Battery pack replacement system for vehicle applications

Abstract

A battery pack exchange system for vehicle applications is provided. [Solution] A battery pack exchange system for use in vehicles includes a plurality of first passages, at least one second passage, and at least one processing equipment, wherein vehicles move along corresponding first passages, the second passages are installed to intersect with the plurality of first passages in a projection direction, and there are processing areas at the intersections of the second passages and the plurality of first passages, and the processing equipment moves between the plurality of processing areas along the corresponding second passages, and performs battery pack exchange work on vehicles located in each processing area, and the battery pack exchange work includes steps of the processing equipment removing a used battery pack from the vehicle and installing a charged battery pack on the vehicle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a processing system, and particularly to a battery pack replacement system applied to vehicles.

Background Art

[0002] The operation and control of electric vehicles are driven by the power stored in the battery pack. Therefore, maintaining the power of the battery pack has become one of the most important tasks. Generally, as methods for maintaining the power of the battery pack of an electric vehicle, at least the following three methods can be selected. First, charging the battery pack of the electric vehicle with alternating current (so-called slow charging). Second, charging the battery pack of the electric vehicle with direct current (so-called rapid charging). Third, directly replacing the battery pack of the electric vehicle.

[0003] When charging the power of the battery pack by the charging method, the biggest drawback is that it takes a long time. For example, when it is desired to charge 80% of the power, it takes about 3 to 5 hours or more in the slow charging method, and at least 20 to 30 minutes even in the rapid charging method. Therefore, it is difficult to charge the power of the battery pack immediately and quickly using the charging method, which causes inconvenience in use.

[0004] The method of directly replacing the battery pack can immediately obtain the power required by the electric vehicle compared to the charging method. However, since the weight of the battery pack is proportional to its mass energy density, the larger the capacity of the battery pack, the heavier its weight, and it is disadvantageous to perform the replacement operation of the battery pack manually. In the current technology, the battery pack of a general electric vehicle occupies about one-fourth of the total weight of the vehicle. For example, in the case of an electric vehicle weighing 2000 kilograms, the weight of the battery pack is about 500 kilograms. Therefore, it is necessary to use automated replacement equipment to replace the battery pack, and the replacement battery packs cannot be shared, which increases the difficulty of implementing the replacement of the battery pack.

[0005] While battery pack replacement can quickly replenish electric vehicles with sufficient power, the cost required to install automated replacement facilities is at least tens of times higher than that of fast-charging facilities, impacting the scale of installation. Insufficient replacement facilities cannot meet the replacement needs of many vehicles during peak times, resulting in vehicle owners having to wait in line for replacements. Installing many replacement facilities at once requires a large investment of capital, and considering the off-peak hours when battery pack replacements are infrequent, such investments may be considered underutilized. The situation described above can occur, for example, at rest stops and service areas on long-distance roads and highways, where there is a high demand for battery pack replacements on holidays (peak demand) and a low demand on weekdays (off-peak demand).

[0006] Furthermore, battery pack replacement falls under the category of a service industry, and the product configuration cannot be planned in advance. Since the replacement work can only be performed after the electric vehicle arrives and the appropriate battery pack and plan are selected according to the vehicle's requirements, delays in work time can seriously impact the overall operational efficiency, which is disadvantageous for both businesses and consumers. In addition, current battery pack replacement services can only be performed on electric vehicles from specific manufacturers or with specific specifications, which makes battery pack replacement inconvenient and limits consumer willingness to purchase and use them.

[0007] Therefore, while replenishing the power of electric vehicles by swapping battery packs is a preferred option, it is actually difficult to balance the investment cost, utilization rate, operating rate, and operational efficiency of the battery pack swapping system in order to address the peak and off-peak characteristics described above. Accordingly, the inventors provide a battery pack swapping system for application in vehicles to improve upon the above problems. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] The objective of the present invention is to provide a battery pack replacement system for vehicle applications, thereby reducing the unit cost of replacing vehicle battery packs, improving system shareability, and enabling flexible system expansion. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a battery pack replacement system for application in vehicles. The battery pack replacement system includes a plurality of first passages, at least one second passage, and at least one processing equipment. Each first passage is provided for at least one vehicle to travel through. The second passages are positioned to intersect the plurality of first passages in projection, and there are processing areas at the intersections of the second passages and the plurality of first passages. The processing equipment moves between the plurality of processing areas along the corresponding second passages and performs battery pack replacement work on the vehicle in at least one of the plurality of processing areas corresponding to different first passages. The battery pack replacement work includes the steps of the processing equipment removing a used battery pack from the vehicle and installing a charged battery pack on the vehicle.

