Battery replacement device

Abstract

A battery changing device 20 comprises a first lifting frame 30A that can be raised and lowered, a second lifting frame 30B that can be raised and lowered in a direction opposite to the first lifting frame 30A, a linear connecting element 40, one end section of which is connected to the first lifting frame 30A and the other end section of which is connected to the second lifting frame 30B, a drive unit 44 that moves the connecting element 40, and a deflection pulley 42 that supports the connecting element 40, wherein the drive unit 44 moves the connecting element 40 to cause the second lifting frame 30B to be lowered while the first lifting frame 30A is raised, and moves the connecting element 40 to cause the second lifting frame 30B to be raised while the first lifting frame 30A is lowered.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a battery changing device. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] JP 2014 - 000 935 A discloses a battery exchange system in which a vehicle battery is automatically exchanged. In this exchange system, a gripping device movable along a rail is raised and lowered while grasping the battery, thereby performing a battery exchange operation in an upper section of the vehicle. Brief description of the invention; problem to be solved by the invention

[0003] In a vehicle equipped with multiple replaceable batteries, it is necessary to replace all of them. However, the gripping mechanism of the replacement system described above only grips a single battery at a time, resulting in a longer time required to replace all of them.

[0004] A method could be proposed in which a large number of batteries are moved up and down using the single gripping device, but in this case it is necessary to increase the size of a drive unit for actuating the gripping device.

[0005] The present disclosure focuses on this point, and one of its tasks is to move a large number of batteries up and down in a suitable manner using a small drive unit. MEANS TO SOLVENT THE PROBLEM

[0006] One aspect of the present disclosure provides a battery-changing device comprising a first lifting frame holding a first battery and capable of being raised and lowered, a second lifting frame holding a second battery and capable of being raised and lowered in a direction opposite to that of the first lifting frame, a linear connecting element of a predetermined length which is (i) provided above the first lifting frame and the second lifting frame and (ii) has one end section connected to the first lifting frame and the other end section connected to the second lifting frame, a drive unit moving the connecting element, and a deflection pulley supporting the connecting element, wherein the drive unit moves the connecting element to cause the second lifting frame to be lowered while the first lifting frame is being raised, and moves the connecting element to cause the second lifting frame to be raised.while the first lifting frame is being lowered.

[0007] Furthermore, the first lifting frame and the second lifting frame can be positioned at a multitude of positions in a lifting direction, and the drive unit can move the connecting element so that the first lifting frame is positioned at a top end position in the lifting direction and the second lifting frame is positioned at a bottom end position in the lifting direction.

[0008] Furthermore, the first lifting frame may include a first arm designed to hold the first battery that can be mounted on and removed from the vehicle, and the second lifting frame may include a second arm designed to hold the second battery that can be mounted on and removed from the vehicle.

[0009] Furthermore, the first arm can i) mount the first battery on the vehicle when the first lifting frame is positioned at a changeover position in the lifting direction, and ii) place the first battery in a receiving section when it is positioned at a receiving position where the first battery is located in the receiving section for charging the first battery, and the second arm can i) mount the second battery on the vehicle when the second lifting frame is positioned at a changeover position in the lifting direction, and ii) place the second battery in a receiving section when it is positioned at the receiving position where the second battery is located in the receiving section for charging the second battery.

[0010] Additionally, the first lifting frame can include a first rotating frame that rotates the held first battery, and the second lifting frame can include a second rotating frame that rotates the held second battery.

[0011] Furthermore, the first rotating frame can rotate the first battery while the first lifting frame is being raised and lowered, and the second rotating frame can rotate the second battery while the second lifting frame is being raised and lowered.

[0012] Furthermore, the time at which the first rotating frame rotates the first battery may differ from the time at which the second rotating frame rotates the second battery.

[0013] Furthermore, the battery changing device may also include a guide section that guides the first lifting frame and the second lifting frame so that they are raised and lowered in opposite directions.

