Bridge frame apparatus for vehicle battery replacement, vehicle battery replacement system, and battery replacement method

Abstract

Embodiments of the present application provide a bridge frame apparatus for vehicle battery replacement, a vehicle battery replacement system, and a battery replacement method. The bridge frame apparatus for vehicle battery replacement comprises: a base (1), an upper surface thereof allowing a vehicle (100) to travel thereon, the upper surface of the base (1) being provided with a recess (11) extending in a first direction (x), and the first direction (x) being consistent with a width direction of the vehicle (100); and at least two bridge frame assemblies (2), which are arranged side by side in the recess (11) in a second direction (y), the second direction (y) being perpendicular to the first direction (x), and the bridge frame assemblies (2) each comprising a support plate (21). Each of the bridge frame assemblies (2) is selectably switched between a first position and a second position; in the first position, the support plate (21) covers a partial area of the recess (11) for the vehicle (100) to pass; and in the second position, the bridge frame assembly (2) is away in the first direction (x) from the area in which a battery (101) of the vehicle (100) is located.

Description

Vehicle battery replacement bridge device, vehicle battery replacement system and battery replacement method Cross-references to related applications

[0001] This disclosure is based on the Chinese application with application number 202410262965.1 and application date March 7, 2024, and claims its priority. The disclosed content of the above-mentioned Chinese application is hereby introduced into this disclosure as a whole. Technical Field

[0002] The present application relates to the field of vehicle battery replacement, and in particular to a vehicle battery replacement bridge device, a vehicle battery replacement system and a battery replacement method. Background Art

[0003] Due to the limited capacity of batteries, electric vehicles need to replace batteries in order to meet the long-range operation requirements. Currently, some vehicles are lifted to replace batteries, but some vehicles are too heavy to lift and are not suitable for lifting and battery replacement. Instead, grooves can be set up in the ground for battery replacement.

[0004] For this type of battery replacement method, how to meet the battery replacement needs of different types of vehicles is an urgent problem that needs to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this application is to improve the versatility of battery replacement for different types of vehicles.

[0006] According to a first aspect of the present application, a vehicle battery replacement bridge device is provided, comprising:

[0007] a base body, an upper surface of which is for the vehicle to travel, the upper surface of the base body being provided with a groove extending in a first direction, the first direction being consistent with a width direction of the vehicle; and

[0008] At least two bridge frame assemblies are arranged side by side in the groove along a second direction, the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction, and the bridge frame assemblies include a support plate;

[0009] Among them, each bridge frame assembly can be selectively switched between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the support plate covers a part of the groove to allow the vehicle to pass through. In the second position, the bridge frame assembly avoids the battery area of ​​the vehicle in the first direction.

[0010] This embodiment arranges at least two bridge frame assemblies side by side along the second direction in the groove, and each bridge frame assembly can be selectively switched between the first position and the second position. When the vehicle needs to replace the battery, the front wheels can smoothly cross the battery replacement area so that the battery area is located above the groove. The matching bridge frame assembly can also be selected according to the number of batteries in different models of vehicles or the actual battery replacement needs to be removed for battery replacement operations. In this way, different vehicles can be compatible with battery replacement, thereby improving the versatility of the vehicle battery replacement bridge frame device.

[0011] In some embodiments, in the second direction, a size of each support plate is larger than a size of a battery.

[0012] When battery replacement is required, this embodiment can move a bridge frame assembly away to provide battery replacement operation space for a single battery, or move a bridge frame assembly with a larger support plate size away to provide battery replacement operation space for at least two batteries, or move at least two bridge frame assemblies away to jointly provide battery replacement operation space for at least two batteries. This can better meet the battery replacement needs of different vehicles and minimize the number of bridge frame assemblies.

[0013] In some embodiments, at least two bridge frame assemblies include a first bridge frame assembly. In the second direction, the size of the support plate of the first bridge frame assembly is the sum of the size of a battery and the safe operating distance of battery replacement.

[0014] This embodiment provides a first cross-bridge assembly that matches a single battery. When the vehicle has only one battery, the battery replacement demand can be met by simply removing the first cross-bridge assembly. At this time, the other cross-bridge assemblies are in the first position and can be used to support the vehicle, thereby meeting the parking demand of the vehicle with a smaller span between the front and rear wheels. Alternatively, when the vehicle has more than two batteries, based on user needs, if only one battery needs to be replaced, the battery replacement demand can be met by simply removing the first cross-bridge assembly, thereby minimizing the number of cross-bridge assemblies that need to be moved. If multiple batteries need to be replaced, the first cross-bridge assembly can be removed together with the other cross-bridge assemblies to provide a larger battery replacement operation space, thereby improving the flexibility of the battery replacement operation.

[0015] In some embodiments, at least two bridge frame assemblies include a second bridge frame assembly. In the second direction, the size of the second bridge frame assembly is the sum of the size of the two batteries and the safe operating distance of battery replacement.

[0016] This embodiment provides a second cross-bridge assembly that matches two adjacent batteries. When the vehicle is only equipped with two batteries, the battery replacement demand can be met by simply removing the second cross-bridge assembly. At this time, the other cross-bridge assemblies are still in the first position and can be used to support the vehicle, thereby meeting the parking demand of the vehicle with a smaller span between the front and rear wheels; or, when the vehicle is equipped with more than three batteries, according to user needs, if only two batteries need to be replaced, the battery replacement demand can be met by simply removing the second cross-bridge assembly, thereby minimizing the number of cross-bridge assemblies that need to be moved. If more than three batteries need to be replaced, the second cross-bridge assembly can be removed together with the other cross-bridge assemblies to provide a larger battery replacement operation space, thereby improving the flexibility of the battery replacement operation.

[0017] In some embodiments, in the first direction, a dimension of each support plate is larger than a width of the vehicle and smaller than a dimension of the groove.