[0010] In one embodiment, the battery pack exchange system further includes a battery pack storage area adjacent to a second passage, which houses a plurality of battery packs, the plurality of battery packs including used battery packs, charged battery packs, and combinations thereof. Furthermore, the processing equipment moves between the battery pack storage area and each processing area to transport used battery packs, charged battery packs, and combinations thereof.

[0011] In one embodiment, the battery pack exchange system includes a battery pack storage area and a battery pack transport device. The battery pack storage area is adjacent to a second passage and stores a plurality of battery packs, which include used battery packs, charged battery packs, and combinations thereof. The battery pack transport device moves along the second passage between the battery pack storage area and the processing equipment, and the battery pack transport device transfers the plurality of battery packs at positions corresponding to the battery pack storage area or the processing equipment.

[0012] In one embodiment, the battery pack exchange system further includes a third passage, a battery pack storage area, and a battery pack transport device. The third passage is located on one side of the second passage. The battery pack storage area is adjacent to the third passage and houses a plurality of battery packs, which include used battery packs, charged battery packs, and combinations thereof. The battery pack transport device moves along the third passage between the battery pack storage area and a position corresponding to processing equipment, and the battery pack transport device transfers the plurality of battery packs at the battery pack storage area or the position corresponding to processing equipment.

[0013] In one embodiment, the battery pack transport device transfers the plurality of battery packs at a location corresponding to the processing equipment while in transit.

[0014] In one embodiment, the battery pack replacement system further includes a battery pack transport device which moves along a second passage between the battery pack storage area and each processing area, and also transports used battery packs, charged battery packs, and combinations thereof.

[0015] In one embodiment, the second passage has two intersection points with each of the plurality of first passages. In another embodiment, the second passage is arranged in a ring around the battery pack storage area.

[0016] In one embodiment, the third passage is located between two adjacent second passages.

[0017] In one embodiment, the contents of the battery pack replacement work performed in each processing area differ, and these contents include the vehicle type, the capacity of the battery pack, the number of battery packs, and combinations thereof.

[0018] In one embodiment, the number of processing equipment moving along the second passage is greater than 1.

[0019] In one embodiment, if the number of processing equipment is greater than one, the specifications of the applicable vehicle or the specifications of the applicable battery pack corresponding to each processing equipment will differ.

[0020] In one embodiment, the battery pack replacement procedure involves removing and installing multiple battery packs on the same vehicle.

[0021] Furthermore, in order to achieve the above objectives, the present invention further provides a battery pack replacement system for application to vehicles. The battery pack replacement system includes a first passage, a second passage, and at least one processing equipment. The first passage is provided for multiple vehicles to be located therein simultaneously. The second passage has multiple overlapping positions in the projection direction with respect to the first passage, and each overlapping position has a processing area. The processing equipment moves along the second passage between the multiple processing areas and performs battery pack replacement work on different vehicles in different processing areas. The battery pack replacement work includes the steps of the processing equipment removing a used battery pack from a vehicle and installing a charged battery pack into a vehicle.

[0022] In one embodiment, the battery pack exchange system includes a third passage, a battery pack storage area, and a battery pack transport device. The third passage is located on one side of the second passage. The battery pack storage area is adjacent to the third passage and stores multiple battery packs. The battery pack transport device moves along the third passage between the battery pack storage area and a position corresponding to the processing equipment. The battery pack transport device transfers the multiple battery packs at the battery pack storage area and / or the position corresponding to the processing equipment.

[0023] In summary, the battery pack replacement system for vehicles according to the present invention has at least the following three features.

[0024] Regarding Feature 1, the first and second aisles are positioned to intersect in projection, and the battery pack replacement work is performed in a three-dimensional structure. The processing equipment utilizes the dead time of vehicle movement and positioning on the first aisle to perform battery pack replacement work on vehicles already positioned on the other first aisle. This improves the utilization rate of high-value processing equipment and reduces the unit cost of replacing vehicle battery packs.

[0025] Regarding Feature 2, if the number of processing equipment is greater than one, the specifications of the applicable vehicles or the applicable battery packs may differ for each processing equipment. This allows vehicles ready for processing equipment and battery pack replacement work to move along different paths and on different planes, and to flexibly assign locations for battery pack replacement work. This allows vehicles with different specifications to perform battery pack replacement work within the same battery pack replacement system, improving the system's shareability.

