Battery swapping device, and battery swapping station comprising same
By designing a rotatable battery swap platform and limiting components, the problem of battery swap equipment for heavy vehicles such as commercial trucks deviating from the track during rotation is solved, and stable and accurate battery swap operation is achieved, improving battery swap efficiency and safety.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/CN2024/135664
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-12-29
- Filing Date
- 2024-11-29
- Publication Date
- 2025-07-03
AI Technical Summary
When facing heavy vehicles such as commercial trucks, existing battery swap equipment is difficult to achieve accurate alignment and stable battery swap, especially when it is easily deviated from the track during rotation, resulting in increased operational difficulty.
A rotatable battery swap platform is designed, equipped with limiting components and walking wheel system. The center point remains unchanged through the design of the limiting unit, and the coordination between the clamping unit and the track is combined to ensure that the battery swap equipment does not deviate from the center point during rotation, and precise alignment is achieved through the walking wheel walking along the track.
It improves the stability and reliability of battery swap equipment, simplifies battery swap operation, reduces the risk of equipment derailment, improves battery swap efficiency and safety, and is suitable for battery swap vehicles of different attitudes.
Smart Images

Figure CN2024135664_03072025_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
Battery swapping equipment and battery swapping station including the same
[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese patent application No. 2023118620845, filed on December 29, 2023. This application incorporates the entirety of the aforementioned Chinese patent application. Technical Field
[0002] The present invention relates to a battery swapping device and a battery swapping station comprising the same. Background Art
[0003] In recent years, new energy vehicles have developed rapidly. Electric vehicles, powered by batteries, offer the advantages of zero emissions and low noise. As the market share and frequency of electric vehicles continue to rise, their use is also increasing. When the battery is depleted, electric vehicles are typically recharged or swapped. Because charging is time-consuming, swapping is becoming increasingly popular. Currently, battery swapping is primarily used for passenger cars. At a battery swap station, a depleted battery pack is removed and replaced with a fully charged one. Specifically, the passenger car pulls up to a designated swap station. The station's swapping equipment then travels along a pre-set route to the station and swaps the battery pack underneath the passenger car. This process can easily lead to positioning issues, such as angular misalignment between the passenger car and the swapping vehicle. Currently, these misalignments are addressed by positioning and correcting the vehicle.
[0004] However, as commercial trucks have gradually begun to use battery swapping to recharge their vehicles, heavy or large vehicles such as trucks in commercial vehicles have a large weight and load capacity, and it is impossible to use the vehicle adjustment method of passenger cars to solve the problem of battery swapping equipment and vehicle positioning, which increases the difficulty of battery swapping operations. Summary of the Invention
[0005] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to overcome the defect in the prior art that the battery swap shuttle or battery swap equipment deviates from the track during movement, and to provide a battery swap equipment and a battery swap station containing the same.
[0006] The present invention solves the above technical problems through the following technical solutions:
[0007] A battery swapping device, the battery swapping device being rotatable to align with a battery swapping vehicle, the battery swapping device comprising:
[0008] A battery swap platform, which is rotatable and used for removing or installing a battery pack;
[0009] The limiting assembly includes a first limiting unit and a second limiting unit. The first limiting unit is arranged at the bottom of the battery exchange platform and can rotate with the battery exchange platform relative to the second limiting unit. The second limiting unit can be limited to a preset position so that the center point of the battery exchange platform remains unchanged during the rotation process.
[0010] In this solution, a battery swap platform is set up to disassemble and install the battery pack at the bottom of the battery swap vehicle. In addition, when the battery swap platform rotates, the first limit unit follows the rotation and rotates relative to the second limit unit, while the second limit unit maintains the center point position unchanged to prevent the rotation trend from being transmitted to the second limit unit. By setting a limit component, the battery swap device can always maintain the center rotation of the battery swap device when it rotates and aligns with the battery swap vehicle, avoiding the battery swap device from deviating from the center point during rotation and being unable to align with the battery swap vehicle, or deviating from the center point when returning to its original position after the battery swap device and the battery swap vehicle are aligned, resulting in the inability to perform battery swapping subsequently.
[0011] Preferably, the battery exchange device also includes a plurality of running wheels and a first clamping unit, the first clamping unit is connected to the battery exchange platform or the running wheel, the first clamping unit is clamped on both sides of the first track and always maintains a cooperative state with the first track, so that the running wheel moves along the first track.
[0012] In this solution, running wheels are provided to enable the battery swapping device to travel along the first track, allowing the battery swapping device to move along a predetermined route to the battery swapping vehicle for battery swapping. This eliminates the need to plan the battery swapping device's travel route each time, thereby simplifying the control of the battery swapping device and improving battery swapping efficiency. Furthermore, the first clamping unit ensures that the battery swapping device maintains contact with the first track during rotation, facilitating the subsequent return of the battery swapping device to its original position.
[0013] Preferably, a second clamping unit is provided below the second limiting unit, the second clamping unit is clamped on both sides of the second track, and the first gap between the first clamping unit and the side wall of the first track is smaller than the second gap between the second clamping unit and the side wall of the second track.
[0014] In this solution, a second clamping unit is provided to clamp the second track, so that when the first limiting unit rotates relative to the second limiting unit, the center point of the battery exchange device is kept from shifting, thereby preventing the battery exchange device from derailing. In addition, by setting the gap between the first clamping unit and the first track to be smaller than the gap between the second clamping unit and the second track, the battery exchange device is first limited and supported by the first clamping unit when the battery exchange device rotates, thereby preventing the battery exchange device from leaving the first track when the running wheel drives the battery exchange device to rotate, thereby maintaining the stability and reliability of the battery exchange platform. In addition, the first gap is smaller than the second gap, and the battery exchange device is subjected to force solely by the first clamping unit during the rotation process, while the second clamping unit is used to limit the center point of the battery exchange device, thereby avoiding the force on the second clamping unit, and avoiding the second limiting unit gnawing on the track due to damage to the second clamping unit, thereby improving its service life.
[0015] Preferably, the first clamping unit includes a plurality of first rolling wheels, the plurality of first rolling wheels are attached to the side wall of the first track, and the heights of the plurality of first rolling wheels are adjustable along the height direction of the first track.
[0016] In this solution, a first rolling wheel is provided to facilitate the movement of the first clamping unit relative to the first rail, while reducing the noise generated by the first clamping unit when in contact with the first rail. In addition, the height of the first rolling wheel is adjusted along the height direction of the first rail, so that the cooperation between the first rolling wheel and the first rail can always be in the optimal position, so that even if the battery exchange equipment carries a heavy battery pack, the gravity of the battery pack will not cause the first clamping unit to be compressed and interfere with or wear the first rail.
[0017] Preferably, the second clamping unit includes a plurality of second rolling wheels, and the plurality of second rolling wheels are attached to the side wall of the second track.
[0018] In this solution, the second rolling wheel is provided to facilitate the movement of the second clamping unit relative to the second track, while reducing the noise generated when the second clamping unit contacts the second track.
[0019] Preferably, the first clamping unit also includes a fixed bracket, which is arranged on the outer peripheral side of the walking wheel, and the fixed bracket is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft of the walking wheel, and the plurality of first rolling wheels are connected to the front and rear ends of the fixed bracket along the extension direction of the first track.
[0020] In this solution, by providing a fixed bracket and connecting the first rolling wheels to the front and rear ends of the fixed bracket, the number of first rolling wheels is increased to ensure the reliability of the battery swap device on the first track and improve the operating stability of the battery swap device. At the same time, the multiple first rolling wheels and the fixed bracket are arranged into an integrated structure, which facilitates the assembly of the first clamping unit as a whole onto the battery swap device.
[0021] Preferably, the first rolling wheels are arranged in pairs and are respectively located on both sides of the first track. The two first rolling wheels in a pair are both inclined to fit with the side walls of the first track and can roll along the side walls of the first track. The cross-section of the first track is a trapezoid that gradually decreases from top to bottom. The first rolling wheels are adjustable in the height direction so that the gap between the first rolling wheels and the side walls of the first track can be adjusted.
[0022] In this solution, firstly, the first rolling wheels arranged in pairs ensure that the first clamping units located on both sides of the first track are subjected to balanced force, thereby avoiding wear on the first track due to excessive force on one side, thereby increasing the service life of the first track and the first clamping unit; by setting a trapezoidal first track, the first gap between the first clamping unit and the side wall of the first track changes accordingly when the height of the first rolling wheel is adjusted, so that when the first gap is too large, the side wall of the first track can be clamped by adjusting the height to prevent the battery exchange equipment from derailing.
[0023] Preferably, the first clamping unit also includes a connecting member and an adapter, the lower end of the adapter is connected to the upper end of the first rolling wheel, and the adapter is arranged on the connecting member in the same direction as the first rolling wheel, the connecting member is movably connected to the fixed bracket, and the connecting member can move up and down along the fixed bracket to drive the height of the first rolling wheel to be adjustable.
