Lock release method

Abstract

To provide a lock release method capable of suppressing the movement of a battery at timing not intended by an operator, when lock is released.SOLUTION: A lock release method of a battery by a swap device which has a main body part and an arm part movably supported by the main body part, includes the steps of: moving the arm part in a horizontal direction so that a tip end part of the arm part is located below a mounting position of the battery of a vehicle; moving the tip end part upward so as to mount the battery on the tip end part; and releasing the lock of the battery in the vehicle after the battery is mounted on the tip end part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an unlocking method. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, in vehicles equipped with a battery, such as electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles, the battery is locked to the vehicle body inside the vehicle. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an exchange device that can detachably attach a battery case that is pulled out via a rail member (slide portion) provided on the vehicle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2015-174476 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, when the battery lock on the vehicle body is released to replace the battery, there is a risk that the battery may move from its mounting position on the vehicle body at a timing not intended by the worker due to the tilted state of the vehicle when stopped, etc. Also, if a locking mechanism separate from the locking mechanism on the vehicle body is provided to prevent the battery from moving, it becomes necessary to provide a mechanism to release the separate locking mechanism, etc., which complicates the mechanism as a whole, and there is a risk of increased replacement time and costs.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide an unlocking method that can prevent a battery from moving unintentionally by an operator when unlocking a vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The unlocking method according to the present disclosure includes: A method for unlocking a battery using an exchange device having a main body and an arm portion movably supported on the main body, comprising: moving the arm portion in a horizontal direction so that a tip end of the arm portion is located at a position below a mounting position of a battery of the vehicle; moving the tip upwardly so that the battery rests on the tip; unlocking the battery from the vehicle after the battery is placed on the tip portion; has. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to prevent the battery from moving unintentionally by the operator when unlocking. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a vehicle equipped with an attachment device to which an exchange device capable of executing an unlocking method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is applied. [Diagram 2] FIG. 13 is a view of the mounting device as seen from the X direction. [Figure 3A] 13A and 13B are diagrams for explaining movement of the battery via a sliding portion. [Figure 3B] 13A and 13B are diagrams for explaining movement of the battery via a sliding portion. [Figure 4A] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a switching device. [Figure 4B] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a switching device. [Diagram 5] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of processes executed by each device in the present embodiment. [Figure 6] 11A and 11B are diagrams for explaining removal of a battery by a replacement device. [Figure 7] 11A and 11B are diagrams for explaining removal of a battery by a replacement device. [Figure 8]11A and 11B are diagrams for explaining removal of a battery by a replacement device. [Figure 9] 11A and 11B are diagrams for explaining removal of a battery by a replacement device. [Figure 10] 11A and 11B are diagrams for explaining removal of a battery by a replacement device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a vehicle equipped with an attachment device to which an exchange device capable of executing an unlocking method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is applied.

[0010] In explaining the structure of the switching device, a Cartesian coordinate system (X, Y, Z) is used. The same Cartesian coordinate system (X, Y, Z) is used in the drawings described below. The X direction indicates the left-right direction of the vehicle 1 on which the switching device is installed, the Y direction indicates the front-rear direction of the vehicle 1, and the Z direction indicates the up-down direction of the vehicle 1.

[0011] As shown in Fig. 1, the vehicle 1 is a vehicle capable of running on a battery 2, such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle. The vehicle 1 is a large vehicle such as a truck, and is equipped with a cargo bed 1A. The vehicle 1 is provided with a mounting device 10 for mounting the battery 2 on a vehicle body 1B on which the cargo bed 1A is mounted.

[0012] The battery 2 is locked to the vehicle body 1B at a mounting position inside the vehicle 1 by a mounting device 10. When replacing the battery 2, a replacement device 20 is used.

[0013] The vehicle 1 is also provided with a control unit 1C. The control unit 1C includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and an input / output circuit (not shown), and performs, for example, control related to the vehicle 1. The control unit 1C is also capable of communicating with an external device (for example, the exchange device 20), and may, for example, control locking / unlocking of the battery 2 in the vehicle body 1B based on an instruction from the external device.

[0014] In the following description, before a detailed description of the exchange device 20 according to the present embodiment, a configuration of the attachment device 10 to which the exchange device 20 is applied will first be described.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 2, the mounting device 10 includes a main body portion 11, a sliding portion 12, and a mounting portion 13.

[0016] The main body 11 is disposed at a position corresponding to the lower side (negative side in the Z direction) of the loading platform 1A, and has a wall 111 and a support portion 112.

