Battery swapping apparatus, battery swapping system and battery swapping method

Abstract

Disclosed in the present invention are a battery swapping apparatus, a battery swapping system and a battery swapping method. The battery swapping apparatus comprises a battery swapping unit and an injection unit, wherein the battery swapping unit is configured to mount a battery to an electric vehicle or dismount a battery from the electric vehicle; and the injection unit is mounted on the battery swapping unit, and an injection port of the injection unit faces an area to be injected of the electric vehicle and is configured to inject the area to be injected. By adopting the present solution, the injection unit can perform injection on the area to be injected on the electric vehicle, such that there is no need to occupy the space of the electric vehicle nor modify the electric vehicle. Moreover, the injection unit can take the existing battery swapping unit as a mounting base, and can be controlled by a control component of the existing battery swapping unit, thereby realizing automatic maintenance of the electric vehicle. In addition, by means of injection, the range of injection can be controlled to achieve refined injection for the area to be injected, thereby avoiding the contamination of other areas.

Description

Battery swapping equipment, battery swapping system and battery swapping method

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese patent application 2024119932980, filed on December 31, 2024. The entire contents of the aforementioned Chinese patent application are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This invention relates to the field of battery swapping for electric vehicles, and more particularly to a battery swapping device, a battery swapping system, and a battery swapping method. Background Technology

[0003] Currently, the maintenance of electric vehicles is mainly carried out by 4S stores and operators. 4S stores need to charge drivers a certain fee and time for maintenance. In addition, operators do not take the initiative to maintain the vehicles regularly due to the frequency of vehicle operation and labor costs.

[0004] For electric vehicles with replaceable battery packs, the locking mechanism of the battery pack has a direct impact on battery swapping. If maintenance is not timely, it will greatly affect the efficiency and success rate of battery swapping, thereby affecting the driver's use of the electric vehicle and reducing operational efficiency.

[0005] In addition, maintenance during operation is also a problem faced in the extreme winter environment. It is related to routine operation and maintenance, but manual maintenance affects the economics of driver operation and station operation. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to overcome the deficiency of the prior art in the lack of active maintenance for electric vehicles, and to provide a battery swapping device, a battery swapping system and a battery swapping method.

[0007] The present invention solves the above-mentioned technical problems through the following technical solution:

[0008] A battery swapping device includes a battery swapping unit and an injection unit, wherein the battery swapping unit is used to install a battery into an electric vehicle or to remove a battery from an electric vehicle.

[0009] The spraying unit is installed on the battery swapping unit, and the spray nozzle of the spraying unit faces the area to be sprayed on the electric vehicle, and is used to spray the area to be sprayed.

[0010] In this solution, the battery swapping equipment includes a spraying unit capable of spraying specific areas on the electric vehicle without occupying space or requiring modification. Furthermore, the spraying unit can utilize the existing battery swapping unit as its installation base and can be controlled using the existing unit's control components, thus enabling automated maintenance of the electric vehicle. Additionally, the spraying method allows for precise control of the spray range, ensuring targeted spraying of specific areas and preventing contamination of other areas.

[0011] Preferably, the injection unit is located on the side of the battery swapping unit; and / or, the injection unit is disposed close to the drive component of the battery swapping unit.

[0012] In this design, the injection unit can be arranged in the side area of ​​the battery swapping unit, thus avoiding interference with the components in the central area of ​​the battery swapping unit. The injection unit's proximity to the drive components optimizes space utilization at the drive components, resulting in a more compact structure.

[0013] Preferably, the injection unit includes a supply component and an injection component, wherein the supply component is in communication with the injection component;

[0014] The injection component is mounted on the upper surface or the side surface of the battery swapping unit, and the supply component is mounted on the side surface of the battery swapping unit and / or inside the battery swapping unit.

[0015] In this design, the spraying component can be arranged using the upper or side surface of the battery swapping unit, allowing for adjustments based on the location of the area to be sprayed and providing greater flexibility in its installation position. The supply component can be arranged using the side surface and / or internal space of the battery swapping unit, enabling flexible placement within the unit's available space.

[0016] Preferably, the supply component is installed inside the battery swapping unit and is located within the space where the drive component is located.

[0017] In this solution, the supply components can be installed entirely or partially inside the battery swapping unit. The components located inside the battery swapping unit can be arranged using the space where the drive components are located, thus making the structure more compact.

[0018] Preferably, the injection unit has a plurality of the injection components, and the supply component is in communication with each of the injection components.

[0019] In this solution, the supply unit can supply multiple injection units, thereby simplifying the number of components.

[0020] Preferably, the spraying unit further includes a mounting portion having a receiving space, the spraying component being mounted into the receiving space, and the mounting portion having an opening at a position corresponding to the spray nozzle.

[0021] In this design, the spraying component is housed within the mounting space, which shields and protects the spraying component. An opening in the mounting allows the spray nozzle of the spraying component to be exposed for spraying the area to be sprayed on the electric vehicle.

[0022] Preferably, the injection unit further includes a mounting bracket, through which the injection component is connected to the battery swapping unit.

[0023] In this design, the spraying component can also be mounted on the battery swapping unit via a mounting bracket. This structure is simple and easy to manufacture and install.

[0024] Preferably, the spraying unit is an oil mist spraying unit, which includes an oil supply section, an air supply section, and a sprayer. The sprayer is provided with the spray nozzle, and the oil supply section and the air supply section are connected in parallel to the sprayer.

[0025] In this solution, the oil mist injection unit is capable of performing oil mist injection, thereby enabling the maintenance and upkeep of the corresponding structures on the electric vehicle.

[0026] Preferably, the oil supply unit shares the oil supply path within the power swapping equipment, and / or the gas supply unit shares the gas supply path within the power swapping equipment.

[0027] In this solution, the oil supply unit and / or air supply unit can utilize the existing oil supply path and air supply path within the power swapping equipment, thereby simplifying the component composition of the oil mist injection unit itself and improving the utilization rate of the power swapping equipment components.

