CN210083177U

CN210083177U - Vehicle battery replacement system

Info

Publication number: CN210083177U
Application number: CN201920485376.4U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 马永跃; 丁习坤; 李楠; 刘俊; 田小涛; 林海岩
Original assignee: NIO Co Ltd
Current assignee: NIO Co Ltd
Priority date: 2019-04-11
Filing date: 2019-04-11
Publication date: 2020-02-18
Anticipated expiration: 2029-04-11

Abstract

The application provides a vehicle trades electric system. This vehicle trades electric system includes: the battery replacing platform is used for providing a parking and battery replacing operation area for the battery replacing vehicle; the battery bin is arranged on one side or two sides of the battery replacing platform and is used for storing and charging batteries; the connection mechanism is arranged adjacent to the battery compartment and is used for taking out the battery from the battery compartment or putting the battery into the battery compartment; the fork arm type transmission device can vertically perform lifting motion; the fork arm type transmission device is provided with a base arranged below the connection mechanism; and a retractable yoke capable of reciprocating relative to the base toward or away from the battery changing platform to transport the battery. According to the vehicle battery replacement system, the vertical and horizontal sizes of the battery replacement system are further reduced, the space utilization rate is improved, and the cost is lower compared with other battery transmission devices.

Description

Vehicle battery replacement system

Technical Field

The application relates to the technical field of charging and battery replacing of electric automobiles, in particular to a vehicle battery replacing system of an electric automobile.

Background

With the supply pressure and exhaust pollution brought by the consumption of traditional fossil energy, the development of traditional fuel oil vehicles has entered a lag phase. In view of the above, the energy-saving and environment-friendly electric vehicle has developed into the well-jet type in recent years due to the good green energy prospect. At present, in the development process of electric automobiles, due to the limitation of the current battery technology, the problems of insufficient battery capacity and long charging time are unavoidable at the present stage. In order to solve the technical problems, on one hand, the research and development investment on the battery technology is increased; on the other hand, development of technologies around the battery has also been increased. For example, battery replacement is an extremely fast, convenient, and safe method.

Specifically, the battery replacement (i.e., battery replacement) refers to an energy compensation method in which the electric vehicle removes a low-power battery mounted on the vehicle by the battery replacement device and loads another full-power battery into the electric vehicle. As one of the battery replacement systems, a battery replacement station is a place where battery replacement is performed on a power battery of an electric vehicle, and optionally has functions of charging, thermal management, communication, monitoring and the like. For a mature battery replacement system, it usually includes at least a battery compartment, a docking mechanism, a battery replacement platform (covering a battery replacement device), and a battery transfer device. Therefore, it is necessary to provide an optimized design as compact as possible in a limited space to satisfy the integration of the functions, i.e., the arrangement of the aforementioned devices in a limited space, and the compact structure should be embodied in both horizontal and vertical directions.

Disclosure of Invention

In view of the above, the present application provides a vehicle battery swapping system, which effectively solves or at least alleviates one or more of the above problems and other problems existing in the prior art.

To achieve the object of the present application, according to one aspect of the present application, there is provided a vehicle battery swapping system, including: the battery replacing platform is used for providing a parking and battery replacing operation area for the battery replacing vehicle; the battery bin is arranged on one side or two sides of the battery replacing platform and is used for storing and charging batteries; the connection mechanism is arranged adjacent to the battery compartment and is used for taking out the battery from the battery compartment or putting the battery into the battery compartment; the fork arm type transmission device can vertically perform lifting motion; the fork arm type transmission device is provided with a base arranged below the connection mechanism; and a retractable yoke capable of reciprocating relative to the base toward or away from the battery changing platform to transport the battery.

Optionally, the lowest mounting position of the battery replacing platform is lower than the lowest mounting positions of the battery bin, the connection mechanism and the fork arm type transmission device; and the battery replacing device is arranged at the bottom of the battery replacing platform.

Optionally, the battery compartment is arranged on one or both sides of the docking mechanism in the direction of reciprocation of the retractable yoke.

Optionally, when the battery compartment is arranged on one side of the docking mechanism, which faces away from the battery replacement platform.

Optionally, when the battery compartment is disposed on two sides of the connection mechanism, a passing space is disposed below the battery compartment on one side of the connection mechanism facing the battery replacement platform, and a lowest height of the passing space is greater than a sum of a height of the fork arm type transmission device in a rising state and a thickness of the battery.