[0024] In this solution, an adapter is provided to connect the first rolling wheel to the connecting member, which then drives the first rolling wheel up and down via the connecting member to achieve height adjustment of the first rolling wheel, thereby adjusting the first gap and maintaining the first rolling wheel's grip on the first rail. Furthermore, the height of the two first rolling wheels can be adjusted simply by adjusting the connecting member, making the adjustment operation more convenient.
[0025] Preferably, the first clamping unit also includes a boss, which is arranged on the fixed bracket. The boss is located above the connecting member and is penetrated by a bolt. The connecting member is provided with a corresponding threaded hole to cooperate with the bolt to enable the connecting member to move downward or upward in the height direction relative to the fixed bracket when the bolt is rotated.
[0026] In this solution, by setting the boss corresponding to the connecting piece, the boss and the connecting piece cooperate with the bolt and the threaded hole, so that the connecting piece can be driven up and down by just turning the bolt. The structure is simple and can improve the accuracy of the gap adjustment.
[0027] Preferably, the second limiting unit is a circular structure, and the first limiting unit is provided with a circular hole adapted to the second limiting unit to accommodate the second limiting unit.
[0028] In this solution, the above arrangement enables the first limiting unit to have a larger rotation range when rotating relative to the second limiting unit, thereby avoiding structural interference that may occur during the rotation process.
[0029] Preferably, each of the running wheels is provided with a driving mechanism, and each of the running wheels is independently driven by the corresponding driving mechanism.
[0030] In this solution, a driving mechanism is provided for each running wheel separately, so that each running wheel has power, which can not only drive the movement of larger battery packs, but also when the battery swap equipment rotates, each running wheel can drive the battery swap equipment to rotate, so as to achieve precise alignment relative to the battery swap vehicle from different directions.
[0031] Preferably, the traveling wheel is slidable relative to the battery exchange platform in a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction so as to drive the battery exchange platform to rotate when a single traveling wheel is driven.
[0032] In this solution, a single running wheel is driven to move, while the other running wheels are not driven and remain stationary, so that the driven running wheel slides in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction, driving the battery swapping device to twist and thus realize the rotation of the battery swapping device to facilitate the positioning of the battery swapping vehicle.
[0033] Preferably, the battery exchange equipment also includes a drag chain, the first clamping unit is arranged at the end corner of the battery exchange platform, and when the battery exchange platform rotates, the relative position of the first clamping unit and the first track remains unchanged, and the first end of the drag chain is connected to the first clamping unit away from the outer side of the battery exchange platform.
[0034] In this solution, the battery swap device is limited by the first clamping unit, so that the battery swap device can always be located on the first track when traveling, thereby avoiding derailment. At the same time, when the battery swap device rotates relative to the first track, it can help the battery swap device to be limited when adjusting its posture, ensuring that the battery swap device can be restored to its original position in the subsequent process to prepare for the next battery swap, thereby improving the battery swap efficiency and safety of the battery swap device. In addition, the drag chain is connected to the outside away from the battery swap platform through the first clamping unit. Compared with the method in which the drag chain is directly connected to the battery swap platform, since the first clamping unit does not move with the rotation of the battery swap platform, the drag chain connected to the first clamping unit will not rotate with the rotation of the battery swap platform, thereby avoiding the wear of the drag chain due to the rotation of the battery swap platform and the inability of the drag chain to return to its original position with the battery swap platform, which affects the travel of the battery swap device, thereby improving the service life and reliability of the battery swap device.
[0035] Preferably, the battery exchange platform also includes a battery mounting portion, which is used to cooperate with the bottom of the battery pack for disassembly or installation. A recessed area is provided on the battery mounting portion, which is used to accommodate a tray connected to the bottom of the battery pack. The recessed area is provided on both sides of the battery mounting portion in a direction perpendicular to the walking direction of the battery exchange equipment.
[0036] In this solution, a recessed area is provided to accommodate the tray. The tray is partially located within the recessed area, and the upper surface of the tray mates with the bottom of the battery pack. In other words, without affecting the original function of the battery mounting portion, the recessed area is provided to accommodate the tray, thereby reducing the vertical space occupied by the tray, thereby reducing the overall vertical height of the battery swapping device. This makes it suitable for battery swapping vehicles with limited bottom space, especially those equipped with thicker battery packs, and greatly meets the chassis-type battery swapping needs of various vehicles.
[0037] Preferably, the battery installation part also includes an unlocking unit, and a plurality of the unlocking units are provided, and the plurality of the unlocking units are arranged at intervals along the walking direction of the battery exchange equipment. The unlocking unit is used to cooperate with the unlocking hole on the battery pack to unlock the battery pack.
[0038] In this solution, the battery pack and the battery swap platform are unlocked by setting an unlocking unit to cooperate with the unlocking hole on the battery pack, which is more reasonable and convenient than other unlocking methods.
[0039] Preferably, the unlocking unit includes a first unlocking rod and a second unlocking rod, the first unlocking rod cooperates with the corresponding unlocking hole to unlock the battery pack and drives the battery pack to move when the battery mounting part moves, and the second unlocking rod can extend into the corresponding unlocking hole to unlock the battery pack at the same time as the first unlocking rod.
[0040] In this solution, the first unlocking lever and the second unlocking lever provided on the battery mounting portion can simultaneously push the ejector rod in the unlocking hole on the battery pack, so that the ejector rods on the battery pack can synchronously act on the locking mechanism on the battery swapping vehicle, thereby unlocking the battery pack from the battery swapping vehicle. In addition, the first unlocking lever can also cooperate with the unlocking hole to drive the battery pack to move, so that during the unlocking process, the battery pack moves a certain distance so that the lock shaft on the battery pack and the lock tongue in the locking mechanism are no longer in a state of abutment, thereby facilitating the opening of the lock tongue, so that the lock shaft can be disengaged from the locking mechanism to unlock the battery pack and the battery swapping vehicle.
[0041] Preferably, the first unlocking lever includes a mating portion arranged on the battery mounting portion and a first rod body arranged on the mating portion, the diameter of the first rod body is smaller than the diameter of the mating portion, and the diameter of the mating portion is the same as the diameter of the corresponding unlocking hole; and / or, the second unlocking lever includes a second rod body, the second rod body is arranged on the battery mounting portion, and the diameter of the second rod body is smaller than the diameter of the corresponding unlocking hole.
[0042] In this solution, the first rod is used to push against the top rod in the unlocking hole and unlock the battery pack from the battery mounting portion. The mating portion has the same diameter as the unlocking hole. In fact, through the mating portion contacting the inner wall of the unlocking hole, the battery pack is positioned, moved, and bears the force exerted by the battery pack. At the same time, the mating portion can also strengthen the first rod, preventing the first rod from being damaged by the force exerted by the battery pack and thus being unable to unlock the battery pack, thereby preventing unlocking failure. A second rod is provided to unlock the unlocking hole on the battery pack corresponding to the second rod. The diameter of the second rod is smaller than the unlocking hole, preventing the second rod from contacting the inner wall of the unlocking hole and bearing the force exerted by the battery pack, thereby preventing damage to the second rod.
[0043] Preferably, at least two of the first unlocking rods are provided between the two recessed areas, and at least four of the unlocking units are arranged along the moving direction of the battery exchange device.
[0044] In this solution, at least four unlocking units are located at different positions on the battery mounting portion and correspond to the connection points between the battery pack and the battery swapping vehicle. This allows for a more balanced force on the battery mounting portion during the unlocking process, avoiding stress concentration. Multiple unlocking units are arranged along the travel direction of the battery swapping device. Compared to staggered unlocking units, this prevents over-positioning of each unlocking unit when mating with the unlocking hole of the battery pack, thus reducing unlocking efficiency.
[0045] Preferably, the battery mounting portion has protruding portions at both ends along the moving direction of the battery exchange device, the two protruding portions are respectively located on the opposite sides of the two recessed areas, and each of the protruding portions is provided with at least one second unlocking rod.
[0046] In this solution, extensions are provided to support unlocking units at different locations. These units are located not only on the battery mounting portion but also on the extensions, achieving spacing to correspond to the connection points between the battery pack and the battery swapping vehicle, facilitating unlocking the battery pack. Furthermore, the battery mounting portion and extension are located on the same horizontal plane to reduce vertical space usage, conserving vertical space within the battery mounting portion and lowering the height of the battery swapping equipment.
[0047] Preferably, the protruding portion extends outward from a portion of an edge of an end portion of the battery mounting portion, and a width of the protruding portion gradually decreases in a direction away from the battery mounting portion.
[0048] In this solution, through the above arrangement, on the one hand, the weight of the extension portion and the manufacturing cost of the battery mounting portion can be reduced, and on the other hand, the structural strength of the extension portion and the battery mounting portion can be ensured.
[0049] Preferably, the battery mounting portion is further provided with an avoidance hole, and the avoidance hole is for the connection portion on the vehicle body positioning plate of the battery exchange device to be connected to the battery exchange device to pass through.
