Battery exchange device

Abstract

To provide a vehicle capable of suppressing adhesion of a foreign matter to a battery side connector.SOLUTION: A battery exchange device 1 includes: a battery exchange station which has a first stop area 103A and a second stop area 103B, and removes a first battery 201 from a vehicle body 200a and attaches a second battery 101 to the vehicle body 200a; a removal device 34A which is provided below the first stop area 103A, and removes the first battery 201 from the vehicle body stopped in the first stop area; and an attachment device 34B which is provided below the second stop area 103B, and attaches the second battery 101 to the vehicle body stopped in the second stop area.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0004]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a battery swapping device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, vehicles capable of battery swapping are known. For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-192782, a battery swapping device capable of swapping a battery mounted on the lower part of a vehicle body from below the vehicle body is disclosed. One support plate for supporting an electric vehicle is provided on the floor surface of the battery swapping device. The support plate constitutes a vehicle stop portion.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the battery swapping device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-192782, since batteries are swapped one by one on the support plate, the next vehicle cannot enter the battery swapping device until the vehicle that entered the battery swapping device first exits the battery swapping device. Therefore, the time required to swap the batteries of each of the two vehicles becomes long.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a battery swapping device capable of shortening the time required to swap the batteries of each of two vehicles.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A battery exchange device according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a battery exchange device for exchanging a used first battery attached to the body of an electric vehicle with a charged second battery, and comprises a battery exchange station having a first stop area where the electric vehicle stops and a second stop area provided at a position spaced apart from the first stop area, where the first battery is removed from the vehicle body and the second battery is attached to the vehicle body; a removal device provided below the first stop area for removing the first battery from the vehicle body while it is parked in the first stop area; and an attachment device provided below the second stop area for attaching the second battery to the vehicle body while it is parked in the second stop area. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] This disclosure provides a battery replacement device that can reduce the time required to replace the batteries in each of two vehicles. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This figure schematically shows a battery replacement device in one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] This is a schematic plan view showing the vehicle stopping area and moving parts of a battery replacement device. [Figure 3] This diagram schematically shows the configuration of the battery mounting platform. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions will not be repeated.

[0010] Figure 1 shows a battery replacement device 100 and an electric vehicle 200 according to this embodiment. The battery replacement device 100 is a device for replacing a battery (used battery) 201 installed in an electric vehicle 200 with a charged battery (new battery) 101. Battery 201 and battery 101 are examples of the "first battery" and "second battery" of this disclosure, respectively.

[0011] (Electric vehicle configuration) As shown in Figure 1, the body 200a of the electric vehicle 200 has a mounting section 200c on which batteries 101 and 201 can be mounted. The mounting section 200c is open downwards. The mounting section 200c has a shape that is recessed upwards from the lower surface 200b of the body 200a. The batteries 101 and 201 can be attached to and detached from the mounting section 200c from below. Specifically, the batteries 101 and 201 are fastened to the mounting section 200c by fastening members such as bolts.

[0012] (Configuration of the battery replacement device) Next, the battery replacement device 100 will be described. As shown in Figure 1, the battery replacement device 100 comprises a battery replacement station 100a, a storage compartment 100b, and an underfloor area 100c.

[0013] The battery exchange station 100a is a station where the battery 201 is removed from the electric vehicle 200 and the battery 101 is installed in the electric vehicle 200. The battery exchange station 100a is provided with an entrance / exit 102 for the electric vehicle 200 to enter and exit.

[0014] It is possible to park two or more electric vehicles 200 within the battery exchange station 100a. In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the battery exchange station 100a is provided with two vehicle stopping areas 103A and 103B. The two vehicle stopping areas 103A and 103B are arranged in a straight line along the direction of travel of the electric vehicles 200. The two vehicle stopping areas 103A and 103B consist of a first stopping area 103A located near the entrance of the battery exchange station 100a, and a second stopping area 103B located in front of the first stopping area 103A. The electric vehicles 200 park in the vehicle stopping areas 103A and 103B such that the front-to-back direction (direction of travel) is the X direction and the left-to-right direction is the Y direction. As described later, in the first stopping area 103A, the used battery 201 is removed from the vehicle body 200a, and in the second stopping area 103B, the charged battery 101 is attached to the vehicle body 200a. Note that the number of vehicle stopping areas is not limited to two, and the arrangement of each stopping area is not limited to a straight line.

