vehicle

Abstract

This suppresses changes in the vehicle's weight balance when certain batteries are installed. [Solution] The vehicle comprises a pair of side frames 16 and a mounting portion 20 provided on the side of the side frame 16, to which a replaceable battery 13 is detachably mounted. The mounting portion 20 is provided along the longitudinal direction of the side frame 16 and has a rail portion 22 that supports the replaceable battery 13 at any position in the longitudinal direction, and a current collector portion 26 that can be connected to the electrodes of the replaceable battery 13 supported by the rail portion 22.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle having a battery. [Background Art]

[0002] The following Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a plurality of batteries are detachably mounted on a storage portion fixed to a side frame of a vehicle. [Prior Art Literature] [Patent Literature]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2018-167596 [Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be Solved by the Invention]

[0004] In the above-described vehicle, a plurality of batteries can be mounted at predetermined positions, but when the traveling distance is assumed to be short, only some of the plurality of batteries are mounted. When only some of the batteries are mounted, the weight balance of the vehicle in the front-rear direction changes, which may adversely affect the vehicle during traveling.

[0005] Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of these points, and an object of the present invention is to suppress a change in the weight balance of a vehicle when some batteries are mounted thereon. [Means for Solving the Problem]

[0006] In one aspect of the present invention, a vehicle is provided comprising a pair of chassis frames, and a mounting portion provided on the side surface of the chassis frame, wherein a replaceable battery is detachably mounted, the mounting portion having a rail portion provided along the longitudinal direction of the chassis frame and supporting the battery at any position in the longitudinal direction, and a current collector portion connectable to the electrodes of the battery supported by the rail portion.

[0007] Furthermore, the current collection unit may be provided on the rail section.

[0008] Furthermore, the mounting portion can accommodate multiple batteries, and the rail portion may be configured to support the batteries in a position that suppresses changes in the vehicle's weight balance in the longitudinal direction when all or some of the batteries are mounted.

[0009] Furthermore, the rail portion may support the roller provided on the battery so that it can move in the longitudinal direction.

[0010] Furthermore, the rail portion may consist of a first rail portion and a second rail portion spaced apart by a predetermined distance in the vertical direction, the first rail portion supporting a first roller provided on the battery so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction, and the second rail portion supporting a second roller provided on the battery so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction.

[0011] Furthermore, the first rail portion may have a first current collector that can be connected to the first electrode of the battery, and the second rail portion may have a second current collector that can be connected to the second electrode of the battery.

[0012] Furthermore, the system may also include a fixing portion for fixing the longitudinal position of the roller relative to the rail portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, the effect is to suppress changes in the vehicle's weight balance when certain batteries are installed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram showing a vehicle 1 according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a schematic diagram showing a state in which some of the replaceable batteries 13 are installed in the mounting section 20. [Figure 3] This is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of the mounting part 20. [Figure 4] This is a schematic diagram showing the mounting state of the mounting section 20 of the replaceable battery 13. [Figure 5] This is a schematic diagram illustrating the process of installing the replaceable battery 13 into the mounting section 20. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0015] <Vehicle Configuration> Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing a vehicle 1 according to one embodiment. Vehicle 1 is an electric vehicle, specifically a Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV). Vehicle 1 runs by using electricity stored in a battery to drive a motor. In this case, Vehicle 1 is a frame-structured truck. As shown in Figure 1, Vehicle 1 has a motor 10, a replaceable battery 13, a side frame 16, and a mounting section 20.

[0016] Motor 10 is the drive source that propels vehicle 1. Motor 10 generates the driving force transmitted to the wheels 12 of vehicle 1. Motor 10 generates the driving force by receiving power from a replaceable battery 13.

[0017] The replaceable battery 13 is a replaceable battery. The replaceable battery 13 is a rechargeable secondary battery. The replaceable battery 13 is, for example, a lithium-ion battery. The replaceable battery 13 can be charged from an external charger. Replacement of the replaceable battery 13 is, for example, automatically performed by an exchanging device installed in an exchange station.

