Patent Application
20230242004
Embodiments of the disclosure relate to a vehicle battery swap technology, and in particular, to a battery swap platform, a battery swap station, and a battery swap method.
With the development of automobile technology, new energy vehicles have become the mainstream development trend of automobile industry. A battery swap station is an automated apparatus for swapping a battery for an electric vehicle.
As shown in
The battery swap platform 11 is configured to park and position a vehicle, and the RGV 12 is configured to implement operations such as horizontal operation, lifting in height, and locking/unlocking of a battery. The hoister 13 and the battery compartments 14 are configured to store, transport and charge batteries, and the charging cabinet 15 is responsible for battery charging control and management.
At the beginning of battery swap, the vehicle entering and parked on the battery swap platform 11 first establishes a communication connection with the battery swap station 1 and performs other preparatory operations before battery swap. Then after the vehicle is positioned on the battery swap platform 11, the RGV 14 unlocks and dismounts a used battery from the vehicle, and transfers the used battery to the hoister 13, and then the hoister 13 stores the used battery in a vacant battery compartment 14 and takes out a fully charged battery from another battery compartment 14. The fully charged battery is first transferred to the RGV 12, the RGV 12 then travels to a designated position of the battery swap platform 11 and locks and mounts the fully charged battery on the vehicle on the battery swap platform 11, and finally an operation such as power-on self-detection is performed on the vehicle, to complete a battery swap operation for the vehicle.
In the prior art, two methods are usually adopted to solve a spatial contradiction between the storage of the used battery and the taking out of the fully charged battery. The first method is to reserve a vacant battery compartment 14 in a battery storage rack to store the used battery, and the second method is to provide a double-layer battery docking position on the hoister 13. However, the method of providing a special vacant battery compartment 14 in the battery storage rack inevitably reduces the number of effective compartment positions of the battery storage rack. Although the double-layer battery docking position provided in the hoister 13 occupies no compartment position of the battery storage rack, the double-layer docking position occupies the space in a height direction, resulting in that the number of layers of effective battery compartments of the battery storage rack is reduced under the condition of the same height, to meet the docking requirements for the double-layer docking position of the hoister.
In addition, battery transport of the battery swap station mainly includes two processes: bringing a used battery into a compartment and taking a fully charged battery out of a compartment. A current design structure of the battery swap station imposes such a limitation that the two transport processes must be completed in a serial manner, resulting in a relatively long time consumed for a vehicle battery swap operation.
In view of the foregoing problems, the disclosure provides a battery swap platform, a battery swap station, and a battery swap method, to overcome or at least partially solve the foregoing problems.
A first aspect of the disclosure provides a battery swap platform, including: a parking mechanism configured to park a vehicle; a battery mounting/dismounting mechanism located below the vehicle parked on the parking mechanism; and a battery temporary storage mechanism arranged on one side of the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism and capable of being docked with the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism, wherein the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism is capable of dismounting a battery from the vehicle parked on the parking mechanism and delivering the dismounted battery to the battery temporary storage mechanism for temporary storage, or obtaining a battery from the battery temporary storage mechanism and mounting the battery on the vehicle parked on the parking mechanism.
Optionally, the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism is arranged on the parking mechanism, and is capable of ascending to a battery mounting/dismounting position relative to the parking mechanism or descending to a battery transferring position relative to the parking mechanism, wherein in the battery mounting/dismounting position, the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism is capable of performing a battery mounting/dismounting operation for the vehicle parked on the parking mechanism, and in the battery transferring position, the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism is capable of being docked with the battery temporary storage mechanism such that the battery is conveyed between the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism and the battery temporary storage mechanism.
Optionally, the battery swap platform is further provided with an accommodating mechanism located below the vehicle parked on the parking mechanism, wherein the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism and the battery temporary storage mechanism are respectively arranged in the accommodating mechanism, and the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism is capable of ascending to a battery mounting/dismounting position relative to the accommodating mechanism or descending to a battery transferring position relative to the accommodating mechanism, wherein in the battery mounting/dismounting position, the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism is capable of extending out of the accommodating mechanism to perform a battery mounting/dismounting operation for the vehicle parked on the parking mechanism, and in the battery transferring position, the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism is capable of being docked with the battery temporary storage mechanism such that the battery is conveyed between the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism and the battery temporary storage mechanism.