[0015] The hangar 100b stores the charged battery 101. The hangar 100b is adjacent to the battery exchange station 100a. The hangar 100b is equipped with charging equipment 51 capable of charging the battery 201 removed from the electric vehicle 200. The battery 201 is charged in the charging equipment 51 in the hangar 100b. The battery 101 that has been charged in the hangar 100b, i.e., the fully charged battery 101, is moved to the temporary storage area 40 located in the underfloor area 100c, and then transported to the electric vehicle 200.

[0016] The underfloor area 100c is located below the battery exchange station 100a and the storage area 100b. The underfloor area 100c is equipped with a battery mounting platform 34, a transport unit 36, and a temporary storage area 40, which will be described later.

[0017] The battery replacement device 100 comprises a control device 10 and a drive device 30.

[0018] The control device 10 includes a processor 11, a memory 12, and a communication unit 13. In addition to the programs executed by the processor 11, the memory 12 stores information used in the programs (such as maps, mathematical formulas, and various parameters). As will be described in detail later, the processor 11 controls the drive device 30.

[0019] The communication unit 13 includes various communication I / Fs. The processor 11 controls the communication unit 13. The communication unit 13 communicates with the DCM etc. of the electric vehicle 200. Communication between the communication unit 13 and the electric vehicle 200 is possible in both directions. Note that the communication unit 13 may communicate with a mobile terminal etc. owned by the user of the electric vehicle 200.

[0020] When an operation to instruct the start of battery replacement work is performed by the user in a navigation system (not shown) of the electric vehicle 200 while the electric vehicle 200 is parked in the first stop area 103A, the communication unit 13 receives an instruction signal to start the battery replacement work from the electric vehicle 200. Based on the communication unit 13 receiving the above instruction signal, the processor 11 starts controlling the battery replacement work.

[0021] The drive device 30 includes a shutter 32, a battery mounting table 34, a conveying unit 36, and a moving unit 38.

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the shutter 32 is provided in each of the stop areas 103A and 103B. The shutter 32 is configured to be able to open and close an opening 32a (see FIGS. 2 and 3) formed in the floor surface of each of the stop areas 103A and 103B. The shutter 32 can be switched between a state where the opening 32a is open and a state where the opening 32a is closed. Note that in FIG. 3, the illustration of the shutter 32 is omitted.

[0023] The battery mounting trays 34 are located below the battery replacement station 100a, more specifically below the openings 32a of each shutter 32. Each battery mounting tray 34 is capable of holding batteries 101 and 201 and is movable in the vertical direction. Each battery mounting tray 34 has a locking / unlocking tool (not shown) that can lock and unlock the fastening members (bolts, etc.) that fasten the batteries 101 and 201 to the mounting section 200c.

[0024] As shown in Figure 3, a battery mounting platform 34 located below the first stopping area 103A removes the used battery 201 from the vehicle body 200a of the electric vehicle 200 parked in the first stopping area 103A. A battery mounting platform 34 located below the second stopping area 103B installs a charged battery 101 onto the vehicle body 200a of the electric vehicle 200 parked in the second stopping area 103B. In other words, the battery mounting platform 34 located below the first stopping area 103A constitutes a removal device 34A (see Figure 3) for removing the battery 201 from the vehicle body 200a of the electric vehicle 200 parked in the first stopping area 103A, and the battery mounting platform 34 located below the second stopping area 103B constitutes an installation device 34B (see Figure 3) for installing the battery 101 onto the vehicle body 200a of the electric vehicle 200 parked in the second stopping area 103B.

