Fire-fighting module for battery swapping station, battery storage device, and battery swapping station

Abstract

The present invention provides a fire-fighting module for a battery swapping station, a battery storage device, and a battery swapping station. The fire-fighting module comprises a retaining mechanism, a switching element, a failed battery carrier, and a fire-fighting box capable of accommodating the failed battery carrier. The retaining mechanism is arranged above the fire-fighting box and used for retaining the failed battery carrier above the fire-fighting box in a suspended mode. The switching element is used for switching the retaining mechanism between a retaining state where the failed battery carrier is retained and a disengaged state where the failed battery carrier is released. The fire-fighting module further comprises a first guiding mechanism, used for guiding the movement of the failed battery carrier in a vertical direction after switching to the disengaged state. The fire-fighting module can perform fire-fighting cooling treatment on a thermally failed battery in time, thereby achieving high safety.

Description

Fire protection module, battery storage device and battery swap station for battery swap station Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of battery replacement for new energy vehicles, and in particular to a fire protection module for a battery replacement station, and a battery storage device and a battery replacement station including such a fire protection module. Background Art

[0002] Battery swapping enables rapid recharging of new energy vehicles. A battery swap station typically includes a platform for battery removal and installation, as well as a battery storage compartment where depleted batteries can be recharged. Overcharging, over-discharging, or damage to power batteries can lead to thermal runaway, potentially resulting in combustion and explosion, which can seriously endanger the safety of the entire station.

[0003] The inventors are aware of a battery swap station with fire protection capabilities, in which cooling pipes are installed to cool thermally runaway batteries or areas experiencing thermal runaway. However, from a safety perspective, there is a need to continuously improve the timeliness of cooling thermally runaway batteries, thereby enhancing the safety of battery swap stations.

[0004] It should be noted that the content introduced here only provides background information related to this application and does not necessarily belong to the prior art.

[0005] Summary of the Invention

[0006] According to different aspects, the object of the present invention is to provide an improved fire protection module, and a battery storage device and a battery swap station comprising the same, wherein a fire protection cooling process can be performed on a thermal runaway battery in a timely manner and a higher safety can be achieved.

[0007] In addition, the present invention is also intended to solve or alleviate other technical problems existing in the prior art.

[0008] According to a first aspect of the present invention, the above-mentioned problem is solved by providing a fire-fighting module, specifically, the fire-fighting module comprises a holding mechanism, a switching element, a failed battery carrier and a fire-fighting box capable of accommodating the failed battery carrier, the holding mechanism being arranged above the fire-fighting box and being used to hold the failed battery carrier suspended above the fire-fighting box, and the switching element being used to switch the holding mechanism between a holding state in which the failed battery carrier is held and a disengaged state in which the failed battery carrier is released, wherein the fire-fighting module further comprises a first guiding mechanism for guiding the vertical movement of the failed battery carrier after switching to the disengaged state.

[0009] In the battery storage device proposed according to the first aspect of the present invention, the retaining mechanism is a magnetic connector and the switching element is a switching circuit, and the magnetic connector is switched between the retaining state and the disengaged state by disconnecting or connecting the switching circuit.

[0010] In the battery storage device proposed according to the first aspect of the present invention, the first guiding mechanism includes a first sliding member and a first sliding fitting member extending in a vertical direction, the first sliding fitting member is fixed, one end of the first sliding member is inserted into the first sliding fitting member with a gap and the other end is fixedly connected to the failed battery carrier, wherein the first sliding member is rockable relative to the first sliding fitting member.

[0011] In the battery storage device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the vertical movement of the failed battery carrier is a movement dependent on gravity.

[0012] In the battery storage device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the failed battery carrier includes a fixed frame for being held by the holding mechanism and a failed battery supporting platform fixedly connected below the fixed frame.

[0013] In the battery storage device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the failed battery carrier further includes a first sensor for detecting a relative position of the failed battery supporting platform relative to the failed battery to be placed thereon.