[0028] Preferably, the air supply unit includes an air-oil-water separator and a solenoid valve. Along the gas flow path, the air-oil-water separator, the solenoid valve, and the sprayer are connected in sequence through pipelines, and the air inlet of the air-oil-water separator is used to connect to the air source.

[0029] Preferably, the oil supply unit includes an oil tank, which is connected to the sprayer via a pipeline.

[0030] Preferably, the sprayer is disposed on the upper surface of the side of the battery swapping unit, or the sprayer is disposed on the side surface of the battery swapping unit.

[0031] In this solution, the position of the sprayer can be adjusted according to the location of the area to be sprayed, and the installation location of the sprayer can also be more flexibly selected.

[0032] Preferably, the air-oil-water separator and the solenoid valve are both disposed on the side surface of the battery swapping unit; and / or, the oil tank is disposed on the side surface of the battery swapping unit.

[0033] In this design, the aforementioned components can be mounted on the side surface of the battery swapping unit, facilitating installation and layout. Furthermore, placing the fuel tank outside the battery swapping unit also benefits operations such as refueling.

[0034] Preferably, the oil tank, the air-oil-water separator, and the solenoid valve are located on both sides of the sprayer.

[0035] In this scheme, by adopting the above arrangement, the side space of the battery swapping unit can be made reasonable use.

[0036] Preferably, the fuel tank is located inside the battery swapping unit.

[0037] In this solution, the fuel tank can be arranged using the internal space of the battery swapping unit, thus allowing for a reasonable arrangement of the fuel tank, and the outer shell of the battery swapping unit can also be used to protect the fuel tank.

[0038] Preferably, the fuel tank is located inside the battery swapping unit close to the drive components of the battery swapping unit.

[0039] In this solution, by adopting the above structural form, the structure can be made more compact.

[0040] Preferably, the injection port is arranged at an upward angle.

[0041] In this design, the spray nozzles are angled upwards, which allows them to be aimed at the area to be sprayed, thus improving the spraying effect.

[0042] Preferably, the angle of inclination of the injection nozzle relative to the horizontal direction is in the range of 30° to 60°.

[0043] Preferably, the spray nozzle of the sprayer is movable to adjust the spray position. Alternatively, the sprayer is mounted on a movable frame, which allows the sprayer to move and / or rotate relative to the battery swapping unit to adjust the spray position.

[0044] In this design, the spray nozzle itself is movable, or it is mounted on a movable frame and is movable, thereby allowing the spray position to be adjusted to improve spray accuracy and increase the sprayable range, thus expanding the application range of the sprayer.

[0045] Preferably, the oil mist spraying unit further includes a mounting cover and a bracket, the mounting cover having a receiving space, the bracket being disposed within the receiving space, and the sprayer being connected to the bracket; the mounting cover has an opening at a position corresponding to the spray nozzle, and the spray nozzle passes through the opening.

[0046] In this design, the mounting cover protects the sprayer, the bracket allows the sprayer to be reliably mounted inside the mounting cover, and the bracket also allows the sprayer's tilt angle to be configured.

[0047] Preferably, the bottom of the mounting cover is connected to the upper surface of the side of the battery swapping unit; more preferably, the bracket passes through the bottom of the mounting cover and is connected to the upper surface of the battery swapping unit.

[0048] Alternatively, the battery swapping unit may be provided with an extension base, one end of which is connected to the side surface of the battery swapping unit, and the other end extends away from the battery swapping unit, with the bottom of the mounting cover connected to the extension base; preferably, the bracket passes through the bottom of the mounting cover and is connected to the extension base.

[0049] In this solution, the mounting cover can be directly connected to the upper surface of the battery swapping unit; an extension seat can also be provided on the side of the battery swapping unit to install the mounting cover, thereby enabling the sprayer to be arranged in the battery swapping unit.

[0050] Preferably, at least one of the bottom of the bracket and the mounting cover is provided with a waist-shaped hole.

[0051] In this solution, the position of the mounting cover relative to the upper surface of the battery swapping unit or the extension seat can be adjusted by setting the waist-shaped hole, as well as the position of the bracket relative to the mounting cover and the battery swapping unit.

[0052] Preferably, the bracket includes a first connecting foot and a first mounting plate, the first connecting foot connecting the first mounting plate and the bottom of the mounting cover; the sprayer is mounted to the first mounting plate, the first mounting plate being arranged at an upward angle.

[0053] In this solution, by adopting the bracket with the above-described structure, the sprayer can be arranged at an upward angle on the upper surface of the battery swapping unit.

[0054] Preferably, the oil mist spraying unit further includes a mounting bracket, which includes a second connecting foot and a second mounting plate. The second connecting foot connects the second mounting plate to the side surface of the battery swapping unit. The sprayer is mounted to the second mounting plate, which is arranged at an upward angle.

[0055] In this solution, by adopting the bracket with the above-described structure, the sprayer can be arranged at an upward angle on the side surface of the battery swapping unit.

[0056] Preferably, the second connecting foot is provided with an oblong hole, and / or the second mounting plate is provided with a plurality of mounting holes, one of which is a circular hole, and the remaining mounting holes are arc-shaped holes with the circular hole as the center.

[0057] In this design, the slotted hole of the second connecting foot facilitates adjustment of the mounting bracket's vertical position. The second mounting plate, with its aforementioned mounting hole design, allows for easy adjustment of the sprayer's position on the mounting plate, thereby adjusting the spray nozzle's position.

[0058] Preferably, the area to be sprayed is the locking mechanism of the electric vehicle, and the oil mist spraying unit is disposed on the side of the battery swapping unit in the width direction of the electric vehicle.

[0059] In this solution, the oil mist injection unit can spray oil onto the locking mechanism of the electric vehicle, thereby maintaining the locking mechanism. Furthermore, for the locking mechanism in extremely cold weather, oil spraying can prevent freezing and improve the reliability of the locking mechanism.

