Shuttle vehicle and battery replacing station

Abstract

The shuttle vehicle is used for installing or disassembling a battery pack of an electric vehicle, the battery pack can be fixed to a chassis of the electric vehicle through a lock mechanism, the shuttle vehicle comprises a lifting platform and a detection device, the detection device is installed on the lifting platform, and the detection device is installed on the lifting platform. The detection device is used for penetrating through a channel in the battery pack from bottom to top to detect a lock connecting rod of the lock mechanism so as to determine whether the lock connecting rod moves in place or not. The detection device detects the lock connecting rod through the channel in the battery pack from bottom to top, so that whether the lock connecting rod is locked in place or not can be determined, the mounting reliability of the battery pack is improved, and even if the lock connecting rod is located over the battery pack or located in the middle of the chassis of the electric vehicle, the lock connecting rod can be locked in place due to the channel formed in the battery pack. The battery pack cannot shield a detection path, and a detection device can conveniently detect the lock connecting rod through a channel in the battery pack from bottom to top.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The utility model relates to a kind of shuttle vehicle and battery swap station. BACKGROUND

[0002] Vehicle battery replacement is through the way of replacing battery pack, meet the power supply demand of electric vehicle.In the process of replacing battery pack, shuttle vehicle needs to be used.Shuttle vehicle includes horizontal moving mechanism and battery replacement platform, battery replacement platform is arranged on horizontal moving mechanism, for carrying battery pack, horizontal moving mechanism is used to realize horizontal movement, so that shuttle vehicle can carry battery pack between electric vehicle and battery compartment, and relative electric vehicle completes the disassembly and assembly work of battery pack.In which, after shuttle vehicle installs battery pack to electric vehicle, it can appear that lock mechanism is not locked, cause security risk, and the existing shuttle vehicle lacks an effective detection means to detect whether lock mechanism is locked in place. SUMMARY

[0003] The technical problem to be solved by the utility model is to overcome the defect that the existing shuttle vehicle cannot detect whether the lock mechanism of locking battery pack is locked, and to provide a kind of shuttle vehicle and battery swap station.

[0004] The utility model solves the above technical problem by the following technical scheme:

[0005] A kind of shuttle vehicle, for installing or disassembling the battery pack of electric vehicle, the battery pack can be fixed to the chassis of electric vehicle by lock mechanism, the shuttle vehicle includes lifting platform and detection device, the detection device is installed on the lifting platform, the detection device is used to detect the lock connecting rod of the lock mechanism from below to above through the passage on the battery pack, to determine whether the lock connecting rod is moved in place.

[0006] In the present scheme, detection device detects lock connecting rod from below to above through the passage on battery pack, so it can be determined whether lock connecting rod is locked in place, improve the reliability of battery pack installation, and even if lock connecting rod is located directly above battery pack or lock connecting rod is located in the middle of electric vehicle chassis, since passage is provided on battery pack, battery pack will not block detection path, detection device will not be affected from below to above through the passage on battery pack to detect lock connecting rod.

[0007] Preferably, the detection device includes a photographing system, the photographing system includes lens and processor, the lens can shoot the image of the lock connecting rod through the passage, and the processor is used to process the image.

[0008] In the present scheme, photographing system first shoots the image of lock connecting rod through lens, and then utilizes processor to analyze and process image, so it can be determined whether lock connecting rod is moved in place.For example, whether lock connecting rod is moved to the specified position of lock base in image is used to determine whether lock connecting rod is moved in place.

[0009] Preferably, the surface of the lock connecting rod is provided with a mark point which protrudes from the surface of the lock connecting rod.

[0010] In the present solution, the above structure is adopted, so that the image processor can quickly and accurately identify the moving position of the lock connecting rod, and determine whether the lock connecting rod is moved to the position according to the position, thereby improving the accuracy and speed of image processing.

[0011] Preferably, the photographing system further comprises a cleaning member for cleaning the lens.

[0012] In the present solution, the lens can be cleaned by the cleaning member before the photographing system takes a photograph, so as to prevent dust from falling on the lens and reduce the interference of dust on the image, thereby improving the image quality.