[0018] This embodiment enables the size of each support plate in the first direction to be larger than the width of the vehicle. When the bridge frame assembly is in the first position, the support plate provides support to the vehicle so that the front and rear wheels can reliably pass through the support plate. Moreover, the size of each support plate in the first direction is smaller than the size of the groove, which can leave space for the bridge frame assembly to move to the second position to provide space for battery replacement operations.

[0019] In some embodiments, the dimensions of at least two bridge assemblies in the first direction are the same.

[0020] In this embodiment, when at least two bridge frame assemblies are in the first position, the side surfaces of the multiple support plates can be aligned to form a regularly shaped support surface to provide support for the vehicle, thereby obtaining a maximum effective support area and saving material for the support plates. When one of the bridge frame assemblies is moved, it is also convenient to use the edges of the support plates of the other bridge frame assemblies for positioning.

[0021] In some embodiments, the bridge assembly is configured to switch between the first position and the second position by moving along a first direction.

[0022] This embodiment designates the bridge assembly as mobile, allowing it to remain within the groove during state switching, without occupying space outside the groove, preventing interference with the vehicle and improving the reliability of vehicle battery replacement. Furthermore, the groove provides support during the movement of the bridge assembly, improving its stability and reliability.

[0023] In some embodiments, the bridge assembly is configured to move as a whole along the first direction to one end of the groove to reach the second position.

[0024] This embodiment allows the bridge assembly to move as a whole toward one side along the first direction, simplifying its structure and control. Each bridge assembly is equipped with a single support plate, providing stable support for the vehicle. Furthermore, after the bridge assembly moves to the second position, a larger area of ​​the groove is exposed at the end of the groove away from the second position along the first direction, facilitating automated equipment access to perform battery swapping operations.

[0025] In some embodiments, the upper surface of each support plate is flush with the upper surface of the base.

[0026] This embodiment can enable the upper surface of the support plate and the upper surface of the base to form an integral plane when all the bridge frame components are in the first position, so that the front wheels can smoothly cross the battery swap area before the battery swap operation, and the vehicle can smoothly leave after the battery swap operation, thereby improving the stability of the vehicle's movement.

[0027] In some embodiments, the bridge frame assembly further includes a support frame and a plurality of rollers, wherein the support frame is disposed at the bottom of the support plate, and the plurality of rollers are disposed at the bottom of the support frame and are configured to move in the groove.

[0028] This embodiment provides a stable support for the support plate by arranging a support frame, so that the support plate can move smoothly. Moreover, by arranging a plurality of rollers at the bottom of the support frame, the movement of the bridge frame assembly in the groove can be smoother.

[0029] In some embodiments, the vehicle battery replacement bridge device also includes a guide rail corresponding to each bridge assembly. The guide rail is arranged at the bottom of the groove and extends along the first direction, and is configured to provide guidance for the movement of the roller.

[0030] This embodiment provides guidance for the movement of the bridge assembly by arranging the guide rails in conjunction with the rollers, thereby making the movement of the bridge assembly more stable.

[0031] In some embodiments, the vehicle battery replacement bridge device also includes a power transmission assembly corresponding to each bridge assembly, the power transmission assembly includes: a power component, a gear and a rack, the power component is installed on the bridge assembly, the gear is installed on the output end of the power component, the rack is arranged in the groove and extends along the first direction, and the gear is engaged with the rack.

[0032] This embodiment enables the bridge frame assembly to achieve self-driven movement by providing a power transmission assembly, thereby conveniently controlling each bridge frame assembly to switch between the first position and the second position, thereby improving the flexibility of battery replacement.

[0033] According to a second aspect of the present application, a vehicle battery replacement system is provided, comprising the vehicle battery replacement bridge device of the above-mentioned embodiment.

[0034] According to a third aspect of the present application, a vehicle battery replacement method is provided, comprising:

[0035] Determine the matching bridge assembly according to the number of batteries to be replaced in the vehicle;

[0036] When each bridge assembly is in the first position, the vehicle is driven in the second direction until the battery to be replaced is located directly above the matching bridge assembly;

[0037] Switch the matching bridge assembly to the second position and perform battery replacement;

[0038] After the battery swap is completed, the matching bridge frame assembly is switched to the first position, allowing the vehicle to leave the battery swap area.

[0039] In this embodiment, each bridge frame assembly can be selectively switched between a first position and a second position. When the vehicle needs to replace the battery, the front wheels can smoothly cross the battery replacement area so that the battery area is located above the groove. The matching bridge frame assembly can also be selected according to the number of batteries in different models of vehicles or the actual battery replacement needs to be removed for battery replacement operations. In this way, different vehicles can be compatible with battery replacement, thereby improving the versatility of vehicle battery replacement and allowing flexible battery replacement operations.

[0040] In some embodiments, the batteries to be replaced are adjacent to each other, and the step of determining a matching bridge assembly according to the number of batteries to be replaced in the vehicle includes:

[0041] If the number of batteries to be replaced does not exceed the number of batteries allowed to be operated by any bridge rack assembly, select the same number of bridge rack assemblies according to the batteries to be replaced;

[0042] If the number of batteries to be replaced exceeds the number of batteries allowed to be operated by any bridge rack assembly, at least two bridge rack assembly combinations are selected according to the number of batteries to be replaced.

[0043] This embodiment shows how to select the matching bridge frame assembly to be removed for battery replacement operations according to the number of batteries in different vehicle models or the actual battery replacement needs, which can not only meet different battery replacement needs, but also meet the needs of supporting vehicles with different spans of the front and rear wheels. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the following is a brief introduction to the drawings required for use in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on the drawings without creative work.

[0045] FIG1 is a schematic structural diagram of some embodiments of the vehicle battery replacement bridge device of the present application.