[0018] The side frames 16 are a pair of chassis frames forming the frame that supports the vehicle 1. The side frame 16 has a U-shaped cross-sectional shape (see Figure 4). The side frames 16 are provided along the front-rear direction of the vehicle 1. The motor 10 and the replaceable battery 13 are mounted on the side frames 16. In Figure 1, the replaceable battery 13 is mounted on the left side of the side frame 16 in the vehicle width direction (the front side in Figure 1), but in actuality, the replaceable battery 13 is also mounted on the right side of the side frame 16 in the vehicle width direction (the far side in Figure 1).

[0019] As shown in Figure 1, the mounting portion 20 is a portion where the replaceable battery 13 is detachably mounted. The mounting portion 20 is provided on the side frame 16. The mounting portion 20 is provided on a side surface of the side frame 16 so as to be exposed to the outside, facilitating removal of the replaceable battery 13 from the mounting portion 20 and mounting thereof. A plurality (two in this case) of replaceable batteries 13 can be mounted on the mounting portion 20.

[0020] In Figure 1, only the mounting portion 20 on the left side in the vehicle width direction of the side frame 16 is shown, but in actuality, the mounting portion 20 is also provided on the right side in the vehicle width direction of the side frame 16. Therefore, four replaceable batteries 13 can be mounted on the vehicle 1 via the two mounting portions 20.

[0021] Incidentally, in the vehicle 1, the number of replaceable batteries 13 mounted to the mounting portion 20 can be changed. For example, when the travel distance of the vehicle 1 is short, there may be a case where only some of the four replaceable batteries 13 (for example, two or three replaceable batteries 13) are mounted to the mounting portion 20. Normally, the weight balance in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 1 is adjusted on the premise that four replaceable batteries 13 are mounted. Therefore, when only some of the replaceable batteries 13 are mounted to the mounting portion 20, the weight balance in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 1 changes, which may adversely affect the traveling of the vehicle 1. For example, there is a possibility that the load acting on the front axle of the vehicle 1 and the load acting on the rear axle of the vehicle 1 differ from each other.

[0022] In contrast, in the vehicle 1 of the present embodiment, in order to suppress a change in weight balance when some replaceable batteries 13 are mounted to the mounting portion 20, as shown in FIG. 2, the replaceable battery 13 can be mounted at any position of the mounting portion 20.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a state where some replaceable batteries 13 are mounted to the mounting portion 20. Here, one replaceable battery 13 is mounted to the mounting portion 20 that can accommodate two replaceable batteries 13. The mounting position of the one replaceable battery 13 in the front-rear direction is a position where the weight balance in the front-rear direction does not change, and is different from the mounting positions in the front-rear direction of the two replaceable batteries 13 shown in FIG. 1.

[0024] <Detailed Configuration of Mounting Portion> The detailed configuration of the mounting portion 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0025] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining the configuration of the mounting portion 20. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a mounted state of the replaceable battery 13 to the mounting portion 20. The mounting portion 20 includes a rail portion 22, a current collecting portion 26, and a fixing portion 30.

[0026] The rail section 22 is provided along the longitudinal direction of the side frame 16 (in other words, the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle 1). Specifically, the rail section 22 is provided along the longitudinal direction on the side of the side frame 16 between the front and rear wheels of the vehicle 1. The rail section 22 supports the replaceable battery 13 at any position in the longitudinal direction. Specifically, the rail section 22 supports the replaceable battery 13 at a position that suppresses changes in the weight balance of the vehicle 1 in the longitudinal direction.

[0027] The rail section 22 supports the replaceable battery 13 at any position in the longitudinal direction when a replaceable battery 13 is installed. This makes it easier to adjust the newly installed replaceable battery 13 to any position in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 1. Specifically, it makes it easier for the replacement device of the replacement station to install the replaceable battery 13 at the desired position along the rail section 22.

[0028] The rail section 22 supports the rollers provided on the replaceable battery 13 so that they can move in the longitudinal direction. The movement of the rollers on the replaceable battery 13 in the longitudinal direction makes it easier to adjust the replaceable battery 13 to any position in the longitudinal direction. In particular, the replacement device makes it easier to fine-tune the longitudinal position of the replaceable battery 13 by moving the replaceable battery 13, which is supported by the rail section 22 via the rollers, in the longitudinal direction.

[0029] As shown in Figure 4, the replaceable battery 13 has a first roller 41 and a second roller 42. The first roller 41 is rotatably supported by a first support portion 43. The second roller 42 is rotatably supported by a second support portion 44. The first support portion 43 and the second support portion 44 protrude from the side of the replaceable battery 13. The first support portion 43 and the second support portion 44 are separated by a predetermined distance in the vertical direction. The first roller 41 is supported at the tip of the first support portion 43, and the second roller 42 is supported at the tip of the second support portion 44.