[0017] The wall portion 111 is a wall disposed along the Z direction, and is fixed, for example, to a side surface (positive side in the X direction) of the vehicle body 1B. A latch 111A that engages with a striker 2A provided on a side surface of the battery 2 is provided on the wall portion 111 (see FIG. 3B). The battery 2 is locked to the vehicle 1 by the engagement of the latch 111A with the striker 2A.

[0018] The latch 111A and the striker 2A are switched between locked and unlocked under the control of a control unit 1C on the vehicle 1 side.

[0019] The support portion 112 is a member extending from an end portion on the negative side in the Z direction of the wall portion 111 toward the positive side in the X direction, and two support portions 112 are provided side by side in the Y direction. The support portions 112 are disposed so as to support the placement portion 13 and the battery 2 from the negative side in the Z direction when the battery 2 is fixed to the vehicle 1.

[0020] The slide portion 12 is an extendable slide rail for moving the battery 2 between the inside and outside of the vehicle 1. The slide portion 12 is fixed to a support portion 112, for example.

[0021] 3A, when the sliding portion 12 is in the most retracted state, it is located in the inner range of the vehicle 1 in the X direction. The position of the inner range is, for example, a position below the loading platform 1A, and may be the mounting position of the battery 2 (mounting portion 13) on the vehicle body 1B.

[0022] 3B, when the sliding portion 12 is in the most extended state, the tip end is located on the + side in the X direction from the loading platform 1A, that is, in the outer range of the vehicle 1. The position of the outer range is a position that is outer than the vehicle 1 in the X direction and allows the battery 2 to be detached from the mounting portion 13, and may be, for example, the position of the battery 2 (mounting portion 13) when the sliding portion 12 is in the most extended state.

[0023] The mounting section 13 is a portion on which the battery 2 is placed, and is attached to the sliding section 12. A locking mechanism for locking the battery 2 and the mounting section 13 may be provided on the positive side surface in the Z direction of the mounting section 13 and on the bottom surface of the battery 2.

[0024] 2, the width of the mounting portion 13 in the Y direction is narrower than the width of the battery 2 in the Y direction. Therefore, when the battery 2 is mounted on a pair of arms 221 (described later) of the exchange device 20, the mounting portion 13 is positioned between the two arms 221.

[0025] Next, the switching device 20 will be described in detail.

[0026] As shown in Fig. 1, the exchange device 20 is a device that can carry in and out the battery 2 on the mounting device 10 in order to exchange the battery 2. The exchange device 20 has a main body 21, an arm 22, and a battery detection sensor 23 (see Fig. 4A, etc.). Note that the direction of each part in the following description is based on the exchange device 20 that is disposed facing the side surface on the + side in the X direction of the vehicle 1.

[0027] The main body 21 is the main body of the exchange device 20, and supports the arm 22 so that it can move in the Z direction. For example, the main body 21 is provided with a control unit 21A. The control unit 21A includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and an input / output circuit (not shown), and controls the movement of the arm 22. Note that the control unit 21A may be provided outside the main body 21 and control the movement of the arm 22 by remote control.

[0028] 4A and 4B, the arm portion 22 is configured so that the battery 2 can be placed thereon. The arm portion 22 has a pair of arms 221 and a bridge portion 222.

[0029] The pair of arms 221 are supported by the main body 21 so as to be movable in the Z direction, and extend in the X direction. The arms 221 each have a tip portion 221A and a support portion 221B.

[0030] The tip portion 221A is a portion on which the battery 2 is placed, and is supported by the support portion 221B. The support portion 221B is a portion supported by the main body portion 21. The support portion 221B is configured in a rail shape extending in the X direction, and supports the tip portion 221A movably in the X direction.

[0031] The tip portions 221A of the pair of arms 221 are provided with gripping portions 221C for gripping the battery 2. A total of four gripping portions 221C are provided, two on each arm 221. The four gripping portions 221C are located, for example, at positions corresponding to the respective corners of the rectangular parallelepiped battery 2.

[0032] 4B, the gripping portion 221C has a first portion C1 and a second portion C2. The first portion C1 is a portion that is fixed to a surface on the + side in the Z direction of the tip portion 221A. The second portion C2 extends from the first portion C1 to the + side in the Z direction and is a portion that fits along the side surface of the gripped battery 2. The gripping portions 221C grip the battery 2 by positioning the second portions C2 of the four gripping portions 221C so as to surround the battery 2.

[0033] The bridging portion 222 is a portion that bridges the tip portions 221A of the pair of arms 221, and is provided on the tip portions 221A on the + side in the X direction relative to the gripping portions 221C. A battery detection sensor 23 is provided in the center of the bridging portion 222.