[0050] In this solution, the avoidance hole is arranged corresponding to the connection part of the vehicle body positioning plate, and the connection part at least partially extends into the avoidance hole to reduce the space occupied by the battery exchange equipment in the vertical direction and compress the height of the battery exchange equipment.
[0051] A battery swap station, comprising the battery swap equipment as described above.
[0052] In this solution, the battery swap station includes the above-mentioned battery swap equipment, which can not only rotate the battery swap vehicles in different postures to achieve posture adjustment of the battery swap equipment and perform battery swap operations on battery packs in different directions, but also prevent the battery swap equipment from derailing.
[0053] The positive progressive effect of the present invention is that: the present invention sets up a battery swap platform to disassemble and install the battery pack at the bottom of the battery swap vehicle. In addition, when the battery swap platform rotates, the first limiting unit follows the rotation and rotates relative to the second limiting unit, while the second limiting unit maintains the center point position unchanged to prevent the rotation trend from being transmitted to the second limiting unit. By setting the limiting component, the battery swap equipment can always maintain the center rotation of the battery swap equipment when it rotates and aligns with the battery swap vehicle, avoiding the battery swap equipment deviating from the center point during rotation and being unable to align with the battery swap vehicle, or deviating from the center point when returning to its position after the alignment with the battery swap vehicle is completed and unable to return to the original position, resulting in the inability to perform battery swapping subsequently. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0054] FIG1 is a schematic structural diagram of a battery replacement device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0055] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of the bottom structure of a battery exchange device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0056] FIG3 is a partial enlarged view of FIG2 .
[0057] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the positional relationship between the first clamping unit and the first rail according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0058] FIG5 is a side view of the battery exchange device according to an embodiment of the present invention along the walking direction.
[0059] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a fixing bracket according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0060] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the adapter and the connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0061] FIG8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a first track according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0062] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the boss and the connecting member according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0063] FIG. 10 is a top view of a fixing bracket according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0064] FIG. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of a battery installation portion according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0065] FIG12 is a schematic structural diagram of a first unlocking lever according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0066] FIG13 is a schematic structural diagram of a second unlocking lever according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0067] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the sliding assembly and the rotating assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0068] Description of reference numerals: Battery exchange equipment 100, walking wheel 101, sliding assembly 122, rotating assembly 123, battery exchange platform 10, battery mounting part 11, protruding part 12, recessed area 13, limiting assembly 20, first limiting unit 21, second limiting unit 22, first clamping unit 30, first rolling wheel 31, fixed bracket 32, first baffle 321, second baffle 322, adapter 33, connector 34, boss 35, second clamping unit 40, second rolling wheel 41, drag chain 50, tray 60, unlocking unit 70, first unlocking rod 71, matching part 711, matching part guide surface 7111, first rod body 712, base 713, guide part 714, second unlocking rod 72, second rod body 721, avoidance hole 80, elastic part 90, first weight reduction hole 91, first weight reduction groove 92, second weight reduction hole 93, first track 200, second track 201, driving mechanism 300 DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0069] The present invention is further described below by way of examples, but the present invention is not limited to the scope of the examples.
[0070] This embodiment provides a battery swap device 100, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the battery swap device 100 is configured to move along a guide rail. While moving along the guide rail and maintaining the moving direction, the battery swap device 100 can adjust its posture relative to the walking direction to align with the battery of the battery swap vehicle. That is, when the battery swap vehicle is parked, there is a deviation between the vehicle body and the battery swap device 100, which makes it impossible for the battery swap device 100 to be accurately positioned with the battery pack on the vehicle body for disassembly and assembly of the battery pack. This type of battery swap device 100 adjusts its position by being able to fine-tune in a specific direction in a non-moving direction. During the battery swap operation, the position of the battery swap device 100 is adjusted by rotation without adjusting the position of the battery swap vehicle, making it easier for the battery swap device 100 to dock, lock and unlock with the battery swap vehicle in chassis-type battery swapping, and it is also easier to take and place the battery, thereby improving the battery swap efficiency.
[0071] In this embodiment, the battery exchange device 100 includes a battery exchange platform 10, which is configured to be rotatable and used to remove or install the battery pack; a limiting assembly 20, which includes a first limiting unit 21 and a second limiting unit 22. The first limiting unit 21 is arranged at the bottom of the battery exchange platform 10 and can rotate with the battery exchange platform 10 relative to the second limiting unit 22. The second limiting unit 22 can be limited to a preset position so that the center point of the battery exchange platform 10 remains unchanged during the rotation process.
[0072] Specifically, the battery swap platform 10 has a rectangular structure and can move along the track. The length direction of the battery swap platform 10 is consistent with the moving direction of the battery swap equipment 100, and the width direction of the battery swap platform 10 is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the battery swap equipment 100. The top of the battery swap platform 10 is used to remove or install the battery pack. The limit assembly 20 is arranged at the bottom of the battery swap platform 10. The first limit unit 21 is arranged on the outer peripheral side of the second limit unit 22 and cooperates with the second limit unit 22. The second limit unit 22 is arranged at the center point of the battery swap platform 10. It can be understood that the battery swap equipment 100 rotates and aligns with the battery swap vehicle by rotating the battery swap platform 10. When the battery swap platform 10 rotates, the first limit unit 21 follows the battery swap platform. 10 rotates, and rotates relative to the second limiting unit 22, and the center point of the battery swap platform 10 is kept in the preset position at all times during the rotation by the second limiting unit 22, and is not affected by the rotation and follows the offset, so as to realize the limitation of the center point of the battery swap platform 10, and the second limiting unit 22 which remains fixed in the relative rotation state can limit the position of the rotating first limiting unit 21, so that the first limiting unit 21 rotates around the center point of the battery swap platform 10, avoiding the situation that the center point of the battery swap platform 10 deviates from its original position when the battery swap platform 10 rotates and cannot be aligned with the battery swap vehicle, or the battery swap equipment 100 deviates from the center point when returning to its position after the alignment with the battery swap vehicle is completed and cannot return to the original position, resulting in the subsequent inability to perform battery swapping.
[0073] In this embodiment, the battery exchange device 100 also includes multiple running wheels 101 and a first clamping unit 30. The first clamping unit 30 is connected to the battery exchange platform 10 or the running wheel 101. The first clamping unit 30 is clamped on both sides of the first track 200 and always maintains a cooperative state with the first track 200, so that the running wheel 101 moves along the first track 200.
[0074] Specifically, the running wheels 101 are arranged at the four corners of the battery exchange platform 10, and the running wheels 101 are rollingly connected to the first track 200, so that the battery exchange device 100 can move along a predetermined route to the battery exchange vehicle for battery exchange, without having to plan the running route of the battery exchange device 100 each time, thereby simplifying the control of the battery exchange device 100 and improving the battery exchange efficiency. At the same time, the first clamping unit 30 enables the battery exchange device 100 to maintain cooperation with the first track 200 during the rotation process, so that the subsequent battery exchange device 100 returns to its original position. When the battery exchange platform 10 rotates, the running wheels 101 are driven and move in a specific direction in the non-moving direction to realize the rotation of the battery exchange platform 10, and the first clamping unit 30 is used to clamp both sides of the first track 200 to limit the running wheels 101 to prevent the running wheels 101 from leaving the first track 200 when moving along the running direction of the battery exchange device 100. In addition, since the first clamping unit 30 is always in contact with the first track 200, 00 cooperates with the two side walls and will not move with the rotation of the battery exchange platform 10, that is, the position of the first clamping unit 30 is relatively independent and not affected by the rotation of the battery exchange platform 10, so as to limit the walking wheel 101 when the walking wheel 101 moves along a specific direction, so as to avoid the walking wheel 101 derailing relative to the first track 200, and when the battery exchange platform 10 rotates and resets, the walking wheel 101 can be limited to move to the walking direction of the battery exchange device 100, so as to avoid the walking wheel 101 derailing during movement and gnawing the track when rotating and resetting, so as to improve the safety and reliability of the battery exchange device 100.
[0075] In this embodiment, the running wheel 101 is rollingly connected to the upper surface of the first track 200, and in other embodiments, the running wheel 101 can also be rollingly connected to other surfaces of the first track 200. It can also enable the battery exchange device 100 to walk along the first track 200, which will not be described in detail here.
[0076] In this embodiment, a second clamping unit 40 is provided below the second limiting unit 22, and the second clamping unit 40 is clamped on both sides of the second rail 201. The first gap between the first clamping unit 30 and the side wall of the first rail 200 is smaller than the second gap between the second clamping unit 40 and the side wall of the second rail 201.
[0077] Specifically, the second clamping unit 40 is arranged on the side of the second limiting unit 22 away from the battery exchange platform 10 and a second track 201 is arranged corresponding to the second clamping unit 40. The second track 201 also extends along the walking direction of the battery exchange equipment 100 and is arranged parallel to the first track 200. The second clamping unit 40 is clamped on the two side walls of the second track 201 that are opposite to each other and a second gap is formed between the side walls of the second track 201. By setting the second clamping unit 40 to clamp the second track 201 to limit the second limiting unit 22 connected to the second clamping unit 40, the position of the second limiting unit 22 at the center point of the battery exchange platform 10 is limited, so that the center point does not shift when the battery exchange platform 10 rotates, thereby avoiding derailment of the battery exchange equipment 100.