[0013] Preferably, the cleaning member comprises a blowing nozzle and a gas source, the blowing nozzle is connected to the gas source, the blowing nozzle is installed on the side of the lens through a support, and the outlet of the blowing nozzle faces the lens.

[0014] In the present solution, the lens can be blown by the blowing nozzle before the photographing system takes a photograph, thereby improving the cleanliness of the lens. Preferably, the gas source can control the blowing action through a controller, and the controller can also control the photographing or video recording of the photographing system. Therefore, the controller can be used to control the gas source to blow the lens first, and then control the photographing system to take a photograph or record a video, so as to obtain high-quality images.

[0015] Preferably, the detection device further comprises an optoelectronic distance sensor for detecting the distance between the optoelectronic distance sensor and the lock connecting rod.

[0016] In the present solution, the optoelectronic distance sensor can detect the distance between itself and the lock connecting rod. For example, when the lock connecting rod is in the locked position, the distance between the optoelectronic distance sensor and the lock connecting rod is constant, which is defined as a standard distance, and the detection distance of the optoelectronic distance sensor at a certain time is defined as an actual detection distance. If the difference between the actual detection distance and the standard distance is within a preset value range, it can be determined that the lock connecting rod is moved to the position; if the difference between the actual detection distance and the standard distance is greater than the preset value, it can be determined that the lock connecting rod is not moved to the position.

[0017] Preferably, the lock connecting rod is provided with a mark point which protrudes from the surface of the lock connecting rod.

[0018] In the present solution, the position of the mark point on the lock connecting rod is used as a detection reference, thereby improving the accuracy of the detection distance and avoiding the detection error caused by the different detection positions of the optoelectronic distance sensor each time.

[0019] Preferably, the lifting platform comprises a vehicle body positioning plate, a battery carrying plate for carrying batteries, and a driving mechanism connected to the vehicle body positioning plate and the battery carrying plate respectively and configured to drive the vehicle body positioning plate and the battery carrying plate to move back and forth in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the shuttle vehicle travels, and the detection device is installed on the edge of the vehicle body positioning plate.

[0020] In this scheme, since the vehicle body positioning plate is configured to be connected to the vehicle to be replaced, the positioning of the vehicle body positioning plate can be achieved after the vehicle body positioning plate is connected to the vehicle to be replaced, and the relative position between the vehicle body positioning plate and the lock connecting rod is fixed, and correspondingly, the relative position between the detection device installed on the vehicle body positioning plate and the lock connecting rod is fixed, so that the detection device can accurately detect the position of the lock connecting rod, and the detection error caused by the movement of the vehicle to be replaced or the shuttle vehicle is avoided, and the detection accuracy is improved.

[0021] Preferably, the battery carrying plate is located above the vehicle body positioning plate, the battery carrying plate is provided with a avoiding gap, and the detection device is located in the avoiding gap.

[0022] Preferably, the lifting platform further comprises a tray, the tray is installed on the battery carrying plate and located above the vehicle body positioning plate, the tray is provided with a through hole, and the channel passes through the through hole.

[0023] Preferably, the vehicle body positioning plate is provided with the detection device on opposite sides perpendicular to the sliding direction of the vehicle body positioning plate.

[0024] Preferably, the lifting platform further comprises a base, and the vehicle body positioning plate, the battery carrying plate, and the driving mechanism are all installed on the base.

[0025] In this scheme, the battery carrying plate is arranged above the vehicle body positioning plate, which facilitates supporting the battery pack by the upper surface of the battery carrying plate and facilitates taking and placing the battery pack from above, and prevents the vehicle body positioning plate from interfering. The detection device is arranged in the avoiding gap of the battery carrying plate, so that the channel from below to above is unobstructed, and the detection path is not blocked by the battery carrying plate.

[0026] The tray is used to carry batteries, and the through hole is arranged on the tray, which can not only avoid the detection path of the detection device, but also can make the size of the tray larger to improve the space utilization. Preferably, the tray is floatingly connected to the battery carrying plate in the vertical direction, which can reduce the impact on the shuttle vehicle when the battery pack is taken or placed, and improve the buffering effect.

[0027] The two detection devices detect the lock connecting rods of the two lock mechanisms respectively, which prevents any lock connecting rod from not being moved into position, and improves the reliability of the installation of the battery pack.

