15 , the transport personnel can hold the handhold 15 to push the entire rotating device, so that the battery 20 can be transported between the inside and outside of the battery swap station 100 .

[0075] According to some embodiments of this application, see Figure 2 The lifting mechanism 12 includes a lifting mechanism 13 and a grabbing mechanism 14 . The lifting mechanism 13 is connected to the frame 11 . The lifting mechanism 13 is used to drive the grabbing mechanism 14 to move up and down. The grabbing mechanism 14 is used to grab the battery 20 .

[0076] The lifting mechanism 13 is disposed between the frame 11 and the gripping mechanism 14. The lifting mechanism 13 is configured to drive the gripping mechanism 14 to reciprocate along the gravity direction z to achieve lifting. In some embodiments, the lifting mechanism 13 may include a manual hoist, which may be fixed to the frame 11, and the traction end of the manual hoist may be fixed to the gripping mechanism 14. In other embodiments, the lifting mechanism 13 may also include a hydraulic lifting device, a pneumatic lifting device, or an electric lifting device.

[0077] The gripping mechanism 14 is used to grip the battery 20 and has two states: locked and unlocked. For example, the gripping mechanism 14 includes a plurality of manipulators that can secure the battery 20 by clamping it and then lift it in conjunction with the lifting mechanism 13. Alternatively, the gripping mechanism 14 can include a hook that can engage a groove on the battery 20 and lift it in conjunction with the lifting mechanism 13.

[0078] In the above scheme, through the cooperation of the lifting mechanism 13 and the grasping mechanism 14, the battery 20 can be effectively grasped and separated from the supporting surface. On the one hand, the risk of damage to the surface of the battery 20 caused by the friction between the battery 20 and the supporting surface can be reduced. On the other hand, in conjunction with the rotation of the frame 11, the battery 20 can be quickly transferred between the inside and outside of the battery swap station 100.

[0079] According to some embodiments of this application, see Figure 2The grabbing mechanism 14 includes a bracket 140 and a plurality of grabbing members 141 . The bracket 140 is connected to the lifting mechanism 13 , and the plurality of grabbing members 141 is connected to the bracket 140 .

[0080] In some embodiments, the bracket 140 may be a frame structure formed by splicing a plurality of rod-shaped members, for example, the bracket 140 includes a plurality of horizontal beams and a plurality of vertical beams, and the plurality of horizontal beams and the plurality of vertical beams are welded together to form a square frame structure. The lifting mechanism 13 may be connected to the middle portion of the bracket 140.

[0081] The gripping mechanism 14 includes a plurality of gripping members 141 , each of which is connected to the bracket 140 and is located at different positions. Each gripping member 141 can grip the battery 20 and form a connection with the battery 20 , thereby enabling the battery 20 to be moved.

[0082] In some embodiments, see Figure 5 and Figure 6 , Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the transfer device 10 and the battery 20 in some embodiments of the present application. Figure 6 Schematic diagrams of the transfer device 10 and battery 20 in some embodiments of the present application. Multiple gripping members 141 can act on at least two opposing sides of the battery 20. For example, along the width of the battery 20, some gripping members 141 are located on one side of the battery 20, while another portion of the gripping members 141 are located on the other side.

[0083] In the above scheme, on the one hand, by providing multiple grabbing members 141, the transfer device 10 can effectively grab the battery 20 and reduce the risk of the battery 20 falling off. On the other hand, by providing a bracket 140 to connect the lifting mechanism 13 and multiple grabbing members 141, the multiple grabbing members 141 can be lifted and lowered at the same time to apply a uniform force to the battery 20, so that the battery 20 can be transferred in a stable posture, reducing the risk of the battery 20 tilting or even falling off the transfer device 10, so that the transfer device 10 has higher reliability.

[0084] According to some embodiments of this application, see Figure 7 and Figure 8 , Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the grabbing member 141 in some embodiments of the present application. Figure 8 for Figure 6 Enlarged view of point A in the middle.

[0085] The grabbing member 141 includes a hook 1413 . A slot 21 is provided on the battery 20 . The hook 1413 is used to engage with the upper edge of the slot 21 .

[0086] In some embodiments, see Figure 5 、 Figure 6as well as Figure 8 A slot 21 is provided on the side of the battery 20, and the slot 21 has an opening for the hook 1413 to enter. Along the gravity direction z, the slot 21 has an upper edge and a lower edge opposite to each other.