[0078] In addition, by setting the gap between the first clamping unit 30 and the first track 200 to be smaller than the gap between the second clamping unit 40 and the second track 201, the battery swap device 100 is first limited and supported by the first clamping unit 30 when the battery swap platform 10 rotates, preventing the running wheel 101 from detaching from the first track 200 when driving the battery swap platform 10 to rotate, thereby maintaining the stability and reliability of the battery swap platform 10. It can be understood that the battery swap device 100 with a first gap smaller than the second gap is subjected to force solely by the first clamping unit 30 during rotation, while the second clamping unit 40 is used to limit the center point of the battery swap device 100, avoiding force on the second clamping unit 40, preventing the second limiting unit 22 from being offset relative to the center point of the battery swap platform 10 due to damage to the second clamping unit 40, and preventing the second limiting unit 22 from gnawing on the second track 201 when offset, thereby improving its service life.
[0079] As shown in FIG. 6 , in this embodiment, the first clamping unit 30 includes a plurality of first rolling wheels 31 . The plurality of first rolling wheels 31 are attached to the sidewalls of the first track 200 , and the heights of the plurality of first rolling wheels 31 are adjustable along the height direction of the first track 200 .
[0080] Specifically, the first rolling wheel 31 extends to the side wall of the first track 200 and is in contact with the side wall of the first track 200. The first rolling wheel 31 is rollingly connected to the side wall of the first track 200 to limit the walking wheel 101 while enabling the walking wheel 101 to move along the first track 200 through the first clamping unit 30. The first rolling wheel 31 is provided to facilitate the movement of the first clamping unit 30 relative to the first track 200, while reducing the noise generated by the first clamping unit 30 when contacting the first track 200, thereby improving the user's battery replacement experience.
[0081] In addition, the height of the first rolling wheel 31 can be adjusted in the height direction of the side wall of the first rail 200, so that the cooperation between the first rolling wheel 31 and the first rail 200 can always be in the optimal position. Even if the battery exchange device 100 carries a heavy battery pack, the gravity of the battery pack will not cause the first clamping unit 30 to be compressed and interfere with or wear the first rail 200.
[0082] In this embodiment, the second clamping unit 40 includes a plurality of second rolling wheels 41 , and the plurality of second rolling wheels 41 are attached to the sidewall of the second track 201 .
[0083] Specifically, the second clamping unit 40 includes a rotating shaft and multiple second rolling wheels 41. The rotating shaft is connected to the bottom of the second limiting unit 22 and the second rolling wheels 41 are rotatably connected to the rotating shaft. The second rolling wheels 41 are arranged in pairs and the paired second rolling wheels 41 extend to the two side walls of the second track 201 respectively through the rotating shaft. There are multiple pairs of second rolling wheels 41 and they are arranged in sequence at the bottom of the second limiting unit 22 along the extension direction of the second track 201. The second rolling wheels 41 are fitted with and rollingly connected to the side walls of the second track 201 to facilitate the movement of the second clamping unit 40 relative to the second track 201. At the same time, the noise generated when the second clamping unit 40 contacts the second track 201 is reduced, and the friction between the second clamping unit 40 and the second track 201 is avoided, resulting in gnawing of the track and affecting the service life of the second track 201.
[0084] As shown in Figure 4, in this embodiment, the first clamping unit 30 also includes a fixed bracket 32, which is arranged on the outer peripheral side of the walking wheel 101, and the fixed bracket 32 is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft of the walking wheel 101. A plurality of first rolling wheels 31 are connected to the front and rear ends of the fixed bracket 32 along the extension direction of the first track 200.
[0085] Specifically, the fixed bracket 32 is located on the outer peripheral side of the running wheel 101, and a storage space for accommodating the running wheel 101 is formed in the fixed bracket 32, and the running wheel 101 is spaced apart from the inner wall of the storage space. The fixed bracket 32 is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft of the running wheel 101, and the first rolling wheel 31 is connected to the fixed bracket 32, so that the position of the fixed bracket 32 remains unchanged when the first rolling wheel 31 contacts the side wall of the first track 200, so that its position is not affected by the movement of the running wheel 101 along a specific direction. A plurality of first rolling wheels 31 are provided at the front and rear ends of the fixed bracket 32, that is, a plurality of first rolling wheels 31 are provided at the front and rear ends of the running wheel 101. Increasing the number of first rolling wheels 31 prevents the battery exchange device 100 from derailing in different directions on the first track 200, thereby improving the reliability and operational stability of the battery exchange device 100. At the same time, the plurality of first rolling wheels 31 and the fixed bracket 32 are provided as an integrated structure, which facilitates the first clamping unit 30 to be assembled as a whole onto the battery exchange device 100. The battery exchange device 100 having the first rolling wheel 31 at both the front and rear ends can be safer than the battery exchange device 100 having the first rolling wheel 31 only at the front or only at the rear end. In particular, when the battery exchange device 100 rotates on the first track 200 to align with the battery exchange vehicle, the end without the first rolling wheel 31 extends out of the first track 200 and deviates from the first track 200 due to lack of limit, resulting in inability to reset and derailment, thereby reducing the risk of the battery exchange device 100 during battery exchange.
[0086] As shown in Figures 6 and 8, in this embodiment, the first rolling wheels 31 are arranged in pairs and are respectively located on both sides of the first track 200. The two paired first rolling wheels 31 are both inclined to fit the side walls of the first track 200 and can roll along the side walls of the first track 200. The cross-section of the first track 200 is a trapezoid that gradually decreases from top to bottom. The first rolling wheels 31 are adjustable in the height direction so that the gap between the first rolling wheels 31 and the side walls of the first track 200 can be adjusted.
[0087] Specifically, the first clamping unit 30 includes a rotating shaft and a first rolling wheel 31. The rotating shaft passes through the axis of the first rolling wheel 31 so that the first rolling wheel 31 can rotate accordingly. The rotating shaft extends toward the bottom of the first track 200 and makes the first rolling wheel 31 located at the side wall of the first track 200. It can be understood that the first track 200 extends along the walking direction of the battery exchange device 100 and the first rolling wheels 31 arranged in pairs are arranged on both sides of the first track 200, so that the battery exchange device 100 limited by the first clamping unit 30 will not deviate to any side of the first track 200 when walking. The first rolling wheels 31 arranged in pairs make the first clamping units 30 located on both sides of the first track 200 balanced in force, avoiding wear on the first track 200 due to excessive force on one side, thereby improving the service life of the first track 200 and the first clamping unit 30.
[0088] The first rolling wheels 31 arranged in pairs are at the same position on both sides of the first track 200, so that the first track 200 is clamped by the two first rolling wheels 31 arranged opposite to each other to prevent the battery swap device 100 from derailing during operation. In particular, in this embodiment, the battery swap platform 10 of the battery swap device 100 can rotate on the first track 200 and can be limited by the first rolling wheels 31 arranged in pairs when it is aligned with the battery swap vehicle, thereby preventing safety problems caused by the battery swap device 100 derailing during rotation. The rotating shaft is tilted relative to the vertical direction and away from the first track 200, so that the axis of the first rolling wheel 31 located below the rotating shaft is tilted relative to the vertical direction and close to the first track 200.
[0089] As shown in Figures 5 and 8, the upper surface of the first rail 200 is larger than the lower surface, and the inclination of the side wall of the first rail 200 is the same as the inclination of the rotating shaft of the first supporting unit 30 and the first rolling wheel 31. As a result, the first rolling wheel 31 is tilted and contacts the side wall of the first rail 200 through the side wall of the first rolling wheel 31 instead of the end of the first rolling wheel 31. This increases the contact area and improves the stability of clamping the first rail 200, ensuring that the battery exchange equipment 100 runs more smoothly. Furthermore, the height of the first rolling wheel 31 on the side wall of the first rail 200 is adjustable, that is, the height of the two first rolling wheels 31 opposite to each other on both sides of the first rail 200 is adjusted synchronously on the basis of being at the same height. When the first rolling wheel 31 moves toward the upper surface of the first rail 200, the first rolling wheel 31 gradually approaches the side wall of the first rail 200, that is, the first gap decreases, and when the first rolling wheel 31 moves toward the lower surface of the first rail 200, the first rolling wheel 31 gradually moves away from the side wall of the first rail 200, that is, the first gap increases, so that the battery swap device 100 can rotate on the first rail 200 and adjust its posture so that it can clamp the first rail 200 when it is aligned with the battery swap vehicle. It should be noted that the adjustment of the first gap between the first rail 200 and the first rolling wheel 31 is not achieved by changing the inclination angle of the first rolling wheel 31, but by adjusting the position of the first rolling wheel 31 at different heights of the side wall of the first rail 200 through the cross-sectional shape of the first rail 200 itself, so that the first gap between the first rolling wheel 31 and the side wall of the first rail 200 changes.