[0046] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of the local structure in FIG1 .

[0047] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of a vehicle with three batteries before passing through the vehicle battery replacement bridge device.

[0048] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of the vehicle battery in FIG3 passing through the vehicle battery replacement bridge device.

[0049] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of the vehicle battery in FIG3 having passed through the vehicle battery replacement bridge device.

[0050] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of a vehicle with two batteries passing through a vehicle battery replacement bridge device.

[0051] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a vehicle with one battery passing through a vehicle battery replacement bridge device.

[0052] In the drawings, the drawings are not drawn to scale.

[0053] Marking Description:

[0054] 100. Vehicle; 101. Battery; 102. Front wheel; 103. Rear wheel;

[0055] 1. Base; 11. Groove; 2. Bridge assembly; 2A. First bridge assembly; 2B. Second bridge assembly; 21. Support plate; 22. Support frame; 23. Roller; 3. Guide rail; 4. Power transmission assembly; 41. Power component; 42. Gear; 43. Rack; x, first direction; y, second direction; z, third direction. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0056] The following detailed description of the embodiments of the present application is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and examples. The following detailed description of the embodiments and the accompanying drawings are used to illustrate the principles of the present application, but are not intended to limit the scope of the present application, that is, the present application is not limited to the described embodiments.

[0057] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, the term "plurality" refers to more than two (including two), and similarly, "multiple groups" refers to more than two (including two) groups.

[0058] This application uses descriptions of directions or positional relationships such as "up", "down", "top", "bottom", "front", "back", "inside" and "outside" to facilitate the description of this application, and does not indicate or imply that the device referred to must have a specific direction, be constructed and operated in a specific direction. Therefore, it should not be understood as limiting the scope of protection of this application.

[0059] Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance. "Perpendicular" does not strictly refer to perpendicularity, but rather to the tolerances allowed. "Parallel" does not strictly refer to parallelism, but rather to the tolerances allowed. The directional terms used in the following description refer to the directions shown in the figures and are not intended to limit the specific structure of this application.

[0060] It should also be noted that, in the description of this application, unless otherwise specified or limited, the terms "installed," "connected," and "connected" should be understood broadly. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they can refer to direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediary. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of these terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0061] References herein to "embodiments" mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments may be included in at least some embodiments of the present application. The appearance of this phrase in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor does it constitute an independent or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive of other embodiments. It is understood, both explicitly and implicitly, by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein may be combined with other embodiments.

[0062] Batteries are widely used in electric vehicles such as vehicles. Due to the limited capacity of batteries, the power supply time is limited, so the batteries need to be replaced during long-distance operation.

[0063] In battery swap stations, for heavier vehicles, such as heavy truck chassis, it's not practical to lift them up for battery swapping. Instead, recesses can be placed in the ground to provide space for battery swapping. Once a vehicle enters the battery swapping area, the front wheels need to cross the recesses, and the dimensions of the recesses in the vehicle's forward direction must match the dimensions of the batteries to ensure smooth battery swapping.

[0064] However, for different types of vehicles or different battery replacement scenarios, the number of batteries that need to be replaced is different. Therefore, grooves of a specific size can only be applied to a limited number of vehicle types, and the battery replacement versatility is poor.

[0065] Based on the above problems, the present application provides a vehicle battery replacement bridge device, which can not only enable the vehicle to pass through the groove conveniently, but also meet the battery replacement needs of different vehicles.

[0066] In some embodiments, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and with reference to Figures 3 to 7, the vehicle battery replacement bridge device of the present application includes: a base 1, whose upper surface is for the vehicle 100 to travel, and the upper surface of the base 1 is provided with a groove 11 extending along a first direction x, and the first direction x is consistent with the width direction of the vehicle 100; and at least two bridge frame assemblies 2, which are arranged side by side in the groove 11 along a second direction y, and the second direction y is perpendicular to the first direction x, and the bridge frame assembly 2 includes a support plate 21; wherein, each bridge frame assembly 2 can be selectively switched between a first position and a second position, in the first position, the support plate 21 covers a part of the groove 11 for the vehicle 100 to pass through, and in the second position, the bridge frame assembly 2 avoids the area where the battery 101 of the vehicle 100 is located in the first direction x.

[0067] The vehicle 100 includes a vehicle body, a battery 101, front wheels 102, and rear wheels 103. The battery 101 is detachably mounted on the bottom area of ​​the vehicle body so that it can be removed and replaced with a new battery 101 when the battery is low. The battery 101 mentioned herein is referred to as a battery pack. One battery 101 can be provided, or two or more batteries 101 can be provided side by side along the length direction (i.e., the second direction y) of the vehicle 100, for example, two, three, or more. The length direction of the battery 101 is consistent with the width direction of the vehicle 100, and the width direction of the battery 101 is consistent with the length direction of the vehicle 100. In the length direction of the vehicle 100, the front wheel 102 is located in front of the area where the battery 101 is located, and the rear wheel 103 is located behind the area where the battery 101 is located.

[0068] The base 1 can be the ground or a platform accessible by the vehicle 100. The groove 11 is provided on the ground or the platform and can be, for example, rectangular. The dimension of the groove 11 along the first direction x is greater than the dimension along the second direction y. The depth of the groove 11 needs to meet the operating space required for battery swapping. When swapping batteries, automated equipment can enter the groove 11 to perform the battery swap operation, such as a rail-guided vehicle (RGV) or a robot.