[0087] The hook 1413 can be placed in the slot 21 and engage with the upper edge of the slot 21, thereby transmitting an upward force to the battery 20 to achieve the lifting of the battery 20. In some embodiments, the hook 1413 can be roughly block-shaped, for example, see Figure 7 The hook 1413 includes a main body and a protrusion 1414 disposed on one side of the main body, with a groove formed between the protrusion 1414 and the main body. The protrusion 1414 can be placed into the slot 21 of the battery 20 by staff of the battery swap station 100 or other equipment, with the upper edge of the slot 21 accommodated in the groove, and then the battery 20 can be lifted. In some embodiments, the sidewalls of the groove can be provided with a gasket 1415 made of rubber, which can be used to contact the outer side of the battery 20.

[0088] In some embodiments, the hook 1413 can be made of aluminum alloy, stainless steel, carbon steel, etc.

[0089] In some embodiments, the grabbing member 141 can be directly or spacedly connected to the bracket 140 so that the grabbing member 141 has a certain degree of freedom, can be placed in the card slot 21 and engaged with the upper edge of the card slot 21, and can be taken out of the card slot 21.

[0090] In the above solution, the hook 1413 cooperates with the slot 21 of the battery 20 to efficiently connect to or detach from the battery 20 , so that the transfer device 10 has a higher transfer efficiency.

[0091] According to some embodiments of this application, see Figure 7 and Figure 8 The grabbing member 141 further includes an anti-slip member 1410 , which is movably connected to the hook 1413 , and is used to engage the lower edge of the card slot 21 .

[0092] The anti-dropping member 1410 is used to prevent the hook 1413 from falling off from the card slot 21 of the battery 20 .

[0093] In some embodiments, the anti-slip member 1410 is movably connected to the hook 1413 so that the position of the anti-slip member 1410 is adjustable relative to the hook 1413, so that the position of the anti-slip member 1410 can be adjusted so that the anti-slip member 1410 can be engaged with the lower edge of the slot 21 to limit the hook 1413 from falling out of the slot 21, or the anti-slip member 1410 can be detached from the lower edge of the slot 21 so that the hook 1413 can fall out of the slot 21.

[0094] Optionally, the anti-slip member 1410 is hinged to the hook 1413, and the anti-slip member 1410 can deflect relative to the hook 1413. One end of the anti-slip member 1410 can be provided with a bent portion 14100, which is used to engage with the lower edge of the slot 21. The other end of the anti-slip member 1410 is used to be pulled to deflect the anti-slip member 1410. For example, by pulling the other end of the anti-slip member 1410, the bent portion 14100 is deflected downward, thereby engaging with the lower edge of the slot, or the bent portion 14100 is deflected upward to disengage from the downward pressure of the slot.

[0095] Optionally, the anti-slip member 1410 is slidably connected to the hook 1413 along the direction of gravity, and the anti-slip member 1410 is moved downward so that the anti-slip member 1410 can be engaged with the lower edge of the slot 21, and the anti-slip member 1410 is moved upward so that the anti-slip member 1410 can be detached from the lower edge of the slot 21. Exemplarily, a driving device is provided between the anti-slip member 1410 and the hook 1413. The driving device can be a mechanism capable of outputting linear motion, such as a cylinder, a linear motor, or a single-axis robotic arm, and the driving device can drive the anti-slip member 1410 to rise and fall to change the position of the anti-slip member 1410.

[0096] In the above scheme, when the hook 1413 is engaged with the upper edge of the slot 21 of the battery 20, the anti-slip component 1410 can abut against the lower edge of the slot 21, thereby locking the hook 1413 in the slot 21, limiting the hook 1413 from being separated from the slot 21, effectively reducing the risk of the battery 20 falling off the transfer device 10, and making the transfer device 10 more reliable.

[0097] According to some embodiments of the present application, the grabbing member 141 further includes an elastic member 1411. The anti-slip member 1410 is hinged to the side of the hook 1413 facing away from the bracket 140. The end of the anti-slip member 1410 is provided with a bent portion 14100, which is used to engage the lower edge of the card slot 21. The elastic member 1411 is provided between the anti-slip member 1410 and the hook 1413 to provide elastic force to the anti-slip member 1410, so that the anti-slip member 1410 has a tendency to deflect relative to the hook 1413 so that the bent portion 14100 moves toward the side facing away from the hook 1413.