[0060] Preferably, the locking mechanism includes a primary locking mechanism and a secondary locking mechanism, and the oil mist injection unit has multiple injection ports corresponding to the primary locking mechanism and the secondary locking mechanism, respectively.

[0061] A battery swapping system, the battery swapping system comprising the battery swapping equipment as described above.

[0062] Preferably, there are two battery swapping devices, namely a first battery swapping device and a second battery swapping device, both of which are equipped with the injection unit.

[0063] The injection unit of the first battery swapping device is located on the side of the first side of its battery swapping unit, and the injection unit of the second battery swapping device is located on the side of the second side of its battery swapping unit. The first side and the second side are opposite sides.

[0064] In this scheme, by arranging spray units on opposite sides of the first and second battery swapping devices, spraying can be performed on opposite sides of the electric vehicle. This method, by arranging spray units on different battery swapping devices, allows for the comprehensive and rational arrangement of multiple devices involved in the battery swapping operation, thereby enabling spraying of different areas of the electric vehicle.

[0065] Preferably, the spraying unit is an oil mist spraying unit, and the spraying area consists of two locking mechanisms arranged opposite each other in the width direction of the electric vehicle, with the first side and the second side being two sides in the width direction of the electric vehicle.

[0066] In this solution, the oil mist injection units of the two battery swapping devices can spray oil mist onto the two locking mechanisms on the electric vehicle, thereby enabling routine maintenance of both locking mechanisms and antifreeze protection in extremely cold weather.

[0067] A battery swapping method, wherein the battery swapping method employs the battery swapping system described above, the battery swapping system comprising a first battery swapping device for removing the battery and a second battery swapping device for installing the battery, the injection unit being an oil mist injection unit, and the battery swapping method comprising:

[0068] The battery swapping unit of the first battery swapping device removes the depleted battery from the electric vehicle.

[0069] The oil mist injection unit of the first battery swapping device sprays oil onto the locking mechanism on the first side of the electric vehicle;

[0070] The oil mist injection unit of the second battery swapping device sprays oil onto the locking mechanism on the second side of the electric vehicle;

[0071] The battery swapping unit of the second battery swapping device installs a fully charged battery into the electric vehicle.

[0072] In this solution, the first battery swapping device sprays oil mist onto one side of the locking mechanism after the depleted battery is removed, and the second battery swapping device sprays oil mist onto the other side of the locking mechanism before the fully charged battery is installed. This achieves oil mist spraying maintenance during the battery swapping process.

[0073] The significant advantages of this invention are as follows: the battery swapping device includes a spraying unit capable of spraying specific areas on the electric vehicle without occupying space or requiring modification. Furthermore, the spraying unit can utilize the existing battery swapping unit as its installation base and can be controlled using the existing unit's control components, thus enabling automatic maintenance of the electric vehicle. In addition, the spraying method allows for precise control of the spray range, ensuring targeted spraying of specific areas and preventing contamination of other areas. Attached Figure Description

[0074] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a battery swapping device provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0075] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the oil mist injection unit in Figure 1;

[0076] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of another battery swapping device provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0077] Figure 4 is a partial enlarged view of the oil mist injection unit in Figure 3;

[0078] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the oil mist injection unit in Figure 3;

[0079] Figure 6 is a partial enlarged view of the sprayer in Figure 3, in which the cover of the mounting shroud is hidden;

[0080] Figure 7 is an exploded view of the mounting section and sprayer in Figure 3;

[0081] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the disassembled installation part and sprayer in Figure 3 from another perspective;

[0082] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of another battery swapping device provided in an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the side top plate of the battery swapping device is hidden;

[0083] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of another battery swapping device provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0084] Figure 11 is a partial enlarged view of the oil mist injection unit in Figure 10;

[0085] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of the mounting part and sprayer in Figure 10, in which the end plate of the mounting cover is hidden;

[0086] Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of the mounting part and sprayer in Figure 10, in which the cavity plate of the mounting cover is hidden;

[0087] Figure 14 is a schematic diagram of another battery swapping device provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0088] Figure 15 is a partial enlarged view of the oil mist injection unit in Figure 14;

[0089] Figure 16 is a schematic diagram of the mounting frame and sprayer in Figure 14;

[0090] Figure 17 is a structural schematic diagram of the mounting bracket and sprayer in Figure 14 from another perspective;

[0091] Figure 18 is a flowchart of a battery swapping method provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0092] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: Power swapping device 1, power swapping unit 10, drive component 11, side 101, upper surface 102, side surface 103, oil mist spraying unit 100, oil supply unit 110, oil tank 111, air supply unit 120, air-oil-water separator 121, solenoid valve 122, sprayer 130, spray head 131, spray chamber 132, mounting part 200, opening 201, perforation 202, waist-shaped hole 203, mounting cover 210, cover body 211, base 212, cavity plate 213, end plate 214, bracket 220, first connecting foot 221, first mounting plate 222, extension seat 230, mounting bracket 300, second connecting foot 310, second mounting plate 320, circular hole 321, arc-shaped hole 322, tilt angle A. Detailed Implementation

[0093] The present invention will be further illustrated by way of embodiments below, but the present invention is not limited to the scope of the embodiments described herein.

[0094] This invention provides a battery swapping device 1, which includes a battery swapping unit 10 and an injection unit. The battery swapping unit 10 is used to install a battery into an electric vehicle or to remove a battery from an electric vehicle. The injection unit is installed on the battery swapping unit 10, and its injection nozzle faces the area to be sprayed on the electric vehicle, and is used to spray the area. The battery swapping device 1 has an injection unit that can spray the area to be sprayed on the electric vehicle without occupying space in the electric vehicle or requiring any modification to the electric vehicle. Furthermore, the injection unit can utilize the existing battery swapping unit 10 as its installation base and can be controlled using the existing control components of the battery swapping unit 10, thereby achieving automatic maintenance of the electric vehicle. In addition, the spraying method allows for control of the spray range, enabling precise spraying of the area to be sprayed and avoiding contamination of other areas.