[0069] Two, three or more bridge assemblies 2 are arranged side by side along the second direction y, and the support plates 21 are used to cover part of the groove 11 when in the first position. When the front wheel 102 of the vehicle 100 needs to pass through the groove 11, all the bridge assemblies 2 can be in the first position, so that all the support plates 21 cover the groove 11 as a whole in the second direction y to allow the front wheel 102 to pass smoothly. There can be a preset gap between the support plates 21 of each of the adjacent bridge assemblies 2, which can ensure that the bridge assembly 2 can switch smoothly between the first position and the second position without affecting the passage of the front wheel 102. For example, the shape of the support plate 21 is also rectangular. According to the actual battery replacement requirements, the dimensions of different support plates 21 along the second direction y can be the same or different.

[0070] The bridge assembly 2 is movable in the groove 11 and switches between the first position and the second position according to the demand for battery replacement, for example, by moving or rotating. When the front wheel 102 passes through the groove 11, all the bridge assemblies 2 are in the first position, so that the groove 11 is covered as a whole in the second direction y through all the support plates 21, so that the vehicle 100 travels from the support plate 21 to the front wheel 102 across the battery replacement area, and the battery 101 to be replaced is located directly above the matching bridge assembly 2. The battery replacement area is the area where an opening is formed for battery replacement operations. Next, the bridge assembly 2 that matches the battery 101 to be replaced is placed in the second position, and the support plate 21 leaves the battery replacement area to provide space for battery replacement operations. At this time, battery replacement can be performed; then, after the battery replacement is completed, the bridge assembly 2 in the second position is switched to the first position, so that the vehicle 100 travels forward, the rear wheel 103 crosses the groove 11 from the support plate 21, and the vehicle 100 leaves the battery replacement area.

[0071] This embodiment arranges at least two bridge frame assemblies 2 side by side along the second direction y in the groove 11, and each bridge frame assembly 2 can be selectively switched between the first position and the second position. When the vehicle 100 needs to replace the battery, the front wheel 102 can smoothly cross the battery replacement area so that the area where the battery 101 is located is located above the groove 11. The matching bridge frame assembly 2 can also be selected according to the number of batteries 101 in different models of vehicles 100 or the actual battery replacement needs to be removed for battery replacement operations. In this way, different vehicles 100 can be compatible with battery replacement, thereby improving the versatility of the vehicle battery replacement bridge frame device.

[0072] If only one bridge assembly 2 is provided, and its support plate 21 can completely cover the groove 11 in the second direction y, then when the bridge assembly 2 is removed for battery replacement, for a vehicle 100 with only one battery 101 installed, its front and rear wheelbase is small, making it difficult to position the front wheel 102 and the rear wheel 103 on the front and rear sides of the groove 11, respectively. The present application provides at least two bridge assemblies 2 and selectively removes them during battery replacement, which can solve this problem.

[0073] In some embodiments, in the second direction y, the size of each support plate 21 is larger than the size of one battery 101 .

[0074] In this embodiment, when battery replacement is required, one bridge frame assembly 2 can be removed to provide battery replacement operation space for a single battery 101, or a bridge frame assembly 2 with a larger support plate 21 can be removed to provide battery replacement operation space for at least two batteries 101, or at least two bridge frame assemblies 2 can be removed to jointly provide battery replacement operation space for at least two batteries 101, thereby better meeting the battery replacement needs of different vehicles 100 and minimizing the number of bridge frame assemblies 2.

[0075] In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 1, at least two bridge frame assemblies 2 include a first bridge frame assembly 2A. In the second direction y, the size of the support plate 21 of the first bridge frame assembly 2A is the sum of the size of a battery 101 and the safe operating distance of battery replacement.

[0076] For example, the support plate 21 is rectangular, the size of the support plate 21 of the first cross-bridge assembly 2A in the second direction y is W1, and the size of the battery 101 in the second direction y is the size of the battery 101 in the length direction of the vehicle 100. In order to ensure safe battery replacement operation, when replacing the battery, if the first cross-bridge assembly 2A is moved away and switched to the second position alone, there is a preset gap between the front side surface of the battery 101 above it in the second direction y and the inner side surface of the groove 11, and there is also a preset gap between the rear side surface of the battery 101 in the second direction y and the side surface of the adjacent support plate 21. The preset gap is the safe operating distance. Therefore, in the second direction y, the size of the support plate 21 of the first cross-bridge assembly 2A is the sum of the size of one battery 101 and the safe operating distance on both sides.

[0077] This embodiment sets a first cross-bridge assembly 2A that matches a single battery 101. When the vehicle 100 has only one battery 101, the battery replacement demand can be met by removing only the first cross-bridge assembly 2A. At this time, the other cross-bridge assemblies 2 are in the first position and can be used to support the vehicle 100, thereby meeting the parking demand of the vehicle 100 with a smaller span between the front wheels 102 and the rear wheels 103; or, when the vehicle 100 has more than two batteries 101, according to user needs, if only one battery 101 needs to be replaced, the battery replacement demand can be met by removing only the first cross-bridge assembly 2A, thereby minimizing the number of movements of the cross-bridge assembly 2. If multiple batteries 101 need to be replaced, the first cross-bridge assembly 2A can be removed together with the other cross-bridge assemblies 2 to provide a larger battery replacement operation space, thereby improving the flexibility of the battery replacement operation.

[0078] In some embodiments, at least two bridge frame assemblies 2 include a second bridge frame assembly 2B. In the second direction y, the size of the second bridge frame assembly 2B is the sum of the size of the two batteries 101 and the safe operation distance of battery replacement.

[0079] For example, the support plate 21 is rectangular, the size of the support plate 21 of the second cross-bridge assembly 2B in the second direction y is W2, and the size of the battery 101 in the second direction y is the size of the battery 101 in the length direction of the vehicle 100. In order to ensure safe battery replacement operation, when replacing batteries, if the second cross-bridge assembly 2B is moved away and switched to the second position alone, the two batteries 101 located above it are treated as a whole, and there is a preset gap between the front side surfaces of the two batteries 101 in the second direction y and the support plate 21 of the first cross-bridge assembly 2A, and there is a preset gap between the rear side surfaces of the two batteries 101 in the second direction y and the inner side surfaces of the groove 11, and the preset gap is the safe operating distance. Therefore, in the second direction y, the size of the support plate 21 of the second cross-bridge assembly 2B is the sum of the size of the two batteries 101 and the safe operating distance on both sides.

