Battery replacement method

Abstract

The battery swap method includes removing a depleted battery pack from an electric vehicle and placing it in a first position, flipping the removed depleted battery pack from the first position to a second position in a first direction, placing the depleted battery pack in the second position in a charging bin for charging, and / or removing a fully charged battery pack from the charging bin and placing it in a third position, flipping the removed fully charged battery pack from the third position to a fourth position in the second direction, and placing the fully charged battery pack in the fourth position into the electric vehicle. This battery swap method allows for the insertion and removal of large battery packs at a charging station using a small space and structure, thereby simplifying the battery swap process and increasing the speed of battery swapping. Furthermore, it enables electric vehicle battery swapping using a single large battery pack while reducing the floor space occupied by the battery swap station, thereby reducing battery pack costs and facilitating widespread use.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] Cross-reference to related applications This application claims priority from Chinese Patent Application No. CN2020102626621, filed on April 3, 2020. The entire text of the above Chinese patent application is incorporated herein by reference. The present invention relates to a battery replacement method. [Background technology]

[0002] Currently, battery replacement in electric vehicles can be broadly divided into two types: chassis battery replacement and side battery replacement. In side battery replacement, the battery pack is pulled out of the vehicle using a battery replacement device, then rotated 180 degrees horizontally on the device so that the charging port faces the charging bin instead of facing the vehicle, and the battery is then inserted into the charging bin on the other side of the battery replacement device for charging. Due to structural constraints of the vehicle itself, the double-sided battery replacement method has traditionally been used. In double-sided battery replacement, the battery pack must be rotated 180 degrees on the battery replacement device before being inserted into the charging bin for charging.

[0003] However, because the battery pack needs to be rotated horizontally, a long battery pack requires a very large space for rotation. This makes the battery exchange device complex in structure and large in volume, directly affecting the difficulty of manufacturing the battery exchange device and increasing the floor space required for the battery exchange station. As a result, electric vehicles have no choice but to use a battery exchange method using multiple small battery packs. However, a battery exchange method using multiple battery packs requires battery exchange on both sides, which complicates the battery exchange process and lengthens the battery exchange time. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a battery replacement method that overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art battery replacement methods, such as the high difficulty in manufacturing the battery replacement equipment due to the complex structure, the large floor space required for the battery replacement station, and the complicated and time-consuming battery replacement process. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The present invention solves the above problems by the following technical solutions.

[0006] A battery replacement method, comprising: removing a depleted battery pack from the electric vehicle and placing it in a first position; inverting the removed depleted battery pack from the first position to a second position along the first direction; placing the depleted battery pack in the second position into the charging bin for charging and / or removing the fully charged battery pack from the charging bin and placing it in the third position; inverting the removed fully charged battery pack from the third position along the second direction to a fourth position; and placing the fully charged battery pack in the fourth position into the electric vehicle. Here, the first position and the fourth position may be the same position, and the second position and the third position may be the same position, so that the reversal of the reversal mechanism is mainly between the two positions. The inversion method used in the present invention involves rotating the battery pack. The space required for inverting the battery pack itself is small, and the inversion mechanism is significantly smaller than that of a battery exchange device that requires planar rotation. As a result, the battery exchange method of the present invention allows large battery packs to be inserted and removed from a charging station using a small space and structure. This simplifies the battery exchange process and improves the battery exchange speed. Furthermore, it allows battery exchange for electric vehicles using a single large battery pack while reducing the floor space occupied by the battery exchange station, thereby reducing the cost of the battery pack and promoting widespread use.

[0007] Preferably, the battery replacement method includes providing a reversing mechanism to reverse a low-power battery pack or a fully charged battery pack; Removing the depleted battery pack from the electric vehicle and placing it in the first position includes removing the depleted battery pack from the electric vehicle and placing it in the first position on the reversing mechanism; Alternatively, removing the fully charged battery pack from the charging bin and placing it in the third position includes removing the fully charged battery pack from the charging bin and placing it in the third position of the inverting mechanism. The inversion mechanism of the present invention rotates the battery pack in an inverted manner. The space required for inverting the battery pack itself is small, and the inversion mechanism is significantly smaller in structure than battery exchange devices that require planar rotation. As a result, the battery exchange device of the present invention can insert and remove large battery packs in and from charging stations using a small space and structure. Therefore, it is possible to realize battery exchange for electric vehicles using a single large battery pack while reducing the floor space occupied by the battery exchange station, thereby reducing the cost of the battery pack and promoting its widespread use.

[0008] Preferably, a battery insertion / removal mechanism is provided to allow insertion and removal of the battery pack from the electric vehicle or charging bin; Removing the depleted battery pack from the electric vehicle and placing it in the first position includes controlling a battery removal mechanism to remove the depleted battery pack from the electric vehicle and place it in the first position on the reversing mechanism; Alternatively, removing the fully charged battery pack from the charging bin and placing it in the third position includes controlling the battery loading / unloading mechanism to remove the fully charged battery pack from the charging bin and place it in the third position of the inverting mechanism.

[0009] Preferably, the inversion mechanism is provided with an extension mechanism, which is used to insert and remove a battery pack in a charging bin of an electric vehicle; Removing the depleted battery pack from the electric vehicle and placing it in the first position includes controlling an extension mechanism to extend it toward the electric vehicle, controlling the extension mechanism to lift the depleted battery pack in the electric vehicle, and controlling the extension mechanism to retract it so that the depleted battery pack reaches the first position on the reversing mechanism; Alternatively, removing the fully charged battery pack from the charging bin and placing it in the third position includes controlling an extension mechanism to extend it toward the charging bin, controlling the extension mechanism to lift the fully charged battery pack in the charging bin, and controlling the extension mechanism to retract it so that the fully charged battery pack reaches the third position on the inversion mechanism. The extension mechanism can achieve the role of transmitting the battery pack through its own movement, thereby realizing the movement of the battery pack in the first and second inverted portions. The method further includes aligning the extension mechanism with the battery pack on the electric vehicle / charging bin before controlling the extension mechanism to extend toward the electric vehicle, where detection equipment such as a sensor or a guidable mechanical structure allows the extension mechanism to be spatially aligned with the battery pack before moving to and extending the battery pack on the electric vehicle / charging bin. The battery loading / unloading mechanism and the inverting mechanism may be the same structure or different mechanisms. The battery loading / unloading mechanism may be an external independent mechanism, such as a telescoping mechanism in the electric vehicle or a transmission mechanism in the charging bin, in which case the inverting mechanism can realize the transfer of the battery packs when aligned. The battery loading / unloading mechanism may also be a separate transport mechanism that moves the battery packs between the inverting mechanism and the charging bin or charging vehicle.