[0030] The rail section 22 consists of a first rail section 23 and a second rail section 24 that are spaced apart by a predetermined distance in the vertical direction. The first rail section 23 is located above in the vertical direction, and the second rail section 24 is located below in the vertical direction. The longitudinal length of the first rail section 23 is the same as the longitudinal length of the second rail section 24. Furthermore, the cross-sectional shape of the first rail section 23 is the same as the cross-sectional shape of the second rail section 24, as shown in Figure 4.

[0031] The first rail section 23 supports the first roller 41, which is provided on the replaceable battery 13, so that it can move in the longitudinal direction. The second rail section 24 supports the second roller 42, which is provided on the replaceable battery 13, so that it can move in the longitudinal direction. By supporting the first roller 41 and the second roller 42 with the first rail section 23 and the second rail section 24, the replaceable battery 13 can be more easily supported in a stable state. In addition, since both the first roller 41 and the second roller 42 can move in the longitudinal direction, it becomes easier to adjust the longitudinal position without changing the posture of the replaceable battery 13.

[0032] The rail section 22 may support multiple replaceable batteries 13 at any position in the longitudinal direction. For example, the first rail section 23 and the second rail section 24 support two replaceable batteries 13 at any position in the longitudinal direction (specifically, a position that suppresses changes in the longitudinal weight balance of the vehicle 1) in order to adjust the longitudinal distance between the two replaceable batteries 13 shown in Figure 1. As an example, the replacement device may adjust the longitudinal distance between the two replaceable batteries 13 according to the state of the load on the vehicle 1 (for example, the position of the load).

[0033] The current collector 26 is the part that connects to the electrodes of the replaceable battery 13 supported by the rail section 22. This makes it possible to supply power from the replaceable battery 13 supported by the rail section 22 to the motor 10. The electrodes of the replaceable battery 13 are provided, for example, on the first roller 41 and the second roller 42.

[0034] The current collector 26 is provided on the rail section 22. Specifically, the current collector 26 is formed along the longitudinal direction on the surface of the rail section 22. This makes it easier to connect the electrodes of the replaceable battery 13 to the current collector 26 even when the longitudinal position of the replaceable battery 13 is adjusted along the rail section 22.

[0035] In this embodiment, the current collector 26 has a first current collector 27 and a second current collector 28. The first current collector 27 is provided on the first rail section 23, and the second current collector 28 is provided on the second rail section 24. The first rail section 23 is connected to the first electrode (e.g., the positive electrode) of the replaceable battery 13, and the second rail section 24 is connected to the second electrode (e.g., the negative electrode) of the replaceable battery 13. The first electrode of the replaceable battery 13 is provided on the first roller 41, and the second electrode is provided on the second roller 42. This ensures that the first and second electrodes of the replaceable battery 13 are properly connected even when the position of the replaceable battery 13 is adjusted.

[0036] The fixing portion 30 has the function of fixing the longitudinal position of the roller of the replaceable battery 13 relative to the rail portion 22. The fixing portion 30 is provided along the longitudinal direction on the side surface of the side frame 16. Specifically, the fixing portion 30 is provided between the first rail portion 23 and the second rail portion 24 in the vertical direction.

[0037] The fixing portion 30 engages with an engaging portion 46 provided on the replaceable battery 13, thereby fixing the longitudinal positions of the first roller 41 and the second roller 42 of the replaceable battery 13. The fixing portion 30 is, for example, a recess formed on the side surface of the side frame 16, and engages with the tip of the engaging portion 46. The recess, which is the fixing portion 30, is formed along the longitudinal direction of the side frame 16. This makes it easier to fix the first roller 41 and the second roller 42 at any position in the longitudinal direction.

[0038] In the above description, the rail section 22 is assumed to have a first rail section 23 and a second rail section 24, but it is not limited to this. For example, the rail section 22 may have only a first rail section 23, and the first rail section 23 may be provided with a first current collector section 27 and a second current collector section 28.