[0098] In some embodiments, the hinge axis between the anti-slip member 1410 and the hook 1413 can be parallel to the horizontal plane. Optionally, the middle portion of the anti-slip member 1410 is hinged to the lower end of the hook 1413 through a hinge shaft 1412, so that the two ends of the anti-slip member 1410 can swing up and down relative to the hook 1413. The elastic member 1411 is used to provide elastic force to the anti-slip member 1410 to deflect the anti-slip member 1410, so that the bent portion 14100 has a tendency to deflect away from the side of the hook 1413 to engage with the lower edge of the slot 21. When the bent portion 14100 is engaged with the lower edge of the slot 21, in the direction of gravity z, the bent portion 14100 can limit the position of the hook 1413 relative to the slot 21, locking part of the hook 1413 in the slot 21.

[0099] Alternatively, see Figure 7 and Figure 8 The inner side of the hook 1413 faces the battery 20. A notch is formed at the lower end of the hook 1413, extending through the inner and outer sides of the hook 1413. The anti-slip member 1410 is disposed within the notch via a hinge shaft 1412 and is capable of swinging relative to the hook 1413. Both ends of the anti-slip member 1410 are located outside the notch. One end is provided with a bent portion 14100, and the other end is provided for an operator or device to shift the anti-slip member 1410.

[0100] The elastic member 1411 is disposed in the notch and connects the hook 1413 and the anti-slip member 1410. The bent portion 14100 is disposed perpendicularly to the main body of the anti-slip member 1410. When the elastic member 1411 is in its natural state, the bent portion 14100 is located at the lowest point of the anti-slip member 1410, thereby being able to engage with the lower edge of the slot 21 and restricting the hook 1413 from being removed. When the hook 1413 needs to be removed, the operator or the equipment moves the end of the anti-slip member 1410 away from the battery to overcome the elastic force of the elastic member 1411, causing the bent portion 14100 to move upward, thereby reversing the engagement with the lower edge of the slot 21 and allowing the hook 1413 to be removed from the slot.

[0101] In some embodiments, the elastic member includes but is not limited to a spring, a rubber block or other structural members that can provide elastic force to the anti-slip member 1410 .

[0102] In the above scheme, by providing the elastic member 1411, the bent portion 14100 can always have a tendency to move away from the side of the hook 1413, so that when the hook 1413 is engaged with the battery 20 slot 21, the bent portion 14100 can effectively engage with the lower edge of the slot 21, thereby achieving locking between the hook 1413 and the battery, effectively reducing the risk of the battery 20 falling off the transfer device 10, and making the transfer device 10 have higher reliability.

[0103] According to some embodiments of this application, see Figure 2 and Figure 7 The grabbing mechanism 14 further includes a plurality of flexible slings 142 , and each grabbing member 141 is connected to the bracket 140 via the flexible sling 142 .

[0104] In some embodiments, the flexible sling 142 may include a steel structural sling or a synthetic fiber sling.

[0105] In some embodiments, the number of flexible slings 142 matches the number of gripping members 141, with each corresponding to the other. Each gripping member 141 is connected to the bracket 140 via a corresponding flexible sling 142. In some embodiments, one end of the flexible sling 142 can be fixed to the bracket 140 by means of a screw connection, riveting, or snap connection, and the other end of the flexible sling 142 can be hinged to the gripping member 141 via a ring, allowing the gripping member 141 to move relative to the flexible sling 142.

[0106] In the above solution, each grabbing member 141 is connected to the bracket 140 through a flexible sling 142, which can adapt to batteries 20 of different sizes and evenly distribute the pressure of the hanging point, reducing the risk of the battery 20 tilting or even falling off due to unstable center of gravity, so that the transfer device 10 has higher reliability.

[0107] According to some embodiments of this application, see Figure 2 , multiple grabbing members 141 are arranged in pairs, each pair of grabbing members 141 includes two grabbing members 141 arranged at intervals along the first direction x, and the multiple pairs of grabbing members 141 are arranged at intervals along the second direction y, and the first direction x, the second direction y and the gravity direction z are perpendicular to each other.

[0108] The first direction x may be parallel to the width direction of the battery 20 , and the second direction y may be parallel to the length direction of the battery 20 .

[0109] In some embodiments, the gripping mechanism 14 includes multiple pairs of gripping members 141, each pair of gripping members 141 includes two gripping members 141 spaced apart from each other, and the two gripping members 141 can jointly grip the battery 20 in the width direction of the battery 20. Exemplarily, the gripping mechanism 14 includes two pairs of gripping members 141, and two mutually opposing walls of the battery 20 along the first direction x are respectively provided with two slots 21, with the slots 21 on each wall being spaced apart along the first direction x, and the four gripping members 141 in the two pairs of gripping members 141 respectively engaging with corresponding slots 21.

