Battery pack lifting device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a battery pack lifting device using a magnetic damper that can stably raise and lower a battery pack to a desired position by configuring permanent magnets, electromagnets, rack and pinions, and slide rails within the device to prevent damage to the battery pack that may occur when seating or moving a heavy-load battery pack.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0182079 filed on December 22, 2022, and all contents disclosed in the Korean Patent Application are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to a battery pack lifting device, and more specifically, to a battery pack lifting device using a magnetic damper that can stably lift and lower a battery pack to a desired position by providing permanent magnets, electromagnets, rack and pinions, and slide rails within the device so as to prevent damage to the battery pack that may occur when seating or moving a heavy-load battery pack. [Background technology]

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art As the safety and capacity of rechargeable lithium secondary batteries are improved and increased, the number of devices using the lithium secondary batteries as their energy source is increasing.

[0004] For example, the lithium secondary batteries are not only widely used as energy sources for wireless mobile devices or wearable devices, which are multi-functional small products, but are also used in medium- and large-sized battery packs for use as energy sources or energy storage systems (ESS) for electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles, which are presented as alternatives to existing gasoline and diesel vehicles that cause air pollution.

[0005] The lithium secondary batteries are classified according to the shape of the battery case into cylindrical and prismatic secondary batteries in which an electrode assembly is built into a cylindrical or prismatic metal case, and pouch-type secondary batteries in which an electrode assembly is built into a pouch-type case made of an aluminum laminate sheet. Among these, cylindrical secondary batteries have the advantages of being relatively large in capacity and structurally safe.

[0006] To realize such high-output and high-capacity secondary batteries, battery packs are manufactured. Such battery packs include vehicle drive battery packs, PCMs for ESS, and battery module unit packs, and are generally transported and mounted by automated devices such as robots due to their size and heavy load.

[0007] In the case of battery packs weighing 10kg to 20kg, such as those for E-bikes and E-scooters, it is common for workers to manually move and seat them on semi-automated lines. However, this repetitive work can lead to problems with accidents, such as unexpected drops and collisions, that can damage the battery pack during product assembly, even with battery packs of this weight.

[0008] When a semi-finished product or battery pack is seated in a jig for product assembly during the product manufacturing process, during the packaging process, or when an electrified set including a secondary battery is fastened or assembled, the battery pack may be damaged during the seating process due to gravity.

[0009] Such damage to the battery pack during the manufacturing process is due to the absence of cushioning materials that can act as a buffer for the product.

[0010] Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2020-0065729 discloses a battery pack transport device that includes a rail horizontal platform that is arranged horizontally at a set height and to which the transport device is connected and moves, and that supports the rail horizontal platform by a combination of one or more selected from a fixed vertical support that is detachably fixed to an upper end of the battery mounting rack, arranged vertically, and connected to one end of the rail horizontal platform, and a general vertical support that is placed on the upper end of the battery mounting rack, arranged vertically, and connected to a set portion of the rail horizontal platform. However, no technology is disclosed regarding a battery pack lifting device that can position a heavy battery pack at a desired location.

[0011] Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2015-0064378 discloses a technology for a battery pack replacement system for an electric vehicle, including a discrimination unit for discriminating the type of a battery pack of a vehicle, a replacement unit for separating or attaching a discharged battery pack from the vehicle, a charging / discharging unit for charging / discharging and storing the discharged battery pack, and a transport unit for transporting the discharged battery pack separated in the replacement unit to the charging / discharging unit or transporting a fully charged battery pack from the charging / discharging unit to the replacement unit. However, the technology for a battery pack lifting device capable of positioning a heavy battery pack at a desired location is not disclosed.

[0012] Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2021-0154038 includes a system including an outer box, two or more battery cells, a cartridge that houses the battery cells, and a lead jig, where the cartridge has an openable and closable structure so that the battery cells can be attached and detached, and the lead jig has a structure that can be attached and detached to the leads of the battery cells, so that when the battery cells are placed in the cartridge and stacked in the thickness direction, and the lead jig is attached to the leads of the battery cells, an ESS-type assembled battery pack is provided in which the battery cells are electrically connected to each other without welding the leads of the battery cells. However, no technology is disclosed regarding a battery pack lifting device that can position a heavy battery pack at a desired location.