[0010] Preferably, controlling the removed depleted battery pack to reverse from the first position to the second position along the first direction includes: determining whether the battery pack is in a first position; If so, controlling the reversing mechanism to reverse the depleted battery pack along a first direction; determining whether the battery pack has reached a second position; If so, the method includes controlling the reversing mechanism to stop the reversing of the depleted battery pack.

[0011] Preferably, the inverting mechanism includes a first inverting portion and a second inverting portion, the first inverting portion is for placing a battery pack at the first position or the fourth position, the second inverting portion is for placing a battery pack at the second position or the third position, and the first inverting portion and the second inverting portion are arranged perpendicular to each other. The first and second inverters respectively allow battery packs to be placed at different positions and accommodate the insertion and removal of battery packs from the electric vehicle side and the charging bin side, where the first inverter is docked with the electric vehicle to allow the insertion and removal of battery packs, and the second inverter is docked with the charging bin to allow the insertion and removal of battery packs.

[0012] Preferably, the inverting mechanism includes a first inverting portion and a second inverting portion, the first inverting portion is for placing a battery pack in the first position or the fourth position, and the second inverting portion is for placing a battery pack in the second position or the third position, and the battery replacing method includes: Detecting whether the rotation of the first reversing unit and the second reversing unit has reached the in-position state, and starting the movement of the battery pack when the rotation has reached the in-position state, and continuing the rotation when the rotation has not reached the in-position state; And / or, the method further includes detecting whether the movement of the battery pack on the first or second inversion unit has resulted in the battery pack being in position, and if the movement has resulted in the battery pack being in position, starting rotation of the first or second inversion unit, and if the movement has not resulted in the battery pack being in position, continuing the movement.

[0013] Preferably, the charging bin is provided with a floating tray for placing the battery thereon and an electrical connector for forming an electrical connection with the battery pack to charge and discharge the battery pack, and charging the battery pack by placing the battery pack in the charging bin in the second position includes: transferring the depleted battery pack to a floating tray within the charging bin; and controlling the electrical connector to move toward the depleted battery pack to form an electrical connection. In this technical solution, the floating tray is moved by the gravity of the battery pack, and an interlocking mechanism is provided between the floating tray and the electrical connector, which further moves the electrical connector toward the battery pack to establish an electrical connection. In other words, the gravity of the battery pack itself is used to achieve the electrical connection, and there is no need to use a separate power source to drive and move the electrical connector. Furthermore, this interlocking method is applicable to the electrical connection of battery packs in various orientations.

[0014] Preferably, an interlocking mechanism is provided between the floating tray and the electrical connector, and the floating tray can float up and down under the action of gravity of the battery pack, and the interlocking mechanism moves the electrical connector along with it in a direction toward or away from the battery when the floating tray floats up and down. Placing the exhausted battery pack in the second position into the charging bin for charging is: placing the depleted battery pack on a floating tray within the charging bin so that the electrical connection plug of the battery pack is aligned with the electrical connector; the floating tray floats downward by a first displacement amount due to the action of gravity of the battery; The interlocking mechanism moves the electrical connector by a second displacement amount in a direction approaching the battery pack to form an electrical connection with the battery pack. The first floating direction is vertically downward, that is, the gravity of the battery pack is fully applied to the floating tray, so that the floating tray can move in a more timely manner along with the interlocking mechanism.

[0015] Preferably, the floating tray is provided with a reset element, and removing a fully charged battery pack from the charging bin and placing it in the third position includes: removing the fully charged battery pack from the floating tray within the charging bin and placing it in a third position on an inverter mechanism; the floating tray is floated upward by a first displacement amount due to the action of a reset element; The interlocking mechanism rotates the electrical connector and moves it by a second displacement amount in a direction away from the battery pack, thereby detaching it from the battery pack.

[0016] Preferably, the second displacement amount is greater than the first displacement amount.

[0017] Preferably, the interlocking mechanism includes a sliding mechanism, a first traction member, and a second traction member, the first traction member being connected to the sliding mechanism and the floating tray, respectively, the second traction member being connected to the electrical connector and the mounting seat, respectively, the electrical connector being attached to the mounting seat and moving relative to the mounting seat, and the second traction member being in sliding contact with the sliding mechanism. This forms the structure of a moving slide. Here, since the moving distance of the second pulling member is twice that of the first pulling member, it is realized that the second displacement amount is larger than the first displacement amount.

[0018] Preferably, placing the depleted battery pack in the second position into the charging bin for charging includes: transferring a depleted battery pack onto the floating tray within the charging bin; the first pulling member being entrained by the floating tray to pull the sliding mechanism; the second pulling member is rotated by the sliding mechanism to pull the electrical connector; and moving the electrical connector toward the depleted battery pack to form an electrical connection.

[0019] Preferably, removing the fully charged battery pack from the charging bin comprises: removing a fully charged battery pack from said floating tray within the charging bin; the floating tray is floated upward by a first displacement amount due to the action of a reset element; the first and second pulling members causing movement along with the floating tray and the electrical connector; The electrical connector moves a second displacement amount in a direction away from the battery pack to detach from the battery pack.

[0020] Preferably, the battery pack is rotated and moved toward the charging bin or electric vehicle at the same time, or the battery pack is rotated and then moved toward the charging bin or electric vehicle, or the battery pack is moved toward the charging bin or electric vehicle before being rotated. [Effects of the Invention]

[0021] The positive advances and advantages of the present invention are as follows: In the present invention, the space required for turning over the battery pack itself is small, and the turning mechanism is significantly reduced compared to battery exchange devices that are structurally designed to rotate on a plane. As a result, the battery exchange method of the present invention can insert and remove large battery packs in and out of a charging station using a small space and structure. This simplifies the battery exchange process and improves the battery exchange speed. Furthermore, it can achieve battery exchange in electric vehicles using a single large battery pack while reducing the floor space occupied by the battery exchange station, thereby reducing the cost of the battery pack and promoting its widespread use. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] 3 is a flowchart of a battery replacement method according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a diagram showing the overall structure of a battery exchange device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] 1 is a structural diagram of a battery exchange device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which the device is turned over by 90 degrees. [Figure 4] 1 is a bottom structural view of a battery exchange device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a structural diagram of a charging device in a charging assembly according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a charging assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an arrangement of charging devices according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8]1 is a structural diagram of a charging station according to a first embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] The present invention will be further explained with reference to the following examples, but the present invention is not limited to the scope of the examples.