[0014] Additionally, the deflection pulley system can include a first deflection pulley located above the first lifting frame and a second deflection pulley located above the second lifting frame. Furthermore, the connecting element can be a chain. IMPACT OF THE INVENTION

[0015] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to move a large number of batteries up and down in a suitable manner using a small drive unit. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. Figure 1 schematically shows a battery replacement system 1 according to one embodiment. Fig. Figure 2 shows a configuration of a battery replacement device 20. Fig. Figure 3 schematically shows a state in which a first lifting frame 30A is located at a changeover position. Fig. Figure 4 schematically shows a state in which the first lifting frame 30A is located at a second pickup position. Fig. Figure 5 schematically shows a state in which the first lifting frame 30A is located at a first pickup position. DESCRIPTION OF VERSIONS<Overview of the battery replacement system>

[0016] Fig. Figure 1 schematically shows a battery exchange system 1 according to one embodiment. It should be noted that in Fig. 1 the battery exchange system 1 only on one right side of the vehicle 100 (rear in a in Fig. The battery exchange system 1 is provided for (in the front-to-rear direction shown in Figure 1), but is not limited to this. For example, the battery exchange system 1 can be arranged on either side of the vehicle 100.

[0017] Battery swapping system 1 is a system that swaps a battery 110 of vehicle 100. Vehicle 100 is, for example, a large vehicle such as a truck or a bus. When vehicle 100 stops at a predetermined position (in Fig. 1 before the battery replacement system 1), the battery replacement system 1 automatically replaces the battery 110.

[0018] The battery exchange system 1 comprises a container 10, a receiving section 15, a battery exchange device 20, and a control unit 70. The container 10 is in the form of a large box and has an interior. The in Fig. The front-back direction shown in 1 and the like, a left-right direction and an up-down direction are directions when viewing the battery exchange system 1 from the front.

[0019] The receiving section 15 is provided within the container 10 and is a shelf that accommodates the battery 110. The receiving section 15 has an upper level 16a and a lower level 16b, which are separated from each other vertically. A battery 110, which has been charged by a charging device, is placed on the upper level 16a and the lower level 16b. The receiving section 15 is located at the rear of the container 10. Fig. 1 shown front-to-back direction within container 10 is provided.

[0020] The battery changing device 20 removes the battery 110 mounted on the vehicle 100 and places the battery in the receiving section 15. Furthermore, the battery changing device 20 removes the charged battery 110 from the receiving section 15 and installs the battery on the vehicle 100. The battery changing device 20 is oriented at the front in the front-to-back direction. Fig. 1 is provided within container 10.

[0021] The control unit 70 controls the operation of the battery changing device 20 to automatically change the battery 110 in the vehicle 100. Furthermore, the control unit 70 performs a control operation to charge the battery 110, which is housed in the receiving section 15, using the charging device. <Detaillierte Konfiguration der Batteriewechselvorrichtung>

[0022] Fig. Figure 2 shows a configuration of the battery replacement device 20. Fig. Figure 3 schematically shows a state in which a first lifting frame 30A is located at a changeover position. Fig. Figure 4 schematically shows a state in which the first lifting frame 30A is located at a second pickup position. Fig. Figure 5 schematically shows a state in which the first lifting frame 30A is in a first picking position. It should be noted that in Fig. 2. A connecting element 40, a deflection pulley 42, and a drive unit 44 have been omitted for the sake of simplicity. In Fig. 3, Fig. 4 to Fig. Figure 5 shows the simplified configurations of the first lifting frame 30A and a second lifting frame 30B, and guide rails 24 are omitted.

[0023] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the battery changing device 20 comprises a housing 22, the first lifting frame 30A, the second lifting frame 30B, the connecting element 40, the deflection roller 42, the drive unit 44 and a guide section 46.

[0024] The housing 22 is box-shaped and forms a framework for the battery changing device 20. The housing 22 is mounted on the in Fig. The guide rails 24 shown are movable. The guide rails 24 are arranged along the left-right direction (direction perpendicular to the front-back direction), and the housing 22 moves in the left-right direction due to the driving force from an actuator such as a motor.

