Battery Pack Lock Shaft Positioning for Fast EV Swapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric vehicle battery locking systems are inefficient due to the lack of automation and difficulty in determining the battery pack's position during replacement, leading to reduced battery change efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack with multiple lock shafts and a locking device featuring a lock base, lock shaft, and lock connecting rod, which allows for automatic locking and unlocking by inserting the lock shaft into a recessed groove, utilizing a positioning steel magnet for precise positioning and reducing friction with an elastic pad for smooth operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple locking positions are used to lock the battery simultaneously, then the locking reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking system is divided into multiple independent lock shafts, each with its own locking position. Each lock shaft can be independently controlled to engage with corresponding locking positions on the battery pack, allowing simultaneous multi-point locking while maintaining modular simplicity in each individual component
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple locking functions are combined into a single integrated locking device that controls all lock shafts. The locking device integrates the control mechanism for multiple lock shafts, reducing overall system complexity while achieving reliable multi-point locking of the battery pack
2Productivity
If manual or automatic battery replacement is used, then the battery can be replaced, but the battery change efficiency is reduced due to inability to quickly determine battery pack position
Solution Approach 1:
Different movement states of the battery pack are indicated by distinct positional relationships between the lock shaft and lock groove, which can be detected by sensors. The system uses positional encoding where specific positions correspond to specific states (inserting, locking, locked, unlocking), enabling quick determination of battery pack status without complex visual inspection
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates position detection feedback through sensors that monitor the relative position between the lock shaft and lock groove. This feedback mechanism provides real-time information about the battery pack's movement state, enabling automated control systems to quickly determine position and proceed with appropriate locking or unlocking operations
3Reliability
If a locking structure with multiple locking positions is used, then the locking reliability is improved, but the speed of locking operation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The lock shafts are pre-positioned and aligned with their corresponding lock grooves before the locking operation begins. The locking device is designed to simultaneously engage all lock shafts with their respective grooves in a single coordinated motion, eliminating sequential locking steps and achieving both high speed and reliability
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables efficient and automatic locking and unlocking of the battery pack, improving the battery replacement process by providing clear movement state information and reducing collision damage, thus enhancing the overall efficiency and service life of the locking components.
Implementation Method 1
a first positioning steel magnet is mounted in the positioning hole
Data Source
AI summary
A battery pack and an electric vehicle are provided. A plurality of lock shafts are mounted on an outer side of the battery pack, and each of the lock shafts includes a shaft seat and a shaft rod. The lock shaft is mounted to the outer side of the battery pack by the shaft seat. A concave positioning hole is arranged at an end of the shaft rod away from the shaft seat, and a first positioning steel magnet is mounted in the positioning hole.