[0024] Example 1 As shown in FIG. 1, the battery replacement method disclosed in this embodiment includes the following steps S1 to S6. Step S1 is to remove the battery pack 4 that is out of power from the electric vehicle 3 and place it in the first position. Step S2 is to flip the removed, depleted battery pack 4 from the first position to the second position along the first direction. Step S3 is to place the battery pack 4 in the second position that is out of power into the charging bin A of the charging assembly 2 for charging. Step S4 is to take out the fully charged battery pack 4 from the charging bin A and place it in the third position. Step S5 is to flip the removed fully charged battery pack 4 from the third position to the fourth position along the second direction. Step S6 is to put the fully charged battery pack 4 in the fourth position into the electric vehicle 3.

[0025] The battery exchange method in this embodiment is suitable for exchanging and transporting battery packs 4 on electric vehicles 3 within a battery exchange station. Charging bin A is provided with a charging assembly 2 for charging depleted battery packs 4 removed from the electric vehicle 3, and also stores fully charged battery packs 4 for continued use on the electric vehicle 3. The battery exchange station is typically also provided with battery exchange equipment that combines the functions of battery insertion and removal and battery transportation. That is, the battery exchange equipment can insert and remove batteries from the electric vehicle 3 and charging bin A, and can also transport batteries between the electric vehicle 3 and charging bin A, transferring depleted battery packs 4 from the electric vehicle 3 to the charging bin A and transferring fully charged batteries from the charging bin A to the electric vehicle 3. In other embodiments, the battery exchange equipment may only have a battery transportation function, and the operations of inserting and removing batteries into and from the electric vehicle 3 and charging bin A may be performed by a separate battery insertion and removal mechanism.

[0026] In this embodiment, the battery exchange device is provided with a reversing mechanism 10 to enable the reversal of the battery pack 4. The first position is the initial position on the reversing mechanism 10 of the depleted battery pack 4 removed from the electric vehicle. The first position normally corresponds to the battery pack 4 on the electric vehicle 3. The second position is the position on the reversing mechanism 10 of the depleted battery pack 4 inverted along the first direction. The second position corresponds to the bin position on the charging bin A for placing the depleted battery pack 4. The third position is the initial position on the reversing mechanism 10 of the fully charged battery pack 4 removed from the charging bin A. The fourth position is the position on the reversing mechanism 10 of the fully charged battery pack 4 inverted along the second direction. Here, the depleted battery pack 4 does not only refer to a battery pack 4 with zero charge, but also includes a case where the remaining charge of the battery pack 4 is not enough to continue running the electric vehicle 3. The fully charged battery pack 4 does not only refer to a battery pack 4 with 100% charge, but also includes a case where the charge of the battery pack 4 is sufficient to continue running the electric vehicle 3. Here, the first position and the fourth position may be the same position, and the second position and the third position may be the same position. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, in this embodiment, the first position and the fourth position are the same position. That is, the initial position of the depleted battery pack 4 on the reversing mechanism 10 is the same as the position of the fully charged battery pack 4 inverted along the second direction on the reversing mechanism 10, and the position of the depleted battery pack 4 inverted along the first direction on the reversing mechanism 10 is the same as the initial position of the fully charged battery pack 4 removed from the charging bin A on the reversing mechanism 10. As a result, the reversing state of the reversing mechanism 10 is mainly switched between two reversing states.

[0027] The reversing mechanism 10 in this technical solution allows the battery pack 4 to be reversed while being transported between the electric vehicle 3 and the charging bin A, to accommodate the different orientations of the electrical connectors in the electric vehicle 3 and the charging bin A.

[0028] The reversal method employed in the present invention involves rotating the battery pack 4. The space required for reversing the battery pack 4 itself is small, and the reversal mechanism 10 can be significantly reduced in size compared to the battery exchange device 1, which is structured to rotate on a plane. As a result, the battery exchange method of the present invention can insert and remove a large battery pack 4 at a charging station using a small space and structure. This simplifies the battery exchange process and improves the battery exchange speed. Furthermore, it is possible to achieve battery exchange of an electric vehicle 3 using a single large battery pack 4 while reducing the floor space occupied by the battery exchange station, thereby reducing the cost of the battery pack 4 and facilitating widespread use.

[0029] 2 to 8 show the structures of a battery replacement device 1 and a charging assembly 2 (including a charging device 20) that can be used to implement the present battery replacement method. However, the present battery replacement method is not limited to the battery replacement device 1 and charging assembly listed in this embodiment, and other implementing devices may also be used.

[0030] In this embodiment, the battery replacement method is to provide a reversing mechanism 10 to reverse the battery pack 4 that is low on power or fully charged. Removing the depleted battery pack 4 from the electric vehicle 3 and placing it in the first position includes removing the depleted battery pack 4 from the electric vehicle 3 and placing it in the first position on the reversing mechanism 10; Alternatively, removing the fully charged battery pack 4 from the charging bin A and placing it in the third position includes removing the fully charged battery pack 4 from the charging bin A and placing it in the third position of the inverting mechanism 10.

[0031] In this embodiment, the reversing mechanism 10 is provided with an extension mechanism, which is used to take in and out the battery pack 4 on the electric vehicle 3 and the charging bin A. Removing the exhausted battery pack 4 from the electric vehicle 3 and placing it in the first position includes controlling the extension mechanism to extend it toward the electric vehicle 3, controlling the extension mechanism to lift the exhausted battery pack 4 inside the electric vehicle 3, and controlling the extension mechanism to retract it so that the exhausted battery pack 4 reaches the first position on the reversing mechanism 10; Alternatively, removing the fully charged battery pack 4 from the charging bin A and placing it at the third position includes controlling the extension mechanism to extend it toward the charging bin A, controlling the extension mechanism to lift the fully charged battery pack 4 in the charging bin A, and controlling the extension mechanism to retract so that the fully charged battery pack 4 reaches the third position on the reversing mechanism 10. The method further includes a step of aligning the extension mechanism with the battery pack 4 on the electric vehicle 3 / charging bin A before controlling the extension mechanism to extend it toward the electric vehicle. Here, a detection device such as a sensor or a guidable mechanical structure allows the extension mechanism to be spatially aligned with the battery pack 4, and then moves to and extends the battery pack 4 on the electric vehicle 3 / charging bin A. In other embodiments, a separate battery insertion / removal mechanism may remove the battery pack 4 from the electric vehicle 3 or charging bin A and place it in the first or third position.