[0025] The first lifting frame 30A is provided in housing 22 and is a frame located on the left in the left-right direction. As in Fig. 3, Fig. 4 to Fig. As shown in Figure 5, the first lifting frame 30A can be raised and lowered in a vertical direction that is orthogonal to the front-back and left-right directions. Specifically, the first lifting frame 30A is raised and lowered along the guide section 46 provided in the housing 22 by the drive force from the drive unit 44. The first lifting frame 30A holds a first battery 110A. The first lifting frame 30A is raised and lowered while holding the first battery 110A.

[0026] The first lifting frame 30A can be arranged in a variety of positions in the vertical direction (lifting direction). In particular, the first lifting frame 30A is positioned between the changeover position (one in Fig. 3 positions shown), the first recording position (one in Fig. 5 shown position) and the second recording position (one in Fig. (4 positions shown) raised and lowered. The changeover position is the lowest end position in the vertical direction, the first pickup position is the highest end position in the vertical direction, and the second pickup position is a position between the changeover position and the first pickup position in the vertical direction. The first lifting frame 30A can stop at the changeover position, the first pickup position, and the second pickup position.

[0027] When the first lifting frame 30A is positioned at the exchange position, the first battery 110A is mounted on or removed from vehicle 100. When the first lifting frame 30A is positioned at the first pickup position, the first battery 110A held by the first lifting frame 30A can be moved to the upper level 16a ( Fig. 1) of the receiving section 15, and when the first lifting frame 30A is positioned at the second receiving position, the first battery 110A held by the first lifting frame 30A can be placed in the lower level 16b ( Fig. 1) of admission section 15.

[0028] The first lifting frame 30A includes a first rotating frame 33A and a first arm 36A. The first rotating frame 33A rotates the held first battery 110A. The first rotating frame 33A is rotatably mounted relative to the first lifting frame 30A. Specifically, the first rotating frame 33A is provided within the first lifting frame 30A and rotates within the first lifting frame 30A. The first rotating frame 33A rotates to rotate the first battery 110A.

[0029] The first rotating frame 33A rotates the first battery 110A by 180 degrees between a first position in which the held first battery 110A points forward in the front-back direction, and a second position in which it points backward in the front-back direction. The first position is a position in which the first battery 110A faces the vehicle 100, and the second position is a position in which the first battery 110A faces the recording section 15.

[0030] The first rotating frame 33A rotates the first battery 110A while the first lifting frame 30A is raised and lowered. For example, the first rotating frame 33A starts rotating the first battery 110A when the first lifting frame 30A, which is being raised, starts to lower.

[0031] The first arm 36A holds the first battery 110A, which can be mounted on and removed from the vehicle 100. The first arm 36A is slidably mounted relative to the first rotating frame 33A. The first arm 36A slides in the up-down and front-back directions while holding the first battery 110A. The first rotating frame 33A is provided with rails so that the first arm 36A can slide. This allows the first arm 36A to easily accommodate the first battery 110A in the receiving section 15. Furthermore, the first arm 36A is slidable so that even if the vehicle 100 stops in a position other than its stationary position relative to the battery changing device 20, the first battery 110A can be easily mounted at a predetermined position on the vehicle 100 and easily removed from the vehicle 100.

[0032] The second lifting frame 30B is provided in housing 22 and is a frame located on the right in the left-right direction. As in Fig. 3, Fig. 4 to Fig. As shown in Figure 5, the second lifting frame 30B is vertically movable. Specifically, the second lifting frame 30B is raised and lowered along the guide section 46 provided in the housing 22 by the drive force from the drive unit 44. In this embodiment, the second lifting frame 30B is not raised and lowered in the same direction as the first lifting frame 30A, but rather in the opposite direction to the first lifting frame 30A. That is, the second lifting frame 30B is lowered when the first lifting frame 30A is raised, and raised when the first lifting frame 30A is lowered.