[0080] This embodiment sets a second cross-bridge assembly 2B that matches two adjacent batteries 101. When the vehicle 100 is only provided with two batteries 101, only the second cross-bridge assembly 2B needs to be removed to meet the battery replacement demand. At this time, the other cross-bridge assemblies 2 are still in the first position and can be used to support the vehicle 100, thereby meeting the parking demand of the vehicle 100 with a smaller span between the front wheels 102 and the rear wheels 103; or, when the vehicle 100 is provided with more than three batteries 101, according to user needs, if only two batteries 101 need to be replaced, only the second cross-bridge assembly 2B needs to be removed to meet the battery replacement demand, thereby minimizing the number of movements of the cross-bridge assembly 2. If more than three batteries 101 need to be replaced, the second cross-bridge assembly 2B can be removed together with the other cross-bridge assemblies 2 to provide a larger battery replacement operation space, thereby improving the flexibility of the battery replacement operation.

[0081] In some embodiments, in the first direction x, a size of each support plate 21 is larger than a width of the vehicle 100 and smaller than a size of the groove 11 .

[0082] The support plate 21 has a dimension L in the first direction x. For example, if the vehicle 100 is a heavy truck, L may be greater than 2550 mm. If the bridge assembly 2 moves from the first position to the second position along the first direction x, the dimension of the groove 11 along the first direction x is preferably greater than twice the width of the vehicle 100.

[0083] In this embodiment, the size of each support plate 21 in the first direction x is larger than the width of the vehicle 100. When the bridge frame assembly 2 is in the first position, the support plate 21 provides support to the vehicle 100 so that the front wheel 102 and the rear wheel 103 can reliably pass through the support plate 21; moreover, the size of each support plate 21 in the first direction x is smaller than the size of the groove 11, which can leave space for the bridge frame assembly 2 to move to the second position, so as to provide space for battery replacement operations.

[0084] In some embodiments, the dimensions of at least two bridge assemblies 2 in the first direction x are the same.

[0085] In this embodiment, when at least two bridge frame assemblies 2 are in the first position, the side surfaces of the plurality of support plates 21 can be aligned to form a regularly shaped support surface to provide support for the vehicle 100 , thereby obtaining a maximum effective support area and saving material for the support plates 21 . When one of the bridge frame assemblies 2 is moved, it is also convenient to use the edges of the support plates 21 of the other bridge frame assemblies 2 for positioning.

[0086] In some implementations, the bridge assembly 2 is configured to switch between the first position and the second position by moving along the first direction x.

[0087] Optionally, the bridge frame assembly 2 can switch between the first position and the second position by rotating. For example, the support plate 21 of each bridge frame assembly 2 is designed as a double-door. The two side parts of the multiple support plates 21 are rotated in a direction toward each other until the support plates 21 reach the first position horizontally, allowing the vehicle 100 to pass through; when they are rotated in a direction away from each other to outside the groove 11, they reach the second position, providing space for battery replacement operations.

[0088] This embodiment designs the bridge assembly 2 to be mobile, allowing the bridge assembly 2 to remain within the groove 11 during state switching, without occupying space outside the groove 11, thereby preventing interference with the vehicle 100 and improving the reliability of battery replacement for the vehicle 100. Furthermore, the groove 11 provides support during the movement of the bridge assembly 2, improving the stability and reliability of the movement of the bridge assembly 2.

[0089] In some embodiments, the bridge assembly 2 is configured to move as a whole along the first direction x to one end of the groove 11 to reach the second position.

[0090] This embodiment allows the bridge assembly 2 to move as a whole toward one side along the first direction x, simplifying the structure and control of the bridge assembly 2. Each bridge assembly 2 is provided with a single support plate 21, providing stable support for the vehicle 100. Furthermore, after the bridge assembly 2 moves to the second position, a larger area of ​​the groove 11 is exposed at the end thereof away from the second position along the first direction x, facilitating automated equipment access to perform battery swapping operations.

[0091] In some embodiments, the upper surface of each support plate 21 is flush with the upper surface of the base 1 .

[0092] This embodiment can enable the upper surface of the support plate 21 and the upper surface of the base 1 to form an integral plane when all the bridge frame assemblies 2 are in the first position, so that the front wheel 102 can smoothly cross the battery swap area before the battery swap operation, and the vehicle 100 can smoothly leave after the battery swap operation, thereby improving the stability of the movement of the vehicle 100.

[0093] In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 2, the bridge frame assembly 2 also includes a support frame 22 and a plurality of rollers 23. The support frame 22 is arranged at the bottom of the support plate 21, and the plurality of rollers 23 are arranged at the bottom of the support frame 22 and are configured to move in the groove 11.

[0094] The support frame 22 may include multiple rods rigidly connected to form a frame structure, for example, by welding or fasteners, such as screws, bolts, or rivets. The rods may be tubular to reduce weight, and the cross-section of the rods may be polygonal, such as circular, elliptical, triangular, or rectangular. For example, the rods may be steel pipes with a square cross-section, and the support plate 21 may be a steel plate.

[0095] This embodiment provides a stable support for the support plate 21 by setting a support frame 22, so that the support plate 21 can move smoothly. Moreover, by setting a plurality of rollers 23 at the bottom of the support frame 22, the movement of the bridge frame assembly 2 in the groove 11 can be smoother.