[0039] <How to install a replaceable battery> Figure 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the process of installing the replaceable battery 13 into the mounting section 20. In this case, the installation of the replaceable battery 13 into the mounting section 20 is performed automatically by the replacement device.

[0040] First, the replacement device brings the replaceable battery 13 closer to the mounting section 20 (state 200). For example, the replacement device brings the replaceable battery 13 closer to the mounting section 20 while supporting it with an arm or the like (not shown). At this time, the replacement device positions the replaceable battery 13 at a desired position in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 1 (a position where the weight balance is stable). The desired position is predetermined according to the number of replaceable batteries 13 to be installed.

[0041] Next, the replacement device inserts the rollers of the replaceable battery 13 into the rail section 22. Specifically, the replacement device inserts the first roller 41 into the first rail section 23 and the second roller 42 into the second rail section 24 (state 210). At this time, the replacement device tilts the replaceable battery 13 to make it easier to insert the first roller 41 and the second roller 42 into the first rail section 23 and the second rail section 24.

[0042] Next, the replacement device extends the engaging portion 46 of the replaceable battery 13 and engages the engaging portion 46 with the fixing portion 30 (state 220). Specifically, the replacement device engages the tip of the engaging portion 46 with the recessed portion of the fixing portion 30. As a result, the first roller 41 and the second roller 42 do not rotate, and the longitudinal position of the replaceable battery 13 is fixed.

[0043] When the engaging portion 46 engages with the fixing portion 30, the position of the replaceable battery 13 becomes parallel to the horizontal plane, and the first roller 41 and the second roller 42 are supported by the first rail portion 23 and the second rail portion 24 (state 220). As a result, the first electrode and the second electrode of the replaceable battery 13 are connected to the first current collector portion 27 of the first rail portion 23 and the second current collector portion 28 of the second rail portion 24.

[0044] <Effects of this embodiment> The vehicle 1 of the above-described embodiment includes a mounting section 20 provided on the side of the side frame 16, to which a replaceable battery 13 is detachably attached. The mounting section 20 has a rail section 22 that supports the replaceable battery 13 at any position in the longitudinal direction, and a current collector section 26 that can be connected to the electrodes of the replaceable battery 13 supported by the rail section 22. This allows the current collector 26 to connect to the electrodes of the replaceable battery 13 while the replaceable battery 13 is positioned in a location in the longitudinal direction that does not change the weight balance of the vehicle 1.

[0045] Although the present invention has been described above using embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of its gist. For example, all or part of the apparatus can be configured by functionally or physically distributing and integrating in any unit. Furthermore, new embodiments resulting from any combination of multiple embodiments are also included in the embodiments of the present invention. The effects of the new embodiments resulting from the combinations are combined with the effects of the original embodiments. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0046] 1 vehicle 13. Replaceable Battery 16 Side Frames 20 Mounting part 22 Rail section 23. First rail section 24 Second Rail Section 26 Current collector 27. First current collector 28. Second current collector 30 Fixing part

Claims

1. A pair of chassis frames, A mounting section is provided on the side of the chassis frame, and a replaceable battery is detachably mounted therein. Equipped with, The aforementioned mounting portion is A rail portion provided along the longitudinal direction of the chassis frame, which supports the battery at any position in the longitudinal direction, A current collector that can be connected to the electrodes of the battery supported on the rail portion, A vehicle that possesses.

2. The current collection unit is provided on the rail section, The vehicle according to claim 1.

3. Multiple batteries can be mounted in the mounting section. The rail portion supports the batteries in a position that suppresses changes in the longitudinal weight balance of the vehicle when all or some of the batteries of the plurality of batteries are mounted. The vehicle according to claim 1.

4. The rail portion supports the roller provided on the battery so that it can move in the longitudinal direction. The vehicle according to claim 1.

5. The rail section consists of a first rail section and a second rail section that are spaced apart by a predetermined distance in the vertical direction. The first rail portion supports the first roller provided on the battery so that it can move in the longitudinal direction, The second rail portion supports the second roller provided on the battery so that it can move in the longitudinal direction. The vehicle according to claim 1.

6. The first rail section has a first current collector that can be connected to the first electrode of the battery, The second rail section has a second current collector that can be connected to the second electrode of the battery. The vehicle according to claim 5.

7. The system further includes a fixing portion for fixing the longitudinal position of the roller relative to the rail portion. The vehicle according to claim 4.

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