[0014] The battery storage device according to the first aspect of the present invention further includes a second guiding mechanism for guiding the movement of the fire fighting box in the vertical direction.

[0015] In the battery storage device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the second guide mechanism includes a second sliding member and a second sliding fitting member, the second sliding member is fixed to the supporting feet at the bottom of the fire extinguishing box, and the second sliding fitting member is stationary.

[0016] In the battery storage device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the holding mechanism is further assigned a second sensor for detecting a relative position of the holding mechanism with respect to the failed battery carrier during the disconnected state.

[0017] According to the second and third aspects of the present invention, a battery storage device and a battery swap station are further provided, comprising a battery rack for accommodating batteries and the fire protection module described above. The battery storage device and battery swap station can have the features and advantages described above, which will not be further elaborated.

[0018] The fire-fighting module according to the present disclosure can timely perform fire-fighting cooling treatment on the thermal runaway battery and achieve higher safety by allowing the thermal runaway battery to fall accurately into the fire-fighting box. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The above and other features of the present invention will become apparent with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0020] FIG1 shows a perspective view of a battery storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] FIG2 shows a partially enlarged view of the fire fighting module according to FIG1 , wherein the holding mechanism is in a holding state;

[0022] FIG3 shows a partially enlarged view of the fire fighting module according to FIG1 , wherein the holding mechanism is in a disengaged state;

[0023] FIG4 shows a failed battery carrier according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] FIG. 5 shows a fire extinguisher box according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] It is easy to understand that according to the technical solution of the present invention, without changing the essential spirit of the present invention, a person skilled in the art can propose a variety of interchangeable structural modes and implementation modes. Therefore, the following specific embodiments and drawings are only exemplary descriptions of the technical solution of the present invention and should not be regarded as the entire invention or as a limitation or restriction of the technical solution of the present invention.

[0026] The terms "up," "down," "left," "right," "front," "back," "front," "back," "top," and "bottom" mentioned or potentially mentioned in this specification are defined relative to the structures shown in the accompanying drawings. They are relative concepts and may vary depending on their location or usage. Therefore, these or other directional terms should not be interpreted as restrictive. In addition, the terms "first," "second," "third," and similar expressions are used only for descriptive and distinguishing purposes and should not be understood to indicate or imply the relative importance of the corresponding components.

[0027] The battery swap station proposed according to the present invention includes a battery swap platform for performing battery disassembly and assembly, a battery compartment for storing depleted batteries and fully charged batteries, and a battery conveying device for transferring batteries between the battery compartment and the battery swap platform, wherein FIG1 shows the battery storage device 100 proposed according to the second aspect of the present invention and the stacker 200 of the battery conveying device located in the battery compartment. It should be noted here that, in terms of function, the battery swap station is not limited to battery swap operations, but can also involve charging operations and can also be called a charging and swap station.

[0028] The battery storage device 100 can be arranged on the base of the battery swap station or placed on the ground in a sunken manner, and it as a whole includes a frame-type battery rack 110. The battery rack 110 is provided with a plurality of battery storage units for placing batteries independently of each other. As can be seen from Figures 1 and 2, each layer of battery storage units includes support plates opposite to each other, and the power batteries are placed and supported on the support plates with their two sides respectively. In practice, the placement and transfer of batteries can be undertaken by a stacker 200, wherein the stacker may exemplarily include a cargo platform, a fork, a lifting drive mechanism, a horizontal drive mechanism and necessary docking sensing mechanisms (which are used to determine the position of the battery on the battery rack). Specifically, a battery rack is arranged on one side of the stacker, and the fork is moved into position by the lifting drive mechanism and the horizontal drive mechanism, and then the fork is extended from the side into the battery storage unit to place the battery therein or remove it from it. It should be noted that, in order to illustrate its related functions, only a simple example of a stacker is given here, but its related structural design can be modified as needed, which will not be described in detail.