[0025] The transport unit 36 ​​is capable of transporting used batteries 201 removed from the vehicle body 200a from the battery mounting platform 34 towards the storage area 100b, and transporting charged batteries 101 stored in the storage area 100b towards the battery mounting platform 34. Specifically, a temporary storage area 40 (see Figure 1) for temporarily storing batteries 101 and 201 is provided in the underfloor area 100c, and the transport unit 36 ​​is capable of transporting used batteries 201 from the battery mounting platform 34 towards the temporary storage area 40, and transporting charged batteries 101 from the temporary storage area 40 towards the battery mounting platform 34. More specifically, the transport unit 36 ​​includes a first transport element (not shown) that transports the used battery 201, which has been removed from the vehicle body 200a in the first stopping area 103A, from the battery mounting base 34 (removal device 34A) located below the first stopping area 103A toward the temporary storage area 40, and a second transport element (not shown) that transports the charged battery 101 from the temporary storage area 40 toward the battery mounting base 34 (mounting device 34B) located below the second stopping area 103B. The transport unit 36 ​​may be, for example, a belt conveyor.

[0026] The moving unit 38 is located within the battery exchange station 100a and moves the electric vehicle 200. The moving unit 38 moves the vehicle body 200a of the electric vehicle 200, from the first stop area 103A to the second stop area 103B, after the used battery 201 has been removed in the first stop area 103A. As shown in Figure 2, the moving unit 38 has a linear shape. However, the shape of the moving unit 38 in plan view is appropriately set based on the position of the first stop area 103A, the position of the second stop area 103B, the direction of movement of the electric vehicle 200 within the battery exchange station 100a, etc. The moving unit 38 is composed of a belt conveyor installed on the floor of the battery exchange station 100a. Note that the moving unit 38 is not shown in Figure 3.

[0027] (Battery replacement method) Next, a method for replacing batteries using the battery replacement device 100 will be described.

[0028] [Transmission of vehicle information, etc.: Electric vehicles] First, the electric vehicle 200 transmits information about the electric vehicle 200 and information about the battery 201 to the communication unit 13 of the battery exchange device 100. For example, the above information is transmitted to the communication unit 13 when an operation to transmit the above information is performed in the navigation system (not shown) of the electric vehicle 200. The electric vehicle 200 transmits the above information before entering the battery exchange device 100. However, the above information may also be transmitted after the electric vehicle 200 has entered the battery exchange device 100.

[0029] [Acquisition of vehicle information, etc.: Battery replacement device] Next, the communication unit 13 of the battery replacement device 100 receives information about the electric vehicle 200 and information about the battery 201 transmitted from the electric vehicle 200 via communication. The acquired information is stored in the memory 12 (see Figure 1).

[0030] Furthermore, the communication unit 13 may acquire information on the capacity (charge capacity) of the battery 201 and the State of Charge (SOC) of the battery 201.

[0031] [Sending a signal to instruct battery replacement work: Electric vehicle] Next, the electric vehicle 200, which is stopped in the vehicle stopping area, transmits an instruction signal to the communication unit 13 to begin the battery replacement work.

[0032] [Received instruction signal for battery replacement: Battery replacement device] Next, the communication unit 13 receives the instruction signal transmitted from the electric vehicle 200. After receiving the instruction signal, the processor 11 may send an instruction message to the user of the electric vehicle 200 via the communication unit 13, such as an instruction message to turn off the ignition power.

[0033] [Vehicle position control: Battery replacement device] Next, the processor 11 adjusts the position of the electric vehicle 200 in the first stopping area 103A based on the information (vehicle information and battery information) obtained through the communication unit 13. The position of the electric vehicle 200 is obtained by sensors (not shown) or the like.

[0034] This adjusts the horizontal position and orientation of the vehicle body 200a, as well as the horizontal position and orientation of the battery 201. As a result, the battery 201 is moved to a predetermined position above the opening 32a of the shutter 32.

[0035] [Removing batteries after use: Battery replacement device] Next, the used battery 201 is removed from the body 200a of the electric vehicle 200 which is stopped in the first stopping area 103A. First, the processor 11 opens the shutter 32 and raises the battery mounting base 34 (removal device 34A). As a result, the battery mounting base 34 is positioned relative to the electric vehicle 200 (battery 201).