[0032] In this embodiment, controlling the removed battery pack 4 to turn from the first position to the second position along the first direction includes: Whether the battery pack 4 is in the first position is determined by a detection device such as a sensor or limit switch in the reversing mechanism 10, and the sensor or limit switch may be provided in the first reversing mechanism 11, and may trigger an in-position signal when the movement of the battery pack 4 on the first reversing mechanism 11 reaches the in-position state; When the movement of the battery pack 4 on the first reversing mechanism 11 reaches the in-position, the reversing mechanism 10 is controlled to reverse the depleted battery pack 4 in the first direction, and in this embodiment, the rotation of the reversing motor 157 is controlled to control the reversing mechanism 10 to rotate in the first direction through the transmission of the gear group 16. When the gear group has an even number of gears, the reversing motor 157 rotates in the direction opposite to the first direction to rotate the reversing mechanism 10 in the first direction, and when the number of gear groups is odd, the reversing motor 157 rotates in the first direction to rotate the reversing mechanism 10 in the first direction. A detection device such as a sensor or limit switch in the reversing mechanism 10 determines whether the battery pack 4 has reached the second position, and the sensor or limit switch may be provided in the second reversing mechanism 12, and may trigger an in-position signal when the movement of the battery pack 4 on the second reversing mechanism 12 reaches the in-position state; If so, the reversing mechanism 10 is controlled to stop the reversing of the battery pack 4 that is out of power.

[0033] Controlling the removed fully charged battery pack 4 to flip from the third position to the fourth position along the second direction, Whether the battery pack 4 is in the third position is determined by a detection device such as a sensor or limit switch in the reversing mechanism 10, and the sensor or limit switch may be provided in the second reversing mechanism 12, and may trigger an in-position signal when the movement of the battery pack 4 on the second reversing mechanism 12 reaches the in-position state; When the movement of the battery pack 4 on the second reversing mechanism 12 reaches the in-position, the reversing mechanism 10 is controlled to reverse the depleted battery pack 4 in the second direction, and in this embodiment, the rotation of the reversing motor 157 is controlled to control the reversing mechanism 10 to rotate in the second direction through the transmission of the gear group 16. When the gear group has an even number of gears, the reversing motor 157 rotates in the direction opposite to the second direction to rotate the reversing mechanism 10 in the second direction, and when the number of gear groups is odd, the reversing motor 157 rotates in the second direction to rotate the reversing mechanism 10 in the second direction. A detection device such as a sensor or limit switch in the reversing mechanism 10 determines whether the battery pack 4 has reached the fourth position, and the sensor or limit switch may be provided in the first reversing mechanism 11, and may trigger an in-position signal when the movement of the battery pack 4 on the first reversing mechanism 11 reaches the in-position state; When the movement of the battery pack 4 on the first reversing mechanism 11 reaches the in-position, the reversing mechanism 10 is controlled to stop the reversing of the battery pack 4 that is out of power.

[0034] In this embodiment, the reversing mechanism 10 includes a first reversing section 11 and a second reversing section 12. The first reversing section 11 is for placing a battery pack 4 at the first position or the fourth position, and the second reversing section 12 is for placing a battery pack 4 at the second position or the third position. The first reversing section 11 and the second reversing section 12 are arranged perpendicular to each other. The first reversing section 11 and the second reversing section 12 respectively allow the placement of battery packs 4 at different positions and accommodate the insertion and removal of battery packs 4 on the electric vehicle 3 side and the charging bin A side, respectively. Here, the first reversing section 11 docks with the electric vehicle 3 when facing the first position or the fourth position to insert or remove the battery pack 4, and the second reversing section 12 docks with the charging bin A and moves the battery pack 4 from the second position to the charging bin A or from the charging bin A to the third position to insert or remove the battery pack 4. In this embodiment, the docking of the first reversing unit and the electric vehicle may not be exactly aligned, but may include a case where there is a certain gap or deviation, and the reversing mechanism achieves alignment with the electric vehicle by moving as a whole; in this embodiment, the docking of the first reversing unit and the charging bin may not be exactly aligned, but may include a case where there is a certain gap or deviation, and the reversing mechanism achieves alignment with the charging bin by moving as a whole.

[0035] In this embodiment, preferably, the first inverting portion 11 holds the battery pack 4 horizontally at the first position and the fourth position when docking with the electric vehicle 3. The second inverting portion 12 holds the battery pack 4 horizontally at the second position and the third position when docking with the charging assembly 2.

[0036] In this embodiment, the reversing mechanism 10 includes a first reversing section 11 and a second reversing section 12. The first reversing section 11 is for placing the battery pack 4 at the first position or the fourth position, and the second reversing section 12 is for placing the battery pack 4 at the second position or the third position. The first reversing section 11 and the second reversing section 12 are coaxially reversed. The rotation axes of the first and second inversion sections 11 and 12 are provided with detection points for controlling the inversion angles of the first and second inversion sections 11 and 12 and for determining whether the battery pack 4 is in position, or the first and second inversion sections 11 and 12 are provided with detection sensors for detecting whether the battery pack 4 is in position.

[0037] The battery replacement method includes detecting whether the first reversing portion 11 and the second reversing portion 12 have rotated into position, and if the rotation has been made into position, starting to move the battery pack 4, and if the rotation has not been made into position, continuing to rotate the battery pack; And / or, the method further includes detecting whether the movement of the battery pack 4 on the first inversion section 11 or the second inversion section 12 has resulted in it being in position, and if the movement has resulted in it being in position, starting the rotation of the first inversion section 11 or the second inversion section 12, and if the movement has not resulted in it being in position, continuing the movement.

[0038] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 , the first inverting unit 11 of this embodiment includes a first extension mechanism 111, and the second inverting unit 12 includes a second extension mechanism 121. The first extension mechanism 111 and the second extension mechanism 121 are extendable. Here, the first extension mechanism 111 moves the battery pack 4 in the electric vehicle 3 to a first position or moves the battery pack 4 at a fourth position to the electric vehicle 3, and the second extension mechanism 121 moves the battery pack 4 at the second position to the charging assembly 2 or moves the battery pack 4 from the charging assembly 2 to a third position. The first extension mechanism 111 is docked with the electric vehicle 3 to enable insertion and removal of the battery pack 4. The second extension mechanism 121 is docked with the charging bin A to enable insertion and removal of the battery pack 4.