[0033] The second lifting frame 30B can be positioned in a variety of positions in the vertical direction (lifting direction). In particular, the second lifting frame 30B, similar to the first lifting frame 30A, is used to switch between a changeover position (one in Fig. 5 position shown), in which the second battery 110B is mounted on the vehicle 100, a first recording position (one in Fig. 3 position shown), in which the second battery 110B is housed in the upper floor 16a of recording section 15, and a second recording position (one in Fig. (Position 4 shown), in which the second battery 110B is housed in the lower level 16b of the receiving section 15, is raised and lowered. The second lifting frame 30B can be stopped at the changeover position, the first receiving position, and the second receiving position.

[0034] The second lifting frame 30B includes a second rotating frame 33B and a second arm 36B.

[0035] The second rotating frame 33B rotates the held second battery 110B. The second rotating frame 33B is rotatably mounted relative to the second lifting frame 30B and rotates to rotate the second battery 110B.

[0036] The second rotating frame 33B rotates the second battery 110B while the second lifting frame 30B is raised and lowered. For example, the second rotating frame 33B begins to rotate the second battery 110B when the second lifting frame 30B begins to be raised and lowered. In this case, the time at which the second rotating frame 33B rotates the second battery 110B is the same as the time at which the first rotating frame 33A rotates the first battery 110A. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this, and the time at which the second rotating frame 33B rotates the second battery 110B may differ from the time at which the first rotating frame 33A rotates the first battery 110A. For example, the second rotating frame 33B may rotate the second battery 110B when the rotation of the first battery 110A by the first rotating frame 33A has finished. Accordingly, it is possible, for example, to prevent the first rotating frame 33A and the second rotating frame 33B from colliding with each other during rotation.

[0037] The second arm 36B holds the second battery 110B, which can be mounted on and removed from the vehicle 100. The second arm 36B is slidably mounted relative to the second rotating frame 33B. The second arm 36B slides in the up-down and front-back directions while holding the second battery 110B. This allows the second arm 36B to easily accommodate the second battery 110B in the receiving section 15. Furthermore, the second arm 36B is slidably mounted so that even if the vehicle 100 stops in a position other than its stationary position relative to the battery changing device 20, the second battery 110B can be easily mounted at a predetermined position on the vehicle 100 and easily removed from the vehicle 100.

[0038] The connecting element 40 is an element that connects the first lifting frame 30A and the second lifting frame 30B. In particular, one end section of the connecting element 40 is connected to the first lifting frame 30A, and the other end section of the connecting element 40 is connected to the second lifting frame 30B. The connecting element 40 is positioned above the first lifting frame 30A and the second lifting frame 30B. In particular, the connecting element 40 is designed to be supported in the center of an upper section of the housing 22.

[0039] The connecting element 40 is a linear element with a predetermined length and is, for example, a chain. However, it is not limited to this, and the connecting element 40 can be a wire or a belt. By using such a connecting element 40, the first lifting frame 30A and the second lifting frame 30B can be raised and lowered simultaneously in opposite directions in the vertical direction.

[0040] The deflection pulley 42 movably supports the connecting element 40. Here, the deflection pulley 42 is a fixed deflection pulley attached to the upper section of the housing 22. Two deflection pulleys 42 are provided here, one being located on the left side of the drive unit 44 and the other on the right side. Specifically, one deflection pulley 42 is a first deflection pulley located above the first lifting frame 30A, and the other deflection pulley 42 is a second deflection pulley located above the second lifting frame 30B. The connecting element 40 is movably in contact with the outer circumferential surfaces of the two deflection pulleys 42. Since the two deflection pulleys 42 are provided above the first lifting frame 30A and the second lifting frame 30B as described above, the first lifting frame 30A and the second lifting frame 30B can be raised and lowered smoothly.

