JP5423503B2 - Vehicle battery exchange device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle battery exchange device.

  Among vehicles equipped with a battery (battery unit) as a power source such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid car, in an electric vehicle, when the amount of charge of the battery falls below a predetermined amount, the battery is charged in the state of being mounted on the electric vehicle. Alternatively, the battery needs to be fully charged by replacing the exhausted battery with a charged battery. As a battery exchange device for an electric vehicle, a device that uses a lifting / lowering means to put in and out a battery unit in a state in which the electric vehicle is stopped so that a battery storage portion is positioned above a lifting / lowering means provided at a predetermined position is disclosed. (See Patent Document 1). The battery exchange device disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a wheel stopper for positioning the electric vehicle at a battery exchange position. In addition, a vehicle presence / absence confirmation tape switch is provided in the vicinity of the wheel stopper, and when the front wheel of the electric vehicle is detected by the vehicle presence / absence confirmation tape switch, it is detected that the electric vehicle is positioned at the battery replacement position. It has come to be.

JP-A-6-262951

  However, the battery exchange device of Patent Document 1 includes a vehicle presence / absence confirmation tape switch for detecting a front wheel stopped by a wheel stopper. The vehicle presence / absence confirmation tape switch is provided in the vicinity of the wheel stopper. It has been. For this reason, even if the front wheel is detected by the vehicle presence / absence check tape switch, the front wheel of the vehicle in a state where it is not accurately positioned at the battery replacement position may be detected.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle battery exchange device that can detect a vehicle wheel accurately positioned at a battery exchange position.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 is directed to attaching / detaching a battery disposed under a vehicle floor on a gantry to a battery attached / detached using an elevating means that moves in the vertical direction. A vehicle battery exchange device for taking out a new battery below an opening through the opening and mounting a new battery from below the vehicle through the opening for attaching and detaching the battery and attaching the new battery to the vehicle floor. The wheel stop is provided with a wheel stopper for restricting movement of the vehicle in the front-rear direction and positioning the vehicle at a battery replacement position on the gantry, and a wheel detection means for detecting the wheel is provided at the wheel stopper. is the wheel chock is composed of a front stop portion abutting against the front side of the wheel, the side stop portion after abutting the rear side of the wheel, the wheel detection means, provided in said front stop portions A first detection mechanism, Ru non-contact type sensor der comprising a second detection mechanism provided on the rear stop portion.

  According to this, the wheel detection means was provided in the wheel stopper itself provided in the mount frame. For this reason, when the wheel comes into contact with the wheel stopper, the wheel is accurately positioned by the contact, and the vehicle is accurately positioned at the battery replacement position, the wheel can be detected by the wheel detection means for the first time.

The wheel stopper includes a front stopper portion that contacts the front surface side of the wheel and a rear stopper portion that contacts the rear surface side of the wheel, and the wheel detection means is a first stopper provided in the front stopper portion. a detection mechanism, Ru non-contact type sensor der comprising a second detection mechanism provided on the rear stop portion. According to this, the first detection mechanism is protected by the front side stopper, and the second detection mechanism is protected by the rear side stopper. For this reason, when the wheel is positioned by the wheel stopper, the wheels are not directly placed on or in contact with the two detection mechanisms, and the durability of the two detection mechanisms can be improved.

  The gantry is provided with a shutter that can open and close the battery attaching / detaching opening, and the battery attaching / detaching opening is opened when a wheel positioned at the wheel stopper is detected by the wheel detecting means. Therefore, a control device for driving the shutter may be provided.

  According to this, the opening for attaching / detaching the battery is opened by the shutter for the first time when the wheel is positioned at the wheel stopper and the vehicle is positioned at the battery replacement position. In other words, the battery attachment / detachment opening is closed by the shutter unless the vehicle is positioned at the battery replacement position. Therefore, when the battery is not exchanged, it is possible to prevent rainwater or the like from leaking from the battery attaching / detaching opening to the bottom of the gantry.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to detect a vehicle wheel accurately positioned at a battery replacement position.