[0096] In some embodiments, the vehicle battery replacement bridge device also includes a guide rail 3 corresponding to each bridge assembly 2. The guide rail 3 is arranged at the bottom of the groove 11 and extends along the first direction x, and is configured to provide guidance for the movement of the roller 23.

[0097] Each bridge assembly 2 may be provided with two sets of rollers 23 at its ends along the second direction y. Each set of rollers 23 includes at least two rollers 23 spaced apart along the first direction x. For example, each bridge assembly 2 may be provided with a roller 23 at each of the four bottom corners. Accordingly, each bridge assembly 2 may be provided with two guide rails 3 spaced apart along the second direction y. Each guide rail 3 is used to provide guidance for a set of rollers 23.

[0098] This embodiment provides a guide for the movement of the bridge assembly 2 by arranging the guide rail 3 and cooperating with the roller 23, so that the movement of the bridge assembly 2 is smoother.

[0099] In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 2, the vehicle battery replacement bridge device also includes a power transmission assembly 4 corresponding to each bridge assembly 2, and the power transmission assembly 4 includes: a power component 41, a gear 42 and a rack 43. The power component 41 is installed on the bridge assembly 2, the gear 42 is installed on the output end of the power component 41, the rack 43 is arranged in the groove 11 and extends along the first direction x, and the gear 42 is engaged with the rack 43.

[0100] The power component 41 may be a motor, for example. For example, a power component 41 may be provided at both ends of each bridge assembly 2 along the first direction x to provide balanced driving force to both ends of the bridge assembly 2 along the first direction x. The output shaft of the power component 41 may extend downward along the third direction z, and the power component 41 and the gear 42 may be located between the two sets of rollers 23. The rack 43 may extend along the first direction x, with the tooth surface of the rack 43 facing sideways to facilitate engagement with the gear 42. Optionally, the rack 43 and the guide rail 3 may be integrated, i.e., the guide rail 3 is arranged horizontally and the rack 43 is arranged vertically, with both extending in the same direction and connected to form an L-shape.

[0101] This embodiment provides a power transmission component 4 to enable the bridge frame component 2 to achieve self-driven movement, thereby conveniently controlling each bridge frame component 2 to switch between the first position and the second position, thereby improving the flexibility of battery replacement.

[0102] The working principle of the vehicle battery replacement bridge device of the present application is explained below through a specific embodiment.

[0103] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the vehicle battery exchange bridge device includes a base 1 and two bridge assemblies 2. The upper surface of the base 1 is provided with a groove 11 extending along a first direction x. The two bridge assemblies 2 are arranged side by side in the groove 11 along a second direction y. Each bridge assembly 2 includes a support plate 21, a support frame 22 and a plurality of rollers 23. The support plate 21 is horizontally arranged on the top of the support frame 22, and the plurality of rollers 23 are arranged at the bottom of the support frame 22. The top surface of the support plate 21 can be flush with the upper surface of the base 1. Each bridge assembly 2 can be moved along the first direction x in the groove 11 to switch between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the support plate 21 covers a portion of the groove 11 to allow the vehicle 100 to pass through. In the second position, the bridge assembly 2 avoids the area where the battery 101 of the vehicle 100 is located in the first direction x.

[0104] Optionally, each bridge assembly 2 is provided with a power component 41. A gear 42 is mounted on the output end of the power component 41. A rack 43 is provided within the groove 11. The rack 43 is disposed within the groove 11 and extends along the first direction x. The gear 42 meshes with the rack 43. A guide rail 3 is provided at the bottom of the groove 11 to guide the movement of the roller 23. The guide rail 3 and the rack 43 can be integrated.

[0105] The two cross-bridge assemblies 2 include a first cross-bridge assembly 2A and a second cross-bridge assembly 2B. The two have the same dimension L in the first direction x, which is greater than the width of the vehicle 100 and less than the dimension of the groove 11 in the first direction x. In the second direction y, the size of the support plate 21 of the first cross-bridge assembly 2A is the sum of the size of one battery 101 and the safe operating distance for battery swapping. The size of the support plate 21 of the second cross-bridge assembly 2B is the sum of the size of two batteries 101 and the safe operating distance for battery swapping.

[0106] In the first battery replacement scenario, the vehicle 100 has three batteries 101. As shown in Figure 3, when the vehicle 100 enters the station and needs to replace the three batteries 101, the station control platform controls the first cross-bridge assembly 2A and the second cross-bridge assembly 2B to move to the designated first position at the same time. The vehicle 100 moves along the second direction y. When it reaches the set position, the three batteries 101 are just above the first cross-bridge assembly 2A and the second cross-bridge assembly 2B. At this time, the front wheel 102 crosses the groove 11. As shown in Figure 4, when preparing to replace the battery, the station control platform controls the first cross-bridge assembly 2A and the second cross-bridge assembly 2B to move along the first direction x toward one end of the groove 11. When it reaches the edge position, the three batteries 101 are suspended in the air to make room for the RGV to replace the battery 101. As shown in Figure 5, when the battery replacement is completed, the first cross-bridge assembly 2A and the second cross-bridge assembly 2B move along the first direction x to the first position and arrive under the vehicle 100, making it convenient for the vehicle 100 to exit the battery replacement station.

[0107] In the second battery replacement scenario, the vehicle 100 has two batteries 101. As shown in Figure 6, when the vehicle 100 enters the station and needs to replace the two batteries 101, the difference from the first battery replacement scenario is that when replacing the battery, the station control platform controls the second bridge frame assembly 2B to move along the first direction x toward one end of the groove 11, reaching the edge position, and the two batteries 101 are suspended in the air. At this time, the support plate 21 of the first bridge frame assembly 2A is in the first position to provide load-bearing, and the front wheel 102 can be pressed on the support plate 21 of the first bridge frame assembly 2A. When the battery replacement is completed, the second bridge frame assembly 2B moves to the first position to facilitate the vehicle 100 to exit the battery replacement station.