[0034] The battery detection sensor 23 is a sensor for detecting the battery 2, and may be, for example, a known contact sensor.

[0035] Moreover, the initial position of the pair of arms 221 is a position corresponding to the negative side in the Z direction of the battery 2 locked to the vehicle 1. Moreover, when the position of the arms 221 is the initial position, the height of the battery detection sensor 23 is a position corresponding to the height of the battery 2 locked to the vehicle 1 in the Z direction.

[0036] Next, the operation of the exchange device 20 will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the processes executed by each device in this embodiment. From the left, an example of the process executed by the control unit 21A of the exchange device 20 and the process executed by the control unit 1C of the vehicle 1 are shown. Note that the flowchart in FIG. 5 is premised on the existence of a vehicle 1 that has entered and is stopped within an area in which the exchange device 20 can move. The area in which the exchange device 20 can move is, for example, an area in which the exchange device 20 is managed, and may be, for example, a place where a fully charged battery 2 is stored, such as an exchange station.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 5, the control unit 21A of the exchange device 20 moves the exchange device 20 so that the exchange device 20 is disposed at a position facing the battery 2 on the side of the vehicle 1 (step S101).

[0038] Specifically, the control unit 21A of the exchange device 20 may search for the vehicle 1 by a vehicle detection sensor (not shown) provided in the exchange device 20, and control the movement of the exchange device 20 based on the detection information of the vehicle detection sensor. Also, the control unit 21A of the exchange device 20 may communicate with the control unit 1C of the vehicle 1 or an external device to obtain position information of the vehicle 1, and control the movement of the exchange device 20 based on the position information.

[0039] In step S101, the exchange device 20 is placed in a position facing the battery 2 in the vehicle 1, as shown in FIG.

[0040] Next, the control unit 21A of the exchange device 20 confirms with the vehicle 1 whether the vehicle 1 is in a stopped state (step S102). Specifically, the control unit 21A of the exchange device 20 transmits instructions to the control unit 1C of the vehicle 1 to stop the vehicle 1, such as an instruction to put the gear into the parking position and an instruction to turn the key off (an instruction to open the relay of the battery 2).

[0041] After step S102, the control unit 1C of the vehicle 1 checks whether the vehicle 1 is in a stopped state, and notifies the exchange device 20 that the vehicle 1 is in a stopped state (step S201).

[0042] For example, the control unit 1C of the vehicle 1 checks whether the gear is in the parking position or whether the relay of the battery 2 is open. If the gear is not in the parking position, the control unit 1C of the vehicle 1 may, for example, issue a notification to the driver of the vehicle 1 to encourage the driver to put the gear in the parking position, or may automatically put the gear in the parking position. Also, if the relay of the battery 2 is not open, the control unit 1C of the vehicle 1 may, for example, issue a notification to the driver of the vehicle 1 to encourage the driver to turn the key off, or may automatically turn the key off.

[0043] After confirming that the vehicle 1 is in a stopped state, the control unit 1C of the vehicle 1 notifies the exchange device 20 that the vehicle 1 is in a stopped state.

[0044] After step S201, the control unit 21A of the exchange device 20 moves the arm 221 in the horizontal direction (toward the negative side in the X direction) (step S103). Specifically, as shown in Fig. 7, the control unit 21A of the exchange device 20 moves the arm 221 by moving the main body unit 21 to the negative side in the X direction. Then, when the battery detection sensor 23 detects the battery 2, the control unit 21A of the exchange device 20 stops the movement of the main body unit 21. As a result, the tip portion 221A of the arm 221 is located at a position below the mounting position of the battery 2 in the vehicle 1.

[0045] After step S103, the control unit 21A of the exchange device 20 moves the arm 221 to the positive side (upward) in the Z direction (step S104). Specifically, as shown in Fig. 8, the control unit 21A of the exchange device 20 raises the arm 221 to the height of the battery 2. As a result, the battery 2 is placed on the tip 221A of the arm 221, that is, is gripped by the gripping portion 221C. In this case, the battery 2 may be placed on the tip 221A in a state where the entire load of the battery 2 is applied to the tip 221A, or in a state where the tip 221A is in contact with the bottom surface of the battery 2 but the load of the battery 2 is not applied to the tip 221A. In addition, when the position of the battery 2 on the tip portion 221A after unlocking is reliably determined (for example, when the battery 2 is reliably positioned within the range of the gripping portion 221C), the state in which the tip portion 221A and the battery 2 are not in contact may be included in the state in which the battery 2 is placed on the tip portion 221A.