[0041] Here, the drive unit 44 is a motor and moves the connecting element 40. The drive unit 44 moves the connecting element 40 in a left-right direction to raise and lower the first lifting frame 30A and the second lifting frame 30B. For example, the drive unit 44 moves the connecting element 40 to the right to raise the first lifting frame 30A and lower the second lifting frame 30B. In this case, the first lifting frame 30A acts as a counterweight, and the second lifting frame 30B can be lowered smoothly even though no dedicated counterweight is provided.

[0042] On the other hand, the drive unit 44 moves the connecting element 40 to the left to raise the second lifting frame 30B and lower the first lifting frame 30A. In this case, the second lifting frame 30B acts as a counterweight, and the first lifting frame 30A can be lowered smoothly even though no dedicated counterweight is provided.

[0043] The drive unit 44 moves the connecting element 40 so that the first lifting frame 30A and the second lifting frame 30B are positioned at predetermined positions. For example, the drive unit 44 moves the connecting element 40 so that the first lifting frame 30A is positioned at the first pickup position and the second lifting frame 30B at the changeover position in the lifting direction, as shown in Fig. 5 shown. In this case, the first battery 110A can be accommodated in the receiving section 15, while the second battery 110B is mounted on the vehicle 100. Similarly, the drive unit 44 is positioned as shown in Fig. Figure 4 shows the first lifting frame 30A at the second pickup position and positions the second lifting frame 30B at the second pickup position. Furthermore, the drive unit 44 positions, as shown in Fig. Figure 3 shows the first lifting frame 30A at the changeover position and positions the second lifting frame 30B at the first pickup position.

[0044] A method in which the first rotating frame 33A and the second rotating frame Consideration could be given to the possibility that 33B is supported by a single lifting frame, and that this single lifting frame is raised and lowered. In this method, since only the lifting frame is raised and lowered, the first rotating frame 33A and the second rotating frame 33B are raised or lowered simultaneously. In this case, because the weight of the frame being raised and lowered by the drive unit increases, a drive unit capable of generating a large driving force is required. Additionally, the method described above necessitates the provision of a dedicated counterweight within the housing 22 to ensure smooth raising and lowering of the lifting frame.

[0045] In contrast, in the present embodiment, when one of the first lifting frame 30A and the second lifting frame 30B is raised, the other is lowered, thus reducing the drive force of the drive unit 44. Furthermore, since one of the first lifting frame 30A and the second lifting frame 30B acts as a counterweight, it is not necessary to provide a dedicated counterweight, thereby reducing the size of the battery changing device 20.

[0046] The description of the configuration of the present embodiment continues.

[0047] The guide section 46 guides the vertical movement of the first lifting frame 30A and the second lifting frame 30B. The guide section 46 is a guide element provided on the frame of the housing 22 along the vertical direction. By providing the guide section 46, it is possible to stabilize the positions of the first lifting frame 30A and the second lifting frame 30B when the first lifting frame 30A and the second lifting frame 30B, which are connected by the connecting element 40, are raised and lowered. <Wirkungen der Ausführungsform>

[0048] The battery changing device 20 of the embodiment described above comprises a linear connecting element 40 that connects the first lifting frame 30A and the second lifting frame 30B, which can be raised and lowered in opposite directions to each other, a deflection pulley 42 that movably supports the connecting element 40, and a drive unit 44 that rotates the deflection pulley 42. The deflection pulley 42 causes the second lifting frame 30B to be lowered while the first lifting frame 30A is raised when it rotates in the forward direction, and causes the second lifting frame 30B to be raised while the first lifting frame 30A is lowered when it rotates in the reverse direction. Accordingly, when the first lifting frame 30A and the second lifting frame 30B are raised and lowered, one of them acts as a counterweight, and it is not necessary to provide a dedicated counterweight. Since, in addition, one of the first lifting frame 30A and the second lifting frame 30B is pulled, the driving force of the drive unit 44 can be reduced compared to the case in which both the first lifting frame 30A and the second lifting frame 30B are pulled, and thus the drive unit 44 can be made smaller.