[0090] As shown in Figure 7, in this embodiment, the first clamping unit 30 also includes a connecting member 34 and an adapter 33. The lower end of the adapter 33 is connected to the upper end of the first rolling wheel 31, and the adapter 33 and the first rolling wheel 31 are inclined in the same direction on the connecting member 34. The connecting member 34 is movably connected to the fixed bracket 32. The connecting member 34 can move up and down along the fixed bracket 32, thereby driving the height of the first rolling wheel 31 to be adjustable.
[0091] The adapter 33 is an L-shaped structure and is provided corresponding to a plurality of first rolling wheels 31. The lower end of the L-shaped structure is arranged perpendicularly to the upper end. The lower end of the L-shaped structure is arranged in the horizontal direction and is provided with a through hole. The rotating shaft is passed through the through hole and is connected to the lower end of the adapter 33 by a nut. The nut and the first rolling wheel 31 are respectively located on the upper surface and the lower surface of the lower end of the L-shaped structure to prevent the nut from restricting the rotation of the first rolling wheel 31. The upper end of the L-shaped structure is connected to the connecting member 34 by bolts. The inclination direction of the "L"-shaped structure is the same as the inclination direction of the rotating shaft and the first rolling wheel 31. On the one hand, it cooperates with the side wall of the trapezoidal first track 200 so that the side wall of the first rolling wheel 31 is in contact with the side wall of the first track 200. On the other hand, the inclination degree of the first rolling wheel 31 is maintained by the adapter 33, so that the first gap between the first rolling wheel 31 and the side wall of the first track 200 is adjusted when the height of the first rolling wheel 31 is adjusted, thereby improving the reliability of the first clamping unit 30.
[0092] The connecting member 34 is a rectangular plate and is arranged in the vertical direction. One side of the connecting member 34 is attached to the surface of the fixed bracket 32 and is located at the front and rear ends of the fixed bracket 32 along the travel direction of the battery swap device 100. The adapter 33 is connected to one side of the connecting member 34 and the paired adapters 33 corresponding to the first rolling wheels 31 are arranged on the same connecting member 34. The connecting member 34 can move along the height direction of the fixed bracket 32, thereby driving the adapter 33 and the first rolling wheel 31 to move with it. The height direction of the fixed bracket 32 is the vertical direction of the first rail 200, and then the first rolling wheel 31 is driven up and down by the connecting member 34 to achieve height adjustment of the first rolling wheel 31. When the height is adjusted, the first gap changes accordingly to enable the first clamping unit 30 to clamp the first rail 200 to facilitate posture adjustment of the battery swap device 100. And the height adjustment of the two pairs of first rolling wheels 31 can be achieved only by adjusting the connecting member 34, making the adjustment operation more convenient.
[0093] As shown in Figure 9, in this embodiment, the first clamping unit 30 also includes a boss 35, which is arranged on the fixed bracket 32. The boss 35 is correspondingly located above the connecting member 34 and is penetrated by a bolt. The connecting member 34 is provided with a corresponding threaded hole to cooperate with the bolt to enable the connecting member 34 to move downward or upward in the height direction relative to the fixed bracket 32 when the bolt is rotated.
[0094] Specifically, the boss 35 is located on the fixing bracket 32 and is correspondingly arranged above the connecting member 34. The boss 35 is a rectangular parallelepiped structure and extends in the horizontal direction. The boss 35 and the fixing bracket 32 are fixedly connected by bolts arranged in the horizontal direction. The bottom of the boss 35 corresponds to the top of the connecting member 34. A through hole is provided on the boss 35 and the through hole passes through the bottom of the boss 35 in the vertical direction. A threaded hole is provided on the top of the connecting member 34. A bolt is passed through the through hole in the vertical direction and cooperates with the threaded hole. When the bolt is turned, the connecting member 34 is moved upward or downward in the vertical direction. Thereby, the adapter 33 connected to the connecting member 34 and the first rolling wheel 31 follow the movement, and the height of the first rolling wheel 31 on the side wall of the first track 200 and the gap between the first rolling wheel 31 and the side wall of the first track 200 are adjusted. The method of rotating the bolt to achieve height adjustment of the first rolling wheel 31 is simple in structure and low in cost. On the other hand, the method of rotating the bolt when adjusting the height of the first rolling wheel 31 is more accurate than other height adjustment structures, so that the battery exchange equipment 100 can be limited more accurately.
[0095] As shown in FIG10 , in this embodiment, the fixed bracket 32 includes a first baffle 321 arranged along the travel direction of the battery swap device 100 and a second baffle 322 arranged in a direction perpendicular to the travel direction of the battery swap device 100. The first baffle 321 and the second baffle 322 are arranged in pairs and are connected in sequence by bolts to form a rectangular frame. A space for accommodating the wheel 101 is formed within the rectangular frame. The fixed bracket 32 encloses the outer side of the travel wheel 101 to prevent debris from being caught in the travel wheel 101 or other structures from interfering with the travel wheel 101 and affecting the travel of the battery swap device 100. The connector 34 and the boss 35 are arranged on the second baffle 322 arranged along the width direction of the travel wheel 101 and are located on the side of the second baffle 322 away from the travel wheel 101. The rectangular frame formed by the first baffle 321 and the second baffle 322 is fixedly connected to the axle of the travel wheel 101 to maintain the same position and provide support for the connector 34 and the first rolling wheel 31.
[0096] In this embodiment, the second limiting unit 22 is a circular structure, and the first limiting unit 21 is provided with a circular hole adapted to the second limiting unit 22 to accommodate the second limiting unit 22 .
[0097] Specifically, the first limiting unit 21 is a rectangular plate and is located above the second track 201, and the second limiting unit 22 is a circular plate and is arranged in the circular hole of the first limiting unit 21. When the battery exchange platform 10 rotates, the first limiting unit 21 follows the rotation, and the second limiting unit 22 is always located at the center point of the battery exchange platform 10 and is limited by the second clamping unit 40 and the side wall of the second track 201 to avoid the center point offset. At the same time, the second limiting unit 22 of the circular plate can limit the position of the first limiting unit 21 when the first limiting unit 21 rotates, to avoid the first limiting unit 21 offsetting the center point of the battery exchange platform 10 under the rotation trend. The circular hole and the circular structure cooperate to enable the first limiting unit 21 to rotate in any direction when rotating. Compared with first limiting units 21 and second limiting units 22 of other shapes, its rotation range is larger, and the possible structural interference between the first limiting unit 21 and the second limiting unit 22 during the rotation process is avoided.
[0098] In this embodiment, each running wheel 101 is provided with a driving mechanism 300 , and each running wheel 101 is independently driven by the corresponding driving mechanism 300 .
[0099] Specifically, the driving mechanism 300 extends along the width direction of the battery exchange platform 10 and is arranged in the horizontal direction. The driving mechanism 300 is connected to the axle of the walking wheel 101 to drive the walking wheel 101 to rotate. It should be noted that each walking wheel 101 is independently driven by the driving mechanism 300, so that each walking wheel 101 has power, which can not only drive the movement of battery packs with larger weight and size, but also make the walking wheel 101 slide relative to the first track 200 in a direction perpendicular to the walking direction, so that when a single walking wheel 101 is driven alone, it can drive the battery exchange platform 10 to rotate, so as to realize the posture adjustment and precise positioning of the battery exchange equipment 100 relative to the battery exchange vehicle by rotating from different directions relative to the battery exchange vehicle.
[0100] As shown in FIG14 , in this embodiment, the traveling wheel 101 can slide relative to the battery exchange platform 10 in a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction so as to drive the battery exchange platform 10 to rotate when a single traveling wheel 101 is driven.
[0101] The connection between the walking wheel 101 and the battery exchange platform 10 is configured to slide in a direction perpendicular to the walking direction, and the walking wheel 101 is rotationally connected to the battery exchange platform 10. Specifically, the walking wheel 101 is connected to the connecting frame through a sliding assembly 122 so that the walking wheel 101 can slide relative to the connecting frame and thus the walking wheel 101 can slide relative to the battery exchange platform 10. The connecting frame is further connected to the battery exchange platform 10 through a rotating assembly 123 so that the battery exchange platform 10 and the connecting frame can rotate. This arrangement allows for when a single walking wheel 101 is driven, the walking wheel 101 to move forward, and since the other walking wheels are not driven and remain in place, the driven walking wheel slides relative to the connecting frame, thereby driving the battery exchange platform to twist, and further rotating between the connecting frame and the battery exchange platform 10, thereby realizing the rotation of the battery exchange platform 10, that is, realizing the posture adjustment of the battery exchange equipment and then aligning it with the battery exchange vehicle. It can be understood that the walking wheel 101 moves in a specific direction, that is, it slides relative to the battery swap platform 10 in a direction perpendicular to the walking direction of the battery swap equipment 100, so as to achieve alignment between the battery swap vehicle and the battery swap vehicle and improve the battery swap efficiency.