[0028] The base is used for supporting and fixing the vehicle body positioning plate, the battery carrying plate and the driving mechanism, so that the driving mechanism drives the vehicle body positioning plate and the battery carrying plate to move along the predetermined path respectively.

[0029] A battery swap station comprising the shuttle vehicle as described above.

[0030] On the basis of common knowledge in the art, the above-mentioned preferred conditions can be combined arbitrarily, i.e. the preferred embodiments of the present application.

[0031] The positive progress effect of the present application is that the detection device detects the lock connecting rod from below to above through the passage on the battery pack, so as to determine whether the lock connecting rod is locked in place, improve the reliability of the battery pack installation, and even if the lock connecting rod is located directly above the battery pack or the lock connecting rod is located in the middle of the electric vehicle chassis, since the passage is provided on the battery pack, the battery pack will not block the detection path, and the detection device will not be affected by the detection device from below to above through the passage on the battery pack. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0032] Figure 1 Structure diagram of the shuttle vehicle of a preferred embodiment of the present application Figure One .

[0033] Figure 2 Structure diagram of the shuttle vehicle of a preferred embodiment of the present application Figure Two .

[0034] Figure 3 Structure diagram of the shuttle vehicle of a preferred embodiment of the present application Figure Three .

[0035] Figure 4 Structure diagram of the shuttle vehicle of a preferred embodiment of the present application Figure Four .

[0036] Explanation of reference signs:

[0037] Lifting platform 1

[0038] Vehicle body positioning plate 11

[0039] Battery carrying plate 12

[0040] Avoidance gap 121

[0041] Driving mechanism 13

[0042] Tray 14

[0043] Through hole 141

[0044] Base 15

[0045] Detection device 2

[0046] photographing system 21

[0047] lens 211

[0048] optoelectronic distance sensor 22

[0049] outer frame 3

[0050] sliding direction 100 DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] The utility model will be more clearly and completely explained below by way of embodiments in conjunction with the drawings, but the utility model is not limited in the scope of the embodiments described.

[0052] As Figures 1-4 shown, the embodiment discloses a shuttle vehicle for installing or dismounting a battery pack of an electric vehicle, the battery pack can be fixed to the chassis of the electric vehicle through a lock mechanism, the shuttle vehicle comprises a lifting platform 1 and a detection device 2, the detection device 2 is installed on the lifting platform 1, and the detection device 2 is used for detecting a lock connecting rod of the lock mechanism from below to above through a passage on the battery pack to determine whether the lock connecting rod is moved in place. The detection device 2 detects the lock connecting rod from below to above through the passage on the battery pack, so that whether the lock connecting rod is locked in place can be determined, the reliability of battery pack installation is improved, and even if the lock connecting rod is located directly above the battery pack or the lock connecting rod is located in the middle of the chassis of the electric vehicle, since the passage is arranged on the battery pack, the battery pack does not block the detection path, and the detection device 2 does not affect the detection of the lock connecting rod from below to above through the passage on the battery pack.

[0053] As Figure 4 shown, in the embodiment, the detection device 2 comprises a photographing system 21, the photographing system 21 comprises a lens 211 and a processor (not shown in the figure), the lens 211 can shoot the image of the lock connecting rod through the passage, and the processor is used for processing the image. When detecting, the photographing system 21 first shoots the image of the lock connecting rod through the lens 211, and then analyzes and processes the image by using the processor, so that whether the lock connecting rod is moved in place can be determined. For example, whether the lock connecting rod is moved to the specified position of the lock base is determined to determine whether the lock connecting rod is moved in place. The image processing method is prior art, and details are not repeated here.

[0054] Preferably, the surface of the lock connecting rod is provided with a mark point, the mark point is protruded from the surface of the lock connecting rod, the image processor can quickly and accurately identify the moving position of the lock connecting rod, and whether the lock connecting rod is moved in place is determined according to the position, so that the accuracy and speed of image processing are improved.

[0055] Preferably, the photographing system 21 further comprises a cleaning member (not shown in the figure) for cleaning the lens 211. Before the photographing system 21 takes a photograph, the cleaning member can be used to clean the lens 211, preventing dust from falling on the lens 211 and reducing the interference of dust on the image, thereby improving the image quality.