[0095] Specifically, as shown in Figure 1, the battery swapping unit 10 is a functional unit in the battery swapping device 1 used for battery replacement operations. This battery swapping unit 10 can be a battery swapping device 1 in the prior art. When it is an existing battery swapping device 1, the battery swapping device 1 provided in this embodiment can be obtained by adding an injection unit to the existing battery swapping device 1. The injection unit can be installed at a suitable position on the battery swapping unit 10, a position that facilitates the injection unit spraying onto the area to be sprayed. The area to be sprayed can be an area on the electric vehicle that requires maintenance, and the medium sprayed by the injection unit can be configured according to requirements. For example, when maintaining a locking mechanism on an electric vehicle, oil mist can be sprayed for maintenance.

[0096] As shown in Figures 1, 3, 9, 10, and 14, the injection unit is located on the side 101 of the battery swapping unit 10. The injection unit can be arranged in the side 101 area of ​​the battery swapping unit 10, thereby avoiding interference with the devices in the central area of ​​the battery swapping unit 10. The side 101 can utilize the space of the side 101 of the battery swapping unit 10 itself, the space around the side 101 of the battery swapping unit 10, or both the space of the side 101 of the battery swapping unit 10 itself and the space around the side 101.

[0097] As shown in Figure 9, the injection unit is positioned close to the drive component 11 of the battery swapping unit 10. Positioning the injection unit close to the drive component 11 optimizes space utilization at that location, resulting in a more compact structure.

[0098] The spraying unit includes a supply component and a spraying component, which are connected in communication. In a specific implementation, the supply component is used to provide the spraying medium to the spraying component, which is able to spray the medium to the area to be sprayed.

[0099] The spraying component is mounted on the upper surface 102 or the side surface 103 of the battery swapping unit 10, while the supply component is mounted on the side surface 103 and / or inside the battery swapping unit 10. The spraying component can be arranged using the upper surface 102 or the side surface 103 of the battery swapping unit 10, allowing for adjustments based on the location of the area to be sprayed and providing greater flexibility in its installation position. The supply component can be arranged using the side surface 103 and / or the internal space of the battery swapping unit 10, allowing for flexible arrangement within the appropriate space of the battery swapping unit 10. In specific implementations, the supply components can be all located on the side surface 103 of the battery swapping unit 10, or all located inside the battery swapping unit 10, or some can be located on the side surface 103 and others inside.

[0100] Furthermore, the components of the supply unit installed inside the battery swapping unit 10 are preferably located within the space where the drive unit 11 is located. The supply unit may be wholly or partially installed inside the battery swapping unit 10, and the components located inside the battery swapping unit 10 can be arranged using the space where the drive unit 11 is located, thereby making the structure more compact.

[0101] As shown in Figures 3-17, the injection unit has multiple injection components, and the supply component is connected to each injection component. The supply component can supply multiple injection components, thereby simplifying the number of components.

[0102] In one embodiment, the spraying unit can be mounted on the battery swapping unit 10 via the mounting part 200. Specifically, as shown in Figures 3-13, the spraying unit further includes a mounting part 200 with a receiving space. The spraying component is mounted within the receiving space, and the mounting part 200 has an opening 201 at a position corresponding to the spray nozzle. The spraying component is disposed within the receiving space of the mounting part 200, and the mounting part 200 can shield and protect the spraying component. The opening 201 on the mounting part 200 exposes the spray nozzle of the spraying component for spraying the area to be sprayed on the electric vehicle.

[0103] In another embodiment, the spraying unit can be mounted on the battery swapping unit 10 via a mounting bracket 300. Specifically, as shown in Figures 14-17, the spraying unit also includes a mounting bracket 300, and the spraying component is connected to the battery swapping unit 10 via the mounting bracket 300. The spraying component can also be mounted on the battery swapping unit 10 via the mounting bracket 300. This structure is simple and easy to manufacture and install.

[0104] In the above embodiments, an injection unit is provided on the battery swapping unit 10 to spray the electric vehicle. Further, the battery swapping unit 10 can be mounted on the battery swapping unit 10 via the mounting part 200 or the mounting bracket 300, preferably in the side 101 region of the battery swapping unit 10, specifically on the upper surface 102, side surface 103, or interior of the battery swapping unit 10. The following description uses an oil mist injection unit 100 as an example to further illustrate specific embodiments of the present invention.

[0105] As shown in Figures 1-17, the oil mist injection unit 100 includes an oil supply section 110, an air supply section 120, and a sprayer 130. The sprayer 130 is provided with a spray nozzle, and the oil supply section 110 and the air supply section 120 are connected in parallel to the sprayer 130. The oil mist injection unit 100 is capable of performing oil mist injection, thereby enabling maintenance and upkeep of the corresponding structures on electric vehicles.

[0106] The oil supply unit 110 shares the oil supply path within the power swapping equipment 1, and / or the air supply unit 120 shares the air supply path within the power swapping equipment 1. The oil supply unit 110 and / or the air supply unit 120 can utilize the existing oil and air supply paths within the power swapping equipment 1, thereby simplifying the component composition of the oil mist spraying unit 100 and improving the utilization rate of the components in the power swapping equipment 1. Specifically, the power swapping equipment 1 may be equipped with an oil tank, which the oil mist spraying unit 100 can use as the oil supply unit 110, and the sprayer 130 can be connected to the oil tank via a pipeline. Furthermore, the power swapping equipment 1 may be equipped with a gas supply component that can provide gas at a certain pressure, and the sprayer 130 can be connected to the gas supply component via a pipeline. In other embodiments, the oil mist spraying unit 100 may also be specifically equipped with an oil tank 111, which can be arranged close to the sprayer 130 to improve the spraying effect.