[0046] After step S104, the control unit 21A of the exchange device 20 instructs the vehicle 1 to unlock the battery 2 after the battery 2 is gripped by the gripping unit 221C (step S105). After step S105, the control unit 1C of the vehicle 1 unlocks the battery 2 in the vehicle 1 (step S202).

[0047] After step S202, the control unit 1C of the vehicle 1 notifies the exchange device 20 that the unlocking of the battery 2 has been completed (step S203).

[0048] After step S203, the control unit 21A of the exchange device 20 moves the main body 21 to the + side in the X direction (step S106). As a result, the battery 2 is pulled out via the sliding portion 12 as shown in FIG.

[0049] After step S106, the control unit 21A of the exchange device 20 moves the arm 221 further to the + side in the Z direction (step S107). As a result, as shown in Fig. 10, the battery 2 is lifted from the mounting portion 13 and removed from the mounting device 10. After step S107, this control ends.

[0050] After this control, the exchange device 20 places the fully charged battery 2 on the arm 221, and performs installation control. Specifically, the exchange device 20 is placed in a position facing the battery 2 on the side of the vehicle 1, and the arm 221 is moved to the negative side in the Z direction, so that the battery 2 is placed on the placement section 13. Then, the main body section 21 moves to the negative side in the X direction, so that the battery 2 is pushed back to the mounting position via the slide section 12.

[0051] When the battery 2 has moved to the mounting position, the control unit 21A of the exchange device 20 instructs the control unit 1C of the vehicle 1 to lock the battery 2. When the locking of the battery 2 is complete, the control unit 1C of the vehicle 1 notifies the exchange device 20 of a lock completion notification. In addition, in the case of a configuration in which the battery 2 is locked at the mounting position by an external force, the battery 2 may be locked to the vehicle 1 by the arm 221 of the exchange device 20 pushing the battery 2 towards the mounting position.

[0052] Thereafter, the exchange device 20 moves the arm 221 to the negative side in the Z direction to return it to the initial position, and then moves in a direction away from the vehicle 1. This completes the exchange of the battery 2.

[0053] According to the present embodiment configured as described above, the arm 221 is moved horizontally so that the tip 221A of the arm 221 is positioned below the mounting position of the battery 2, and then the tip 221A is moved upward so that the battery 2 is placed on the tip 221A, and then the lock of the battery 2 in the vehicle 1 is released.

[0054] Therefore, when the battery 2 is unlocked, the battery 2 is placed on the arm 221 of the exchange device 20. In other words, before the battery 2 is unlocked, the battery 2 is made ready for transport, and then the battery 2 is unlocked.

[0055] For example, if the battery 2 is unlocked without a device such as the exchange device 20, the battery 2 may move from its mounting position in the vehicle body 1B at a timing not intended by the worker due to the vehicle 1 being tilted when stopped, etc. In particular, in a configuration in which the battery 2 is pulled out by the slide part 12, such as a vehicle 1 having a loading platform 1A, the slide part 12 may be pulled out together with the battery 2 due to the vehicle 1 being tilted when stopped, etc., and the mounting device 10, such as the slide part 12, may be damaged.

[0056] In contrast, in the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent the battery 2 from moving at a timing unintended by the operator when the lock is released, and as a result, the battery 2 can be replaced safely.

[0057] Also, a locking mechanism separate from the locking mechanism on the vehicle body 1B side may be provided to prevent the battery 2 from moving in the absence of a device such as the replacement device 20. The separate locking mechanism may be, for example, a locking mechanism that cannot be released on the vehicle 1 side, but may be a locking mechanism that can be released by an operator's operation. In this case, it becomes necessary to provide a mechanism for releasing the separate locking mechanism, etc., and the mechanism as a whole becomes more complicated, which may increase the replacement time and cost.

[0058] In contrast, in the present embodiment, the battery 2 can be safely replaced without providing a separate locking mechanism as described above, thereby simplifying the mechanism as a whole, which in turn contributes to shortening replacement time and reducing costs.

[0059] In addition, when the arm 221 is moved horizontally, the battery 2 is detected by the battery detection sensor 23 provided on the arm 221, so that the horizontal position of the tip 221A of the arm 221 can be easily aligned to a position corresponding to the battery 2.

[0060] Moreover, before moving the arm 221, the vehicle 1 side is checked to see if the vehicle 1 is in a stopped state, and then the exchange device 20 side is notified that the vehicle 1 is in a stopped state, so that the movement of the arm 221 is started because the vehicle 1 is in a stopped state. Therefore, the vehicle 1 does not start moving while the arm 221 is moving, so that a collision between the vehicle 1 and the arm 221 can be prevented.