[0013] Korean Patent No. 10-1188628 discloses a battery cell moving device including a die consisting of a carrier jig with a mounting groove formed on its inner surface and a groove formed on one outer surface, an elastic pressing member for pressing the carrier jig, and an elastic coupling member with a coupling groove corresponding to the groove of the carrier jig, and when the carrier jig is pressed in the moving direction with the carrier jig mounted between the elastic pressing member and the elastic coupling member of the die, the carrier jig moves step by step along the elastic coupling member at the groove forming intervals while being elastically pressed by the elastic pressing member of the die, thereby continuously performing a predetermined operation on the battery cells mounted on the carrier jig. However, no technology is disclosed regarding a battery pack lifting device that can position a heavy battery pack at a desired location.

[0014] Therefore, the reality is that no configuration has been presented for a battery pack lifting device that uses a magnetic damper to stably raise and lower the battery pack to a desired position by configuring permanent magnets, electromagnets, rack and pinions, and slide rails within the device to prevent damage to the battery pack that may occur when seating or moving a heavy-load battery pack. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0015] [Patent Document 1] Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2020-0065729 [Patent Document 2] Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2015-0064378 [Patent Document 3] Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2021-0154038 [Patent Document 4] Korean Patent No. 10-1188628 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0016] The present invention has been made to solve the problems described above, and aims to provide a battery pack lifting device using a magnetic damper that can stably raise and lower a battery pack to a desired position by providing a permanent magnet, an electromagnet, a rack and pinion, and a slide rail within the device to prevent damage to the battery pack that may occur when seating or moving a heavy-load battery pack. [Means for solving the problem]

[0017] To achieve this object, the battery pack lifting device according to the present invention may be a battery pack lifting device including a housing (100), an upper jig (200) on which a battery pack (10) is mounted, a vertical jig (300) connected to both sides of the upper jig and formed vertically, and a lower jig (400) whose both sides are connected to one end of the vertical jig (300) and formed to face the upper jig (200), and which lifts and lowers the battery pack by adjusting the magnetic field strength between the upper jig (200) and the lower jig (400).

[0018] A permanent magnet 270 or an electromagnet 410 may be formed on one surface of each of the upper jig 200 and the lower jig 400 .

[0019] An electromagnet 410 may be formed on one surface of either the upper jig 200 or the lower jig 400 .

[0020] The elevation of the upper jig (200) and the lower jig (400) can be controlled by adjusting the magnetic repulsive and attractive forces between the upper jig (200) and the lower jig (400).

[0021] A first surface of the upper jig (200) may be formed with a plurality of rollers (210) for moving along the wall surface of the vertical jig.

[0022] A pinion 220 may be formed on one of both end surfaces of the upper jig 200, and a rack 310 may be formed on a surface of the vertical jig 1 at a position corresponding to the pinion.

[0023] The upper jig (200) may include an upper jig attachment / detachment unit (280) for separating the pinion (220) from the rack (310) and separating the roller (210) from the wall surface of the vertical jig (300) when the upper jig (200) is positioned at a predetermined distance from the lower jig (400).

[0024] When the upper jig (200) is separated from the vertical jig (300) by the upper jig attaching / detaching unit (280), first slide protrusions (230) formed on both end surfaces of the upper jig (200) may protrude.

[0025] The upper jig (200), which is separated from the vertical jig (300) by the upper jig mounting / dismounting unit (280), can move back and forth by engaging the first slide protrusion (230) with any one of a plurality of first slide recesses (320) formed on the vertical jig (300), and the second slide protrusions (420) formed on both end surfaces of the lower jig can move back and forth by engaging with the second slide recesses (330) formed on the vertical jig (300), thereby positioning the battery pack (10) at a predetermined position.

[0026] A receiving portion (240) having a cushion (250) for the battery pack (10) to sit on is formed on the upper surface of the upper jig (200), and each edge portion of the receiving portion (240) and the battery pack (10) can be fitted into each other.