[0039] 2 to 4, the first reversing unit 11 of this embodiment includes a first extending mechanism 111 and a turntable 13, and the second reversing unit 12 includes a second extending mechanism 121 and a turntable 13. Here, the turntable 13 in this embodiment is a part shared by the first reversing unit 11 and the second reversing unit 12. It is also possible to understand that the first reversing unit 11 includes the first extending mechanism 111 and the turntable 13, and the second reversing unit 12 includes only the second extending mechanism 121, or that the first reversing unit 11 includes only the first extending mechanism 111, and the second reversing unit 12 includes the second extending mechanism 121 and the turntable 13.

[0040] The bottom of the turntable 13 and the output gear 162 are connected via a rotation shaft 163. Therefore, when the turntable 13 rotates, the turntable 13 rotates together. In this case, the first reversing unit 11 and the second reversing unit 12 are simultaneously reversed.

[0041] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 , the extending direction of the first extension mechanism 111 and the extending direction of the second extension mechanism 121 intersect, so that the battery pack 4 is relayed between the first extension mechanism 111 and the second extension mechanism 121. When the battery pack 4 is completely transported on the first extension mechanism 111, it naturally comes into contact with the second extension mechanism 121 at a first position. When it is turned over, it reaches a second position, and the second extension mechanism 121 carries the battery pack 4 and transports it. Conversely, when the battery pack 4 is completely transported on the second extension mechanism 121, it naturally comes into contact with the first extension mechanism 111 at a third position. When it is turned over, it reaches a fourth position, and the first extension mechanism 111 carries the battery pack 4 and transports it.

[0042] When removing the battery, the first extension mechanism 111 retracts after removing the battery pack from the electric vehicle 3, placing the battery pack 4 at a first position on the first reversal section 11, and when the reversal mechanism is driven to revert the battery pack 4 by 90 degrees along the first direction, the battery pack 4 is positioned at a second position on the second reversal section 12, and the second extension mechanism 121 extends and sends the battery pack 4 at the second position into the corresponding charging bin A, and the second extension mechanism 121 retracts to its initial position. When replacing the battery, the battery replacement device 1 is moved to the charging bin A where the fully charged battery pack 4 is placed, the second extension mechanism 121 is extended to remove the fully charged battery pack 4 from the charging bin, and retracted to place the battery pack 4 in a third position on the second reversal section 12, and the reversal mechanism 10 is driven to revert the battery pack 4 by 90 degrees along the second direction, so that the battery pack 4 is positioned in a fourth position on the first reversal section 11, and the first extension mechanism 121 sends the battery pack 4 in the fourth position into the electric vehicle 3, and the first extension mechanism 121 is retracted to its initial position.

[0043] In this embodiment, the first extension mechanism 111 and the second extension mechanism 121 are both telescopic forks. The telescopic fork may be any existing device capable of longitudinal extension and retraction. In this embodiment, the first extension mechanism 111 and the second extension mechanism 121 are extendable track structures whose interiors are driven by structures such as electromagnetic force, pulleys, sprockets, or gears. Here, the transmission shaft 153 and the transmission shaft 156 are connected to the internal structures of the first extension mechanism 111 and the second extension mechanism 121, respectively. During operation, the rotation generated by the transmission shaft 153 and the transmission shaft 156 is converted into extension and retraction motions of the first extension mechanism 111 and the second extension mechanism 121 via structures such as electromagnetic force, pulleys, sprockets, or gears.

[0044] 2 and 4, the battery exchange device 1 of this embodiment further includes a first transmission motor 151 and a second transmission motor 154, both of which are connected below the turntable 13. The first transmission motor 151 directly or indirectly drives the first extension mechanism 111, and the second transmission motor 154 directly or indirectly drives the second extension mechanism 121. As shown in FIG. 4, the first transmission motor 151 is connected to a transmission shaft 153 via a direction changer 152 to drive and operate the first extension mechanism 111. The second transmission motor 154 is connected to a transmission shaft 156 via a changer 155 to drive and operate the second extension mechanism 111. The inside of the direction changer 152 and the direction changer 155 may be a structure such as a bevel gear, which switches the motion axes of the first transmission motor 151 and the second transmission motor 154 by 90 degrees, and then drives the first extension mechanism 111 and the second extension mechanism 121 via the transmission shaft 153 and the transmission shaft 156.

[0045] In this embodiment, the battery exchange device 1 further includes a limit sensor, which may be a limit switch, a distance sensor, or the like. Here, the limit sensor may be provided on a non-moving part of the first extension mechanism 111 to detect the movement distance or position of the moving part of the first extension mechanism, or the limit sensor may be provided on the turntable 13 to detect the movement distance or position of the moving part of the first extension mechanism. The limit sensor detects the extension distance of the first extension mechanism 111 and the second extension mechanism 121 and adjusts the extension distance of the first extension mechanism 111 and the second extension mechanism 121 by the first transmission motor 151 and the second transmission motor 154, respectively. For example, if the detected extension distance of the first extension mechanism 111 is less than a set distance, the first transmission motor 151 continues to rotate until it reaches a preset position, thereby realizing closed-loop control and ensuring accurate imposition of the first extension mechanism 111 and the second extension mechanism 121.

[0046] In this embodiment, the battery exchange device 1 further includes a reversing in-position sensor for detecting the reversing angle of the first reversing unit 11 and the second reversing unit 12 and adjusting the reversing angle of the first reversing unit 11 and the second reversing unit 12 by the reversing motor 157. The reversing in-position sensor may be a limit switch, an angle sensor, a grating scale, or the like. Here, the reversing in-position sensor may be provided on the base 14 to detect the reversing angle of the turntable 13 to obtain the reversing angle of the first reversing unit 11 and the second reversing unit 12. For example, if the detected reversing angle of the turntable 13 is less than a set reversing angle, the reversing motor 157 continues to rotate until it reaches a preset position, thereby realizing closed-loop control and ensuring accurate in-position of the first reversing unit 11 and the second reversing unit 12.

[0047] 2 and 4, the reversing drive device of this embodiment includes a reversing motor 157 and a gear group 16. The gear group 16 includes at least an input gear 161 and an output gear 162. The input gear 161 and the output gear 162 mesh with each other. The reversing motor 157 directly or indirectly drives the input gear 161 to rotate. The first reversing unit 11 and the second reversing unit 12 are fixedly connected to the output gear 162 via a reversing shaft and rotate together with the output gear 162. The input gear 161 and the output gear 162 may be connected via a direct output or may be connected via another gear. Here, the reversing motor 157 drives the gear group 16 to rotate by connecting to a transmission shaft 159 via a direction changer 158.