[0061] After the lock is released, a notification of completion of unlocking of the battery 2 is sent to the exchange device 20, so that the exchange device 20 can collect the battery 2 after recognizing that the battery 2 has been unlocked.

[0062] Furthermore, since the tip 221A of the arm 221 has the gripping portion 221C capable of gripping the battery 2, the exchange device 20 can transport the battery 2 while gripping the battery 2. As a result, the exchange device 20 can transport the battery 2 in a stable manner.

[0063] In the above embodiment, the exchange device 20 automatically moves to the side of the vehicle 1, but the present disclosure is not limited to this, and the exchange device 20 may be positioned to the side of the vehicle 1 by an operator.

[0064] Further, in the above embodiment, the movement of the arm of the exchange device is performed automatically (for example, step S103, step S104, etc. in FIG. 5), but the present disclosure is not limited to this, and the arm of the exchange device may be moved by an operator.

[0065] In the above embodiment, the control unit of the replacement device checks whether the vehicle is in a stopped state, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, when the replacement device starts replacing the battery after the operator or the control unit of the replacement device recognizes that the vehicle has been stopped in advance, the replacement device does not need to check that the vehicle is in a stopped state. In this case, the control unit of the vehicle does not need to notify the replacement device that the vehicle is in a stopped state.

[0066] Further, in the above embodiment, the control unit of the vehicle notifies the replacement device of the completion of the battery unlocking, but the present disclosure is not limited to this, and the completion notification does not have to be notified to the replacement device.

[0067] Further, in the above embodiment, the arm of the replacement device has a gripping portion, but the present disclosure is not limited to this, and the arm does not necessarily have to have a gripping portion.

[0068] Further, in the above embodiment, the exchange device has a battery detection sensor, but the present disclosure is not limited to this, and the exchange device does not need to have a battery detection sensor.

[0069] Further, in the above embodiment, the arm portion has a configuration including a pair of arms, but the present disclosure is not limited to this, and the arm portion may have any shape as long as a battery can be placed thereon.

[0070] Further, in the above embodiment, the mounting device of the vehicle is provided with a slide portion, but the present disclosure is not limited to this, and the slide portion may not be provided.

[0071] In addition, the above-mentioned embodiments are merely examples of the embodiment of the present disclosure, and the technical scope of the present disclosure should not be interpreted as being limited by them. In other words, the present disclosure can be embodied in various forms without departing from the gist or main features thereof. [Industrial Applicability]

[0072] The replacement device of the present disclosure is useful as an unlocking method that can prevent the battery from moving unintentionally by the operator when unlocking. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 1 vehicle 1A Cargo bed 1B Body 2 Battery 2A Striker 10 Mounting device 11 Main body 12 Slide section 13 Placement section 20 Exchange device 21 Main body 22 Arm section 23 Battery detection sensor 111 Wall section 111A Latch 112 Support part 221 Arm 221A Tip 221B Support part 221C Grip 222 Crosslinked part

Claims

1. A method for unlocking a battery using an exchange device having a main body and an arm portion movably supported on the main body, comprising: moving the arm portion in a horizontal direction so that a tip end of the arm portion is located at a position below a mounting position of a battery of the vehicle; moving the tip upwardly so that the battery rests on the tip; unlocking the battery from the vehicle after the battery is placed on the tip portion; An unlocking method having the following features:

2. The step of moving the battery in the horizontal direction includes a step of detecting the battery with a battery detection sensor provided on the arm portion. The unlocking method according to claim 1 .

3. The step of moving in a horizontal direction includes: a step of confirming, on the vehicle side, whether or not the vehicle is in a stopped state before moving the arm portion; a step of notifying the exchange device that the vehicle is stopped after the step of confirming; Including, The unlocking method according to claim 1 .

4. the step of unlocking includes a step of notifying the replacement device of a completion notification of unlocking of the battery after unlocking. The unlocking method according to claim 1 .

5. The tip portion has a grip portion capable of gripping the battery, The step of moving upward includes a step of the gripping portion gripping the battery. The unlocking method according to claim 1 .

6. The vehicle is a lock mechanism capable of locking the battery at a side surface of a vehicle body; a slide portion that extends in the horizontal direction from a position on the vehicle body corresponding to the lock mechanism and supports the battery movably in the horizontal direction; A mounting portion provided above a mounting portion of the battery in the vehicle body; Equipped with The unlocking method according to claim 1 .

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