[0107] The air supply unit 120 includes an air-oil-water separator 121 and a solenoid valve 122. Along the gas flow path, the air-oil-water separator 121, the solenoid valve 122, and the sprayer 130 are sequentially connected via pipelines. The air inlet of the air-oil-water separator 121 is used to connect to an air source. The oil supply unit 110 includes an oil tank 111, which is connected to the sprayer 130 via a pipeline. Specifically, the sprayer 130 includes a nozzle 131 and a spray chamber 132 connected to the nozzle 131. The solenoid valve 122 and the oil tank 111 are respectively connected to the spray chamber. The nozzle 131 has a spray port. As shown in Figures 5 and 16, the nozzle 131 and the spray chamber 132 can be integrated together; or, as shown in Figures 2 and 12, the nozzle 131 and the spray chamber 132 are connected via pipelines.

[0108] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the oil mist spraying unit 100 has one sprayer 130. An air-oil-water separator 121, a solenoid valve 122, and the air inlet of the spray chamber 132 are connected in sequence. An oil tank 111 is connected to the oil inlet of the spray chamber 132. As shown in Figures 4, 11, and 15, the oil mist spraying unit 100 has two sprayers 130. The two sprayers 130 share the air-oil-water separator 121, the solenoid valve 122, and the oil tank 111. As shown in Figure 5, the oil tank 111 has multiple oil outlets, two of which are connected to the oil inlets of the two sprayers 130 via pipelines. After passing through the air-oil-water separator 121 and the solenoid valve 122, the gas is split into two streams via pipelines, each connected to the air inlet of one of the two sprayers 130.

[0109] As shown in Figures 1, 3, and 10, the sprayer 130 is disposed on the upper surface 102 of the side portion 101 of the battery swapping unit 10, or as shown in Figure 14, the sprayer 130 is disposed on the side surface 103 of the battery swapping unit 10. The position of the sprayer 130 can be adjusted according to the position of the area to be sprayed, and the installation position of the sprayer 130 can also be more flexibly selected.

[0110] As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the air-oil-water separator 121 and the solenoid valve 122 are both disposed on the side surface 103 of the power exchange unit 10; and / or, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, the fuel tank 111 is disposed on the side surface 103 of the power exchange unit 10. The above-mentioned devices can be installed on the side surface 103 of the power exchange unit 10, facilitating installation and arrangement. Furthermore, the fact that the fuel tank 111 is disposed outside the power exchange unit 10 also facilitates operations such as refueling.

[0111] As shown in Figure 4, the oil tank 111, the air-oil-water separator 121, and the solenoid valve 122 are located on both sides of the sprayer 130. This allows for efficient use of the space on the side 101 of the battery swapping unit 10.

[0112] As shown in Figure 9, the fuel tank 111 is located inside the battery swapping unit 10. The fuel tank 111 can be arranged using the internal space of the battery swapping unit 10, thus allowing for a reasonable arrangement of the fuel tank 111, and the outer shell of the battery swapping unit 10 can also protect the fuel tank 111.

[0113] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 9, the fuel tank 111 is preferably positioned inside the battery swapping unit 10 close to the drive component 11 of the battery swapping unit 10. This allows for a more compact structure. Specifically, the drive component 11 of the battery swapping unit 10 is generally located on the side 101 of the internal space of the battery swapping unit 10. This drive component 11 can be a component that drives the overall movement of the battery swapping unit 10, or a component that drives the movement of other structures of the battery swapping unit 10. As shown in Figure 9, the drive component 11 has multiple components, and there can be space between the multiple components, which can be used to arrange the fuel tank 111.

[0114] In specific implementation, the sprayer 130 is installed on the upper surface 102 and side surface 103 of the battery swapping unit 10, the oil tank 111 is installed on the side surface 103 and inside the battery swapping unit 10, and the air-oil-water separator 121 and solenoid valve 122 are installed on the side surface 103 of the battery swapping unit 10. They can be combined arbitrarily according to requirements.

[0115] As shown in Figures 1-17, the spray nozzle is arranged at an upward angle. This upward angle allows the nozzle to be aimed at the area to be sprayed, improving the spraying effect. When swapping batteries in an electric vehicle, the battery swapping device 1 can be moved to the bottom of the electric vehicle to replace the battery pack located in the vehicle's chassis. The upward angle of the spray nozzle allows it to face the bottom of the electric vehicle, facilitating the spraying operation. In other embodiments, the battery swapping device 1 may also have other structural forms. It is not limited to the type that swaps batteries at the bottom; for example, there may be a battery swapping device 1 that swaps batteries on the side 101. In such cases, the device may have other tilting directions to allow it to be aimed at the area to be sprayed on the electric vehicle.

[0116] As shown in Figures 2, 5, 12, and 16, the spray nozzle has an inclination angle A relative to the horizontal direction. Preferably, the inclination angle A of the spray nozzle relative to the horizontal direction ranges from 30° to 60°. It can be understood that the selection of this inclination angle A is mainly related to the spraying position of the battery swapping device 1. When the angle is larger, the spraying position is closer and the spraying effect is better; when the angle is smaller, the spraying position is farther.

[0117] As shown in Figure 1, the injection nozzle forms an angle with the length and width directions of the battery swapping device 1. Alternatively, as shown in Figures 3, 10, and 14, the injection nozzle is parallel to the length direction and perpendicular to the width direction of the battery swapping device 1. The length direction of the battery swapping device 1 can be aligned with the width direction of the electric vehicle, and vice versa. The specific configuration can be tailored to the area to be sprayed.

[0118] In some feasible embodiments, the spray nozzle of the sprayer 130 is movable relative to the power exchange unit 1. Specifically, the spray nozzle of the sprayer 130 is movable to adjust the spray position. Alternatively, the sprayer 130 is mounted on a movable frame, which allows the sprayer 130 to move and / or rotate relative to the power exchange unit 10 to adjust the spray position. The movable nozzle itself, or its movable mounting on a movable frame, allows for adjustment of the spray position, improving spray accuracy and increasing the sprayable range, thus expanding the usability of the sprayer 130.