[0029] To prevent safety incidents caused by (thermal) failed batteries, the battery storage device 100 is equipped with a fire protection module 120 according to the first aspect of the present invention. The module 120 includes a retaining mechanism 121, a switching element (not visible in the drawings), a failed battery carrier 122, and a fire protection box 123 filled with coolant. The fire protection box 123 is larger than the failed battery carrier 122 and the failed battery so that both can be accommodated. The retaining mechanism 121 is located above the fire protection box. Specifically, one end of the retaining mechanism 121 can be fixed to the battery rack 110, and the other end is used to hold the failed battery carrier 122 suspended above the fire protection box 123. As shown in the drawings, the retaining mechanism 121 can be fixed at the center to a horizontal frame bar of the battery rack 110, with both ends of the horizontal frame bar connected to the horizontal frame bars of the battery rack 110. By means of the switching element, the holding mechanism 121 is switched between a holding state (see FIG. 2 ) and a disengaging state (see FIG. 3 ). In the holding state, the holding mechanism 121 holds the failed battery carrier 122 therein, while in the disengaging state, the holding mechanism 121 is inoperative and disengages the failed battery carrier 122 therefrom, causing the failed battery carrier 122 to drop vertically into the fire extinguishing box 123 below. To this end, the battery storage device 100 further includes a first guide mechanism 130 for guiding the vertical movement (which may also be referred to as the dropping movement) of the failed battery carrier 122 to ensure that it accurately drops into the fire extinguishing box 123 below.

[0030] The falling motion of the dead battery carrier 122 (together with the dead battery thereon) is gravity-dependent, that is, gravity serves as the actuating factor for the falling motion without the involvement of any other driving mechanism. Of course, it is also feasible that the falling motion can also be motor-driven, that is, the dead battery carrier 122 is equipped with an actuating unit, such as a drive motor.

[0031] Here, the following exemplary description is given for firefighting operations for thermally failed batteries. The monitoring system already in the battery swap station can be used to detect and locate batteries with abnormal temperatures. The stacker 200 is controlled to transfer the battery to the failed battery carrier 122. When the battery is identified as a thermally failed battery or is determined to be thermally failed, a switching element switches the retaining mechanism 121 to a disengaged state and releases the failed battery carrier 122 held therein, allowing it to fall into the firefighting box 123 for cooling. After the thermally failed battery has reacted, the stacker 200 is used to lift the firefighting box 123, along with the failed battery carrier 122 and the thermally runaway battery therein, to the retaining mechanism 121. The retaining mechanism 121, with the help of a switching element, re-retains the failed battery carrier 122 therein. Finally, the stacker 200 is used to remove the cooled thermally failed battery through the battery swap platform or the dedicated firefighting exit.

[0032] In the optional embodiment shown in FIG4 , the failed battery carrier 122 comprises a fixed frame 1221 and a failed battery support platform secured below, particularly to its bottom. The fixed frame 1221 can be held suspended above the fire extinguisher box 123 by means of a retaining mechanism 121. The failed battery support platform can be similar to the battery storage unit of the battery rack 110. Specifically, it includes two opposing transverse supports 1222 extending substantially in a horizontal plane, each secured to the upper fixed frame 1221 via a vertical strut. Abnormal batteries, or thermally failed batteries, are supported on either side of these transverse supports 1222. Due to the first guide mechanism 130, even without additional retaining measures, the battery will not fall off the transverse supports 1222 during its drop toward the fire extinguisher box 123 and will fall precisely into the fire extinguisher box 123.