Optionally, the battery temporary storage mechanism comprises one of a roller conveying line, a chain conveying line, and a belt conveying line.
Optionally, the parking mechanism includes a first parking sub-mechanism and a second parking sub-mechanism, wherein the accommodating mechanism is naturally formed by the first parking sub-mechanism and the second parking sub-mechanism that are arranged separately from each other.
Optionally, the battery swap platform further comprises a battery conveying mechanism arranged on the side of the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism facing away from the battery temporary storage mechanism, and in the battery transferring position, the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism is capable of being docked with the battery temporary storage mechanism and the battery conveying mechanism, so as to convey the battery between the battery temporary storage mechanism and the battery conveying mechanism by means of the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism in the battery transferring position.
Optionally, the battery conveying mechanism is arranged on the side of the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism facing away from the battery temporary storage mechanism.
Optionally, the battery conveying mechanism is arranged on one side of the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism in a first axial direction, and the battery temporary storage mechanism is arranged on one side or two opposite sides of the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism in a second axial direction perpendicular to the first axial direction.
A second aspect of the disclosure provides a battery swap station, including: the battery swap platform according to the first aspect configured to mount or dismount a battery on or from a vehicle; a battery storage mechanism configured to store the battery; and a battery docking mechanism configured to connect the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism of the battery swap platform to the battery storage mechanism, so as to convey the battery between the battery storage mechanism and the battery temporary storage mechanism of the battery swap platform by means of the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism.
Optionally, the battery docking mechanism is arranged on the side of the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism facing away from the battery temporary storage mechanism, and the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism may be docked with the battery temporary storage mechanism and the battery docking mechanism, so as to convey the battery between the battery temporary storage mechanism and the battery docking mechanism by means of the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism.
Optionally, the battery docking mechanism is arranged on one side of the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism in a first axial direction, the battery temporary storage mechanism is arranged on one side or two opposite sides of the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism in a second axial direction perpendicular to the first axial direction, and the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism may be docked with the battery temporary storage mechanism and the battery docking mechanism, so as to convey the battery between the battery temporary storage mechanism and the battery docking mechanism by means of the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism.
Optionally, the battery docking mechanism connects the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism to the battery storage mechanism by means of a side portion of the accommodating mechanism, so as to convey the battery between the battery storage mechanism and the battery temporary storage mechanism of the battery swap platform by means of the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism.
Optionally, the battery storage mechanism includes two battery storage racks and a lifting device arranged between the battery storage racks, wherein one of the battery storage racks is provided with a battery conveying passage, and the battery docking mechanism is docked with the lifting device by means of the battery conveying passage, such that the battery is conveyed between the battery docking mechanism and the lifting device.
Optionally, the battery storage mechanism includes a plurality of battery storage racks arranged side-by-side on a single side of the lifting device, and the lifting device can move in a horizontal direction of the battery storage racks so as to be docked with one of the plurality of battery storage racks.
Optionally, the battery storage rack includes a plurality of battery compartments arranged in a stacked manner, and the lifting device can be lifted or lowered in a vertical direction of the battery storage rack so as to be docked with one of the plurality of battery compartments.
Optionally, the battery swap station further includes charging devices which are respectively arranged in the battery compartments and are configured to be electrically connected to batteries stored in the battery compartments for charging.
A third aspect of the disclosure provides a battery swap method applied to the battery swap station according to the second aspect, the method including: providing a parking mechanism for allowing a vehicle to enter the battery swap platform; performing a battery swap pre-processing operation for the vehicle, controlling the battery docking mechanism to obtain a fully charged battery from the battery storage mechanism during the battery swap pre-processing operation, and conveying the fully charged battery to the end of the battery docking mechanism connected to the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism; dismounting, by the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism of the battery swap platform, a used battery from the vehicle after the battery swap pre-processing is completed, and conveying the used battery to the battery temporary storage mechanism for temporary storage; controlling the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism of the battery swap platform to receive the fully charged battery from the battery docking mechanism, and mounting the fully charged battery on the vehicle; and performing a battery swap post-processing operation for the vehicle, and during the battery swap post-processing operation, conveying the used battery temporarily stored on the battery temporary storage mechanism to the battery docking mechanism by means of the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism, and then conveying the used battery to the battery storage mechanism by means of the battery docking mechanism.