Optionally, the battery replacing device further comprises a roller type transmission device, which is arranged between the fork type transmission device and the battery replacing platform and is used for transmitting the battery between the fork type transmission device and the battery replacing platform.

Optionally, a suspension chain mechanism is arranged at the base of the fork arm type transmission device, and the fork arm type transmission device is vertically lifted through the suspension chain mechanism.

Optionally, the docking mechanism comprises at least two uprights and a cross beam spanned between the at least two uprights; arranging a supporting piece, a chain connected to the supporting piece and a guide rail for guiding the chain to move up and down along the vertical direction on the inner side of the upright post; when the fork-arm type transmission device descends vertically, batteries carried on the telescopic fork arms of the fork-arm type transmission device are transferred to be carried by the supporting piece on the inner side of the upright post.

Optionally, a sliding rail is further disposed at the bottom of the connection mechanism, and the upright of the connection mechanism reciprocates along the sliding rail to align with the battery compartment.

Optionally, the batteries have a uniform arrangement direction on the battery compartment, the docking mechanism, the wishbone transmission device, and the vehicle on the battery replacement platform.

According to the vehicle battery replacing system, the fork arm type transmission device is arranged, so that the fork arm type transmission device can reciprocate relative to the base arranged at the connecting mechanism towards or away from the battery replacing platform to transmit the battery, on one hand, a transfer trolley and a roller in the traditional transfer device are omitted, on the other hand, the low height of the structure of the fork arm type transmission device allows the battery carried by the fork arm type transmission device to directly enter the bottom of the vehicle, on the other hand, a lifting device for the vehicle can be omitted, the cost of the battery replacing system is greatly reduced, the vertical and transverse sizes of the battery replacing system are reduced, and the compactness of the structural space of the battery replacing system is further improved.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a first perspective view diagram of an embodiment of a swapping system of the present application.

Fig. 2 is a second perspective view of an embodiment of a swapping system of the present application.

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the swapping system of the present application.

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the swapping system of the present application.

Detailed Description

First, it should be noted that, for convenience of describing the arrangement direction and the positional relationship of the partial structures in the embodiments of the present application, the longitudinal direction X, the lateral direction Y, and the vertical direction Z are introduced herein as a coordinate system, which is intended to describe the embodiments of the present application in a concise and clear manner, and is not intended to construct a specific orientation limitation. Under this premise, the introduced X, Y, Z direction can be oriented by using the battery replacing platform, for example, the length extending direction of the battery replacing platform is a longitudinal X direction, the width extending direction of the battery replacing platform is a transverse Y direction, and the height extending direction of the battery replacing platform is a vertical Z direction. The foregoing orientations are referenced below for convenience only and are not to be construed as exclusive limitations.

Furthermore, to any single feature described or implicit in an embodiment or any single feature shown or implicit in the drawings or shown or implicit in the drawings, the application still allows any combination or permutation to continue between the features (or their equivalents) to achieve still further embodiments of the application that may not be directly mentioned herein. In addition, for simplicity of the drawings, identical or similar parts and features may be indicated in the same drawing only in one or several places.

Referring initially to fig. 1-2, one embodiment of a vehicle swapping system 100 is provided. The vehicle battery replacement system 100 in this embodiment includes a battery replacement platform 110 for providing a parking and battery replacement operation area for the battery replacement vehicle 300, a battery compartment 120 for storing and charging the battery 200, and a docking mechanism 130 for taking out the battery 200 from the battery compartment 120 or putting the battery 200 into the battery compartment 120. The docking mechanism 130 and the battery compartment 120 in this embodiment are both disposed on the same side of the battery replacing platform 110, and the docking mechanism 130 is disposed therebetween. In addition, the vehicle battery replacement system 100 further comprises a fork arm type transmission device 140, which has a base 141 and a retractable fork arm 142 capable of reciprocating relative to the base 141 towards or away from the battery replacement platform 110 to transmit the battery 200. Wherein the base 141 is arranged below the docking mechanism 130 in order to transport the battery to the docking mechanism, so that the docking mechanism lifts the battery into the battery compartment 120; or so that it removes the battery from the docking mechanism and feeds it under the vehicle. In addition, the fork arm type transmission device 140 can also be lifted vertically, so that the fork arm type transmission device is not scratched by batteries under a vehicle or batteries on a connection mechanism in a descending state, and can bear the batteries as expected in an ascending state.