[0110] In the above solution, by arranging the grabbing members 141 in pairs and arranging multiple pairs of grabbing members 141 at intervals, the battery 20 can be grasped evenly with force, reducing the risk of the battery 20 tilting or even falling off due to unstable center of gravity, so that the transfer device 10 has higher reliability.

[0111] According to some embodiments of the present application, along the gravity direction z, the straight line where the bracket 140 and the lifting mechanism 13 are connected passes through the center of gravity of the grasping mechanism 14 .

[0112] In some embodiments, the location where the lifting mechanism 13 and the gripping mechanism 14 are connected to each other corresponds to the center position of the gripping mechanism 14 .

[0113] Exemplarily, the bracket 140 includes two horizontal bars and three vertical bars. The two horizontal bars are spaced apart along a first direction x, and the three vertical bars are located between the two horizontal bars and spaced apart along a second direction y. The horizontal bars and vertical bars are interconnected to form a square frame, and the lifting mechanism 13 is connected to the middle of the vertical bar in the middle. The gripping mechanism 14 includes two pairs of gripping members 141, each of which includes four gripping members 141. The four gripping members 141 are located at the four corners of the square frame.

[0114] In the above scheme, by setting the connection position of the lifting mechanism 13 and the bracket 140 to correspond to the center of gravity of the grasping mechanism 14, it can ensure to a certain extent that the battery 20 remains in a horizontal state during the transportation process, so that the battery 20 is transported in a stable posture, thereby improving the transportation efficiency of the battery 20, which is beneficial to improving the working efficiency of the battery swap station 100.

[0115] According to some embodiments of this application, see Figure 2 The frame 11 includes a first beam 110, a second beam 111 and a third beam 112. The first beam 110 is arranged in the horizontal direction, the second beam 111 is arranged in the vertical direction, the second beam 111 is connected to one end of the first beam 110, the third beam 112 is arranged at an angle and connects the first beam 110 and the second beam 111, and the lifting mechanism 12 is connected to the first beam 110.

[0116] In some embodiments, the frame 11 may be a square bracket 140, comprising a first beam 110, a second beam 111, and a third beam 112 connected to each other. Figure 2 One end of the first beam 110 is connected to the second beam 111, and the first beam 110 and the second beam 111 are perpendicular to each other. The third beam 112 is arranged obliquely between the first beam 110 and the second beam 111. One end of the third beam 112 is connected to the end of the second beam 111 facing away from the first beam 110, and the other end of the third connecting beam is connected to the first beam 110. The first beam 110, the second beam 111, and the third beam 112 can be connected by welding, clamping, or screws.

[0117] The hoisting mechanism 12 is connected to the first beam 110. The connection method between the hoisting mechanism 12 and the first beam 110 includes but is not limited to screw connection, riveting connection or other connection methods. For example, a support ear is provided on the side of the first beam 110 facing the ground, and the lifting mechanism 13 is hung on the support ear.

[0118] In some embodiments, the first beam 110 has a first end and a second end opposite to each other, the first end being connected to the second beam 111, and the second end being connected to the handrail 15. A first bearing is provided on the side of the first end facing away from the second beam 111, and the first bearing is used to connect to the battery swap station body 101. A second bearing is provided on the end of the second beam 111 facing away from the first beam 110, and the second bearing is used to connect to the battery swap station body 101. The frame 11 is rotatably connected relative to the battery swap station body 101 through the first bearing and the second bearing. In some embodiments, the first bearing can be a deep groove ball bearing 113, and the second bearing can be a thrust ball bearing 114.

[0119] In the above scheme, on the one hand, the frame 11 has a simple structure, is easy to manufacture, and has a low manufacturing cost; on the other hand, the frame 11 is composed of a first beam 110, a second beam 111 and a third beam 112 connected to each other, has a high structural strength, and can effectively bear the gravity of the battery 20, so that the transfer device 10 has a high reliability.

[0120] In other embodiments, the frame 11 may include a beam extending in a horizontal direction, one end of which is rotatably connected to the battery swap station body 101 , and the middle portion of the frame 11 may be connected to the lifting mechanism 12 .

[0121] In other embodiments, the frame 11 may further include multiple beams, which are spliced ​​together to form a frame structure. The frame structure is rotatably connected to the battery swap station body 101, and the lifting mechanism 12 is connected to the frame structure.