The top view which shows the battery exchange apparatus of embodiment. The side view which shows the battery exchange apparatus of embodiment. (A) is sectional drawing which shows the state by which the electric vehicle was positioned on the mount frame, (b) is a partial expanded sectional view which shows the wheel stopper and photoelectric sensor of embodiment. The top view which shows the state by which the opening part for battery attachment / detachment was open | released by the shutter.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in a battery exchange device for an electric vehicle will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 3A, the battery exchange device 11 is provided on the ground, and the battery exchange device 11 includes a gantry 12 that supports an electric vehicle J as a vehicle. When the battery of the electric vehicle J is replaced, the electric vehicle J can be stopped on the gantry 12 in a horizontal state. The electric vehicle J is provided with a battery storage portion Jb for storing the battery 10 so that it can be taken in and out from below the vehicle body. Further, as the battery 10, a battery unit in which a plurality of batteries are mounted on a battery case is used.

  The gantry 12 is formed with a battery attaching / detaching opening 12 a that allows the battery 10 attached to the electric vehicle J to be taken in and out from below the gantry 12. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the battery attachment / detachment opening 12 a is formed in a rectangular hole shape having long sides extending in the length direction of the gantry 12. The battery attachment / detachment opening 12a is formed to have a size that does not hinder the attachment / detachment of the battery 10 and the movement of the battery 10 with respect to the battery storage portion Jb.

  On the lower surface side of the gantry 12, a shutter guide portion 13 is provided to extend in the width direction of the gantry 12 at a position sandwiching the battery attaching / detaching opening 12 a from both short sides. As shown in FIG. 3A, a rectangular plate-like shutter 14 is disposed between the shutter guide portions 13 on the lower surface side of the gantry 12, and the shutter guide portion 13 has a shutter 14. The guide roller 14a is rotatably supported.

  A shutter motor 15 for driving the shutter 14 is disposed on the lower surface side of the gantry 12. The shutter 14 is slid in the width direction of the gantry 12 by extending a timing belt (not shown) by the shutter motor 15. When the shutter 14 slides, the guide roller 14 a rolls along the shutter guide portion 13. The shutter 14 allows the battery attachment / detachment opening 12a to be opened and closed. Parts made of a resin material having self-lubricating properties are used for sliding portions that operate when the shutter 14 is opened and closed, such as the guide roller 14a and the shutter guide portion 13, and noise suppression measures are taken when the shutter 14 is opened and closed. ing.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a wheel guide 16 that extends over the entire length of the gantry 12 is disposed on the gantry 12. A pair of wheel guides 16 are provided so as to sandwich the battery attaching / detaching opening 12 a in the width direction of the gantry 12. Each wheel guide 16 is formed so that a pair of guide rails 16a is slightly larger than the width of the wheel Ja of the electric vehicle J. And by guide | inducing the wheel Ja of the vehicle width direction both sides of the electric vehicle J by the both wheel guides 16, the electric vehicle J is guided so that it may go straight along the length direction of the mount frame 12. FIG. .

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3B, on the gantry 12, one wheel guide 16 side of the pair of wheel guides 16 abuts on the front wheel Ja of the electric vehicle J when the battery is replaced. Thus, a wheel stopper 17 that regulates the movement of the electric vehicle J in the front-rear direction and positions the electric vehicle J is provided. In a state where the electric vehicle J is stopped by bringing the front wheel Ja into contact with the wheel stopper 17, the battery storage portion Jb faces the battery attaching / detaching opening 12 a, and the battery 10 is attached or detached. It is positioned at a position (battery replacement position) that does not hinder the movement of the battery 10 through the opening 12a for attachment / detachment.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the wheel stopper 17 is formed of a front stopper 18 that contacts the front side in the circumferential direction of the wheel Ja and a rear stopper 19 that contacts the rear surface. The wheel stopper 17 is disposed between the pair of guide rails 16 a at a position where the front stopper 18 and the rear stopper 19 are separated in the length direction of the gantry 12.

  The front side stopper 18 is formed by molding a metal plate into a mountain shape, and the rear side where the wheel Ja abuts is formed in an arc shape along the peripheral surface of the wheel Ja. Further, a through hole 18 a is formed at the rear portion of the front stopper 18. The rear stopper 19 is formed by forming a metal plate into a mountain shape, and the front part with which the wheel Ja abuts is formed in an arc shape along the circumferential surface of the wheel Ja. Further, a through hole 19 a is formed at a position facing the through hole 18 a of the front side stopper 18 in the front part of the rear side stopper 19.