It can be seen from the foregoing technical solutions that in the battery swap platform and the battery swap station thereof provided in the embodiments of the disclosure, the battery temporary storage mechanism is arranged on the battery swap platform, and the arrangement position of the battery temporary storage mechanism avoids a normal transport path of the batter, so the battery swap platform can be provided in the disclosure to perform operations of transporting a used battery and a fully charged battery simultaneously, thereby improving battery transport efficiency, and shortening the total time taken for a vehicle battery swap operation.
To illustrate the technical solutions in embodiments of the disclosure or in the prior art more clearly, a brief introduction to the drawings required for the embodiments or the prior art will be provided below. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are merely some of the embodiments of the disclosure, and those of ordinary skills in the art would also obtain other drawings according to these drawings.
To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solutions in the embodiments of the disclosure, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the disclosure will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the disclosure. Obviously, the described embodiments are merely some, rather than all, of the embodiments of the disclosure. Based on the embodiments of the disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art shall fall within the scope of protection of the embodiments of the disclosure.
The specific implementation of the embodiments of the disclosure will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the disclosure.
The first embodiment of the disclosure provides a battery swap platform. As shown in
The parking mechanism 21 is configured to park a vehicle.
Optionally, the parking mechanism 21 is provided with a wheel alignment device 211. In this embodiment, the wheel alignment device 211 is used to position wheels of the vehicle, such that the vehicle is stably parked on the parking mechanism 21.
The battery mounting/dismounting mechanism 22 is located below the vehicle parked on the parking mechanism 21.
In this embodiment, the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism 22 is mainly configured to perform a battery mounting/dismounting operation and a transport operation for the vehicle parked on the parking mechanism 21.
The battery temporary storage mechanism 23 is arranged on one side of the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism 22, and may be docked with the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism 22, such that the battery is conveyed between the battery temporary storage mechanism 23 and the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism 22.
Specifically, the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism 22 can dismount a (used) battery from the vehicle parked on the parking mechanism 21 and deliver the dismounted (used) battery to the battery temporary storage mechanism 23 for temporary storage, or obtain a (fully charged) battery from the battery temporary storage mechanism 23 and mount the (fully charged) battery on the vehicle parked on the parking mechanism 21.
In an embodiment, the battery swap station 2 may be in an on-platform conveying mode. Specifically, the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism 22 may be arranged on the parking mechanism 21, and may ascend to a battery mounting/dismounting position relative to the parking mechanism 21 or descend to a battery transferring position relative to the parking mechanism 21.
In the battery mounting/dismounting position, the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism 22 may perform a battery mounting/dismounting operation for the vehicle parked on the parking mechanism 21.
In the battery transferring position, the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism 22 may allow the vehicle to enter or leave the parking mechanism 21. The battery mounting/dismounting mechanism 22 in the battery transferring position can be docked with the battery temporary storage mechanism 23, such that the battery is conveyed between the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism and the battery temporary storage mechanism 23. For example, the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism 22 may transport a used battery dismounted from the vehicle to the battery temporary storage mechanism 23 for temporary storage, or the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism 22 may obtain a fully charged battery from the battery temporary storage mechanism 23.
As shown in
Optionally, the parking mechanism 21 includes a first parking sub-mechanism 21A and a second parking sub-mechanism 21B that are arranged separately from each other. The accommodating mechanism 24 may be naturally formed by the first parking sub-mechanism 21A and the second parking sub-mechanism 21B that are arranged separately from each other.
Specifically, the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism 22 and the battery temporary storage mechanism 23 are respectively arranged in the accommodating mechanism 24. The battery mounting/dismounting mechanism 22 may ascend to a battery mounting/dismounting position relative to the accommodating mechanism 24 or descend to a battery transferring position relative to the accommodating mechanism 24.
In the battery mounting/dismounting position, the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism 22 may extend out of the accommodating mechanism 24 to perform a battery mounting/dismounting operation for the vehicle parked on the parking mechanism 21.
In an embodiment, the accommodating mechanism 24 may include an opening and closing device 241. In an open state, the opening and closing device 241 may allow the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism 22 to ascend to the battery mounting/dismounting position, to perform a battery mounting/dismounting operation for the vehicle parked on the parking mechanism 21.