[0102] As shown in Figure 5, in this embodiment, the battery exchange device 100 also includes a drag chain 50, the first clamping unit 30 is arranged at the end corner of the battery exchange platform 10, and when the battery exchange platform 10 rotates, the relative position of the first clamping unit 30 and the first track 200 remains unchanged, and the first end of the drag chain 50 is connected to the outside of the first clamping unit 30 away from the battery exchange platform 10.
[0103] Specifically, the first end of the drag chain 50 is connected to the fixed bracket 32 of the first clamping unit 30 and is located on the side of the fixed bracket 32 away from the battery exchange platform 10. It can be understood that the battery exchange platform 10, the first clamping unit 30 and the drag chain 50 are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction, and the fixed bracket 32 is respectively provided with a drag chain 50 and a battery exchange platform 10 on opposite sides of the walking direction of the battery exchange equipment 100, so as to support the drag chain 50 through the first clamping unit 30 which always remains in a constant relative position with the first track 200, so that the drag chain 50 can be The relative position of the battery exchange platform 10 remains unchanged when it rotates. Compared with the way that the drag chain 50 is directly connected to the battery exchange platform 10, the first clamping unit 30 does not move with the rotation of the battery exchange platform 10. Accordingly, the drag chain 50 connected to the first clamping unit 30 will not rotate with the battery exchange platform 10, so that the drag chain 50, which is a flexible structure, can avoid the problem of being difficult to return to its position when rotating with the battery exchange platform 10, and avoid damage to the cables that are squeezed due to the rotation of the drag chain 50, so as to improve the service life and reliability of the battery exchange equipment 100.
[0104] As shown in Figure 11, in this embodiment, the battery exchange platform 10 also includes a battery mounting portion 11, which is used to cooperate with the bottom of the battery pack for disassembly or installation. A recessed area 13 is provided on the battery mounting portion 11. The recessed area 13 is used to accommodate the tray 60 connected to the bottom of the battery pack. The recessed area 13 is arranged on both sides of the battery mounting portion 11 in a direction perpendicular to the walking direction of the battery exchange equipment 100.
[0105] Specifically, the battery mounting portion 11 is provided with recessed areas 13 at both ends along the walking direction of the battery exchange device 100. The recessed areas 13 are grooves extending downward along the height direction of the battery mounting portion 11. The tray 60 is a rectangular structure and has a certain height. The top of the tray 60 is used to abut against the bottom of the battery pack to carry the battery pack. By providing recessed areas 13 at both ends of the battery mounting portion 11 and arranging the tray 60 in the recessed areas 13, uniform loading of the battery pack is achieved, thereby avoiding damage to the battery pack due to the local height of the battery pack and other parts. When the upper surface of the tray 60 is higher than the upper surface of the battery mounting portion 11, the remaining height of the tray 60 is accommodated by the recessed area 13. Compared with the case where the tray 60 is directly arranged on the upper surface of the battery mounting portion 11, the recessed area 13 accommodates the remaining height of the tray 60 to reduce the vertical space occupied by the tray 60 in the vertical direction, thereby reducing the vertical height of the battery swap device 100 and avoiding collision between the battery pack and the bottom of the vehicle platform. This makes it suitable for battery swap vehicles with smaller bottom space and improves the safety of the battery swap device 100. It also enables the battery swap device 100 to swap batteries for battery packs with higher heights and longer driving ranges, especially for battery swap vehicles equipped with thicker battery packs, thus greatly meeting the chassis-type battery swap requirements of various vehicles and improving its scope of application.
[0106] In some embodiments, the battery mounting portion 11 may be integrally formed, with the recessed area 13 formed by stamping or other methods. In other embodiments, the battery mounting portion 11 may be assembled from multiple plates to form the recessed area 13. Specifically, the specific method for forming the battery mounting portion 11 is not limited in this application and may be implemented in different ways based on actual needs and production processes.
[0107] In this embodiment, the battery installation part 11 also includes an unlocking unit 70, and a plurality of unlocking units 70 are provided, and the plurality of unlocking units 70 are arranged at intervals along the moving direction of the battery exchange equipment 100. The unlocking unit 70 is used to cooperate with the unlocking hole on the battery pack to unlock the battery pack.
[0108] Specifically, the unlocking unit 70 is a cylindrical structure arranged in the vertical direction and connected to the upper surface of the battery mounting portion 11 by bolts. Multiple unlocking units 70 are symmetrically arranged so that each unlocking unit 70 can unlock the unlocking holes at different positions of the battery pack. Each unlocking unit 70 is arranged along the travel direction of the battery swap device 100 and is located in the same straight line direction. By increasing the number of unlocking units 70, the unlocking stability of the battery pack is improved. At the same time, different positions of the battery pack are unlocked to avoid the situation where the battery pack cannot be separated from the battery mounting portion 11 due to partial unlocking of the battery pack while the remaining parts are not unlocked, thereby improving the unlocking efficiency of the battery swap device 100. The straight line direction is the same distance from the first side and the second side of the battery mounting portion 11. Compared with the staggered arrangement, the synchronization of the battery pack unlocking can be improved. It can be understood that the direction perpendicular to the travel direction of the battery swap device 100 is the width direction of the battery mounting portion 11, and the symmetrically arranged unlocking units 70 are such that the axis of the width direction is set in the central area of the battery mounting portion 11.
[0109] In this embodiment, the top heights of the various unlocking units 70 are the same, so that when the various unlocking units 70 are simultaneously extended into the unlocking holes, they abut against the top rods in the unlocking holes at the same time and achieve synchronous unlocking, thereby avoiding the situation where some unlocking holes of the battery pack are unlocked while the remaining unlocking holes remain in a locked state, and the battery pack cannot be unlocked smoothly.
[0110] As shown in Figures 12 and 13, further, in this embodiment, the unlocking unit 70 includes a first unlocking rod 71 and a second unlocking rod 72. The first unlocking rod 71 cooperates with the corresponding unlocking hole to unlock the battery pack and drives the battery pack to move when the battery mounting part 11 moves. The second unlocking rod 72 can be extended into the corresponding unlocking hole and unlock the battery pack at the same time as the first unlocking rod 71.
[0111] Specifically, the first unlocking lever 71 and the second unlocking lever 72 are both vertically arranged on the top surface of the battery mounting portion 11 so that they can extend into the corresponding unlocking holes on the battery pack when the battery mounting portion 11 is engaged with the battery pack. The first unlocking lever 71 and the second unlocking lever 72 push the top rod on the battery pack and make the top rod act on the locking mechanism on the battery swapping vehicle, thereby unlocking the battery pack from the battery swapping vehicle. The first unlocking lever 71 can also cooperate with the unlocking hole to drive the battery pack to move, so that during the unlocking process, the battery pack moves a certain distance so that the lock shaft on the battery pack and the lock tongue in the locking mechanism are no longer in a state of abutment, thereby facilitating the opening of the lock tongue, so that the lock shaft can be disengaged from the locking mechanism to unlock the battery pack and the battery swapping vehicle.
[0112] The first unlocking rod 71 is located in the middle area of the battery mounting portion 11 and between the two recessed areas 13. The second unlocking rod 72 is located in the edge area of the battery mounting portion 11 and is set away from the two recessed areas 13. In this embodiment, the first unlocking rod 71 alone cooperates with the unlocking hole and drives the battery pack to move, while the second unlocking rod 72 is only used to push the top rod on the battery pack to unlock the battery pack, thereby avoiding the problem of over-positioning when both the first unlocking rod 71 and the second unlocking rod 72 cooperate with the unlocking hole at the same time, thereby preventing the unlocking efficiency from being reduced.
[0113] Moreover, by cooperating the first unlocking rod 71 with the unlocking hole alone, the battery pack can be driven to move by the first unlocking rod 71 alone when the battery swap platform 10 moves. That is, the first unlocking rod 71 alone bears the force of the battery pack. Compared with the second unlocking rod 72 arranged in the edge area of the battery mounting portion 11 which alone bears the force of the battery pack, the force-bearing effect is better and the battery pack is more stable.
[0114] It can be understood that in this embodiment, the top heights of the first unlocking rod 71 and the second unlocking rod 72 are the same, so that when the first unlocking rod 71 and the second unlocking rod 72 are simultaneously extended into the unlocking hole, they abut against the top rod in the unlocking hole at the same time and achieve synchronous unlocking, thereby avoiding the situation where the battery pack cannot be unlocked smoothly.
[0115] In this embodiment, the first unlocking lever 71 includes a matching portion 711 provided on the battery mounting portion 11 and a first rod body 712 provided on the matching portion 711. The diameter of the first rod body 712 is smaller than the diameter of the matching portion 711. The diameter of the matching portion 711 is the same as the diameter of the corresponding unlocking hole.