[0048] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, a charging device 20 is provided in the charging bin A. As shown in Figure 5, the charging device 20 includes a floating tray 21 on which a battery is placed, and an electrical connector 22 for forming an electrical connection with the battery pack 4 to charge and discharge the battery pack 4. In this embodiment, the floating tray 21 may be a flat structure, a frame structure, or any other structural member usable for supporting a battery pack and capable of floating along a first direction, the charging assembly 2 further includes a fixed tray 28 provided below the floating tray 21 for supporting and placing the floating tray 21, the charging bin A is configured as a charging rack, the charging rack is configured by a plurality of horizontal beams and vertical beams, and the floating tray 21 may be provided directly on the charging rack.

[0049] 6 and 7 , the charging equipment 20 of this embodiment further includes an electrical connector 22 for forming an electrical connection with the battery pack 4 to charge or discharge the battery pack 4. In this embodiment, the electrical connector 22 is provided above the floating tray 21 in the charging bin A and can vertically establish an electrical plug-in connection with the battery pack 4 to charge or discharge the battery pack. The electrical connector 22 may also be provided directly on the lateral beam of the charging rack via a mounting seat. The electrical connector 22 includes a charging head 221 and a wiring end (not shown, but may actually be located on the top or side of the electrical connector 22), where the charging head 221 is for forming an electrical connection with the charging port of the battery pack 4 and the wiring end is for connecting to an external charging module to charge the battery pack 4.

[0050] Putting the battery pack 4 in the second position that is out of power into the charging bin A for charging, transferring the depleted battery pack 4 onto the floating tray 21 within the charging bin A; and controlling the electrical connector to move toward the depleted battery pack 4 to form an electrical connection.

[0051] As shown in Fig. 5, an interlocking mechanism 23 is provided between the floating tray 21 and the electrical connector 22, allowing the floating tray 21 to float up and down due to the gravity of the battery pack 4. The electrical connector 22 is slidably mounted on a mounting seat 24 and attached to the charging bin A via the mounting seat 24. As shown in Fig. 3, the charging equipment 20 of this embodiment further includes an interlocking mechanism 23 connected to the floating tray 21 and the electrical connector 22, respectively. When the floating tray 21 generates a first displacement amount along the first floating direction V, the interlocking mechanism 23 accompanies the electrical connector 22, moving it a second displacement amount in a direction approaching the battery pack 4, thereby establishing an electrical connection between the electrical connector 22 and the battery pack 4.

[0052] In this embodiment, the floating tray 21 is moved by the gravity of the battery pack 4, and an interlocking mechanism 23 is provided between the floating tray 21 and the electrical connector 22, which further moves the electrical connector 22 toward the battery pack 4 to establish an electrical connection. In other words, the electrical connection is achieved by using the gravity of the battery pack 4 itself, and there is no need to use a separate power source to drive and move the electrical connector 22. Furthermore, this interlocking method is applicable to electrical connections of battery packs 4 in various orientations.

[0053] The electrical connector 22 of the present invention is docked to the battery pack 4 through interlocking via the interlocking mechanism 23, and is not a fixed electrical connector 22. Therefore, the moving electrical connector 22 does not need to be oriented in the same direction as the transmission direction of the battery pack 4, and the orientation of the electrical connector 22 can be in any direction. Here, the interlocking mechanism 23 generates the interlocking by changing the placement of the floating tray 21, so the electrical connector 22 can react in a timely manner and dock with the battery pack 4. The power that moves the electrical connector 22 comes from the gravity of the battery pack 4, and no external drive is required, which is advantageous for simplifying the internal structure of the charging device 20.

[0054] As described above, the interlocking mechanism moves the electrical connector 22 along with the floating tray 21 as it moves up and down, either toward or away from the battery. Placing a depleted battery pack 4 in the second position into the charging bin A for charging is the second extension mechanism 121 places the depleted battery pack 4 from the third position onto the floating tray 21 in the charging bin A so that the electrical connection plug of the battery pack 4 is aligned with the electrical connector 22; The floating tray 21 floats downward by a first displacement amount due to the action of gravity of the battery pack 4; The interlocking mechanism 23 moves the electrical connector 22 by a second displacement amount in a direction approaching the battery pack 4 to form an electrical connection with the battery pack 4. Here, to remove the fully charged battery pack 4 from the charging bin A, the second extension mechanism 121 is aligned to remove the fully charged battery pack 4 from the floating tray 21 in the charging bin A and move to a fourth position; The floating tray 21 floats upward by a first displacement amount due to the action of the reset element 26; The interlocking mechanism 23 rotates the electrical connector 22 and, in cooperation with the action of the reset element 27, moves the electrical connector 22 by a second displacement amount in a direction away from the battery pack 4, thereby detaching the electrical connector 22 from the battery pack 4.

[0055] When the battery pack 4 is installed in an electric vehicle, the electrical connection between the battery pack 4 and the electrical connector 22 on the electric vehicle is generally made horizontally. This horizontal electrical connection is suitable for when the electric vehicle is running, especially when the vehicle is subject to significant shaking, providing a highly reliable and stable electrical connection. However, when the battery pack 4 is removed from the electric vehicle and placed in a charging bin for charging or discharging, and connected to the horizontal electrical connector at the back, the battery pack must be rotated 180 degrees horizontally to dock with the electrical connector in the charging bin. This requires a large battery pack to occupy a large space for battery replacement, and is not suitable for battery replacement areas that are small. In contrast, by using the electrical connector 22 provided above the floating tray in this embodiment, charging and discharging can be achieved simply by inverting the battery pack 4 by 90 degrees in the vertical direction, eliminating the need for a large space for battery replacement. In addition, the gravity of the battery pack 4 is used to achieve an electrical connection between the battery pack 4 and the electrical connector 22, eliminating the need for a separate driving mechanism. Simply placing the battery pack in position on the floating tray can achieve an electrical connection between the two, eliminating the need for complicated operations related to aligning the electrical connector and the battery pack, improving charging docking efficiency and reducing charging costs.

[0056] In other embodiments, the electrical connector 22 may be provided on the side or bottom of the charging bin A to accommodate different orientations of the receptacle end of the battery pack 4 placed in the charging bin A. Specifically, the interlocking mechanism 23 of this embodiment can be used. In this case, the installation position of the electrical connector 22 can be adjusted so that the electrical connector 22 moves closer to the battery pack 4 due to the force of gravity.