[0026] Regarding Feature 3, a single processing facility can perform battery pack replacement operations on different vehicles on different first passages. Also, when the battery pack replacement system needs to be expanded, the first passages can be added individually or the processing facilities can be added individually, enabling the system to be flexibly expanded.

Advantages of the Invention

[0027] As described above, the battery pack replacement system applied to the vehicle of the present invention can balance investment costs, utilization rates, and work efficiency, and can be flexibly expanded.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0028] [Figure 1] Schematic diagram of the battery pack replacement system applied to the vehicle in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 2] Schematic diagram of the battery pack replacement system applied to the vehicle in Embodiment 2 of the present invention. [Figure 3] Schematic diagram of the battery pack replacement system applied to the vehicle in Embodiment 3 of the present invention. [Figure 4] Schematic diagram of the battery pack replacement system applied to the vehicle in Embodiment 4 of the present invention. [Figure 5] Schematic diagram of the battery pack replacement system applied to the vehicle in Embodiment 5 of the present invention. [Figure 6] Schematic diagram of the battery pack replacement system applied to the vehicle in Embodiment 6 of the present invention. [Figure 7] Schematic diagram of the battery pack replacement system applied to the vehicle in Embodiment 7 of the present invention.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0029] To enable those skilled in the art to understand the content of the present invention and be able to use it as a basis for implementation, appropriate embodiments and drawings are shown below. The same members will be described with the same reference numerals.

[0030] In this embodiment, the definitions of the terms used are as follows: “Transfer” includes receiving, handing over, and combinations thereof. “Product” refers to a finished product, and also to an object that can operate independently. For example, “electric vehicle” in this specification is a product and has at least necessary components such as a battery pack.

[0031] Referring to Figure 1, the battery pack replacement system 10 applied to a vehicle in Embodiment 1 of the present invention includes four first passages 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d, two second passages 12a and 12b, two processing facilities 13a and 13b, and a battery pack storage area 16.

[0032] Four first passages 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d are located in a first plane at a distance from each other, and each is provided with a first object to move through. The first object is a finished product, for example, an electric vehicle 15a, 15b, 15c, and 15d. Taking the electric vehicle 15a as an example, it can be transported along the first passage 11a by a moving device. The moving device is, for example, an automated guided vehicle (AGV) or an automated transport rail. In other embodiments, the vehicle itself is the moving device and can move within the first passage by being driven by a driver.

[0033] The two second passages 12a and 12b are located in a second plane, distinct from the first plane. In this embodiment, the second plane is located below the first plane. The second passages 12a and 12b are positioned so as to intersect the plurality of first passages 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d in the projection direction. Each intersection point of the second passages 12a and 12b and the plurality of first passages 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d has a machining area. In other words, in this embodiment, there are a total of eight machining areas P11, P12, P13, P14, P15, P16, P17, and P18.

[0034] Furthermore, in other embodiments, the first and second passages are partially located on the same plane, with different planes formed only in the machining area. For example, in the second passage, only the machining area is located below the first passage, while in other positions, the second and first passages are on the same plane.

[0035] Two processing units 13a and 13b move between corresponding processing areas P11, P12, P13, P14, P15, P16, P17, and P18 along corresponding second passages 12a and 12b. Processing areas P11, P12, P13, P14, P15, P16, P17, and P18 provide locations for processing units 13a and 13b to perform battery pack replacement work on electric vehicles 15a, 15b, 15c, and 15d. For example, processing unit 13a moves along the second passage 12a to processing area P11 and performs battery pack replacement work on electric vehicle 15a in processing area P11. Battery pack replacement work includes the steps of processing unit 13a removing the used battery pack from electric vehicle 15a and installing a charged battery pack into electric vehicle 15a.

[0036] Furthermore, the second passages 12a and 12b extend to the battery pack storage area 16, and the processing equipment 13a and 13b can move between the battery pack storage area 16 and the processing areas P11, P12, P13, P14, P15, P16, P17, and P18. The battery pack storage area 16 houses multiple battery packs, including, but not limited to, swappable battery packs. Swappable battery packs are used in electric vehicles equipped with a main battery pack, primarily to provide electric vehicles with more usable capacity. Each swappable battery pack is also equipped with a DC / DC converter that is adaptively designed to correspond to the electrical parameters such as capacity and power of each swappable battery pack, enabling swappable battery packs to charge, discharge, and operate in coordination with different main battery packs in different vehicles, thereby realizing the shareability of swappable battery packs.

[0037] Furthermore, to further improve the shareability of battery packs, a single large-sized battery pack can be divided into multiple smaller-sized battery packs. Each smaller-sized battery pack can contain battery packs of different sizes and / or capacities, and the combination of battery packs of different sizes and / or capacities covers a wider range of combination possibilities that can be applied to different vehicle designs.