[0119] In other feasible embodiments, the sprayer 130 is fixedly connected to the power swapping equipment 1. Specifically, the sprayer 130 can be mounted on the power swapping unit 10 via the mounting part 200 or the mounting bracket 300. In specific implementations, the mounting part 200 or the mounting bracket 300 may mount one or more sprayers 130.

[0120] As shown in Figures 3-9 and 10-13, the sprayer 130 is mounted on the battery swapping unit 10 via the mounting part 200. Specifically, the oil mist spraying unit 100 also includes a mounting cover 210 and a bracket 220. The mounting cover 210 has a receiving space, and the bracket 220 is disposed within the receiving space. The sprayer 130 is connected to the bracket 220. The mounting cover 210 has an opening 201 at a position corresponding to the spray nozzle, through which the spray nozzle passes. The mounting cover 210 can protect the sprayer 130, and the bracket 220 can reliably mount the sprayer 130 within the mounting cover 210. Furthermore, the bracket 220 can be used to configure the tilt angle A of the sprayer 130.

[0121] As shown in Figures 10-13, the bottom of the mounting cover 210 is connected to the upper surface 102 of the side 101 of the battery swapping unit 10; preferably, the bracket 220 passes through the bottom of the mounting cover 210 and connects to the upper surface 102 of the battery swapping unit 10. Alternatively, as shown in Figures 3-8, the battery swapping unit 10 is provided with an extension seat 230, one end of which is connected to the side surface 103 of the battery swapping unit 10, and the other end extends away from the battery swapping unit 10. The bottom of the mounting cover 210 is connected to the extension seat 230; preferably, the bracket 220 passes through the bottom of the mounting cover 210 and connects to the extension seat 230. The mounting cover 210 can be directly connected to the upper surface 102 of the battery swapping unit 10; alternatively, an extension seat 230 can be provided on the side 101 of the battery swapping unit 10, and the mounting cover 210 can be mounted using the extension seat 230, thereby allowing the sprayer 130 to be arranged in the battery swapping unit 10.

[0122] Specifically, at least one of the bottoms of the bracket 220 and the mounting cover 210 is provided with a waist-shaped hole 203. The waist-shaped hole 203 allows for adjustment of the position of the mounting cover 210 relative to the upper surface 102 of the battery swapping unit 10 or the extension seat 230, as well as the position of the bracket 220 relative to the mounting cover 210 and the battery swapping unit 10.

[0123] The bracket 220 includes a first connecting foot 221 and a first mounting plate 222. The first connecting foot 221 connects the first mounting plate 222 and the bottom of the mounting cover 210. The sprayer 130 is mounted to the first mounting plate 222, which is arranged at an upward angle. The sprayer 130 can be arranged at the upper surface 102 of the battery swapping unit 10 in an upward angle.

[0124] As shown in Figures 3-8, the mounting cover 210 includes a cover body 211 and a base 212. The cover body 211 is a rectangular structure with an open bottom. The cover body 211 covers the base 212 and forms a receiving space. An opening 201 for the spray nozzle to pass through is provided on the cover body 211. In addition, perforations 202 are provided at both ends of the cover body 211, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The corresponding pipelines of the oil tank 111, the air-oil-water separator 121, and the solenoid valve 122 located on both sides can enter the receiving space through the perforations 202 at both ends to connect with the sprayer 130. As shown in Figures 6, 7, and 8, the bracket 220 is roughly "U"-shaped. The spray head 131 and the spray chamber 132 of the sprayer 130 are integrated structures. The spray chamber 132 is mounted on the corresponding first mounting plate 222. The first connecting foot 221 is provided with a waist-shaped hole 203 extending along the width direction of the electric vehicle, and the base 212 is provided with a waist-shaped hole 203 extending along the length direction of the electric vehicle. Both the first connecting foot 221 and the base 212 are connected to the extension seat 230, and the position of the injection nozzle relative to the length and width directions of the electric vehicle can be adjusted through these waist-shaped holes 203.

[0125] As shown in Figures 10-13, the mounting cover 210 includes a cavity plate 213 and an end plate 214. The cavity plate 213 has a roughly C-shaped cross-section, and the end plate 214 is connected to the cavity plate 213 to form an accommodating space. As shown in Figure 11, both the cavity plate 213 and the end plate 214 have cutouts, which together form an opening 201 for the spray nozzle to pass through. The end plate 214 opens at both ends after being connected to the cavity plate 213 to allow the pipeline to enter the accommodating space. As shown in Figures 12 and 13, the bracket 220 is roughly U-shaped. The spray head 131 and the spray chamber 132 of the sprayer 130 are separate components connected by a pipeline. The spray head 131 is mounted on the corresponding first mounting plate 222. The bottom of the cavity plate 213 also has a waist-shaped hole 203.

[0126] As shown in Figures 14-17, the sprayer 130 is mounted on the battery swapping unit 10 via a mounting bracket 300. Specifically, the oil mist spraying unit 100 also includes a mounting bracket 300, which includes a second connecting foot 310 and a second mounting plate 320. The second connecting foot 310 connects the second mounting plate 320 and the side surface 103 of the battery swapping unit 10. The sprayer 130 is mounted on the second mounting plate 320, which is arranged at an upward angle. This allows the sprayer 130 to be arranged at an upward angle on the side surface 103 of the battery swapping unit 10.

[0127] The second connecting foot 310 is provided with an oblong hole 203, and / or the second mounting plate 320 is provided with multiple mounting holes, one of which is a circular hole 321, and the remaining mounting holes are arc-shaped holes 322 with the circular hole 321 as the center. The oblong hole 203 of the second connecting foot 310 facilitates the adjustment of the vertical position of the mounting bracket 300. The mounting hole configuration of the second mounting plate 320 facilitates the adjustment of the position of the sprayer 130 on the second mounting plate 320, thereby adjusting the position of the spray nozzle of the sprayer 130.