In the battery transferring position, the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism 22 can be docked with the battery temporary storage mechanism 23, to convey the battery between the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism and the battery temporary storage mechanism 23.
For example, the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism 22 may transport a used battery dismounted from the vehicle to the battery temporary storage mechanism 23 for temporary storage, or the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism 22 may obtain a fully charged battery from the battery temporary storage mechanism 23.
In this embodiment, when the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism 22 is in the battery transferring position, the opening and closing device 241 can be switched to a closed state, and in this state, the vehicle can enter or leave the parking mechanism 21.
Optionally, the battery temporary storage mechanism 23 may be implemented in the form of a roller conveying line, a chain conveying line, a belt conveying line, or the like, but the disclosure is not limited thereto, and other transport forms may also be adopted, which will not be limited in the disclosure.
Furthermore, the battery swap platform 2 may further include a battery conveying mechanism 25. As shown in
As shown in
By means of the design mechanism of the foregoing battery conveying mechanism and the battery temporary storage mechanism, the arrangement position of the battery temporary storage mechanism 23 can avoid a battery transport path of the battery conveying mechanism, thereby implementing parallel conveying of a fully charged battery and a used battery.
It should also be noted that the arrangement position of the battery temporary storage mechanism 23 is not limited to that shown in
In this embodiment, one end of the battery conveying mechanism 25 is docked with the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism 22 in the accommodating mechanism 24, and the other end thereof may extend to the outside of the accommodating mechanism 24 from the inside of the accommodating mechanism 24, so as to convey a battery between the inside and the outside of the accommodating mechanism 24.
The second embodiment of the disclosure provides a battery swap station 3. As shown in
In this embodiment, the battery swap platform 2 is mainly configured to mount or dismount a battery on or from a vehicle, the battery storage mechanism 4 is configured to store the battery, and the battery docking mechanism 5 connects the battery swap platform 2 to the battery storage mechanism 4 and is configured to convey the battery between the battery swap platform 2 and the battery storage mechanism 4.
In an embodiment, the battery docking mechanism 5 is arranged on the side of the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism 22 facing away from the battery temporary storage mechanism 23.
In another embodiment, the battery docking mechanism 5 is arranged on one side of the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism 22 in a first axial direction, and the battery temporary storage mechanism 23 is arranged on one side or two opposite sides (as shown in
The battery mounting/dismounting mechanism 22 can be docked with the battery temporary storage mechanism 23 and the battery docking structure 5, so as to convey a battery between the battery temporary storage mechanism 23 and the battery docking structure 5 by means of the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism 22 (as shown in
As shown in
In addition, the battery storage mechanism 4 in this embodiment includes two battery storage racks 41A, 41B and a lifting device 42 arranged between the battery storage racks 41A, 41B.
A battery conveying passage 410 is formed at the bottom of the battery storage rack 41B, such that the battery docking mechanism 5 is docked with the lifting device 42 by means of the battery conveying passage 410, and thus the battery can be conveyed between the battery docking mechanism 5 and the lifting device 42.
Optionally, each of the battery storage racks 41A, 41B includes a plurality of battery compartments 411 arranged in a stacked manner, and the lifting device 42 can be lifted or lowered in a vertical direction of the battery storage racks 41A, 41B so as to be docked with one of the plurality of battery compartments 411.
In another embodiment, a plurality of battery storage racks 41A, 42B may also be arranged side-by-side on a single side of the lifting device 42, and the lifting device 42 can move in a horizontal direction of the battery storage racks 41A, 41B so as to be docked with one of the plurality of battery storage racks 41A, 41B.
For example, a guide rail may be installed below the lifting device 42, so that the lifting device 42 can move along the guide rail between the plurality of battery storage racks 41A, 41B arranged side-by-side, thereby increasing the capacity of the battery compartment 411.
Furthermore, the battery docking mechanism 5 in this embodiment may be implemented by means of various structural designs. For example, the battery docking mechanism 5 may be a conveying mechanism such as a roller conveying line, a chain conveying line and a belt conveying line, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. The battery docking mechanism 5 may also be presented by means of a guide rail cooperating with a docking vehicle, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.