[0057] Preferably, the interlocking mechanism includes a sliding mechanism 233, a first pulling member 231, and a second pulling member 232, the first pulling member 231 being connected to the sliding mechanism 233 and the floating tray 21 respectively, the second pulling member 232 being connected to the electrical connector 22 and the mounting seat 24, the electrical connector 22 being attached to the mounting seat 24 and moving relative to the mounting seat 24, and the second pulling member 232 being in sliding contact with the sliding mechanism 232.

[0058] The interlocking mechanism 23 of this embodiment includes a sliding mechanism 233, a first pulling member 231, and a second pulling member 232. The first pulling member 231 is connected to the sliding mechanism 233 and the floating tray 21, respectively. The second pulling member 232 is connected to the electrical connector 22 and the mounting seat 24, respectively. The electrical connector 22 is attached to the mounting seat 24 and moves relative to the mounting seat 24. The second pulling member 232 slides against the sliding mechanism 233, thereby forming a moving slider structure.

[0059] The first pulling member 231 and the second pulling member 232 may be structured as steel wire ropes, belts, or the like. The sliding mechanism 233 may be structured as a pulley, slide block, or the like. The second pulling member 232 slides below the sliding mechanism 233. Here, the second pulling member 232 not only slides relative to the sliding mechanism 233 but also moves up and down along with the sliding mechanism 233. On the other hand, the first pulling member 231 is directly fixed to the sliding mechanism 233 and therefore moves along with the sliding mechanism 233. As a result, regardless of the direction of movement, the movement distance of the second pulling member 232 includes the sliding distance relative to the sliding mechanism 233 and the distance moved along with the sliding mechanism 233, whereas the movement distance of the first pulling member 231 includes only the distance moved along with the sliding mechanism 233. Therefore, the movement distance of the second pulling member 232 is twice that of the first pulling member 231. Furthermore, one end of the second pulling member 232 is connected to the mounting seat 24 and remains fixed so that it does not move, and therefore the electric connector 22 connected to the other end of the second pulling member 232 can move a distance that is twice as long as that of the first pulling member 231. This makes it possible for the second displacement amount to be greater than the first displacement amount.

[0060] Putting the battery pack 4 in the second position that is out of power into the charging bin A for charging, the second extension mechanism 121 transfers the depleted battery pack 4 from the third position onto the floating tray 21 in the charging bin A; The first pulling member 231 is rotated by the floating tray 21, pulling the sliding mechanism 233 downward together; The second pulling member 232 is rotated by the sliding mechanism 233 and moves downward, and at the same time, the second pulling member itself slides along with the sliding mechanism 233, and one end of the second pulling member is fixed, and the other end pulls the electrical connector 22, thereby realizing a moving distance that is twice as long as that of the floating tray 21; The electrical connector 22 moves towards the depleted battery pack 4 to form an electrical connection.

[0061] Removing a fully charged battery pack 4 from charging bin A the second extension mechanism 121 removes the fully charged battery pack 4 from the floating tray 21 in the charging bin A and moves it to a fourth position; The floating tray 21 floats upward by a first displacement amount due to the action of the reset element 26; At this time, the first pulling member 231 and the second pulling member 232 are loosened, so that they move together with the floating tray 21 and the electrical connector 22; The electrical connector 22 moves by a second displacement amount in a direction away from the battery pack 4 due to the action of the reset element 27, and is detached from the battery pack 4. At this time, one end of the second pulling member 232 moves upward together with the electrical connector 22, and the second pulling member 232 moves upward together with the sliding mechanism 233, while simultaneously sliding relative to the sliding mechanism 233, and the sliding mechanism 233 pulls the upper end of the first pulling member 231 upward.

[0062] In this embodiment, the battery pack 4 is rotated and at the same time moved toward the charging bin A or the electric vehicle 3, or the battery pack 4 is rotated and then moved toward the charging bin A or the electric vehicle 3, or the battery pack 4 is moved toward the charging bin A or the electric vehicle 3 before being rotated.

[0063] <Example 2> The present embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that it includes a battery loading / unloading mechanism. The battery loading / unloading mechanism and the inversion mechanism 10 may have the same structure or different mechanisms. In this case, the battery pack 4 is loaded and unloaded not by the first extension mechanism 111 and the second extension mechanism 121 but by the battery loading / unloading mechanism. The battery loading / unloading mechanism may be an external, independent mechanism that lifts and clamps the battery pack or lifts the battery pack with telescopic forks to remove the battery pack from the electric vehicle or charging bin and place it in the battery exchange device, or to remove the battery pack from the battery exchange device and place it in the electric vehicle or charging bin. For example, if the battery loading / unloading mechanism is an extension mechanism provided in the electric vehicle 3 or a transmission mechanism provided in the charging bin A, the inversion mechanism 10 can transfer the battery pack 4 once it is aligned. The battery loading / unloading mechanism may also be a separate transport mechanism that moves the battery pack 4 between the inversion mechanism 10 and the charging bin A or the charging vehicle.

[0064] By providing a battery insertion / removal mechanism, insertion / removal of the battery pack 4 into / from the electric vehicle 3 or the charging bin A is realized, and removing the battery pack 4 that is depleted from the electric vehicle 3 and placing it in the first position includes controlling the battery insertion / removal mechanism to remove the battery pack 4 that is depleted from the electric vehicle 3 and place it in the first position on the reversing mechanism 10; Alternatively, removing the fully charged battery pack 4 from the charging bin A and placing it in the third position includes controlling the battery loading / unloading mechanism to remove the fully charged battery pack 4 from the charging bin A and place it in the third position of the inversion mechanism 10.

[0065] In the present invention, the space required for inverting the battery pack itself is small, and the inversion mechanism is significantly smaller in structure than battery exchange devices that require planar rotation. As a result, the battery exchange method of the present invention allows large battery packs to be inserted and removed from a charging station using a small space and structure. This simplifies the battery exchange process and improves the battery exchange speed. Furthermore, it enables battery exchange in electric vehicles using a single large battery pack while reducing the floor space occupied by the battery exchange station, thereby reducing the cost of the battery pack and promoting its widespread use.

[0066] Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, those skilled in the art will understand that these are merely illustrative descriptions, and that the scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the appended claims. Those skilled in the art may make various changes or modifications to these embodiments without departing from the principle and essence of the present invention, and all such changes or modifications shall be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A battery replacement method, comprising: removing a depleted battery pack from the electric vehicle and placing it in a first position; Rotating the removed battery pack from the first position by 90 degrees along the first direction to a second position with the horizontal direction as a rotation axis; placing the exhausted battery pack in the second position into the charging bin to charge it; removing the fully charged battery pack from the charging bin and placing it in a third position; rotating the removed fully charged battery pack 90 degrees from the third position along the second direction with the horizontal direction as a rotation axis to a fourth position; and placing the fully charged battery pack in the fourth position into the electric vehicle.