Under the arrangement, on one hand, the fork-arm type conveying device can be used for replacing a transfer trolley and a roller in the traditional transfer device; on the other hand, the low height of the structure of the fork arm type transmission device also allows the battery carried by the fork arm type transmission device to directly enter the bottom of the vehicle, so that a lifting device for the vehicle can be omitted. The cost of the battery replacement system is greatly reduced, the vertical and horizontal sizes of the battery replacement system are reduced, and the compactness of the structural space of the battery replacement system is further improved.

Referring to fig. 3, another embodiment of the vehicle swapping system 100 is shown. The vehicle battery replacement system 100 in this embodiment also includes a battery replacement platform 110, a battery compartment, and a connection mechanism. The main difference from the previous embodiment is that the embodiment has two

docking mechanisms

130a, 130b and two sets of

battery compartments

120a, 120 b. The connection mechanism 130a and the battery bin 120a are arranged on a first side of the battery replacing platform 110, and the connection mechanism 130a is arranged between the two; the docking mechanism 130b and the battery compartment 120b are disposed on a second side of the battery replacing platform 110, and the docking mechanism 130b is disposed therebetween. Similarly, the vehicle battery replacement system 100 further includes two sets of fork-

arm transmission devices

140a and 140b, so as to perform the function of transferring the battery between the two sets of docking mechanisms and the battery replacement platform, respectively. The two sets of fork-

arm transmission devices

140a and 140b respectively have

bases

141a and 141b and

retractable forks

142a and 142b capable of reciprocating relative to the

bases

141a and 141b toward or away from the battery-changing platform 110 to transmit the battery 200. Wherein the two

bases

141a, 141b are arranged below the

docking mechanisms

130a, 130b, respectively, in order to transport the batteries to the docking mechanisms, so that the docking mechanisms lift the batteries into the

battery compartments

120a, 120b, respectively; or so that it removes the battery from the docking mechanism and feeds it under the vehicle. In addition, the fork arm

type transmission devices

140a and 140b can be lifted and lowered vertically, so that the fork arm type transmission devices are not scratched by batteries under a vehicle or batteries on a connection mechanism in a descending state, and can bear the batteries as expected in a lifting state. The vehicle battery replacement system arranged in the way can also greatly reduce the cost of the battery replacement system, and the vertical and horizontal sizes of the battery replacement system are reduced, thereby being beneficial to further improving the compactness of the structural space of the battery replacement system.

Referring to fig. 4, yet another embodiment of a vehicle swapping system 100 is shown. The vehicle battery replacement system 100 in this embodiment also includes a battery replacement platform 110, a battery compartment, and a connection mechanism 130. The main difference from the previous embodiment is that there are two sets of

battery compartments

120a, 120b in this embodiment. The connection mechanism 130 and the two sets of

battery compartments

120a, 120b are both disposed on the same side of the battery replacing platform 110, and the connection mechanism 130 is disposed between the two sets of

battery compartments

120a, 120 b. That is, one group of the battery compartments 120a is disposed on a side of the docking mechanism 130 facing away from the battery replacing platform 110, and the other group of the battery compartments 120b is disposed on a side of the docking mechanism 130 facing toward the battery replacing platform 110. At this time, considering that the battery transfer distance is long, it may be difficult to perform the battery transfer for an excessively long distance by only the fork-type transfer device 140. Therefore, the fork arm type transmission device 140 and the roller type transmission device 150 can be installed in the vehicle battery replacement system 100 at the same time. The roller-type transmission device 150 can be disposed between the fork-type transmission device 140 and the battery replacing platform 110, and is used for transmitting the battery 200 between the fork-type transmission device 140 and the battery replacing platform 110. The fork arm type transmission device 140 continuously transfers the battery between the roller type transmission device 150 and the docking mechanism. Similarly, the fork arm type transmission device 140 has a base 141 and a retractable fork arm 142 capable of reciprocating relative to the base 141 toward or away from the battery changing platform 110 to transmit the battery 200. Wherein the base 141a is arranged below the docking mechanism 130 in order to transport the batteries to the docking mechanism, so that the docking mechanism lifts the batteries into the

battery compartments

120a, 120b, respectively; or so that it takes the battery out of the docking mechanism and takes it to a roller conveyor. In order to ensure that the transportation of the retractable fork 142 and the battery carried thereby is not hindered, a passing space is further provided below the battery compartment 120b disposed on the side of the docking mechanism 130 facing the battery replacing platform 110, and the lowest height of the passing space is greater than the sum of the height of the fork-type transportation device 140 in the raised state and the thickness of the battery 200. In addition, the fork arm type transmission device 140 should be capable of being lifted and lowered vertically, so that the fork arm type transmission device does not scratch and rub the batteries on the connection mechanism in the descending state, and the fork arm type transmission device can bear the batteries as expected in the ascending state. The vehicle battery replacement system under the arrangement is more suitable for application scenes with longer battery transfer distance.