In another embodiment, the battery swap station 3 may further include charging devices (not shown) which are respectively arranged in the battery compartments 411 and are configured to be electrically connected to batteries stored in the battery compartments 411 for charging.
The third embodiment of the disclosure provides a battery swap method applied to the battery swap station according to the second aspect. As shown in
In step S61, a parking mechanism is provided for allowing a vehicle to enter the battery swap platform.
In step S62, a battery swap pre-processing operation is performed for the vehicle, the battery docking mechanism is controlled to obtain a fully charged battery from the battery storage mechanism during the battery swap pre-processing operation, and the fully charged battery is conveyed to the end of the battery docking mechanism connected to the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism.
In this embodiment, the battery swap pre-processing operation includes, for example, controlling the vehicle to establish a communication connection with the battery swap station and other battery swap pre-preparation operations. During the battery swap pre-processing operation, the fully charged battery can be obtained from the battery storage mechanism and delivered to the battery swap platform.
In step S63, the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism of the battery swap platform dismounts a used battery from the vehicle after the battery swap pre-processing is completed, and the used battery is conveyed to the battery temporary storage mechanism for temporary storage.
Specifically, after the battery swap pre-processing is completed, the vehicle on the parking mechanism can be positioned (for example, by using a wheel alignment mechanism). After the vehicle positioning is completed, the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism is controlled to ascend from the battery transferring position to the battery mounting/dismounting position, so as to dismount the used battery from the vehicle on the parking mechanism, and the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism is then controlled to descend from the battery mounting/dismounting position to the battery transferring position, so as to be docked with the battery temporary storage mechanism located on the right side of the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism, such that the dismounted used battery is conveyed to the battery temporary storage mechanism for temporary storage.
In step S64, the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism of the battery swap platform is controlled to receive the fully charged battery from the battery docking mechanism, and mounts the fully charged battery on the vehicle.
Specifically, after descending to the battery transferring position, the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism is further docked with the battery docking mechanism on the left side thereof. Therefore, after the used battery is delivered to the battery temporary storage mechanism, the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism instantaneously receives the fully charged battery from the battery docking structure on the left side thereof, and ascends from the battery transferring position to the battery mounting/dismounting position again, so as to mount the fully charged battery on the vehicle.
In step S65, a battery swap post-processing operation is performed for the vehicle, and during the battery swap post-processing operation, the used battery temporarily stored on the battery temporary storage mechanism is conveyed to the battery docking mechanism by means of the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism, and then the used battery is conveyed to the battery storage mechanism by means of the battery docking mechanism.
Specifically, the battery swap post-processing operation includes, for example, a power-on self-detection operation on the vehicle, etc. During this process, the used battery may be conveyed from the battery temporary storage mechanism to the battery docking mechanism by means of the battery mounting/dismounting mechanism, and then delivered to a vacant battery compartment in the battery storage mechanism by means of the battery docking mechanism for storage and charging.
In summary, in the embodiments of the disclosure, the battery temporary storage mechanism is additionally provided on the battery swap platform to optimize a current transport operation, that is, an inflow operation of the fully charged battery can be synchronously performed during the vehicle battery swap pre-processing operation, and an outflow operation of the used battery is synchronously performed during the vehicle battery swap post-processing operation, thereby shortening a time interval between an operation of dismounting the used battery and an operation of mounting the fully charged battery, reducing the total time taken for the vehicle battery swap operation, and improving vehicle battery swap experience of a vehicle owner.
In addition, in the embodiments of the disclosure, through the additional provision of the battery temporary storage mechanism on the battery swap platform, a transport exchange point of the used battery and the fully charged battery can be transferred to the battery swap platform without occupying the original battery transport path, so that not only space utilization of the battery storage mechanism is maximized (that is, the number of layers of battery racks is maximized without changing an effective lifting height of a hoister), but also can a battery transfer operation inside the battery storage mechanism be simplified.
Finally, it should be noted that the foregoing embodiments are merely used for illustrating rather than limiting the technical solutions of the embodiments of the disclosure. Although the disclosure has been illustrated in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, it should be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments may still be modified, or some of the technical features therein may be equivalently substituted, but these modifications or substitutions do not make the essence of corresponding technical solutions depart from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the disclosure.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 202010589842.0 | Jun 2020 | CN | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/CN2021/095153 | 5/21/2021 | WO |