[0033] The following optional embodiments are proposed for the first guide mechanism 130. The first guide mechanism 130 includes a first sliding member 131 and a first sliding engagement member 132 extending in the vertical direction. The first sliding engagement member 132 is stationary or fixedly disposed on the battery rack 110. One end of the first sliding member 131 is inserted into the first sliding engagement member 132 with clearance, and the other end is fixedly connected to the dead battery carrier 122. Specifically, the first sliding member 131 can be a guide post, which is fixed to an edge of a fixing frame 1221 of the dead battery carrier 122 adjacent to the battery rack 110, for example, in a corner region of the fixing frame 1221. Accordingly, the first sliding engagement member 132 can be a vertically extending guide rail. The guide post is fixed relative to the guide rail such that the guide post (together with the dead battery carrier fixedly connected thereto) can oscillate relative to the guide rail, particularly in a direction other than the vertical direction. It is understandable that if the failed battery is not placed in the center of the failed battery support platform and is thus tilted, it will be hindered during the vertical drop process and may even get stuck. Therefore, the gap-free fixing method of the first sliding member 131 and the first sliding mating member 132 can effectively prevent the stuck phenomenon and thus improve the smoothness of movement.

[0034] In another optional embodiment, the failed battery carrier 122 further includes a first sensor or a first sensor is fixed to the failed battery carrier 122. The first sensor is used to detect the relative position of the battery when the battery is placed sideways on the failed battery carrier 122, so as to accurately control the position of the battery on the failed battery carrier 122, and in particular, to ensure that the center of gravity of the battery is substantially at the center of the failed battery support platform. The first sensor can be a proximity switch, a position sensor, such as an infrared sensor, etc., and can be arranged, for example, on the fixed frame 1221 of the failed battery carrier, on the battery rack 110, or at other feasible locations.

[0035] The retaining mechanism 121 can be a suction mechanism or any other type of fixed device capable of switching between different states via a switching element. In one exemplary embodiment, the retaining mechanism 121 is or includes a magnetic connector, and the switching element can correspondingly be a switching circuit. By controlling the switching circuit's on and off, the magnetic connector can be switched between a retaining state and a disengaged state. In a simpler embodiment, the retaining mechanism 121 is or includes an electromagnet, which is connected to the switching circuit. For example, in its non-operating state, the electromagnet is de-energized and magnetically retains the failed battery carrier 122. When a battery is detected on the failed battery carrier 122 (this can be achieved via the first sensor described above), the switching circuit is activated and the electromagnet is demagnetized. As a result, the failed battery carrier 122, along with the batteries thereon, is precisely positioned within the fire extinguishing box 123 under the guidance of the first guide mechanism 130. The provision of a magnetic connector allows for a faster response to firefighting cooling requirements for batteries experiencing thermal runaway.

[0036] Furthermore, when the thermally failed battery is removed from the fire extinguisher box after cooling, the fire extinguisher box 123, along with the failed battery carrier 122 and the failed battery therein, can be lifted upward to be re-positioned on the retaining mechanism 121. This process can be referred to as a (vertical) lifting movement of the fire extinguisher box. A second guide mechanism 140 is provided to guide this lifting movement so that the failed battery carrier 122 is accurately re-positioned on the retaining mechanism 121.

[0037] In an alternative embodiment, the second guide mechanism 140 includes a second sliding member 141 (e.g., a slider) and a second sliding mating member (e.g., a rail), see Figures 3 and 5 . Figure 5 shows the fire extinguisher box according to Figure 3 from the rear. The second sliding member 141 is fixed to the legs 1231 at the bottom of the fire extinguisher box 123. The second sliding mating member is fixed or fixedly arranged on the battery rack 110, in particular, fixed to the vertical frame bars of the battery rack 110, or the second sliding mating member is integral with the battery rack 110.

[0038] For example, the fork of the stacker crane 200 inserts from the side under the bottom of the fire extinguisher box 123 and lifts it vertically under the constraints of the second guide mechanism 140. When the dead battery carrier 122, especially the fixing frame 1221, reaches the electromagnet, the switching circuit is disconnected, the electromagnet regains its magnetism, and the dead battery carrier 122 is re-secured there. The fork then returns the fire extinguisher box 123 to the base or the ground. Finally, the stabilized thermally dead battery is removed from the battery swap station. This method allows for reducing the height requirement of the fire extinguisher module and optimizing the spatial layout of the battery storage device.