In addition, although not detailed in the foregoing embodiments, various modifications may be made to the battery replacement system in order to improve the compactness thereof or facilitate implementation of the functional components.

For example, the lowest mounting position of the battery replacing platform can be set to be lower than the lowest mounting positions of the battery bin, the docking mechanism and the fork arm type transmission device. At this moment, the battery replacing device can be further arranged at the bottom of the battery replacing platform, so that on one hand, the height difference between the battery replacing platform and other devices along the vertical direction is reduced, the vertical size of the exposed ground is further reduced for the whole battery replacing system, and on the other hand, the vehicle does not need to be lifted to perform the battery replacing operation.

For another example, as a specific implementation form of implementing the lifting function of the fork-arm type transmission device, a suspension chain mechanism may be provided at the base thereof, so that the whole fork-arm type transmission device is vertically lifted by the suspension chain mechanism. When the battery compartment vertically descends, the battery compartment can transfer the battery transferred from the vehicle to be carried by the connection mechanism, and then the battery compartment is transferred into the battery compartment by the connection mechanism; when the battery is lifted along the vertical direction, the battery carried on the connection mechanism can be lifted to be carried by the telescopic fork arm, and then the telescopic fork arm is controlled to extend to transfer the battery to the lower part of the vehicle.

More specifically, the connection mechanism cooperating with the fork arm type transmission device is a door frame-like structure, which includes at least two upright posts 131 and a cross beam 132 spanning between the two upright posts 131. Wherein, a support 133, a chain 134 connected to the support 133, and a guide rail 135 for guiding the chain 134 to move vertically up and down are provided inside the pillar 131. At this point, when it is engaged with the fork-arm conveyor, if the latter is lowered vertically, the batteries carried on the telescopic fork of the fork-arm conveyor will be transferred to be carried by the support 133 inside the upright, the support 133 then lifting the batteries into alignment with the battery compartment by the movement of the chain 134 in the direction of the guide 135, and then feeding them into the battery compartment. Thereafter, the charged batteries in the battery compartment can be transferred to the support 133, and the support 133 is caused to lower the batteries to the lower portion of the upright by movement of the chain 134 in the direction of the guide rail 135. Then, if the fork-arm transfer device is raised vertically, the battery carried on the support 133 can be lifted to be carried by the retractable fork arm, and the retractable fork arm is then extended to transfer the battery to the vehicle below, so that the battery replacement operation is performed.

On the basis, in order to increase the battery storage capacity of the battery bin, a plurality of rows of battery storage spaces can be arranged on the battery bin. At this time, a slide rail 136 may be further disposed at the bottom of the docking mechanism, so that the upright 131 of the docking mechanism can reciprocate along the slide rail 136 to align with the battery storage spaces located in different rows on the battery compartment.

For example, in order to further simplify the battery replacement process, the batteries can be arranged in the same arrangement direction on the battery compartment, the connection mechanism, the fork arm type transmission device and the vehicle on the battery replacement platform, so that the reversing mechanism can be saved, and the battery replacement process can be accelerated.

In addition, although not shown in the drawings, in order to better match the vehicle battery replacement system in any of the foregoing embodiments or combinations thereof, a vehicle battery replacement control method is also provided herein. The control method focuses on the battery transferring process of the fork-arm type transmission device, and only introduces the process that the battery is loaded and unloaded on the vehicle and the battery is loaded and unloaded on the battery compartment. In fact, however, the latter operating steps are numerous in the prior art and can be used, after selection or integration thereof, in combination with the step of transferring the batteries by means of the fork-type transfer device of the present concept, so that the completion of the battery handling process in the following method does not render the method incomplete or unclear to the skilled person.