[0036] Next, the processor 11 drives (rotates) a locking / unlocking tool (not shown) for rotating a fastening member that connects the battery to the mounting section 200c. This unlocks the fastening member. As a result, the battery 201 is removed from the vehicle body 200a and placed on the removal device 34A.

[0037] [Transporting used batteries to the storage area: Battery replacement device] Next, the battery 201 removed from the vehicle body 200a is transported to the storage bay 100b. First, the processor 11 lowers the removal device 34A on which the battery 201 is placed to the height of the first transport element of the transport unit 36. Subsequently, the processor 11 drives the roller section (not shown) of the removal device 34A so that the battery 201 moves on the removal device 34A in the storage direction (Y1 direction). As a result, the battery 201 placed on the removal device 34A is transferred from the removal device 34A to the first transport element. The battery 201 is then transported to the temporary storage area 40 by the first transport element and then stored in the storage bay 100b. The used battery 201 stored in the storage bay 100b is charged by the charging equipment 51.

[0038] [Transporting charged batteries to the battery tray: Battery replacement device] Next, the processor 11 transports the charged battery 101 stored in the storage compartment 100b to the mounting device 34B. Specifically, the processor 11 transports the battery 101 from the storage compartment 100b to the temporary storage area 40 in the underfloor area 100c, and then moves the battery 101 from the temporary storage area 40 to the mounting device 34B located below the second stopping area 103B by driving the second transport element of the transport unit 36 ​​in the transport direction (Y2 direction). Once the battery 101 has moved from the second transport element to the mounting device 34B, the processor 11 drives the roller section so that the battery 101 moves along the transport direction on the mounting device 34B. As a result, the battery 101 stops at a predetermined position on the mounting device 34B.

[0039] [Inserting a charged battery: Battery replacement device] Next, the processor 11 controls the attachment of the charged battery 101 to the vehicle body 200a. Specifically, the processor 11 raises the attachment device 34B. In this state, the processor 11 drives (rotates) the locking / unlocking tool. This locks the fastening members. Once it is detected that all fastening members are locked, the vehicle body-side connector 204 and the battery-side connector 104 are locked. As a result, the attachment of the charged battery 101 to the vehicle body 200a is completed.

[0040] If the processor 11 detects that an abnormality or malfunction has occurred while the mounting device 34B is mounting the charged battery 101 to the vehicle body 200a in the second stop area 103B, and the removal device 34A is in the process of removing the used battery 201 from the vehicle body 200a in the first stop area 103A, the processor 11 will stop the removal of the battery 201 by the removal device 34A in the first stop area 103A and will cause the removal device 34A to reattach the battery 201 to the vehicle body 200a.

[0041] [Battery mounting platform and lifting mechanism retraction: Battery replacement device] Next, the processor 11 lowers the mounting device 34B and retracts it from the electric vehicle 200. After that, the processor 11 closes the shutter 32.

[0042] [Notification of completion of battery replacement work: Battery replacement device] Next, the processor 11 notifies the electric vehicle 200 via the communication unit 13 that the battery replacement operation has been completed.

[0043] [Battery replacement completion notification received: Electric vehicle] The electric vehicle 200 then receives the notification transmitted from the communication unit 13 of the battery replacement device 100. This puts the electric vehicle 200 in a state where it can turn on the ignition power. After that, the process is completed.

[0044] In the above embodiment, an example was shown in which the position of the drive unit 30 is adjusted based on information about the electric vehicle 200 and the battery 201, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. The position of the drive unit 30 may be adjusted based on information about either the electric vehicle 200 or the battery 201.

[0045] As described above, in the electric vehicle 200 of this embodiment, the used battery 201 is removed from the vehicle body 200a by the removal device 34A in the first stopping area 103A, and the charged battery 101 is installed on the vehicle body 200a by the installation device 34B in the second stopping area 103B. Therefore, while the charged battery 101 of the first electric vehicle 200 is being installed on the vehicle body 200a, the used battery 201 of the second electric vehicle 200 can be removed from the vehicle body 200a in the first stopping area 103A. Thus, the time required to replace the batteries of each of the two electric vehicles 200 is shortened.

[0046] Those skilled in the art will understand that the exemplary embodiments described above are specific examples of the embodiments described below.