[0039] In another optional embodiment, the fire protection module further includes a second sensor (not shown), which is arranged at the retaining mechanism 121 and is used to detect the relative position of the retaining mechanism 121 with respect to the failed battery carrier 122 during the disengaged state. This detection particularly occurs during the lifting movement of the fire protection box 123 by the stacker 200. Specifically, when the failed battery carrier 122 is lifted to a preset position, the state of the switching element, particularly the switching circuit, is controlled based on the detection signal of the second sensor.

[0040] In summary, by providing a first guide mechanism, the firefighting module according to the present invention allows thermally depleted batteries to be precisely dropped into the firefighting cooling box, thereby ensuring timely firefighting cooling of the thermally depleted batteries and achieving a high level of safety. According to one proposed embodiment, by modifying the first guide mechanism, the depleted battery carrier can be ensured to fall unimpeded or prevented from getting stuck. According to another proposed embodiment, the second guide mechanism facilitates the removal of stabilized thermally depleted batteries, thereby optimizing the spatial layout of the battery storage device.

[0041] It should also be noted that the battery storage device and battery swap station according to the present invention having the fire protection module described above can have the characteristics described with respect to the fire protection module and reference can be made to the corresponding description thereof, which will not be repeated here.

[0042] It should be understood that all the above preferred embodiments are illustrative rather than restrictive, and various modifications or variations made by those skilled in the art to the specific embodiments described above under the concept of the present invention should be within the legal protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A fire protection module for a battery swap station, characterized in that: It includes a holding mechanism, a switching element, a failed battery carrier and a fire extinguishing box that can accommodate the failed battery carrier, the holding mechanism is arranged above the fire extinguishing box and is used to hold the failed battery carrier suspended above the fire extinguishing box, with the help of the switching element, the holding mechanism is switched between a holding state in which the failed battery carrier is held and a disengaged state in which the failed battery carrier is released, wherein the fire extinguishing module also includes a first guiding mechanism, which is used to guide the movement of the failed battery carrier in the vertical direction after switching to the disengaged state.

2. The fire fighting module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The holding mechanism is a magnetic connection member and the switching element is a switching circuit. The magnetic connection member is switched between the holding state and the disengaging state by disconnecting or connecting the switching circuit.

3. The fire fighting module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first guiding mechanism includes a first sliding member and a first sliding fitting member extending in a vertical direction, the first sliding fitting member is fixed, one end of the first sliding member is inserted into the first sliding fitting member with a gap and the other end is fixedly connected to the failed battery carrier, wherein the first sliding member is rockable relative to the first sliding fitting member.

4. The fire fighting module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The movement of the dead battery carrier in the vertical direction is a movement dependent on gravity.

5. The fire fighting module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The failed battery carrier comprises a fixed frame for being held by the holding mechanism and a failed battery supporting platform fixedly connected below the fixed frame.

6. The fire fighting module according to claim 5, characterized in that: The failed battery carrier further includes a first sensor for detecting a relative position of the failed battery supporting platform relative to a failed battery to be placed thereon.

7. The fire fighting module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The utility model also comprises a second guiding mechanism, which is used for guiding the movement of the fire fighting box in the vertical direction.

8. The fire fighting module according to claim 7, characterized in that: The second guide mechanism comprises a second sliding member and a second sliding fitting member, wherein the second sliding member is fixed to a support foot at the bottom of the fire fighting box and the second sliding fitting member is stationary.

9. The fire fighting module according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: The holding mechanism is also assigned a second sensor for detecting the relative position of the holding mechanism with respect to the failed battery carrier during the disengaged state.

10. A battery storage device, characterized in that: The invention comprises a battery rack for placing batteries and a fire fighting module according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. A battery swap station, characterized in that: Comprising a battery storage device according to claim 10.

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