[0122] Some embodiments of the present application also provide a battery swap station 100, which includes a battery swap station body 101 and the transfer device 10 provided above. The transfer device 10 is connected to the battery swap station body 101 and is used to transfer batteries 20 between the inside and outside of the battery swap station 100.

[0123] In some embodiments, the frame 11 of the transfer device 10 can be set on the wall of the battery swap station body 101 through bearings or rotating shafts, so that the frame 11 can drive the lifting mechanism 12 to rotate relative to the battery swap station body 101, so as to be able to transfer the battery 20 outside the battery swap station 100 to the inside of the battery swap station 100, or transfer the battery 20 inside the battery swap station 100 to the outside of the battery swap station 100.

[0124] In some embodiments, a warehouse door is provided on the side of the battery swap station body 101, and the transfer device 10 can be provided near the warehouse door. When the transfer device 10 is not in use, the transfer device 10 can be stored inside the battery swap station body 101. When the battery 20 needs to be transferred, the warehouse door can be opened so that the lifting mechanism 12 can travel between the inside and outside of the battery swap station 100 through the warehouse door.

[0125] In the above scheme, the battery swap station 100 has a transfer device 10, which can quickly transfer the battery 20 between the set first position and the second position through the rotation of the frame 11, so that the battery swap station 100 has the ability to quickly exchange batteries 20 with the outside world, which is beneficial to the improvement of the update and maintenance efficiency of the battery 20 of the battery swap station 100, thereby improving the working efficiency of the battery swap station 100.

[0126] According to some embodiments of the present application, the rotation axis of the frame 11 is parallel to the gravity direction z.

[0127] In the above scheme, by setting the rotation axis of the frame 11 to be parallel to the gravity direction z, it can ensure to a certain extent that the battery 20 is transported between the battery swap station 100 and outside the battery swap station 100 in a horizontal posture, thereby facilitating the placement of the battery 20 in the battery 20 storage system in the battery swap station 100 or facilitating the placement of the battery 20 on a transfer cart outside the battery swap station 100.

[0128] In some other embodiments, the rotation axis of the frame 11 may also be inclined relative to the gravity direction z.

[0129] According to some embodiments of the present application, the frame 11 is connected to the battery swap station body 101 via a bearing.

[0130] In some embodiments, the frame 11 may be connected to the inner ring of the bearing, and the outer ring of the bearing may be connected to the battery swap station body 101 .

[0131] In some embodiments, there may be multiple bearings, and the multiple bearings may be spaced apart along the rotation axis of the frame 11 .

[0132] According to some embodiments of the present application, a transfer device 10 is provided, see Figure 2-Figure 8 .

[0133] The transfer device 10 is used during the transfer of batteries 20 at the battery swap station 100. The transfer device 10 includes a frame 11 and a lifting mechanism 12. The frame 11 is rotatably connected to the wall of the battery swap station body 101 via bearings. The rotation axis of the frame 11 is parallel to the direction of gravity z.

[0134] The hoisting mechanism 12 is used to hoist the battery 20. When the battery 20 needs to be transported between the station and outside the station, the frame 11 rotates relative to the battery swap station body 101, so that the hoisting mechanism 12 switches between a first position inside the battery swap station 100 and a second position outside the battery swap station 100.

[0135] See Figure 2The frame 11 is made of square tube, one end of the frame 11 is connected to the battery swap station body 101 through a deep groove ball bearing 113 and a thrust ball bearing 114, and the other end of the frame 11 is provided with a handrail. The staff can pull or push the handrail 15 to make the frame 11 rotate around its rotation axis.

[0136] The lifting mechanism 12 includes a lifting mechanism 13 and a gripping mechanism 14. The lifting mechanism 13 is a manual hoist mounted on the frame 11 and rotates with the frame 11. The gripping mechanism 14 includes a bracket 140, four flexible lifting straps 142, and two pairs of gripping members 141. Each pair of gripping members 141 includes two gripping members 141 spaced apart along a first direction x, each for gripping two opposing walls of the battery 20. The two pairs of gripping members 141 are spaced apart along a second direction y.

[0137] The bracket 140 comprises several horizontal and vertical beams welded together to form a square frame structure. The traction end of the manual hoist is located in the middle of the bracket 140. Each grabbing member 141 is connected to the bracket 140 via a corresponding flexible sling 142, which is movably connected to the flexible sling 142 via a lifting ring.

