Pyramid Battery Block Alignment for Electric Vehicle Docking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery exchange systems for electric vehicles are time-consuming and require costly equipment due to the need for precise alignment and complex hoisting mechanisms, which can be inefficient and inconvenient for users.

Innovation Solution

A battery exchange system featuring a battery block with a pyramid-shaped external casing and a battery dock with a corresponding internal casing, along with guides and sliding surfaces for horizontal movement, allowing for simple and cost-effective alignment and connection, enabling the battery block to be freely movable and easily replaceable.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If precise car alignment and adequate hoisting mechanism are used, then battery exchange reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery exchange reliabilityVSAvoidalignment and hoisting mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The battery block's own geometry (pyramid-shaped peripheral wall with bevel-shaped male part) serves as the alignment mechanism. When the battery block is lifted by the battery lift, the bevel-shaped male part automatically guides it horizontally into the reference position relative to the battery dock's bevel-shaped female part, without requiring external alignment equipment or precise positioning systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces expensive, complex precision alignment and hoisting equipment with simple, cost-effective components: a battery lift with a platform, bevel-shaped geometric guides integrated into the battery block and dock, and sliding surfaces. This simplifies the overall system while maintaining functional reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Manufacturing precision

If precise positioning systems are used, then battery fitting precision is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery fitting precisionVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The battery block's geometry (pyramid-shaped peripheral wall with bevel-shaped male part) serves as the alignment mechanism. When the battery block is lifted by the battery lift, the bevel-shaped male part automatically guides it horizontally into the reference position relative to the battery dock's bevel-shaped female part, without requiring external alignment equipment or precise positioning systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical positioning systems with simple geometric shapes (bevel-shaped male and female parts) that provide automatic alignment through their inherent geometry. The sliding surfaces on the battery lift platform enable free horizontal movement, allowing the geometric guides to do the positioning work without expensive mechanical positioning mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Power

If complex hoisting mechanisms are used, then battery lifting capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery lifting capabilityVSAvoidhoisting mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential lifting function from complex hoisting mechanisms. The battery lift comprises a simple platform supported by a lift assembly that raises and lowers the platform vertically. The horizontal positioning function is separated and handled by the geometric guides (bevel-shaped parts) and sliding surfaces, allowing the hoisting mechanism itself to remain simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the battery exchange function into separate components: vertical lifting (battery lift with platform and lift assembly) and horizontal positioning (bevel-shaped male and female parts with sliding surfaces). This segmentation allows each component to be simple and specialized, rather than requiring a single complex mechanism to handle both functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3307585B1Battery exchange system
Publication Date: 2019.12.18 BATTSWAP INC
  • EP3307585B1 patent drawingFigure 1~1A
  • EP3307585B1 patent drawingFigure 1B~1D
  • EP3307585B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

A battery exchange system for a battery powered electric vehicle (V), comprising an interchangeable battery block (1), a battery dock (2) defined at the underside of the electric vehicle to receive the battery block, and a battery lift (4) for lifting the battery block underneath the electric vehicle. The battery block and the battery dock have guides (14, 15; 24, 25) adapted to mutually cooperate for guiding the battery block horizontally, and the battery lift is adapted to let the battery block move freely horizontally relative to the electric vehicle when the battery block is lifted for fitting with the battery dock.