[0027] The battery pack may further include a spring (260) that is coupled to an upper or lower portion of the accommodating portion (240) to connect the accommodating portions to each other and absorb vibrations applied to the battery pack from the outside. The accommodating portion (240) may include a accommodating groove (241) having a rectangular plate shape and a predetermined depth for fitting with an outer surface of the battery pack, and may include a accommodating plate (242) from which the cushion (250) protrudes downward on a lower surface of the accommodating portion, and a stopper (243) that is detachably coupled to the accommodating plate (242) to prevent the battery pack coupled to the accommodating groove (241) from being separated.

[0028] Furthermore, the present invention can also be provided in the form of a combination of various means for solving the above problems. Effect of the Invention

[0029] As described above, the battery pack lifting device according to the present invention has an advantage of being able to stably lift and lower a battery pack by using the attractive and repulsive forces between a permanent magnet and an electromagnet.

[0030] In addition, it is possible to provide an effect of reducing the weight in an existing battery pack assembly process or an assembly process of a driving device including a battery pack.

[0031] In addition, there is an advantage that mechanical damage can be reduced in a device for seating or moving a battery pack, including a magnetic damper jig, without using a suspension device. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0032] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a battery pack lifting device including a magnetic damper. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a rack and pinion of a battery pack lifting device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] 4A to 4C are diagrams illustrating a sliding configuration of a battery pack lifting device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a battery pack receiving section according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a rack and pinion formed in a vertical jig according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0033] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains can easily carry out the present invention. However, in describing the operation principle of the preferred embodiment of the present invention in detail, detailed description of related well-known functions or configurations will be omitted if it is determined that such detailed description may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention.

[0034] In addition, the same reference numerals are used throughout the drawings for parts having similar functions and actions. Throughout the specification, when a part is said to be connected to another part, this includes not only the case where the part is directly connected to another part, but also the case where the part is indirectly connected via another element between the two parts. In addition, when a part includes a certain component, it does not mean that the other component is excluded, but that the part may further include the other component, unless otherwise specified.

[0035] Furthermore, descriptions that limit or add specific elements are applicable to all inventions and are not limited to a particular invention unless otherwise specified.

[0036] Furthermore, throughout the description of the present invention and the claims, the singular includes the plural unless otherwise stated.

[0037] In addition, throughout the description of the present invention and the claims, unless otherwise stated, "or" includes "and." Therefore, "including A or B" means three cases: including A, including B, or including both A and B.

[0038] The invention will now be explained with reference to the drawings and in conjunction with detailed embodiments.

[0039] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a battery pack lifting device including a magnetic damper.

[0040] The battery pack lifting device may include a housing 100, an upper jig 200 on which a battery pack 10 is mounted, a vertical jig 300 connected to both sides of the upper jig 200 and formed vertically, and a lower jig 400 whose both sides are connected to one end of the vertical jig 300 and formed to face the upper jig 200, and may be characterized in that the battery pack lifting device lifts and lowers the battery pack by adjusting the magnetic field strength between the upper jig 200 and the lower jig 400.

[0041] A permanent magnet 270 or an electromagnet 410 may be formed on one surface of each of the upper jig 200 and the lower jig 400 .

[0042] A permanent magnet as a lifting means may be formed at the bottom of the body of the upper jig which moves along the base plate of the upper jig by a moving force generating means for moving the upper jig up and down.

[0043] An electromagnet for lifting and lowering the battery pack by magnetic repulsion with the upper jig may be formed as a lifting means on an upper portion of the body of the lower jig.

[0044] When the electromagnets are driven sequentially by the control unit, they generate magnetic field lines having an opposite pole (e.g., N pole) to the pole (e.g., S pole) of the magnetic field lines generated by the permanent magnet, thereby lifting the battery pack due to the repulsive force between the magnetic field lines generated by the permanent magnet and the magnetic field lines generated by the electromagnets. After a predetermined time, when the control unit cuts off the drive of the electromagnets, the battery pack descends under its own weight.

[0045] After the battery pack is attached to the upper jig, the battery pack, which is located on the upper jig in a stopped state, may repeatedly rise to a predetermined height and then fall due to the repulsive force between the permanent magnet and the electromagnet.

[0046] An electromagnet 410 may be formed on one surface of either the upper jig 200 or the lower jig 400 .

[0047] The elevation of the upper jig 200 and the lower jig 400 can be controlled by adjusting the magnetic repulsive and attractive forces between the upper jig 200 and the lower jig 400 .