[0138] The grabbing member 141 includes a hook 1413 and an anti-slip structure. The hook 1413 is used to engage the upper edge of the slot 21 on the battery 20. The anti-slip structure includes an anti-slip member 1410 and an elastic member 1411. The anti-slip member 1410 is connected to the lower end of the hook 1413 via a hinge shaft 1412, and the elastic member 1411 is disposed between the hook 1413 and the anti-slip member 1410. By pressing the tail end of the anti-slip member 1410, the staff can compress the elastic member 1411, causing the anti-slip member 1410 to deflect. Under the elastic force of the elastic member 1411, the anti-slip member 1410 can engage with the lower edge of the slot 21, preventing the hook 1413 from falling out of the slot 21.

[0139] The transfer device 10 is applied to the battery swap station 100. The staff can quickly rotate the entire lifting mechanism 12 through the handrail 15, so that the battery 20 lifted by the lifting mechanism 12 can be switched between the inside and outside of the battery swap station 100, so that the battery swap station 100 can quickly exchange batteries 20 with the outside world, thereby improving the update and maintenance efficiency of the battery 20 of the battery swap station 100, and thus improving the working efficiency of the battery swap station 100.

[0140] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present application and is not intended to limit the present application. Various modifications and variations are possible for those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, or improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present application shall be included within the scope of protection of the present application.

Claims

1. A transfer device, used in a battery swap station, characterized in that: include: A frame, the frame being rotatably connected to the battery swap station body; A lifting mechanism, wherein the lifting mechanism is used to lift the battery; The hoisting mechanism is connected to the frame, and the frame is used to drive the hoisting mechanism to switch between a first position located inside the battery swap station and a second position located outside the battery swap station.

2. The transfer device according to claim 1, characterized in that One end of the frame is used for rotationally connecting to the battery swap station body, and the other end is provided with a handhold, which is used for being held by a hand to push the frame to rotate relative to the battery swap station body.

3. The transfer device according to claim 1, characterized in that The hoisting mechanism includes a lifting mechanism and a grabbing mechanism. The lifting mechanism is connected to the frame. The lifting mechanism is used to drive the grabbing mechanism to move up and down. The grabbing mechanism is used to grab the battery.

4. The transfer device according to claim 3, characterized in that The grabbing mechanism includes a bracket and a plurality of grabbing members, the bracket is connected to the lifting mechanism, and the plurality of grabbing members are connected to the bracket.

5. The transfer device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The grabbing member includes a hook, a slot is provided on the battery, and the hook is used to be engaged with the upper edge of the slot.

6. The transfer device according to claim 5, characterized in that The grabbing member further comprises an anti-slip member, which is movably connected to the hook and is used to engage with the lower edge of the slot.

7. The transfer device according to claim 6, characterized in that The grabbing member further includes an elastic member; The anti-slip component is hinged to the side of the hook away from the bracket, and a bending portion is provided at the end of the anti-slip component, and the bending portion is used to engage the lower edge of the slot. The elastic component is provided between the anti-slip component and the hook, and is used to provide elastic force to the anti-slip component so that the anti-slip component has a tendency to deflect relative to the hook so that the bending portion has a tendency to move toward the side away from the hook.

8. The transfer device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The grabbing mechanism further comprises a plurality of flexible slings, and each of the grabbing members is connected to the bracket via the flexible slings.

9. The transfer device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The plurality of gripping members are arranged in pairs, each pair of the gripping members includes two gripping members spaced apart along a first direction, and the plurality of pairs of the gripping members are spaced apart along a second direction, wherein the first direction, the second direction and the direction of gravity are perpendicular to each other.

10. The transfer device according to claim 4, characterized in that: Along the direction of gravity, the straight line where the connection position between the bracket and the lifting mechanism is located passes through the center of gravity of the grasping mechanism.

11. The transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that: The frame includes a first beam, a second beam and a third beam, the first beam is arranged in a horizontal direction, the second beam is arranged in a vertical direction, the second beam is connected to one end of the first beam, the third beam is arranged obliquely and connects the first beam and the second beam, and the lifting mechanism is connected to the first beam.

12. A battery swap station, characterized in that: include: Battery swap station body; The transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 11 is connected to the battery swap station body and is used to transfer batteries between the inside and outside of the battery swap station.

13. The battery swap station according to claim 12, characterized in that: The rotation axis of the frame is parallel to the direction of gravity.

14. The battery swap station according to claim 12, characterized in that: The frame is connected to the battery swap station body through bearings.

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