2. The battery replacement method includes providing a reversing mechanism to rotate the battery pack when it is low on power or when it is fully charged; Removing the depleted battery pack from the electric vehicle and placing it in the first position includes removing the depleted battery pack from the electric vehicle and placing it in the first position on the reversing mechanism; 2. The battery replacement method of claim 1, wherein removing the fully charged battery pack from the charging bin and placing it in the third position comprises removing the fully charged battery pack from the charging bin and placing it in the third position of the inverting mechanism.

3. By providing a battery insertion / removal mechanism, the battery pack can be inserted and removed from the electric vehicle or charging bin; Removing the depleted battery pack from the electric vehicle and placing it in the first position includes controlling a battery removal mechanism to remove the depleted battery pack from the electric vehicle and place it in the first position on the reversing mechanism; Alternatively, the step of removing the fully charged battery pack from the charging bin and placing it in the third position includes controlling a battery loading / unloading mechanism to remove the fully charged battery pack from the charging bin and place it in the third position of the inverting mechanism.

4. By providing an extension mechanism to the inversion mechanism, it can be used to take in and out the battery pack in the charging bin of an electric vehicle, Removing the depleted battery pack from the electric vehicle and placing it in the first position includes controlling an extension mechanism to extend toward the electric vehicle, controlling the extension mechanism to lift the depleted battery pack in the electric vehicle, and controlling the extension mechanism to retract so that the depleted battery pack reaches the first position on a reversing mechanism; Alternatively, the battery replacement method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein removing the fully charged battery pack from the charging bin and placing it in the third position includes controlling an extension mechanism to extend toward the charging bin, controlling the extension mechanism to lift the fully charged battery pack in the charging bin, and controlling the extension mechanism to retract in order to allow the fully charged battery pack to reach the third position on the inversion mechanism.

5. Controlling the removed depleted battery pack to rotate from the first position to the second position along the first direction includes: determining whether the battery pack is in a first position; When the battery pack is in a first position, controlling the reversing mechanism to rotate the depleted battery pack along a first direction; determining whether the battery pack has reached a second position; The battery replacement method according to any one of claims 2 to 4, further comprising controlling the reversing mechanism to stop rotation of the battery pack that is out of charge when the battery pack reaches the second position.

6. 6. The battery replacement method according to claim 5, wherein the inversion mechanism includes a first inversion portion and a second inversion portion, the first inversion portion is used to place a battery pack in the first position or the fourth position, the second inversion portion is used to place a battery pack in the second position or the third position, and the first inversion portion and the second inversion portion are arranged perpendicular to each other.

7. The inverting mechanism includes a first inverting part and a second inverting part, the first inverting part is used to place the battery pack in the first position or the fourth position, and the second inverting part is used to place the battery pack in the second position or the third position, wherein the battery replacement method comprises: Detecting whether the rotation of the first reversing unit and the second reversing unit has reached the in-position state, and starting the movement of the battery pack when the rotation has reached the in-position state, and continuing the rotation when the rotation has not reached the in-position state; and / or detecting whether the movement of the battery pack on the first inversion section or the second inversion section has resulted in the battery pack being in position, and if the movement has resulted in the battery pack being in position, starting rotation of the first inversion section or the second inversion section, and if the movement has not resulted in the battery pack being in position, continuing the movement.

8. The charging bin is provided with a floating tray for placing the battery and an electrical connector for forming an electrical connection with the battery pack to charge and discharge the battery pack. The charging of the battery pack in the second position by placing the battery pack in the charging bin is transferring the depleted battery pack to a floating tray within the charging bin; 8. The battery replacement method according to claim 2, further comprising controlling an electrical connector to move toward the depleted battery pack to form an electrical connection.

9. An interlocking mechanism is provided between the floating tray and the electrical connector, and the floating tray can float up and down under the action of gravity of the battery pack. The interlocking mechanism is used to move the electrical connector along with the floating tray as it floats up and down, moving it in a direction closer to or away from the battery. The battery pack in the second position that is depleted can be placed in the charging bin for charging. placing the depleted battery pack on a floating tray within the charging bin so that the electrical connection plug of the battery pack is aligned with the electrical connector; the floating tray floats downward by a first displacement amount due to the action of gravity of the battery; 9. The battery replacement method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of: causing the interlocking mechanism to move the electrical connector by a second displacement amount in a direction approaching the battery pack to form an electrical connection with the battery pack.

10. The floating tray is provided with a reset element, and removing a fully charged battery pack from the charging bin and placing it in the third position removing the fully charged battery pack from the floating tray within the charging bin and placing it in a third position on an inverter mechanism; the floating tray is floated upward by a first displacement amount due to the action of a reset element; 10. The battery replacement method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of: causing the interlocking mechanism to move the electrical connector by a second displacement amount in a direction away from the battery pack, thereby detaching the electrical connector from the battery pack.

11. 11. The battery replacement method according to claim 9, wherein the second displacement amount is greater than the first displacement amount.

12. 12. The battery replacement method according to claim 9, wherein the interlocking mechanism includes a sliding mechanism, a first pulling member, and a second pulling member, the first pulling member being connected to the sliding mechanism and the floating tray, respectively, the second pulling member being connected to the electrical connector and the mounting seat, respectively, the electrical connector being attached to the mounting seat and moving relative to the mounting seat, and the second pulling member being in sliding contact with the sliding mechanism.

13. Put the dead battery pack in the second position into the charging bin to charge it. transferring a depleted battery pack onto the floating tray within the charging bin; the first pulling member being dragged by the floating tray to pull the sliding mechanism; the second pulling member is driven by the sliding mechanism to pull the electrical connector; 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising: moving the electrical connector toward the depleted battery pack to form an electrical connection.

14. Removing a fully charged battery pack from the charging bin removing a fully charged battery pack from said floating tray within the charging bin; the floating tray is floated upward by a first displacement amount due to the action of a reset element; the first and second pulling members causing movement along with the floating tray and the electrical connector; The battery replacement method according to claim 12 or 13, further comprising: moving the electrical connector by a second displacement amount in a direction away from the battery pack to detach the electrical connector from the battery pack.

15. The battery exchange method according to at least one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that after rotating the battery pack, the battery pack is moved towards a charging bin or an electric vehicle.

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