[0048] Preferably, the electromagnet formed on the lower jig has a control program therein and is selectively driven for a predetermined time in response to an output signal from a control unit which determines the position of the upper jig by the moving position sensing means. When the upper jig moves a predetermined distance, the driving is stopped, and when a driving signal is generated from the control unit, only the electromagnet is driven again for a predetermined time, so that the upper jig rises upward by a certain height and then falls downward.

[0049] A first surface of the upper jig 200 may be formed with a plurality of rollers 210 for moving along the wall surface of the vertical jig.

[0050] The first surface of the upper jig is a surface opposite to a surface of the upper jig on which the battery pack is located, and is preferably a surface of the upper jig on which a permanent magnet is formed.

[0051] The rollers are formed on both sides of the first surface, and the rollers are in contact with a wall of the vertical jig and may move toward the inside of the first surface at a predetermined distance from the wall of the vertical jig.

[0052] FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a rack and pinion of a battery pack lifting device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0053] A pinion 220 may be formed on one of both end surfaces of the upper jig 200, and a rack 310 may be formed on a surface of the vertical jig 1 corresponding to the pinion.

[0054] Here, the upper jig can move along the wall surface of the vertical jig, and a rack-and-pinion type drive unit is located above the upper jig, which will be described later.

[0055] The vertical jig may have various shapes, for example, a shape having a square cross section or a shape having a circular cross section.

[0056] Here, when a vertical jig having a rectangular cross section is applied, the rollers of the upper jig can move along the vertical jig as they are, whereas when a vertical jig having a circular cross section is applied, long roller rails are installed vertically along the vertical jig to ensure a stable roller support surface, and the rollers of the upper jig can move up and down along the roller rails.

[0057] A driving unit for moving the upper jig to which the battery pack is attached may include the moving force generating means for driving a permanent magnet formed on the upper jig, which is a power source, and an electromagnet formed on the lower jig, and a rack and pinion, which is a driving body of the upper jig.

[0058] The upper jig is driven up and down by a pinion formed on one end surface of the upper jig and a rack formed on the vertical jig corresponding to the position where the pinion is formed, and the roller acts as an auxiliary support for lifting and lowering.

[0059] The pinion is fixedly mounted on one end surface of the upper jig, and the pinion thus mounted is engaged with a rack formed on the vertical jig.

[0060] When a moving force generating means for generating a magnetic repulsive force is activated, the pinion moves along the rack, so that the upper jig can move up and down.

[0061] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a sliding configuration of a battery pack lifting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0062] When the upper jig 200 is positioned at a predetermined distance from the lower jig 400, the upper jig may include an upper jig attaching / detaching unit 280 for separating the pinion 220 from the rack 310 and separating the roller 210 from the wall surface of the vertical jig 300.

[0063] The upper jig may be provided with the upper jig mounting / dismounting unit and the electromagnet.

[0064] When the upper jig 200 is separated from the vertical jig 300 by the upper jig attaching / detaching unit 280, first slide protrusions 230 formed on both end surfaces of the upper jig 200 may protrude.

[0065] The upper jig 200, which is separated from the vertical jig 300 by the upper jig attachment / detachment unit 280, can move back and forth with the first slide protrusion 230 engaged with any one of a plurality of first slide recesses 320 formed on the vertical jig 300, and the second slide protrusions 420 formed on both end surfaces of the lower jig can move back and forth to position the battery pack 10 at a predetermined position by being engaged with the second slide recesses 330 formed on the vertical jig 300.

[0066] FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a battery pack receiving section according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0067] A receiving portion 240 having a cushion 250 for seating the battery pack 10 is formed on an upper surface of the upper jig 200, and each edge portion of the receiving portion 240 and the battery pack 10 can be fitted to each other.

[0068] The battery pack may further include a spring 260 that is coupled to an upper or lower portion of the accommodating portion 240 to connect the accommodating portions to each other and absorb vibrations applied to the battery pack from the outside. The accommodating portion 240 may include an accommodating groove 241 having a rectangular plate shape and a predetermined depth to be fitted with an outer surface of the battery pack, and may include a accommodating plate 242 from which the cushion 250 protrudes downward on a lower surface of the accommodating portion, and a stopper 243 that is detachably coupled to the accommodating plate 242 to prevent the battery pack coupled to the accommodating groove 241 from being separated.