[0056] In the embodiment, the cleaning member comprises a blowing nozzle and a gas source. The blowing nozzle is connected to the gas source and is installed on the side of the lens 211 through a support. The outlet of the blowing nozzle faces the lens 211. Before the photographing system 21 takes a photograph, the blowing nozzle can be used to blow air on the lens 211, thereby improving the cleanliness of the lens 211. Preferably, the gas source can control the blowing action through a controller. The controller can also control the photographing or video recording of the photographing system 21. Therefore, the controller can be used to control the gas source to blow air on the lens 211 first, and then control the photographing system 21 to take a photograph or record a video, thereby obtaining a high-quality image.

[0057] As shown in Figure 4 In the embodiment, the detection device 2 further comprises an optical distance measuring sensor 22 for detecting the distance between the lock connecting rod. The optical distance measuring sensor 22 can detect the distance between itself and the lock connecting rod. For example, when the lock connecting rod is in the locked position, the distance between the optical distance measuring sensor 22 and the lock connecting rod is constant. This distance is defined as the standard distance. The detection distance of the optical distance measuring sensor 22 at a certain time is defined as the actual detection distance. If the difference between the actual detection distance and the standard distance is within a preset value, it can be determined that the lock connecting rod has moved into position. If the difference between the actual detection distance and the standard distance is greater than the preset value, it can be determined that the lock connecting rod has not moved into position.

[0058] Preferably, the lock connecting rod is provided with a mark point which protrudes from the surface of the lock connecting rod. The position of the mark point on the lock connecting rod is used as a detection reference, thereby improving the accuracy of the distance detected by the optical distance measuring sensor 22 and avoiding the detection error caused by the different detection positions of the optical distance measuring sensor 22 each time.

[0059] As shown in Figures 2-4 In the embodiment, the lifting platform 1 comprises a vehicle body positioning plate 11, a battery carrying plate 12 for carrying a battery, and a driving mechanism 13 connected to the vehicle body positioning plate 11 and the battery carrying plate 12 and used to drive the vehicle body positioning plate 11 and the battery carrying plate 12 to move in a direction perpendicular to the advancing direction of the shuttle vehicle. Figure 4The detection device 2 is installed at the edge of the vehicle body positioning plate 11. Since the vehicle body positioning plate 11 is used to position the vehicle to be replaced, when the vehicle body positioning plate 11 is connected with the vehicle to be replaced, the positioning of the vehicle body positioning plate 11 is realized, and the relative position between the vehicle body positioning plate 11 and the lock connecting rod is fixed, and the relative position between the detection device 2 installed on the vehicle body positioning plate 11 and the lock connecting rod is fixed, so that the detection device 2 can accurately detect the position of the lock connecting rod, and the detection accuracy is improved.

[0060] As shown in Figure 4 In the embodiment, the bearing battery plate 12 is located above the vehicle body positioning plate 11, and the bearing battery plate 12 is provided with a avoiding gap 121, and the detection device 2 is located in the avoiding gap 121. The bearing battery plate 12 is arranged above the vehicle body positioning plate 11, which facilitates supporting the battery pack by the upper surface of the bearing battery plate 12, and facilitates taking and placing the battery pack from above, and prevents the vehicle body positioning plate 11 from interfering with the path of taking and placing the battery pack. The detection device 2 is arranged in the avoiding gap 121 of the bearing battery plate 12, so that the channel of the detection device 2 from bottom to top is unobstructed, and the detection path is not blocked by the bearing battery plate 12.

[0061] As shown in Figure 1 and Figure 3 In the embodiment, the lifting platform 1 further comprises a tray 14, which is installed on the bearing battery plate 12 and located above the vehicle body positioning plate 11, and the tray 14 is provided with a through hole 141, and the channel passes through the through hole 141. The tray 14 is used to bear the battery, and the through hole 141 is arranged on the tray 14, which can not only avoid the detection path of the detection device 2, but also can set the size of the tray 14 larger to improve the space utilization. Preferably, the tray 14 is floatingly connected to the bearing battery plate 12 in the vertical direction, which can reduce the impact on the shuttle vehicle when taking and placing the battery pack, and improve the buffering effect.