[0038] The following describes an embodiment of a battery pack exchange system applied to vehicles. As shown in Figure 1, the battery pack exchange system 10 is installed in a service area along a road. The road here could be, for example, a long-distance road or a highway, but is not limited to these. Electric vehicles can enter the battery pack exchange system 10 while driving on the road and have their batteries exchanged. Electric vehicles may be configured with only a single battery pack, or they may be configured with a main battery pack and a replaceable battery pack simultaneously. Before entering the battery pack exchange system 10, the electric vehicle is guided from a waiting position to the entrance of the first passage 11b, and then transported within the battery pack exchange system 10 by the aforementioned mobile equipment.

[0039] Next, the mobile equipment moves along the first passage 11b to the processing area P12 based on the first guidance information, and the processing equipment 13a moves along the second passage 12a to the processing area P12. The processing equipment 13a can move to the processing area P12 from any position along the second passage 12a, for example, after the processing equipment 13a has finished the battery pack replacement work in the processing area P14, it can immediately move to the processing area P12.

[0040] In the processing area P12, the processing equipment 13a is located below the electric vehicle because the horizontal level of the second plane is lower than the horizontal level of the first plane. The processing equipment 13a first removes the used battery pack from the electric vehicle, and then installs a charged battery pack into the electric vehicle to complete the battery pack replacement operation. After that, the moving equipment moves the electric vehicle out of the first passage 11b along the first passage 11b based on the second guidance information.

[0041] Battery packs used in electric vehicles, whether solid or replaceable, can reach levels of several hundred kilograms or several hundred volts, making processing equipment that meets stability, precision, and safety requirements generally expensive. In the battery pack replacement system of the present invention, the processing equipment performs battery pack replacement on the vehicle in at least one of the plurality of processing areas corresponding to different first passages, and the first and second passages are installed so as to intersect on different planes. Therefore, one processing piece can perform battery pack replacement on electric vehicles on different first passages according to the scheduling method. Consequently, it is not necessary to fix and install expensive processing equipment in each first passage (i.e., the number of processing pieces is less than the number of first passages), and the unit cost of the battery pack replacement system can be reduced. As the number of electric vehicles requiring battery pack replacement increases, the processing equipment can be moved between each corresponding processing area by the scheduling method, improving the utilization rate of expensive processing equipment and reducing unit costs, optimizing the efficiency of the battery pack replacement system and balancing overall investment cost, utilization rate, and work efficiency. The scheduling method includes, but is not limited to, a step in which the processing equipment immediately performs a battery pack replacement operation on an electric vehicle already positioned in another first passage (or processing area) by utilizing the dead time of moving and positioning the electric vehicle in the first passage.

[0042] Furthermore, Figure 2 shows a battery pack replacement system 10A applied to a vehicle in Embodiment 2 of the present invention, which differs from the battery pack replacement system 10 in that it further includes two battery pack transport devices 17a and 17b. In Embodiment 1, used battery packs and charged battery packs (including battery packs that can be replaced with battery packs) are transported by processing equipment, but in this embodiment, used battery packs and charged battery packs are transported by battery pack transport devices 17a and 17b, and move between the battery pack storage area 16 and each processing area P11, P12, P13, P14, P15, P16, P17, and P18 along the corresponding second passages 12a and 12b. The battery pack transport devices 17a and 17b can remove battery packs from the battery pack storage area, and the processing equipment 13a and 13b and the battery pack transport devices 17a and 17b can transfer battery packs. Therefore, the processing equipment 13a and 13b do not need to travel back and forth between the processing area and the battery pack storage area, and battery pack replacement work can be performed quickly.

[0043] Furthermore, in Figure 2, the processing equipment 13a, 13b and the battery pack transport devices 17a, 17b move within the second passage 12a, 12b, and the arrangement of the second passage 12a, 12b is designed so that the processing equipment 13a, 13b and the battery pack transport devices 17a, 17b can move freely without obstructing each other.

[0044] At the same time, to further improve utilization rates, the processing equipment and the battery pack transport device can exchange necessary battery packs while in transit. For example, when the processing equipment moves to the next processing area, the removed used battery packs can be handed over to the battery pack transport device in transit, and the battery pack transport device can take back charged battery packs to be used in the next processing area, thereby making efficient use of time.