[0108] In the third battery exchange scenario, the vehicle 100 has a battery 101. As shown in Figure 7, when the vehicle 100 enters the station and needs to replace a battery 101, the difference from the first battery exchange scenario is that when exchanging batteries, the station control platform controls the first cross-bridge assembly 2A to move along the first direction x toward one end of the groove 11, reaching the edge position, and a battery 101 is suspended in the air. At this time, the support plate 21 of the second cross-bridge assembly 2B is in the first position to provide load-bearing, and the rear wheel 103 can be pressed on the support plate 21 of the second cross-bridge assembly 2B. When the battery exchange is completed, the first cross-bridge assembly 2A moves to the first position to facilitate the vehicle 100 to exit the battery exchange station.

[0109] Therefore, the embodiment shown in FIG1 is compatible with the battery replacement requirements of a vehicle 100 with one, two or three batteries 101 , and minimizes the number of bridge frame assemblies 2 .

[0110] In an optional embodiment, a plurality of bridge frame assemblies 2 may be provided, and in the second direction y, the size of the support plate 21 of each bridge frame assembly 2 is the sum of the size of one battery 101 and the safe operating distance for battery replacement. For example, in order to meet the battery replacement needs of a vehicle 100 with three batteries 101, three identical bridge frame assemblies 2 are provided. This structure can make the battery replacement process of the vehicle 100 more flexible, and can meet the battery replacement needs of different numbers of batteries 101. When it is necessary to replace some batteries 101, the batteries 101 to be replaced can also be arranged at intervals, without the need to be adjacent, thereby reducing the position requirements of the batteries 101 to be replaced.

[0111] Secondly, the present application provides a vehicle battery replacement system, including the vehicle battery replacement bridge device of the above-mentioned embodiment.

[0112] Optionally, a positioning device is provided on the base 1 along the second direction y in front of the groove 11, and the positioning device is used to position the front wheel 102 of the vehicle 100, and the positioning position can be determined according to the position of the battery 101 to be replaced in the vehicle 100.

[0113] The vehicle battery replacement system of this embodiment arranges at least two bridge frame assemblies 2 side by side along the second direction y in the groove 11, and each bridge frame assembly 2 can be selectively switched between the first position and the second position. When the vehicle 100 needs to replace the battery, the front wheel 102 can smoothly cross the battery replacement area so that the area where the battery 101 is located is located above the groove 11. The matching bridge frame assembly 2 can also be selected according to the number of batteries 101 in different models of vehicles 100 or the actual battery replacement needs to be removed for battery replacement operations. In this way, different vehicles 100 can be compatible with battery replacement, thereby improving the versatility of the vehicle battery replacement system.

[0114] Again, the present application provides a vehicle battery replacement method based on the vehicle battery replacement bridge device of the above embodiment, which, in some embodiments, includes:

[0115] Determine the matching bridge assembly 2 according to the number of batteries 101 to be replaced in the vehicle 100;

[0116] When each bridge assembly 2 is in the first position, the vehicle 100 is driven in the second direction y until the battery 101 to be replaced is located directly above the matching bridge assembly 2;

[0117] Switch the matching bridge assembly 2 to the second position and perform battery replacement;

[0118] After the battery replacement is completed, the matching bridge frame assembly 2 is switched to the first position, so that the vehicle 100 leaves the battery replacement area.

[0119] Among them, the batteries 101 to be replaced in the vehicle 100 can be all the batteries 101, or some of the batteries 101 can be replaced according to the driving distance in a recent period of time, and the multiple batteries 101 to be replaced can be arranged adjacently or at intervals. The number of batteries 101 to be replaced is different, and the size of the battery replacement operation space required is also different, so the matching bridge frame assembly 2 can be determined. When each bridge frame assembly 2 is in the first position, the multiple support plates 21 cover the battery replacement area of ​​the groove 11, and the vehicle 100 can be driven until the battery 101 to be replaced is located directly above the matching bridge frame assembly 2. Then, the corresponding bridge frame assembly 2 is switched to the second position, exposing the battery replacement area of ​​the groove 11, and the battery is replaced. After the battery replacement is completed, the bridge frame assembly 2 in the second position is switched to the first position, and the multiple support plates 21 provide support, so that the vehicle 100 leaves the battery replacement area.

[0120] In this embodiment, each bridge frame assembly 2 can be selectively switched between a first position and a second position. When the vehicle 100 needs to replace the battery, the front wheel 102 can smoothly cross the battery replacement area so that the area where the battery 101 is located is located above the groove 11. The matching bridge frame assembly 2 can also be selected according to the number of batteries 101 in different models of vehicles 100 or the actual battery replacement needs to be removed for battery replacement operations. In this way, different vehicles 100 can be compatible with battery replacement, thereby improving the versatility of vehicle battery replacement and allowing flexible battery replacement operations.

[0121] In some embodiments, the batteries 101 to be replaced are adjacent, and the step of determining a matching bridge assembly 2 according to the number of batteries 101 to be replaced in the vehicle 100 includes:

[0122] If the number of batteries 101 to be replaced does not exceed the number of batteries 101 allowed to be operated by any bridge assembly 2, a bridge assembly 2 with the same number is selected according to the batteries 101 to be replaced;

[0123] If the number of batteries 101 to be replaced exceeds the number of batteries 101 allowed to be operated by any bridge rack assembly 2, at least two bridge rack assemblies 2 combinations are selected according to the number of batteries 101 to be replaced.