  The wheel stopper 17 having the above-described configuration is provided with a photoelectric sensor S as wheel detection means. A light projecting unit 20 as a first detection mechanism of the photoelectric sensor S is disposed on the gantry 12 inside the front stopper 18, and light from the light projecting unit 20 passes through the through hole 18 a. Irradiation is directed toward the rear stop 19. The light from the light projecting unit 20 passes slightly above the upper surface of the gantry 12, and when the wheel Ja is positioned by the wheel stopper 17, the light from the light projecting unit 20 is blocked by the wheel Ja. It is like that. In addition, a light receiving unit 21 serving as a second detection mechanism of the photoelectric sensor S is disposed on the gantry 12 inside the rear stopper 19. The light from the light projecting unit 20 passes through the through hole 19a and is received by the light receiving unit 21.

  When the wheel Ja is arranged between the front side stopper 18 and the rear side stopper 19, the front side of the wheel Ja abuts against the rear part of the front side stopper 18, and against the front part of the rear side stopper 19. The rear side of the wheel Ja abuts. Then, the front wheel Ja is positioned by the wheel stopper 17, the movement of the electric vehicle J in the length direction of the gantry 12 is restricted, and the electric vehicle J is positioned at the battery replacement position.

  In a state where the electric vehicle J is positioned at the battery replacement position by the wheel stopper 17, the light from the light projecting unit 20 is blocked by the wheel Ja, and the light receiving state by the light receiving unit 21 is released. When the light receiving state by the light receiving unit 21 is released, the photoelectric sensor S is turned on, and the wheel Ja of the electric vehicle J positioned at the battery replacement position is detected. On the other hand, when the light receiving unit 21 is in the light receiving state, the photoelectric sensor S is off. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the photoelectric sensor S that is a non-contact sensor including the light projecting unit 20 and the light receiving unit 21 constitutes a wheel detection unit that detects the wheel Ja at the wheel stop.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the gantry 12 includes a control device 26 as control means for driving the shutter motor 15. The control device 26 is connected to the light receiving unit 21 of the photoelectric sensor S and the shutter motor 15 is connected to the signal. Then, the control device 26 performs control to start driving the shutter motor 15 based on on / off (detection result) of the photoelectric sensor S. Further, the control device 26 performs control to stop the driving of the shutter motor 15 at a position where the battery attaching / detaching opening 12 a is fully opened by the shutter 14.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3A, the battery exchange device 11 includes an elevating means 30 that elevates and lowers the battery 10 at a position facing the battery storage portion Jb of the electric vehicle J positioned at the battery exchange position. Yes. Further, the battery exchange device 11 is capable of transferring the battery 10 to and from the elevating means 30, and a chain conveyor 41 provided so that the conveyance direction is orthogonal to the front-rear direction of the electric vehicle J stopped at the battery exchange position. It has.

  The elevating means 30 has a pantograph-type configuration, and the pantograph mechanism that elevates and lowers the table 31 on which the battery 10 is placed includes two sets of first links 32 and second links 33. Both links 32 and 33 have the same length and are pivotally connected to the center by an axis. The upper ends are connected to a pair of upper support members 34 fixed to the table 31, and the lower ends are a pair of lower support members 35. It is connected to. The lower end of the first link 32 is rotatably connected to the lower support member 35, and the upper end of the first link 32 can be rotated to an upper support shaft 36 that is movably provided along a long hole 34 a formed in the upper support member 34. It is connected to.

  The second link 33 has a lower end rotatably connected to a lower support shaft 37 provided so as to be movable along a long hole 35 a formed in the lower support member 35, and an upper end rotated to the upper support member 34. Connected as possible. The lower support shaft 37 is fixed to a slider (not shown) that moves along the screw shaft 39 by a screw shaft 39 rotated by a motor 38. When the motor 38 is driven forward, the distance between the ends of the first link 32 and the second link 33 is narrowed and the table 31 is raised, and when the motor 38 is driven reversely, the ends of the first link 32 and the second link 33 are driven. The interval between the portions is widened so that the table 31 is lowered.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the chain conveyor 41 is provided with a pair of chains 41a, and a transport carriage 50 on which the battery 10 is placed is placed between the pair of chains 41a. Both chains 41a are supported by a frame 42 having leg portions 42a, and are simultaneously driven by a drive motor 43 that can rotate forward and reverse. Then, when the chain 41a is rotated by driving of the drive motor 43, the transport carriage 50 is transported. The transport carriage 50 is formed in a square frame shape. The chain conveyor 41 conveys the battery 10 between the raising / lowering means 30 and the battery conveyance means (none is shown) to the battery storage part. The battery storage unit is a device that temporarily stores the collected used battery and stores the charged battery that has been charged. For example, the battery storage unit includes an automatic warehouse.