[0045] Next, referring to Figure 3, the battery pack replacement system 20 applied to a vehicle in Embodiment 3 of the present invention includes four first passages 21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d, two second passages 22a and 22b, two processing facilities 23a and 23b, a third passage 24, a battery pack storage area 26, and a battery pack transport device 27.

[0046] Four first passages 21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d are arranged at a certain distance from each other, located on a first plane, and are used to transport electric vehicles 25a, 25b, 25c, and 25d, respectively. Each vehicle is equipped with necessary components, including at least a battery pack (including a main battery pack or a replaceable battery pack). For example, electric vehicle 25a can be transported along the first passage 21a by a mobile device. The mobile device may be, for example, an automated guided vehicle (AGV) or an automated transport rail. The vehicle itself is also a mobile device and can move within the first passage by being driven by a driver.

[0047] The two second passages 22a and 22b are located in a second plane, distinct from the first plane. In this embodiment, the second plane is located below the first plane. In other embodiments, the first and second passages are partially located in the same plane, with different planes formed only in the machining area. For example, the second passage is located below the first passage only in the machining area, while the second and first passages are in the same plane elsewhere.

[0048] The second passages 22a and 22b are positioned to intersect the plurality of first passages 21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d in the projection direction. There is a machining area at the intersection of the second passages 22a and 22b and the plurality of first passages 21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d. In other words, in this embodiment there are a total of eight machining areas P21, P22, P23, P24, P25, P26, P27, and P28.

[0049] Two processing units 23a and 23b move between corresponding processing areas P21, P22, P23, P24, P25, P26, P27, and P28 along corresponding second passages 22a and 22b. Processing areas P21, P22, P23, P24, P25, P26, P27, and P28 provide locations for processing units 23a and 23b to perform battery pack replacement work on electric vehicles 25a, 25b, 25c, and 25d. For example, processing unit 23a moves along the second passage 22a to processing area P21 and also performs battery pack replacement work on electric vehicle 25a in processing area P21.

[0050] The third passage 24 is located on one side of the two second passages 22a and 22b, and the one side is at any angle in the three-dimensional direction (up, down, left, and right). One end of the third passage 24 extends to the battery pack storage area 26. The battery pack transport device 27 moves along the third passage 24 between the battery pack storage area 26 and the corresponding positions of the adjacent processing equipment 23a and 23b. The battery pack transport device 27 can retrieve charged battery packs to be installed from the battery pack storage area 26, and can also retrieve used battery packs removed by processing equipment 23a or 23b in a nearby processing area.

[0051] The moving equipment moves the electric vehicle to the processing area P22 along the first passage 21b, and the processing equipment 23a moves to the processing area P22 along the second passage 22a. The battery pack transport device 27 first retrieves a charged, replaceable battery pack from the battery pack storage area 26, and then moves to a position close to (or corresponding to) the processing area P22 to exchange the battery pack with the processing equipment 23a. The processing equipment 23a first removes the used, replaceable battery pack from the electric vehicle, and then installs the charged, replaceable battery pack mounted on the battery pack transport device 27 into the electric vehicle to complete the battery pack replacement operation. After the operation is completed, the electric vehicle is moved again from the first passage 21b along the first passage 21b by the moving equipment.

[0052] The battery pack transport device 27 may also include a battery replenishment device and a battery recovery device (not shown). The battery replenishment device stores charged, replaceable battery packs, and the battery recovery device stores used, replaceable battery packs removed from electric vehicles. This allows for flexible handling of charged and used replaceable battery packs, improving work efficiency.

[0053] In other embodiments, the number of battery pack transport devices 27 moving within the third passage 24 is not limited, nor is the number of battery replenishment devices and battery recovery devices limited. This allows for the simultaneous transport of more battery packs or over longer distances, maximizing the efficiency of the processing equipment. Furthermore, to improve the efficiency of battery pack transport, multiple battery pack transport devices 27 can be moved within the same third passage 24. Simultaneously, to further improve operational efficiency, the processing equipment and battery pack transport devices can exchange necessary battery packs with each other while in motion. For example, when the processing equipment moves to the next processing area, the removed used battery packs can be passed to the moving battery pack transport device, and charged battery packs for use in the next processing area can be obtained, making efficient use of time.

[0054] Referring to Figure 4, the battery pack replacement system 30 applied to a vehicle in Embodiment 4 of the present invention includes four first passages 31a, 31b, 31c, and 31d, two second passages 32a and 32b, two processing equipment 33a and 33b, two third passages 34a and 34b, one battery pack storage area 36, ​​and two battery pack transport devices 37a and 37b. The first passages 31a, 31b, 31c, and 31d, the second passages 32a and 32b, the processing equipment 33a and 33b, and the battery pack storage area 36 are the same as the first passages 21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d, the second passages 22a and 22b, the processing equipment 23a and 23b, and the battery pack storage area 26 in Embodiment 3, and further explanation of these will be omitted.