Specifically, the control method includes: in the process of unloading the battery from the vehicle and sending the battery to the battery bin, firstly, controlling a telescopic fork arm of a fork arm type transmission device to extend to the position below the vehicle on a platform to be level-changed, and controlling the fork arm type transmission device to ascend to support the battery to be unloaded; then the telescopic fork arm of the fork arm type transmission device is controlled to bear the unloaded battery, the telescopic fork arm is retracted to the lower part of the connection mechanism, and the fork arm type transmission device is controlled to descend to transfer the unloaded battery to be borne by the connection mechanism; and then controlling the connection mechanism to put the battery into the battery bin. In the process of taking out the battery from the battery compartment and returning the battery to the vehicle, firstly, the connection mechanism is controlled to take out the battery to be installed from the battery compartment; controlling the fork arm type transmission device to ascend to bear the battery to be installed from the connection mechanism; and then the telescopic fork arm of the fork arm type transmission device is controlled to bear the battery to be installed, the battery extends to the position below the vehicle on the level changing platform, and then the fork arm type transmission device is controlled to ascend to support the battery to be installed. The method realizes the rapid transfer of the battery, and the fork arm type transmission device can bear the battery to directly enter the bottom of the vehicle due to the low height of the structure of the fork arm type transmission device, so that a lifting device for the vehicle is omitted, and the cost of a battery replacement system is reduced.

The above examples mainly illustrate the structural configuration, composition, principles, features, advantages, etc. of the vehicle battery replacement system and the vehicle battery replacement control method of the present application. Although only a few embodiments of the present application have been described, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present application may be embodied in many other forms without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the present examples and embodiments are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, and various modifications and substitutions may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A vehicle battery swapping system, comprising:

the battery replacing platform is used for providing a parking and battery replacing operation area for the battery replacing vehicle;

the battery bin is arranged on one side or two sides of the battery replacing platform and is used for storing and charging batteries;

the connection mechanism is arranged adjacent to the battery compartment and is used for taking out the battery from the battery compartment or putting the battery into the battery compartment; and

the fork arm type transmission device can vertically perform lifting motion; the fork arm type transmission device is provided with a base arranged below the connection mechanism; and a retractable yoke capable of reciprocating relative to the base toward or away from the battery changing platform to transport the battery.

2. The vehicle battery replacement system according to claim 1, wherein a lowest mounting position of the battery replacement platform is lower than lowest mounting positions of the battery compartment, the docking mechanism and the wishbone-type transmission device; and the battery replacing device is arranged at the bottom of the battery replacing platform.

3. The vehicle battery swapping system of claim 1, wherein the battery compartment is disposed on one or both sides of the docking mechanism along a reciprocating direction of the retractable yoke.

4. The vehicle battery swapping system of claim 3, wherein when the battery compartment is arranged on one side of the docking mechanism, the battery compartment is arranged on one side of the docking mechanism facing away from the battery swapping platform.

5. The vehicle battery replacement system according to claim 3, wherein when the battery compartment is arranged on both sides of the docking mechanism, a passing space is provided below the battery compartment on a side of the docking mechanism facing the battery replacement platform, and a lowest height of the passing space is greater than a sum of a height of the fork-arm type transmission device in a rising state and a battery thickness.

6. The vehicle battery replacement system according to claim 1, further comprising a roller-type transmission device disposed between the fork-arm type transmission device and the battery replacement platform and configured to transmit the battery between the fork-arm type transmission device and the battery replacement platform.

7. The vehicle battery replacement system according to claim 1, wherein: and a hanging chain mechanism is arranged at the base part of the fork arm type transmission device, and the fork arm type transmission device vertically moves up and down through the hanging chain mechanism.

8. The vehicle battery replacement system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the docking mechanism comprises at least two uprights and a cross beam spanned between the at least two uprights; arranging a supporting piece, a chain connected to the supporting piece and a guide rail for guiding the chain to move up and down along the vertical direction on the inner side of the upright post; when the fork-arm type transmission device descends vertically, batteries carried on the telescopic fork arms of the fork-arm type transmission device are transferred to be carried by the supporting piece on the inner side of the upright post.

9. The vehicle battery replacement system according to claim 8, wherein a slide rail is further disposed at a bottom of the docking mechanism, and an upright of the docking mechanism reciprocates along the slide rail to align with the battery compartment.

10. The vehicle battery replacement system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein batteries have a uniform arrangement direction on the vehicle on the battery compartment, the docking mechanism, the fork arm type transmission device and the battery replacement platform.