[0128] As shown in Figures 15, 16, and 17, the second connecting foot 310 has an oblong hole 203 extending along the height direction of the power swapping device 1, thereby allowing adjustment of the sprayer 130's position in the height direction. The second mounting plate 320 can mount multiple sprayers 130, each with an integrated spray head 131 and spray chamber 132, the spray chamber 132 being connected to the second mounting plate 320. As shown in Figures 16 and 17, the second mounting plate 320 has a circular hole 321 and two arc-shaped holes 322, allowing adjustment of the spray chamber 132's position relative to the second mounting plate 320 around the circular hole 321.

[0129] As one of the areas to be sprayed by the aforementioned oil mist spraying unit 100, it can be the locking mechanism of an electric vehicle. The oil mist spraying unit 100 is disposed on the side 101 of the battery swapping unit 10 in the width direction of the electric vehicle. The oil mist spraying unit 100 can spray the locking mechanism of the electric vehicle, thereby maintaining the locking mechanism. Furthermore, for the locking mechanism in extremely cold weather, oil spraying can prevent the locking mechanism from freezing and improve the reliability of the locking mechanism.

[0130] The locking mechanism includes a primary locking mechanism and a secondary locking mechanism, and the oil mist injection unit 100 has multiple injection ports corresponding to the primary and secondary locking mechanisms respectively. The primary and secondary locking mechanisms can be referenced in Chinese Patent Application No. CN202010807409X. It is understood that the implementation method in this embodiment can also be applied to other types of locking mechanisms or other mechanisms on electric vehicles that require spraying.

[0131] As shown in Figures 1, 3, 10, and 14, the oil mist injection unit 100 is provided on one side 101 of the battery swapping unit 10. In other embodiments, the battery swapping unit 10 may be provided with multiple oil mist injection units 100 to spray multiple areas of the electric vehicle. For example, oil mist injection units 100 may be provided on both sides 101 of the battery swapping unit 10 in the width direction of the electric vehicle.

[0132] Example 2

[0133] This embodiment provides a battery swapping system, which includes the battery swapping device 1 as described in Embodiment 1 above.

[0134] There are two battery swapping devices 1, namely a first battery swapping device and a second battery swapping device. Both the first and second battery swapping devices are equipped with spraying units. The spraying unit of the first battery swapping device is located on the side 101 of its first side, and the spraying unit of the second battery swapping device is located on the side 101 of its second side. The first side and the second side are opposite sides. By arranging the spraying units on opposite sides of the first and second battery swapping devices, spraying can be performed on opposite sides of the electric vehicle. In this way, by arranging spraying units on different battery swapping devices 1, multiple devices in the battery swapping operation can be rationally arranged to spray different areas of the electric vehicle.

[0135] The spraying unit is an oil mist spraying unit 100. The area to be sprayed consists of two locking mechanisms arranged opposite each other in the width direction of the electric vehicle. The first side and the second side are the two sides in the width direction of the electric vehicle. The oil mist spraying units 100 of the two battery swapping devices 1 can spray the two locking mechanisms on the electric vehicle separately, thereby enabling routine maintenance of both locking mechanisms and antifreeze protection in extremely cold weather.

[0136] Example 3

[0137] This embodiment provides a battery swapping method. The battery swapping method uses the battery swapping system as described in Embodiment 2 above. The battery swapping system includes a first battery swapping device for removing the battery and a second battery swapping device for installing the battery. The spraying unit is an oil mist spraying unit 100. The battery swapping method includes the following steps:

[0138] S100: The battery swapping unit 10 of the first battery swapping device removes the depleted battery from the electric vehicle.

[0139] S200: The oil mist injection unit 100 of the first battery swapping device sprays oil onto the locking mechanism on the first side of the electric vehicle.

[0140] S300: The oil mist injection unit 100 of the second battery swapping equipment sprays oil onto the locking mechanism on the second side of the electric vehicle.

[0141] S400: The battery swapping unit 10 of the second battery swapping device installs a fully charged battery into the electric vehicle.

[0142] The first battery swapping device sprays oil mist onto one side of the locking mechanism after the depleted battery is removed, and the second battery swapping device sprays oil mist onto the other side of the locking mechanism before the fully charged battery is installed. This achieves oil mist spraying maintenance during the battery swapping process.

[0143] In practical implementation, the oil mist spraying function of battery swapping equipment 1 can be controlled by a PLC. It can be periodically activated for maintenance of electric vehicles, and the amount of oil mist sprayed can be controlled by the PLC to adjust the spraying time. This reduces manual intervention in maintenance, lowering maintenance costs. Furthermore, it allows for maintenance of the locking mechanism during battery swapping, saving maintenance time and costs. It can also be performed in good weather, minimizing operational impact and improving spraying effectiveness. In addition, this function is beneficial for the normal operation of the locking mechanism in extremely cold weather. The low-temperature oil mist prevents the locking mechanism from freezing, reducing the possibility of battery swapping disruptions due to freezing in extremely cold weather, thereby improving battery swapping efficiency and extending service life. Therefore, the frequency of oil mist spraying can be increased before extremely cold weather and during cold weather. Moreover, oil mist spraying is more controllable than using engine oil, resulting in lower costs and better vehicle protection. It effectively prevents oil dripping after maintenance from affecting the vehicle, battery swapping station, and road environment.

[0144] While specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, those skilled in the art should understand that these are merely illustrative examples, and the scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the appended claims. Those skilled in the art can make various changes or modifications to these embodiments without departing from the principles and essence of the present invention, but all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A battery swapping device, characterized in that, The battery swapping equipment includes a battery swapping unit and an injection unit. The battery swapping unit is used to install the battery into the electric vehicle or remove the battery from the electric vehicle. The spraying unit is installed on the battery swapping unit, and the spray nozzle of the spraying unit faces the area to be sprayed on the electric vehicle, and is used to spray the area to be sprayed.

