Battery Seating Alignment Using Pins for Vibration-Safe Swapping

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing battery swapping systems face issues with misalignment of new batteries and vehicle battery receiving spaces during the swapping process, leading to potential damage to both the battery and the vehicle body due to vibrations generated by the battery transfer apparatus.

Innovation Solution

A battery transfer apparatus with a seating portion and position alignment mechanism, including position fixing pins and a horizontal alignment portion, ensures precise alignment of the battery and the vehicle battery receiving space through corrective movements and rotations, utilizing sensors and controllers to determine and apply necessary corrections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the battery transfer apparatus transfers the new battery to the battery receiving space based on the input path, then the battery swapping process can be completed, but the new battery may be transferred along a different path due to vibrations, causing misalignment between the battery and battery receiving space

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery swapping speedVSAvoidalignment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a position alignment portion that performs preliminary positioning of the battery before it is transferred to the battery receiving space. This preliminary action ensures that even if vibrations occur during transfer, the battery maintains proper alignment with the receiving space, preventing misalignment damage while maintaining efficient swapping operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The position alignment portion acts as an intermediary mechanism between the battery transfer path and the battery receiving space. It provides a stable reference frame that compensates for vibrations during transfer, ensuring accurate alignment without requiring the battery to follow the input path perfectly

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the battery and battery receiving space are not aligned properly during battery swapping, then the swapping process may be faster, but the battery and vehicle body may be damaged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery swapping efficiencyVSAvoiddamage to battery and vehicle body
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The position alignment portion provides beforehand cushioning by pre-positioning the battery in the correct alignment before the transfer operation completes. This prevents potential damage from misalignment without slowing down the swapping process, as the alignment is established in advance rather than requiring correction during or after transfer

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentEP4442494A1Battery transfer apparatus for battery swapping
Publication Date: 2024.10.09 HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP4442494A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4442494A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4442494A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A battery transfer apparatus for battery swapping that transfers a battery to a vehicle for which the battery swapping is required includes a seating portion that provides a seating space in which the battery is accommodated and a position alignment portion that allows the seating portion to move so that relative positions of the battery accommodated in the seating space and a battery receiving space of the vehicle are aligned.