[0047] [Aspect 1] A battery replacement device for replacing a used first battery attached to the body of an electric vehicle with a charged second battery, A battery exchange station having a first stopping area where the electric vehicle stops, and a second stopping area located at a position separated from the first stopping area, wherein the first battery is removed from the vehicle body and the second battery is installed on the vehicle body, A removal device is provided below the first stopping area for removing the first battery from the vehicle body while it is stopped in the first stopping area. A battery replacement device comprising: an attachment device provided below the second stopping area for attaching the second battery to the vehicle body parked in the second stopping area.

[0048] In this battery replacement device, the first battery is removed from the vehicle body by a removal device in the first stopping area, and the second battery is installed in the vehicle body by an installation device in the second stopping area. Therefore, while the second battery is being installed in the vehicle body of the first vehicle in the second stopping area, the first battery can be removed from the vehicle body of the second vehicle in the first stopping area. Thus, the time required to replace the batteries in each of the two vehicles is shortened.

[0049] [Aspect 2] The battery replacement device according to embodiment 1, further comprising a moving unit for moving the vehicle body from the first stopping area to the second stopping area.

[0050] In this embodiment, the vehicle body, which has lost power by removing the battery in the first stopping area, can be moved to the second stopping area.

[0051] [Aspect 3] The system further comprises a control device for controlling the removal device and the mounting device, The battery replacement device according to embodiment 1 or 2, wherein, when the control device detects that an abnormality has occurred while the mounting device is mounting the second battery to the vehicle body in the second stop area, and the removal device is in the process of removing the first battery from the vehicle body in the first stop area, the removal device stops removing the first battery in the first stop area and causes the removal device to reattach the first battery to the vehicle body.

[0052] In this embodiment, it becomes possible to move the second vehicle, which is stopped in the first stopping area, away from the battery exchange station. Specifically, if an abnormality occurs while the battery is being installed in the first vehicle in the second stopping area, and the battery is removed from the second vehicle in the first stopping area, it may become impossible to install the battery in the second vehicle in the second stopping area afterward. In that case, the removal of the battery from the second vehicle in the first stopping area is stopped, and the battery is reinstalled in the second vehicle, thereby allowing the second vehicle to move away from the battery exchange station.

[0053] It should be noted that the embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims rather than the description of the embodiments above, and further includes all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0054] 1 Battery replacement device, 10 Control device, 11 Processor, 12 Memory, 13 Communication unit, 30 Drive unit, 32 Shutter, 34 Battery mounting platform, 34A Removal device, 34B Mounting device, 36 Transport unit, 38 Mobile unit, 40 Temporary storage area, 100 Battery replacement device, 100a Battery replacement station, 100b Storage unit, 100c Underfloor area, 101 Battery (second battery), 103 Vehicle stopping area, 103A First stopping area, 103B Second stopping area, 200 Electric vehicle, 200a Body, 200b Underside, 200c Mounting unit, 201 Battery (first battery).

Claims

1. A battery replacement device for replacing a used first battery attached to the body of an electric vehicle with a charged second battery, A battery exchange station having a first stopping area where the electric vehicle stops, and a second stopping area located at a position separated from the first stopping area, wherein the first battery is removed from the vehicle body and the second battery is installed on the vehicle body, A removal device is provided below the first stopping area for removing the first battery from the vehicle body while it is stopped in the first stopping area, An attachment device provided below the second stopping area for attaching the second battery to the vehicle body parked in the second stopping area, The system comprises a control device for controlling the removal device and the mounting device, A battery replacement device in which, when the control device detects that an abnormality has occurred while the mounting device is attaching the second battery to the vehicle body which is stopped in the second stop area, the device performs a removal cancellation operation to stop the removal of the first battery by the removal device from the vehicle body which is stopped in the first stop area.

2. The battery replacement device according to claim 1, further comprising a moving unit for moving the vehicle body from the first stopping area to the second stopping area.

3. The battery replacement device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control device performs a reinstallation operation to reinstall the first battery on the vehicle body stopped in the first stop area using the removal device, in conjunction with the removal cancellation operation.

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