2. The battery swapping equipment as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The injection unit is located on the side of the battery swapping unit; and / or, the injection unit is disposed close to the drive component of the battery swapping unit; Preferably, the injection unit includes a supply component and an injection component, the supply component being in communication with the injection component; the injection component is mounted on the upper surface or side surface of the battery swapping unit, and the supply component is mounted on the side surface of the battery swapping unit and / or inside the battery swapping unit; preferably, the component whose supply component is mounted inside the battery swapping unit is disposed within the space where the drive component is located; More preferably, the injection unit has a plurality of injection components, and the supply component is in communication with each of the injection components; More preferably, the spraying unit further includes a mounting portion having a receiving space, the spraying component being installed in the receiving space, and the mounting portion having an opening at a position corresponding to the spray nozzle; or, the spraying unit further includes a mounting bracket, the spraying component being connected to the battery swapping unit through the mounting bracket.

3. The battery swapping equipment as described in any one of claims 1-2, characterized in that, The spraying unit is an oil mist spraying unit, which includes an oil supply unit, an air supply unit, and a sprayer. The sprayer is provided with the spray nozzle, and the oil supply unit and the air supply unit are connected in parallel to the sprayer. Preferably, the oil supply unit shares the oil supply path within the power swapping equipment, and / or, the gas supply unit shares the gas supply path within the power swapping equipment; Preferably, the air supply unit includes an air-oil-water separator and a solenoid valve. Along the gas flow path, the air-oil-water separator, the solenoid valve, and the sprayer are connected in sequence through pipelines. The air inlet of the air-oil-water separator is used to connect to the air source. And / or, the oil supply unit includes an oil tank, which is connected to the sprayer via a pipeline; More preferably, the sprayer is disposed on the upper surface of the side of the battery swapping unit, or the sprayer is disposed on the side surface of the battery swapping unit; And / or, the air-oil-water separator and the solenoid valve are both disposed on the side surface of the battery swapping unit; And / or, the oil tank is disposed on the side surface of the battery swapping unit; preferably, the oil tank, the air-oil-water separator, and the solenoid valve are located on both sides of the sprayer. Alternatively, the fuel tank may be located inside the battery swapping unit. Preferably, the fuel tank is located inside the battery swapping unit near the drive components of the battery swapping unit.

4. The battery swapping equipment as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The injection nozzle is arranged at an upward angle; preferably, the angle of inclination of the injection nozzle relative to the horizontal direction is in the range of 30° to 60°. And / or, the spray nozzle of the sprayer is movable to adjust the spray position; or, the sprayer is mounted on a movable frame, the movable frame driving the sprayer to be movable and / or rotatable relative to the battery swapping unit to adjust the spray position.

5. The battery swapping equipment as described in claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, The oil mist spraying unit also includes a mounting cover and a bracket. The mounting cover has a receiving space, the bracket is disposed in the receiving space, and the sprayer is connected to the bracket. The mounting cover has an opening at a position corresponding to the injection port, and the injection port passes through the opening; Preferably, the bottom of the mounting cover is connected to the upper surface of the side of the battery swapping unit; preferably, the bracket passes through the bottom of the mounting cover and is connected to the upper surface of the battery swapping unit. Alternatively, the battery swapping unit may be provided with an extension base, one end of which is connected to the side surface of the battery swapping unit, and the other end extends away from the battery swapping unit, with the bottom of the mounting cover connected to the extension base; preferably, the bracket passes through the bottom of the mounting cover and is connected to the extension base. More preferably, at least one of the bottom of the bracket and the mounting cover is provided with a waist-shaped hole.

6. The battery swapping equipment as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The bracket includes a first connecting foot and a first mounting plate, the first connecting foot connecting the first mounting plate and the bottom of the mounting cover; the sprayer is mounted on the first mounting plate, the first mounting plate being arranged at an upward angle.

7. The battery swapping equipment as described in any one of claims 3-6, characterized in that, The oil mist spraying unit also includes a mounting bracket, which includes a second connecting foot and a second mounting plate. The second connecting foot connects the second mounting plate to the side surface of the battery swapping unit. The sprayer is mounted to the second mounting plate, which is arranged at an upward angle. Preferably, the second connecting foot is provided with an oblong hole, and / or the second mounting plate is provided with a plurality of mounting holes, one of which is a circular hole, and the remaining mounting holes are arc-shaped holes with the circular hole as the center.

8. The battery swapping equipment as described in any one of claims 3-7, characterized in that, The area to be sprayed is the locking mechanism of the electric vehicle, and the oil mist spraying unit is located on the side of the battery swapping unit in the width direction of the electric vehicle. Preferably, the locking mechanism includes a primary locking mechanism and a secondary locking mechanism, and the oil mist injection unit has multiple injection ports corresponding to the primary locking mechanism and the secondary locking mechanism, respectively.

9. A battery swapping system, characterized in that, The battery swapping system includes the battery swapping equipment as described in any one of claims 1-8.

10. The battery swapping equipment as described in claim 9, characterized in that, There are two battery swapping devices, namely a first battery swapping device and a second battery swapping device, both of which are equipped with the injection unit. The injection unit of the first battery swapping device is located on the side of the first side of its battery swapping unit, and the injection unit of the second battery swapping device is located on the side of the second side of its battery swapping unit. The first side and the second side are opposite sides.

11. The battery swapping equipment as described in claim 10, characterized in that, The spraying unit is an oil mist spraying unit, and the area to be sprayed consists of two locking mechanisms arranged opposite each other in the width direction of the electric vehicle. The first side and the second side are the two sides in the width direction of the electric vehicle.

12. A battery swapping method, characterized in that, The battery swapping method employs a battery swapping system as described in any one of claims 9-11, the battery swapping system comprising a first battery swapping device for removing the battery and a second battery swapping device for installing the battery, the injection unit being an oil mist injection unit, and the battery swapping method comprising: The battery swapping unit of the first battery swapping device removes the depleted battery from the electric vehicle. The oil mist injection unit of the first battery swapping device sprays oil onto the locking mechanism on the first side of the electric vehicle; The oil mist injection unit of the second battery swapping device sprays oil onto the locking mechanism on the second side of the electric vehicle; The battery swapping unit of the second battery swapping device installs a fully charged battery into the electric vehicle.

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