  The frame 42 of the chain conveyor 41 sandwiches the lifting / lowering means 30 and extends to a position beyond the lifting / lowering means 30. The lifting means 30 is lifted and lowered from a position sandwiched between the pair of frames 42. Further, the elevating means 30 moves up and down through the inside of the transport carriage 50.

Next, the operation of the battery exchange device 11 configured as described above will be described.
The electric vehicle J travels up to the gantry 12 via a slope (not shown), and stops with the wheel Ja in contact with the front side stopper 18 and the rear side stopper 19 of the wheel stopper 17. Then, the electric vehicle J is positioned at the battery replacement position for battery replacement by the wheel stopper 17. Further, when the wheel Ja is positioned by the wheel stopper 17, the light receiving state by the light receiving unit 21 in the photoelectric sensor S is canceled and turned on. That is, when the electric vehicle J is accurately positioned at the battery replacement position, the wheel Ja of the positioned electric vehicle J is detected by the photoelectric sensor S. In other words, the photoelectric sensor S detects that the electric vehicle J is positioned at the battery replacement position. Based on this detection, the control device 26 drives the shutter motor 15. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the shutter 14 slides in a direction to open the battery attaching / detaching opening 12a, and the battery attaching / detaching opening 12a is opened. As a result, the battery storage portion Jb is in a state of facing the table 31 of the lifting / lowering means 30. And the battery exchange apparatus 11 starts battery replacement from this state.

  First, the lifting / lowering means 30 is driven up, and the battery 10 attached to the electric vehicle J is abutted and supported on the table 31. Next, the lifting / lowering means 30 is driven downward, and the battery 10 is placed on the table 31 and lowered to the transport carriage 50 on the chain conveyor 41. When the elevating means 30 passes through the inside of the transport carriage 50 and is driven downward, the battery 10 is transferred onto the transport carriage 50. Thereafter, the chain conveyor 41 is driven, the transport carriage 50 is transferred to the battery storage unit side, and the used battery 10 is carried out of the battery exchange device 11.

  Next, the fully charged new battery 10 is transferred from the battery storage unit onto the transfer carriage 50 on the chain conveyor 41 by the battery transfer means, and is transferred into the battery exchange device 11. And the new battery 10 is conveyed by the chain conveyor 41 on the raising / lowering means 30 in the state mounted in the conveyance cart 50.

  Next, when the lifting / lowering means 30 is driven up, the lifting / lowering means 30 passes through the inside of the transport carriage 50, and the battery 10 is supported and lifted on the table 31. Then, when the elevating means 30 is driven up, the battery 10 enters the battery housing portion Jb. And the battery 10 is attached in the battery accommodating part Jb. Thereafter, the battery replacement operation is completed by lowering the table 31.

  Thereafter, when the electric vehicle J travels and gets off the gantry 12 and the wheel Ja is detached from the wheel stopper 17, the light receiving unit 21 in the photoelectric sensor S is turned into a light receiving state and turned off. Then, the control device 26 drives the shutter motor 15 so that the shutter 14 moves in a direction to close the battery attaching / detaching opening 12a, and the battery attaching / detaching opening 12a is closed.

According to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The photoelectric sensor S is provided on the wheel stopper 17 itself provided on the gantry 12. For this reason, when the wheel Ja is positioned by the wheel stopper 17 and the electric vehicle J is accurately positioned at the battery replacement position, the wheel Ja can be detected by the photoelectric sensor S. Therefore, for example, while the wheel Ja is placed on the wheel stopper 17, the wheel Ja is not detected by the photoelectric sensor S in a state where the wheel Ja is placed on the top end of the front stopper 18, for example. Therefore, by directly providing the photoelectric sensor S on the wheel stopper 17, the wheel Ja in a state in which the photoelectric sensor S is accurately positioned at the battery replacement position on the gantry 12 is detected. As a result, the electric vehicle J is accurately positioned at the battery replacement position. The positioning can be detected.

  (2) The light projecting part 20 of the photoelectric sensor S is disposed in the front side stopper 18 of the wheel stopper 17, and the light receiving part 21 is provided in the rear side stopper 19 of the wheel stopper 17. For this reason, when the wheel Ja is positioned by the wheel stopper 17, the wheel Ja is not directly placed on the light projecting unit 20 and the light receiving unit 21, and the light projecting unit 20 and the light receiving unit 21 are protected and durability is improved. Can be a thing.