[0116] Specifically, a plurality of unlocking holes are provided at the bottom of the battery pack corresponding to the first unlocking rod 71 and the second unlocking rod 72. The unlocking holes are circular holes, and the arrangement of the unlocking holes is the same as the arrangement of the first unlocking rod 71 and the second unlocking rod 72 mentioned above. The first unlocking rod 71 is a cylindrical structure in appearance. The first unlocking rod 71 includes a base 713. The base 713 is a disc structure and is fixedly connected to the top surface of the battery mounting portion 11 by bolts. A cylindrical matching portion 711 and a first rod body 712 are provided on the base 713. The matching portion 711, the first rod body 712 and the base 713 are integrally formed to ensure the structural strength of the first unlocking rod 71. The matching portion 711 is located between the first rod body 712 and the base 713 and the first rod body 712 is located at the top of the first unlocking rod 71. The locking rod 71 extends into the unlocking hole to push against the ejector rod, thereby unlocking the battery pack. The mating portion 711 is used to fit against the inner side wall of the unlocking hole, thereby positioning the battery pack and carrying the force of the battery pack when moving through the mating portion 711, thereby driving the battery pack to move. By arranging the mating portion 711 away from the ejector rod in the unlocking hole and closer to the base 713, its load resistance can be improved, thereby enhancing the structural strength of the first rod body 712. The additional mating portion 711 replaces the first rod body 712 and contacts the inner side wall of the unlocking hole. Compared to the situation where the force of the battery pack is carried by the side of the first rod body 712, which has a smaller diameter than the unlocking hole, which may cause the first rod body 712 to break, the safety of the first unlocking rod 71 and the stability of the battery pack during battery replacement are improved by the mating portion 711. This avoids the situation where the first rod body 712 is damaged due to the force of the battery pack and cannot unlock the battery pack, thereby avoiding unlocking failure.
[0117] In this embodiment, the first unlocking rod 71 also includes a guide portion 714, which is located at the end of the first rod body 712 away from the battery installation portion 11. A matching portion guide surface 7111 is provided on the outer peripheral side of the matching portion 711, and the matching portion guide surface 7111 is used to match with the inner side wall of the unlocking hole.
[0118] Specifically, the guide portion 714 is located at the edge of the end of the first rod 712 away from the battery mounting portion 11, and the guide portion 714 is a chamfer on this end, which is a right angle. The guide portion 714 forms a conical structure at the end of the first rod 712 away from the base 713. This conical structure is easier to mate with the unlocking hole than an end with a cylindrical structure, reducing the difficulty of mate with the unlocking hole and thereby improving the success rate of unlocking. The matching portion guide surface 7111 is an arcuate surface, so that when the matching portion 711 is inserted into the unlocking hole, the outer side of the matching portion 711 smoothly mates with the inner side wall of the unlocking hole, reducing the difficulty of mate with the unlocking hole and thereby improving the success rate of unlocking.
[0119] In this embodiment, the second unlocking lever 72 includes a second rod body 721 . The second rod body 721 is disposed on the battery mounting portion 11 . The diameter of the second rod body 721 is smaller than the diameter of the corresponding unlocking hole.
[0120] Specifically, the second unlocking lever 72 also includes a base 713 and a second rod body 721 disposed on the base 713. It is understandable that the base 713 is not a structural improvement in this embodiment. The structure of the base 713 in the second unlocking lever 72 and the connection method with the battery mounting portion 11 are the same as those of the base 713 in the first unlocking lever 71, and will not be described in detail here. The second rod body 721 is a cylindrical structure, and its end away from the base 713 is used to push against the top rod in the unlocking hole of the battery pack, thereby synchronously unlocking the battery pack with the first unlocking lever 71. By setting the diameter of the second rod body 721 to be smaller than the diameter of the unlocking hole, the battery pack can be positioned and the force of the battery pack can be independently supported by the matching portion 711 in the first unlocking lever 71, thereby avoiding contact between the inner side wall of the unlocking hole of the battery pack and the side of the second rod body 721, and preventing the second rod body 721 from being damaged and causing the unlocking function of the second unlocking lever 72 to be lost.
[0121] At the same time, the end of the second rod body 721 used to push against the push rod is also provided with a guide portion 714. The guide portion 714 is located at the end edge of the second rod body 721 away from the battery mounting portion 11, and the guide portion 714 is a chamfer on the end, and the chamfer is a right angle. Through the guide portion 714, the end of the second rod body 721 away from the base 713 is formed into a conical structure. When cooperating with the unlocking hole, the conical structure is easier to cooperate with the unlocking hole than the end of the cylindrical structure, so as to improve the unlocking success rate.
[0122] In this embodiment, at least two first unlocking rods 71 are provided between the two recessed areas 13 , and at least four unlocking units 70 are arranged along the moving direction of the battery exchange device 100 .
[0123] Specifically, at least four unlocking units 70 are arranged at different positions on the battery mounting portion 11 and corresponding to the connection points between the battery pack and the battery swap vehicle, thereby making the force on the battery mounting portion 11 more balanced during the unlocking process and avoiding stress concentration. The multiple unlocking units 70 are arranged along the travel direction of the battery swap device 100. Compared with the individual unlocking units 70 arranged in a staggered manner, it can avoid over-positioning of each unlocking unit 70 when cooperating with the unlocking hole of the battery pack, thereby avoiding reducing the unlocking efficiency.
[0124] In this embodiment, the battery installation part 11 has protruding parts 12 at both ends along the moving direction of the battery exchange device 100. The two protruding parts 12 are respectively located on the opposite sides of the two recessed areas 13, and each protruding part 12 is provided with at least one second unlocking rod 72.
[0125] Specifically, the protruding portion 12 extends outward from a portion of the edge of the end of the battery mounting portion 11, and the width of the protruding portion 12 gradually decreases in the direction away from the battery mounting portion 11. It can be understood that a recessed area 13 is provided between the protruding portion 12 and the end of the battery mounting portion 11, and the side of the recessed area 13 away from the end of the battery mounting portion 11 is connected to the protruding portion 12 by bolts, so that the battery mounting portion 11 and the protruding portion 12 are located on the same horizontal plane, so as to reduce the space occupied in the vertical direction, save the vertical space of the battery mounting portion 11, and reduce the height of the battery exchange device 100. At least one second unlocking rod 72 is provided on the protruding portion 12, and the second unlocking rod 72 provided on the battery mounting portion 11 can be used to unlock the unlocking holes at different positions at the same time.
[0126] The protruding portion 12 is a trapezoidal structure. The smaller end of the trapezoidal structure is arranged away from the battery mounting portion 11, while the larger end is connected to the battery mounting portion 11 and the connection is located in the central area of the end of the battery mounting portion 11. Compared with the battery mounting portion 11, the size of the trapezoidal structure is further reduced. On the one hand, it can reduce the weight of the protruding portion 12 and the manufacturing cost of the battery mounting portion 11. On the other hand, the strength characteristics of the trapezoidal structure itself can ensure the structural strength of the protruding portion 12 and the battery mounting portion 11.
[0127] In other embodiments, the extension portion 12 may also be a triangular structure, the purpose of which is also to reduce the weight of the extension portion 12 itself while ensuring structural strength.
[0128] In another embodiment, the battery mounting portion 11, the recessed area 13 and the protruding portion 12 can also be integrally formed, thereby reducing the time required for installing the battery exchange device 100 and improving assembly efficiency.
[0129] In this embodiment, an avoidance hole 80 is further provided on the battery mounting portion 11 , and the avoidance hole 80 is provided for the connection portion on the vehicle body positioning plate of the battery swapping device 100 for connection with the battery swapping device 100 to pass through.
[0130] Specifically, the avoidance hole 80 is a rectangular hole and there are multiple avoidance holes 80. The multiple avoidance holes 80 are respectively arranged between the two recessed areas 13 to correspond to the connecting part. The connecting part at least partially extends into the avoidance hole 80. Compared with the way of stacking the connecting part and the battery mounting part 11 up and down, the space occupied by the battery exchange equipment 100 in the vertical direction is further reduced, the reasonable utilization rate of the space is improved, and the height of the battery exchange equipment 100 is reduced.
[0131] In this embodiment, multiple elastic members 90 are arranged in each recessed area 13, and the multiple elastic members 90 are arranged at intervals along a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the battery exchange equipment 100. The tray 60 is connected to the elastic members 90 so that the tray 60 can float relative to the recessed area 13.
[0132] Specifically, the bottom of the recessed area 13, which is used to support the tray 60, is provided with a plurality of elastic members 90. These elastic members 90 are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the recessed area 13 along the width of the battery mounting portion 11 to ensure more uniform force on the tray 60. The elastic members 90 are conventional springs, one end of which is fixedly connected to the bottom of the recessed area 13, while the other end abuts the bottom of the tray 60. The top edge of the tray 60 is formed with an arcuate surface to guide the bottom of the battery pack when mating with it and prevent damage to the bottom of the battery pack. The provision of the elastic members 90 enables the tray 60 to float relative to the recessed area 13. In other words, the tray 60 can float relative to the battery mounting portion 11 and support the battery pack. The floating connection not only cushions the bottom of the battery pack, preventing damage to the battery pack when in contact with the tray 60, but also provides a certain amount of support when removing the battery pack from the battery mounting portion 11, reducing the difficulty of removing the battery pack.