[0062] As shown in Figure 4 In the embodiment, the vehicle body positioning plate 11 is provided with detection devices 2 on opposite sides perpendicular to the sliding direction 100 of the vehicle body positioning plate 11. The two detection devices 2 detect the lock connecting rods of the two lock mechanisms respectively, which prevents any lock connecting rod from not being moved into position, and improves the reliability of the battery pack installation.

[0063] As shown in Figures 1-4 The lifting platform 1 further comprises a base 15, and the vehicle body positioning plate 11, the bearing battery plate 12 and the driving mechanism 13 are all installed on the base 15. The base 15 is used to support and fix the vehicle body positioning plate 11, the bearing battery plate 12 and the driving mechanism 13, so that the driving mechanism 13 drives the vehicle body positioning plate 11 and the bearing battery plate 12 to move along the predetermined path respectively.

[0064] As shown in Figures 1-4 The shuttle vehicle further comprises an outer frame 3, and the lifting platform 1 is installed on the outer frame 3.

[0065] The embodiment further discloses a battery swap station comprising the shuttle vehicle.

[0066] In the description herein, it needs to be understood that the terms "upper", "lower", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer" and the like indicate the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the devices or elements referred to must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the utility model.

[0067] Although the specific embodiments of the utility model are described above, those skilled in the art should understand that this is only an example, the protection scope of the utility model is defined by the appended claims. Those skilled in the art can make various changes or modifications to these embodiments without departing from the principles and essence of the utility model, and these changes and modifications all fall within the protection scope of the utility model.

Claims

1. A shuttle vehicle for installing or dismounting a battery pack of an electric vehicle, the battery pack being fixable to a chassis of the electric vehicle by a lock mechanism, characterized in that, The shuttle vehicle comprises a lifting platform and a detection device installed on the lifting platform, the detection device being used to detect a lock connecting rod of the lock mechanism from below to above through a passage on the battery pack to determine whether the lock connecting rod is moved into position.

2. The shuttle of claim 1, wherein, The detection device comprises a photographing system comprising a lens and a processor, the lens being capable of capturing an image of the lock connecting rod through the passage, and the processor being used to process the image.

3. The shuttle of claim 2, wherein, A surface of the lock connecting rod is provided with an identification point protruding from the surface of the lock connecting rod.

4. The shuttle of claim 2, wherein, The photographing system further comprises a cleaning member used to clean the lens.

5. The shuttle of claim 4, wherein, The cleaning member comprises a blowing nozzle connected to a gas source, the blowing nozzle being installed on a side of the lens through a support, and an outlet of the blowing nozzle being directed towards the lens.

6. The shuttle of claim 3, wherein, The detection device further comprises an optoelectronic distance sensor used to detect a distance between the lock connecting rod.

7. The shuttle of claim 6, wherein, A surface of the lock connecting rod is provided with an identification point protruding from the surface of the lock connecting rod.

8. The shuttle of claim 1, wherein, The lifting platform comprises a vehicle body positioning plate, a battery carrying plate used to carry a battery, and a driving mechanism connected to the vehicle body positioning plate and the battery carrying plate respectively and used to drive the vehicle body positioning plate and the battery carrying plate to reciprocate in a direction perpendicular to a traveling direction of the shuttle vehicle, the detection device being installed on an edge of the vehicle body positioning plate.

9. The shuttle of claim 8, wherein, The battery carrying plate is located above the vehicle body positioning plate, the battery carrying plate being provided with an avoiding gap, and the detection device being located in the avoiding gap. The lifting platform further comprises a tray installed on the battery carrying plate and located above the vehicle body positioning plate, the tray being provided with a through hole, and the passage passing through the through hole. The vehicle body positioning plate is provided with the detection device on opposite sides of the vehicle body positioning plate perpendicular to a sliding direction of the vehicle body positioning plate. The lifting platform further comprises a base, and the vehicle body positioning plate, the battery carrying plate, and the driving mechanism are all installed on the base.

10. A battery swap station, characterized by, The battery swap station comprises the shuttle vehicle according to any one of claims 1-9.

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