[0055] The difference between Embodiment 4 and Embodiment 3 is that the third passages 34a and 34b are adjacent to the second passages 32a and 32b, and the third passages 34a and 34b are located on the same or different planes as the second passages 32a and 32b, respectively. For example, on the left and right sides of the same plane, on the top and bottom sides of different planes, or in other adjacent positions. In this embodiment, the third passage 34a has two third sub-passages 34a1 and 34a2, which are installed on both sides of the second passage 32a, respectively. The third passage 34b has two third sub-passages 34b1 and 34b2, which are installed on both sides of the second passage 32b, respectively. Furthermore, the battery pack transport device 37a has two battery pack sub-transport devices 37a1 and 37a2, which move along the third sub-passages 34a1 and 34a2, respectively. Furthermore, the battery pack transport device 37b includes two battery pack sub-transport devices 37b1 and 37b2, which move along the third sub-passages 34b1 and 34b2, respectively.

[0056] The battery pack sub-transport devices 37a1 and 37b1 may be the battery replenishment devices described in Embodiment 3, and the battery pack sub-transport devices 37a2 and 37b2 may be the battery recovery devices described in Embodiment 3. The battery replenishment devices and battery recovery devices similarly move between the battery pack storage area 36 and a position corresponding to the processing area, the battery replenishment devices provide charged battery packs to the processing equipment, and the battery recovery devices retrieve used battery packs removed from electric vehicles from the processing equipment. In other embodiments, the battery pack sub-transport devices 37a1, 37a2, 37b1, and 37b2 can also function simultaneously as battery replenishment devices and battery recovery devices.

[0057] The passages and battery pack storage areas in the battery pack replacement systems of each of the embodiments described above may include different implementations, which are described below with reference to Figures 5 and 6, respectively. It should be noted that these modifications can be applied individually or simultaneously to Embodiments 1 to 4, or other similar embodiments described above.

[0058] Referring to Figure 5, the battery pack replacement system 40 applied to a vehicle in Embodiment 5 of the present invention includes three first passages 41a, 41b, and 41c, one second passage 42, two processing facilities 43a and 43b, and one battery pack storage area 46.

[0059] The three first passages 41a, 41b, and 41c are located on a first plane at a certain distance from each other, and each is used to transport a vehicle. The first passages 41a, 41b, 41c and the vehicle are the same as in the previously described embodiment, so a detailed description is omitted.

[0060] The second passage 42 is located on a second plane, which is different from the first plane. In this embodiment, the second plane is located below the first plane. The second passage 42 is positioned so as to intersect the plurality of first passages 41a, 41b, and 41c in the projection direction. There is a processing area at each intersection of the second passage 42 and the plurality of first passages 41a, 41b, and 41c, meaning that in this embodiment there are a total of six processing areas P41, P42, P43, P44, P45, and P46. In this embodiment, the second passage 42 is positioned in a U-shape or ring within the system and has two or more intersection points with the first passages 41a, 41b, and 41c.

[0061] The two processing equipment units 43a and 43b move along the second passage 42 between the processing areas P41, P42, P43, P44, P45, and P46. In other embodiments, the number of processing equipment units can also be increased or decreased as needed. That is, there may be one or more processing equipment units within the same passage. Therefore, since the processing equipment units 43a and 43b and the battery pack storage area 46 have the same or similar connection relationships and functions as the processing equipment units 13a and 13b and the battery pack storage area 16 in Embodiment 1, a detailed explanation is omitted.

[0062] Referring to Figure 6, the battery pack replacement system 50 for application to a vehicle in Embodiment 6 of the present invention includes three first passages 51a, 51b, and 51c, two second passages 52a and 52b, two processing facilities 53a and 53b, and two battery pack storage areas 56a and 56b. The first passages 51a, 51b, and 51c, the second passages 52a and 52b, and the processing facilities 53a and 53b have the same or similar connection relationships and functions as the first passages 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d, the second passages 12a and 12b, and the processing facilities 13a and 13b in Embodiment 1. The difference from the above embodiment is that both ends of the second passages 52a and 52b are extended to the battery pack storage areas 56a and 56b, respectively.

[0063] Battery pack storage areas 56a and 56b can simultaneously store charged battery packs, used battery packs, and combinations thereof. Alternatively, different storage methods may be used, such as storing charged battery packs in battery pack storage area 56a and used battery packs in battery pack storage area 56b.