[0124] For example, for the vehicle battery replacement bridge device shown in Figure 1, three batteries 101 are provided in the vehicle 100. If the number of batteries 101 to be replaced is one, which does not exceed the number of batteries 101 allowed to be operated by the first bridge assembly 2A and the second bridge assembly 2B, then the first bridge assembly 2A is selected to be switched to the second position for battery replacement; if the number of batteries 101 to be replaced is two, which does not exceed the number of batteries 101 allowed to be operated by the first bridge assembly 2A and the second bridge assembly 2B, then the second bridge assembly 2B is selected to be switched to the second position for battery replacement; if the number of batteries 101 to be replaced is three, which exceeds the number of batteries 101 allowed to be operated by the first bridge assembly 2A and the second bridge assembly 2B respectively, then the first bridge assembly 2A and the second bridge assembly 2B are selected to be switched to the second position in combination for battery replacement.

[0125] This embodiment shows how to select the matching bridge frame assembly 2 to be removed for battery replacement operation according to the number of batteries 101 in different models of vehicles 100 or the actual battery replacement needs, which can not only meet different battery replacement needs, but also meet the needs of supporting vehicles 100 with different spans of front and rear wheels.

[0126] Although the present application has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, various modifications may be made thereto and components may be substituted with equivalents without departing from the scope of the present application. In particular, the various technical features described in the various embodiments may be combined in any manner as long as there are no structural conflicts. The present application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but encompasses all technical solutions within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A vehicle battery replacement bridge device, characterized in that: include: A base (1), the upper surface of which is for a vehicle (100) to travel on, the upper surface of the base (1) being provided with a groove (11) extending along a first direction (x), the first direction (x) being consistent with the width direction of the vehicle (100); and At least two bridge assemblies (2) are arranged side by side in the groove (11) along a second direction (y), wherein the second direction (y) is perpendicular to the first direction (x), and the bridge assemblies (2) include a support plate (21); Each of the bridge frame assemblies (2) can be selectively switched between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the support plate (21) covers a portion of the groove (11) to allow the vehicle (100) to pass through. In the second position, the bridge frame assembly (2) avoids the area where the battery (101) of the vehicle (100) is located in the first direction (x).

2. The vehicle battery replacement bridge device according to claim 1, characterized in that: In the second direction (y), the size of each support plate (21) is larger than the size of one battery (101).

3. The vehicle battery replacement bridge device according to claim 1, characterized in that: At least two of the bridge frame assemblies (2) include a first bridge frame assembly (2A), and in the second direction (y), the size of the support plate (21) of the first bridge frame assembly (2A) is the sum of the size of one battery (101) and the battery replacement safety operation distance.

4. The vehicle battery replacement bridge device according to claim 1, characterized in that: At least two of the bridge frame assemblies (2) include a second bridge frame assembly (2B), and in the second direction (y), the size of the second bridge frame assembly (2B) is the sum of the size of the two batteries (101) and the battery replacement safety operation distance.

5. The vehicle battery replacement bridge device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: In the first direction (x), the size of each support plate (21) is larger than the width of the vehicle (100) and smaller than the size of the groove (11).

6. The vehicle battery replacement bridge device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: At least two of the bridge frame assemblies (2) have the same dimensions in the first direction (x).

7. The vehicle battery replacement bridge device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The bridge assembly (2) is configured to switch between the first position and the second position by moving along the first direction (x).

8. The vehicle battery replacement bridge device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The bridge assembly (2) is configured to move as a whole along the first direction (x) to one end of the groove (11) to reach the second position.

9. The vehicle battery replacement bridge device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The upper surface of each support plate (21) is flush with the upper surface of the base (1).

10. The vehicle battery replacement bridge device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The bridge frame assembly (2) further comprises a support frame (22) and a plurality of rollers (23), wherein the support frame (22) is arranged at the bottom of the support plate (21), and the plurality of rollers (23) are arranged at the bottom of the support frame (22) and are configured to move within the groove (11).

11. The vehicle battery replacement bridge device according to claim 10, characterized in that: It also includes a guide rail (3) corresponding to each of the bridge frame assemblies (2), wherein the guide rail (3) is provided at the bottom of the groove (11) and extends along the first direction (x), and is configured to provide guidance for the movement of the roller (23).

12. The vehicle battery replacement bridge device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The invention also includes a power transmission assembly (4) corresponding to each of the bridge frame assemblies (2), wherein the power transmission assembly (4) includes: a power component (41), a gear (42) and a rack (43); the power component (41) is installed on the bridge frame assembly (2); the gear (42) is installed on the output end of the power component (41); the rack (43) is arranged in the groove (11) and extends along the first direction (x); the gear (42) is meshed with the rack (43).

13. A vehicle battery replacement system, characterized in that: It includes the vehicle battery replacement bridge device according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. A vehicle battery replacement method based on the vehicle battery replacement bridge device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that: include: Determining a matching bridge assembly (2) according to the number of batteries (101) to be replaced in the vehicle (100); When each of the bridge frame assemblies (2) is in the first position, the vehicle (100) is driven along the second direction (y) until the battery (101) to be replaced is located directly above the matching bridge frame assembly (2); Switching the matching bridge assembly (2) to the second position and performing power replacement; After the battery replacement is completed, the matching bridge frame assembly (2) is switched to the first position, so that the vehicle (100) leaves the battery replacement area.

15. The vehicle battery replacement method according to claim 14, characterized in that: The batteries (101) to be replaced are adjacent, and the step of determining a matching bridge assembly (2) according to the number of the batteries (101) to be replaced in the vehicle (100) comprises: If the number of the batteries (101) to be replaced does not exceed the number of batteries (101) allowed to be operated by any one of the bridge rack assemblies (2), then a bridge rack assembly (2) with the same number is selected according to the batteries (101) to be replaced; If the number of the batteries (101) to be replaced exceeds the number of batteries (101) allowed to be operated by any one of the bridge frame assemblies (2), at least two combinations of the bridge frame assemblies (2) are selected according to the number of the batteries (101) to be replaced.

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