[0133] Furthermore, a plurality of first weight-reducing holes 91 are provided at the bottom of the recessed area 13 , and the first weight-reducing holes 91 and the elastic members 90 are alternately arranged in sequence.
[0134] Specifically, two first weight-reducing holes 91 are provided at the bottom of each recessed area 13. The first weight-reducing hole 91 passes through the recessed area 13. The first weight-reducing hole 91 is a rectangular hole. The rectangular hole is provided with an elastic member 90 on the side along the moving direction of the battery exchange device 100. The elastic member 90 and the first weight-reducing hole 91 are alternately arranged in sequence along a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the battery exchange device 100. By providing the first weight-reducing hole 91, the weight of the recessed area 13 can be reduced while ensuring the structural strength, that is, the weight of the battery mounting part 11 can be reduced, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost.
[0135] In this embodiment, a first weight-reducing groove 92 is provided on the battery mounting portion 11. The first weight-reducing groove 92 is located between the two recessed areas 13. The first weight-reducing groove 92 is provided close to the edge of the battery mounting portion 11 and has an opening that passes through the edge of the battery mounting portion 11 so that the vehicle body positioning plate of the battery exchange device 100 can pass through.
[0136] Specifically, the first weight-reducing groove 92 is a rectangular groove and extends from the first side of the battery mounting portion 11 toward the second side of the battery mounting portion 11 in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the battery exchange device 100. The vehicle body positioning plate is located below the battery mounting portion 11, and the vehicle body positioning plate at least partially extends into the first weight-reducing groove 92. By setting the first weight-reducing groove 92 to accommodate part of the vehicle body positioning plate, compared with the method of stacking the vehicle body positioning plate and the battery mounting portion 11 up and down, the space occupied by the battery exchange device 100 in the vertical direction is further reduced, and the space utilization rate is improved. Accordingly, the battery exchange device 100 can carry a higher battery pack for battery exchange, thereby improving its scope of application.
[0137] In this embodiment, the battery mounting portion 11 is also provided with a second lightening hole 93, located between the two recessed areas 13 and facing away from the first lightening groove 92. This second lightening hole 93 is a rectangular hole located near the second side of the battery mounting portion 11. This reduces the weight of the unlocking plate 100 and lowers manufacturing costs. Furthermore, the provision of this second lightening hole 93 allows operators to access the mechanisms beneath the battery mounting portion 11 through it without disassembling the entire battery mounting portion 11, thus improving maintenance convenience.
[0138] This embodiment also provides a battery swap station, which includes the above-mentioned battery swap equipment 100.
[0139] Specifically, the battery swap station includes the above-mentioned battery swap equipment 100, which is configured to travel along the first track 200. The battery swap equipment 100 includes a battery swap platform 10, running wheels 101, a drive mechanism 300, and a plurality of limit assemblies 20 with a limiting function. The running wheels 101 are each equipped with a drive mechanism 300 so that the running wheels 101 can slide relative to the first track 200. The drive mechanism 300 drives one running wheel 101 alone to achieve the battery swap platform 10 while maintaining the running direction of the battery swap equipment 100. The posture of the battery swap platform 10 relative to the running direction can be adjusted to align with the battery of the battery swap vehicle. In addition, the center point of the battery swap platform 10 is kept from shifting during rotation by the limit assembly 20, thereby avoiding a series of problems caused by the derailment of the battery swap equipment 100 and improving the convenience of battery swapping.
[0140] Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, those skilled in the art will appreciate that these are merely illustrative and that the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims. Those skilled in the art may make various changes or modifications to these embodiments without departing from the principles and essence of the present invention, and such changes and modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A battery swapping device, which can rotate to align with a battery swapping vehicle, characterized in that: The battery replacement equipment comprises: A battery swap platform, which is rotatable and used to remove or install a battery pack; The limit assembly includes a first limit unit and a second limit unit. The first limit unit is arranged at the bottom of the battery exchange platform and can rotate with the battery exchange platform relative to the second limit unit. The second limit unit can be limited to a preset position so that the center point of the battery exchange platform remains unchanged during the rotation process.
2. The battery replacement device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The battery exchange equipment includes multiple running wheels and a first clamping unit, the first clamping unit is connected to the battery exchange platform or the running wheel, the first clamping unit is clamped on both sides of the first track and always maintains a matching state with the first track, so that the running wheel runs along the first track.
3. The battery replacement device according to claim 2, characterized in that: A second clamping unit is provided below the second limiting unit, the second clamping unit is clamped at both sides of the second track, and a first gap between the first clamping unit and the side wall of the first track is smaller than a second gap between the second clamping unit and the side wall of the second track.
4. The battery replacement device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: The first clamping unit includes a plurality of first rolling wheels, the plurality of first rolling wheels are attached to the side wall of the first track, and the heights of the plurality of first rolling wheels are adjustable along the height direction of the first track.
5. The battery replacement device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The second clamping unit includes a plurality of second rolling wheels, and the plurality of second rolling wheels are attached to the side wall of the second track.
6. The battery replacement device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The first clamping unit further includes a fixed bracket, which is arranged on the outer peripheral side of the walking wheel, the fixed bracket is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft of the walking wheel, and the first plurality of rolling wheels are connected to the front end and the rear end of the fixed bracket along the extending direction of the first track; And / or, the first rolling wheels are arranged in pairs and are respectively located on both sides of the first track, the two first rolling wheels in a pair are inclined to fit with the side walls of the first track and can roll along the side walls of the first track, the cross-section of the first track is a trapezoid that gradually decreases from top to bottom, and the first rolling wheels are adjustable in the height direction so that the gap between the first rolling wheels and the side walls of the first track can be adjusted.
7. The battery replacement device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The first clamping unit further includes a connecting member and an adapter, the lower end of the adapter is connected to the upper end of the first rolling wheel, and the adapter is arranged on the connecting member in the same direction as the first rolling wheel, the connecting member is movably connected to the fixed bracket, and the connecting member can move up and down along the fixed bracket to drive the height of the first rolling wheel to be adjustable; And / or, the first clamping unit also includes a boss, which is arranged on the fixed bracket, the boss is correspondingly located above the connecting member and is penetrated by a bolt, and the connecting member is provided with a corresponding threaded hole to cooperate with the bolt to realize that when the bolt rotates, the connecting member moves downward or upward in the height direction relative to the fixed bracket.
8. The battery replacement device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The second limiting unit is a circular structure, and the first limiting unit is provided with a circular hole matched with the second limiting unit to accommodate the second limiting unit.
9. The battery replacement device according to any one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that: Each of the running wheels is provided with a driving mechanism, and each of the running wheels is independently driven by the corresponding driving mechanism.
10. The battery replacement device according to claim 9, characterized in that: The traveling wheel can slide relative to the battery exchange platform in a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction so as to drive the battery exchange platform to rotate when a single traveling wheel is driven.
11. The battery replacement device according to any one of claims 2 to 10, characterized in that: The battery exchange device also includes a drag chain, the first clamping unit is arranged at the end corner of the battery exchange platform, and when the battery exchange platform rotates, the relative position of the first clamping unit and the first track remains unchanged, and the first end of the drag chain is connected to the first clamping unit away from the outer side of the battery exchange platform.
12. The battery replacement device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that: The battery exchange platform also includes a battery mounting portion, which is used to cooperate with the bottom of the battery pack for disassembly or installation. The battery mounting portion is provided with a recessed area, which is used to accommodate a tray connected to the bottom of the battery pack. The recessed area is arranged on both sides of the battery mounting portion in a direction perpendicular to the walking direction of the battery exchange equipment.
13. The battery replacement device according to claim 12, characterized in that: The battery installation part also includes an unlocking unit, and a plurality of the unlocking units are provided, and the plurality of the unlocking units are arranged at intervals along the walking direction of the battery replacement device, and the unlocking unit is used to cooperate with the unlocking hole on the battery pack to unlock the battery pack; And / or, the unlocking unit includes a first unlocking rod and a second unlocking rod, the first unlocking rod cooperates with the corresponding unlocking hole to unlock the battery pack and drives the battery pack to move when the battery mounting part moves, and the second unlocking rod can extend into the corresponding unlocking hole to unlock the battery pack simultaneously with the first unlocking rod.
14. The battery replacement device according to claim 13, characterized in that: The first unlocking lever includes a matching portion arranged on the battery mounting portion and a first rod body arranged on the matching portion, the diameter of the first rod body is smaller than the diameter of the matching portion, and the diameter of the matching portion is the same as the diameter of the corresponding unlocking hole; and / or, the second unlocking lever includes a second rod body, the second rod body is arranged on the battery mounting portion, and the diameter of the second rod body is smaller than the diameter of the corresponding unlocking hole.
15. A battery swap station, characterized in that: The battery swap station includes the battery swap equipment as described in any one of claims 1-14.
Citation Information
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