[0064] Referring to Figure 7, the battery pack replacement system 60 applied to a vehicle in Embodiment 7 of the present invention includes a first passage 61, a second passage 62, processing equipment 63, and a battery pack storage area 66. The first passage 61 is provided for multiple electric vehicles 65a, 65b to move through it simultaneously, and the method of moving the electric vehicles 65a, 65b is as described above, and a detailed explanation is omitted.

[0065] The second passage 62 has multiple overlapping positions with the first passage 61 in the projection direction, and each overlapping position has processing areas P61, P62, and P63, respectively. In other words, the second passage 62 and the first passage 61 may be installed parallel to each other, in addition to the installation method described in the embodiment above. The processing equipment 63 moves along the second passage 62 between the multiple processing areas P61, P62, and P63 to perform battery pack replacement work for different electric vehicles. The transfer of battery packs is performed by the processing equipment 63 in the battery pack storage area 66.

[0066] An embodiment is described below. As shown in Figure 7, electric vehicle 65a moves to processing area P62, and after positioning is complete, the processing equipment 63 performs the battery pack replacement work. Meanwhile, while electric vehicle 65a is having its battery pack replaced, electric vehicle 65b moves to processing area P63 and is positioned. After that, as soon as the processing equipment 63 completes the battery pack replacement work for electric vehicle 65a, it moves to processing area P63 and performs the battery pack replacement work on electric vehicle 65b, which has been positioned. Therefore, when replacing battery packs, electric vehicles waiting for other battery pack replacements can be moved and positioned simultaneously, saving each other's waiting time. Increasing the number of processing areas makes it possible to move more electric vehicles simultaneously, and it is also possible to increase the number of processing equipment to improve the work efficiency of the system.

[0067] Furthermore, as a further extension of Embodiment 7, the battery pack exchange system also includes a third passage and a battery pack transport device (not shown). The battery pack storage area is adjacent to the third passage, the third passage is located on one side of the second passage, and the battery pack transport device moves along the third passage between the battery pack storage area and the location of the corresponding processing equipment. The battery pack transport device transfers the multiple battery packs at the battery pack storage area and / or the location of the corresponding processing equipment, so that the processing equipment can concentrate on the battery pack exchange operation.

[0068] Finally, the battery pack replacement system may include multiple processing units, but the specifications of the vehicles to which some of these processing units apply, or the specifications of the applicable battery packs, may differ. Vehicle specifications include, but are not limited to, size, appearance, axle-to-axle distance, wheelbase, ground clearance, and battery pack placement. Similarly, battery pack specifications include, but are not limited to, size, appearance, and weight. This allows the battery pack replacement system to be adaptable to various vehicles and battery packs, while maintaining good scheduling efficiency and offering good scalability and shareability.

[0069] In summary, the battery pack replacement system for vehicles according to the present invention performs battery pack replacement work on electric vehicles (e.g., electric vehicles) when the battery runs out of power or when the battery pack needs to be replaced for other reasons, and can achieve a favorable balance between the utilization rate and efficiency of the battery pack replacement system, both during peak and off-peak battery replacement periods. The battery pack replacement system is configured such that a first passage and a second passage intersect on the projection, and high-value (high-priced) processing equipment is moved along the second passage, where the battery pack replacement work is performed on the vehicle. In other words, although the first and second passages are not on the same plane, there is an intersection in the projection, and vehicles and processing equipment can move flexibly along their respective passages. Furthermore, since a single piece of processing equipment can perform battery pack replacement work on electric vehicles on different first passages, even if the number of second passages is less than the number of first passages, that is, even if the number of processing equipment is less than the number of first passages, the overall utilization rate and processing efficiency of the battery pack replacement system can be maintained with a lower unit cost investment.

[0070] Although the present invention has been disclosed above using examples, the present invention is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art can make several modifications without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of protection of the present invention is limited by the appended claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0071] 10, 10A, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60: Battery pack replacement system 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d, 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d, 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 41a, 41b, 41c, 51a, 51b, 51c, 61: First passage 12a, 12b, 22a, 22b, 32a, 32b, 42, 52a, 52b, 62: Second passage 13a, 13b, 23a, 23b, 33a, 33b, 43a, 43b, 53a, 53b, 63: Processing equipment 24, 34a, 34b: Third aisle 34a1, 34a2, 34b1, 34b2: Third sub-passage 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d, 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d, 65a, 65b: Electric vehicles 16, 26, 36, 46, 56a, 56b, 66: Battery pack storage area 17a, 17b, 27, 37a, 37b: Battery pack transport device 37a1, 37a2, 37b1, 37b2: Battery pack sub-transport devices P11, P12, P13, P14, P15, P16, P17, P18, P21, P22, P23, P24, P25, P26, P27, P28, P41, P42, P43, P44, P45, P46, P61, P62, P63: Machining area