[0049] The present disclosure is explained on the basis of the exemplary embodiments. The technical scope of protection of the present disclosure is not limited to the scope explained in the embodiments above, and it is possible to make various changes and modifications within the scope of the disclosure. For example, the device can be configured wholly or partially with any units that are functionally or physically distributed or integrated. Furthermore, new exemplary embodiments generated by any combination thereof are included in the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. Moreover, the effects of the new exemplary embodiments produced by the combinations also have the effects of the original exemplary embodiments. [LIST OF TERMS] 20 Battery changing device 30A first lifting frame 30B second lifting frame 33A first rotating frame 33B second rotating frame 36A first arm 36B second arm 40 connecting element 42 Pulley 44 Drive unit 46 Guide section 110A first battery 110B second battery QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] JP 2014 - 000 935 A

[0002]

Claims

Battery exchange device (20), comprising: a first lifting frame (30A) that holds a first battery and can be raised and lowered; a second lifting frame (30B) that holds a second battery and can be raised and lowered in a direction opposite to the first lifting frame (30A); a linear connecting element (40) of a predetermined length, which i) is provided above the first lifting frame (30A) and the second lifting frame (30B) and ii) has one end section connected to the first lifting frame (30A) and the other end section connected to the second lifting frame (30B); a drive unit (44) that moves the connecting element (40);and a deflection pulley (42) that supports the connecting element (40), wherein the drive unit (44) moves the connecting element (40) to cause the second lifting frame (30B) to be lowered while the first lifting frame (30A) is raised, and moves the connecting element (40) to cause the second lifting frame (30B) to be raised while the first lifting frame (30A) is lowered.; Battery changing device (20) according to claim 1, wherein the first lifting frame (30A) and the second lifting frame (30B) can be positioned at a plurality of positions in a lifting direction, and the drive unit (44) moves the connecting element (40) such that the first lifting frame (30A) is positioned at a top end position in the lifting direction and the second lifting frame (30B) is positioned at a bottom end position in the lifting direction. Battery exchange device (20) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first lifting frame (30A) comprises a first arm (36A) designed to hold the first battery which can be mounted on and removed from the vehicle, and the second lifting frame (30B) comprises a second arm (36B) designed to hold the second battery which can be mounted on and removed from the vehicle. Battery exchange device (20) according to claim 3, wherein the first arm (36A) i) mounts the first battery on the vehicle when the first lifting frame (30A) is positioned at an exchange position in the lifting direction, and ii) accommodates the first battery in a receiving section when it is positioned at a receiving position where the first battery is accommodated in the receiving section for charging the first battery, and the second arm (36B) i) mounts the second battery on the vehicle when the second lifting frame (30B) is positioned at an exchange position in the lifting direction, and ii) accommodates the second battery in a receiving section when it is positioned at the receiving position where the second battery is accommodated in the receiving section for charging the second battery. Battery changing device (20) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first lifting frame (30A) comprises a first rotating frame (33A) which rotates the held first battery, and the second lifting frame (30B) comprises a second rotating frame (33B) which rotates the held second battery. Battery changing device (20) according to claim 5, wherein the first rotating frame (33A) rotates the first battery while the first lifting frame (30A) is raised and lowered, and the second rotating frame (33B) rotates the second battery while the second lifting frame (30B) is raised and lowered. Battery changing device (20) according to claim 6, wherein a time at which the first rotating frame (33A) rotates the first battery differs from a time at which the second rotating frame (33B) rotates the second battery. Battery changing device (20) according to one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising: a guide section (46) which guides the first lifting frame (30A) and the second lifting frame (30B) such that they are raised and lowered in opposite directions. Battery changing device (20) according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the deflection roller (42) comprises a first deflection roller located above the first lifting frame (30A) and a second deflection roller located above the second lifting frame (30B). Battery changing device (20) according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the connecting element (40) is a chain.

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