[0069] A seating member having an absorbing member for seating the battery pack is formed on an upper surface of the upper jig, and each edge portion of the seating member and the battery pack may be fitted to each other.

[0070] The battery pack may further include a buffer member coupled to an upper or lower portion of the seating member to connect the seating members to each other and to absorb vibrations applied to the battery pack from the outside, the seating member having a rectangular plate shape and including a seating groove having a predetermined depth to be fitted with an outer surface of the battery pack, and may include, on a lower surface of the seating member, an installation plate from which the absorbing member protrudes downward, and a separation prevention piece detachably coupled to the installation plate to prevent the battery pack coupled to the seating groove from being separated.

[0071] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of a rack and pinion formed in a vertical jig according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0072] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various applications and modifications within the scope of the present invention will be possible based on the above content. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 10 Battery Pack 100 Housing 200 Upper jig 210 Roller 220 Pinion 230 First slide protrusion 240 Storage unit 241 Storage Groove 242 Storage Plate 243 Stopper 250 Cushion 260 Spring 270 Permanent Magnets 280 Upper jig attachment / detachment unit 300 Vertical Jig 310 Rack 320 First slide recess 330 Second slide recess 400 Lower Jig 410 Electromagnet 420 Second slide protrusion

Claims

1. Housing and An upper jig on which the battery pack is mounted; a vertical jig connected to both sides of the upper jig and formed vertically; a lower jig having both side surfaces connected to one end of the vertical jig and facing the upper jig; a battery pack lifting device for lifting and lowering the battery pack by adjusting a magnetic field strength between the upper jig and the lower jig;

2. The battery pack lifting device according to claim 1 , wherein a permanent magnet or an electromagnet is formed on one surface of each of the upper jig and the lower jig.

3. The battery pack lifting device according to claim 2 , wherein an electromagnet is formed on one surface of either the upper jig or the lower jig.

4. The battery pack lifting device according to claim 3 , further comprising: a magnetic repulsive force and an attractive force between the upper jig and the lower jig, the magnetic repulsive force and the attractive force being adjusted to adjust the lifting and lowering of the upper jig.

5. The battery pack lifting device according to claim 1 , wherein a first surface of the upper jig is formed with a plurality of rollers for moving along a wall surface of the vertical jig.

6. The battery pack lifting device according to claim 5 , wherein a pinion is formed on one of both side end surfaces of the upper jig, and a rack is formed at a position on the surface of the vertical jig corresponding to the pinion.

7. 7. The battery pack lifting device according to claim 6, wherein the upper jig includes an upper jig attachment / detachment unit for separating the pinion from the rack and separating the roller from the wall surface of the vertical jig when the upper jig is positioned at a predetermined distance from the lower jig.

8. 8. The battery pack lifting device according to claim 7, wherein first slide protrusions formed on both end surfaces of the upper jig protrude when the upper jig is separated from the vertical jig by the upper jig attachment / detachment unit.

9. the upper jig separated from the vertical jig by the upper jig attachment / detachment unit moves forward and backward by engaging the first slide protruding portion with any one of a plurality of first slide recessed portions formed on the vertical jig; 9. The battery pack lifting device of claim 8, wherein second slide protrusions formed on both end surfaces of the lower jig are engaged with second slide recesses formed on the vertical jig and move back and forth to position the battery pack at a predetermined position.

10. A receiving portion having a cushion for the battery pack to be seated is formed on an upper surface of the upper jig, The battery pack lifting device according to claim 1 , wherein each edge of the receiving portion and the battery pack are fitted together.

11. a spring coupled to an upper portion or a lower portion of the receiving portion to connect the receiving portions to each other and capable of absorbing vibrations applied to the battery pack from the outside; the receiving portion has a rectangular plate shape and includes a receiving groove having a predetermined depth for fitting with an outer surface of the battery pack; a receiving plate from a lower surface of the receiving portion to which the cushion protrudes downward; The battery pack lifting device according to claim 10, further comprising: a stopper, provided on a lower surface of the receiving portion, the stopper being detachably coupled to the receiving plate to prevent the battery pack coupled to the receiving groove from being separated.

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