Claims

1. Multiple first passages through which multiple vehicles move, wherein each of the vehicles moving in the first passage enters a plurality of first passages from the entrance of the corresponding first passage, At least one second passage having multiple overlapping positions with the plurality of first passages in the projection direction, A plurality of processing regions located in at least a portion of the overlapping positions, wherein in one of the plurality of processing regions, the first passage and the second passage are located on different planes. The system includes at least one processing unit that moves between the plurality of processing areas along a corresponding second passage and performs battery pack replacement work on the plurality of vehicles in at least one of the plurality of processing areas corresponding to a different first passage, The battery pack replacement operation includes the steps of removing the used battery pack from the vehicle using processing equipment, or installing a charged battery pack into the vehicle, and the vehicle having completed the battery pack replacement operation exits along the exit of the first passage. While the processing equipment is performing the battery pack replacement operation on one vehicle, another vehicle is moving or positioned in a different processing area of ​​a different first passage. After completing the battery pack replacement work on the vehicle, the processing equipment then moves to another processing area among the multiple processing areas to perform the battery pack replacement work on the other vehicle. A battery pack replacement system for vehicle applications, characterized by the following features.

2. Adjacent to the second passage, the battery pack storage area houses multiple battery packs, and the processing equipment moves between the battery pack storage area and each processing area, and further includes a battery pack storage area for transporting the used battery packs and the charged battery packs. The battery pack replacement system according to feature 1.

3. Adjacent to the second passage is a battery pack storage area for storing multiple battery packs, A battery pack transport device that moves along the second passage between the battery pack storage area and the processing equipment, and transfers the plurality of battery packs at positions corresponding to the battery pack storage area and / or the processing equipment, The battery pack replacement system according to claim 1, further comprising the following:

4. A third passage located on one side of the at least one second passage, Adjacent to the third passage is a battery pack storage area for storing multiple battery packs, A battery pack transport device that moves along the third passage between the battery pack storage area and a position corresponding to the processing equipment, and transfers the plurality of battery packs at the battery pack storage area and / or the position corresponding to the processing equipment, The battery pack replacement system according to claim 1, further comprising the following:

5. The transfer of the multiple battery packs by the battery pack transport device at a location corresponding to the processing equipment is performed while the device is in transit. The battery pack replacement system according to claim 4, characterized in that

6. The number of processing equipment moving along the second passage is greater than 1. The battery pack replacement system according to claim 1, characterized in that

7. The specifications of the applicable vehicles or the specifications of the applicable battery packs for each of the aforementioned processing equipment may differ. The battery pack replacement system according to claim 6, characterized in that...

8. The battery pack replacement procedure further includes the step of removing and installing multiple battery packs from the same vehicle. The battery pack replacement system according to claim 1, characterized in that

9. A first passage in which two or more vehicles are located simultaneously, wherein the two or more vehicles enter the first passage from the entrance of the first passage, A second passage having multiple overlapping positions in the projection direction with the first passage, A plurality of processing regions located in at least a portion of the overlapping positions, wherein in one of the plurality of processing regions, the first passage and the second passage are located on different planes. The system includes one or more processing equipment that moves between the multiple processing areas along the second passage and performs battery pack replacement work on different vehicles in different processing areas, The battery pack replacement operation includes the steps of removing the used battery pack from the vehicle using the processing equipment, or installing a charged battery pack into the vehicle, and the vehicle having completed the battery pack replacement operation exits along the exit of the first passage. While one of the processing equipment is performing the battery pack replacement operation on one vehicle, another vehicle is moving or positioned in another processing area of ​​the first passage. After completing the battery pack replacement work on the vehicle, the processing equipment then moves to another processing area among the multiple processing areas to perform the battery pack replacement work on the other vehicle. A battery pack replacement system for vehicle applications, characterized by the following features.

10. A third passage located on one side of the second passage, Adjacent to the third passage is a battery pack storage area for storing multiple battery packs, A battery pack transport device that moves along the third passage between the battery pack storage area and a position corresponding to the processing equipment, and transfers the plurality of battery packs at the battery pack storage area and / or the position corresponding to the processing equipment, The battery pack replacement system according to claim 9, further comprising the following:

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