  (3) A non-contact photoelectric sensor S was used as a means for detecting the wheel Ja. For this reason, for example, compared with the case where a contact type such as a limit switch is used as the detection means for the wheel Ja, the wheel Ja is not directly placed on or in contact with the photoelectric sensor S, and the photoelectric sensor S is protected. Thus, durability can be improved.

  (4) The shutter 14 for opening and closing the battery attaching / detaching opening 12a of the gantry 12 is provided, and the control device 26 for controlling the driving of the shutter 14 is provided. Then, when the wheel Ja is detected by the photoelectric sensor S, the shutter 14 can be driven by the control device 26 to open the battery attaching / detaching opening 12a. Therefore, the battery attaching / detaching opening 12a is closed by the shutter 14 unless the electric vehicle J is accurately positioned at the battery replacement position. Therefore, when the battery is not replaced, rainwater or the like can be prevented from leaking from the battery attaching / detaching opening 12a to the bottom of the gantry 12, and as a result, part of the lifting / lowering means 30 or the chain conveyor 41 can be wetted by rainwater or the like. Can be prevented.

  (5) The shutter 14 for opening and closing the battery attaching / detaching opening 12a of the gantry 12 is provided, and the control device 26 for controlling the driving of the shutter 14 is provided. Then, when the photoelectric sensor S detects the wheel Ja of the electric vehicle J that is accurately positioned at the battery replacement position, the control device 26 drives the shutter 14 to open the battery attaching / detaching opening 12a. be able to. Therefore, after the battery attachment / detachment opening 12a is opened, the battery 10 is less likely to be displaced with respect to the battery storage portion Jb, and the battery can be replaced quickly.

In addition, you may change the said embodiment as follows.
In the embodiment, the wheel stopper 17 is formed of two members, the front stopper 18 and the rear stopper 19, but the wheel stopper 17 may be formed in a two-hump shape and formed of one member.

The elevating means 30 is not limited to the pantograph type configuration, and may be configured to elevate the table 31 using a ball screw extending in the vertical direction, for example.
The wheel detection means is not limited to the non-contact type photoelectric sensor S, and a contact type switch such as a limit switch may be used.

  As long as the electric vehicle J can be positioned at the battery replacement position, the wheel stopper 17 may be provided at a position where the rear wheel Ja is placed, or a pair of the wheel stoppers 17 is provided so that both the front wheels Ja are placed. May be.

O You may comprise not only the chain conveyor 41 but a belt conveyor or a roller conveyor.
The vehicle may be a vehicle equipped with a large battery as a power source, and is not limited to the electric vehicle J provided with only the battery as a driving power source, but may be a hybrid car provided with both a motor and an engine. .

Next, technical ideas that can be grasped from the above-described embodiment and other examples will be described below together with their effects.
(B) said non-contact sensor is Ru photoelectric sensor der.

(B) the vehicle is Ru der electric vehicle.

  J: Electric vehicle as vehicle, Ja ... Wheel, S ... Photoelectric sensor as wheel detection means and non-contact sensor, 10 ... Battery, 11 ... Battery exchange device, 12 ... Base, 12a ... Battery attachment / detachment opening, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 14 ... Shutter, 17 ... Wheel stop, 18 ... Front side stop part, 19 ... Rear side stop part, 20 ... Light projection part as 1st detection mechanism, 21 ... Light-receiving part as 2nd detection mechanism, 26 ... Control apparatus, 30: Lifting means.

Claims (2)

Using a lifting means that moves in the vertical direction, a battery arranged under the vehicle floor on the gantry is taken out through the battery detachment opening formed in the gantry and a new battery is removed from the battery. A vehicle battery exchange device for raising from below the vehicle via an opening and mounting the vehicle under a vehicle floor,
The pedestal is provided with a wheel stopper that restricts movement of the vehicle in the front-rear direction by contacting the vehicle wheel and positions the vehicle at a battery replacement position on the gantry,
Wheel detection means for detecting a wheel in the wheel stop is provided ,
The wheel stop includes a front stop portion that contacts the front surface side of the wheel and a rear stop portion that contacts the rear surface side of the wheel, and the wheel detection means is a first detection mechanism provided in the front stop portion. When the second detection mechanism provided on the rear stopper portion and the non-contact sensor der Ru vehicle battery exchanging apparatus comprising a. The gantry is provided with a shutter capable of opening and closing the battery attaching / detaching opening, and for opening the battery attaching / detaching opening when a wheel positioned on the wheel stopper is detected by the wheel detecting means. The vehicle battery exchange device for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a control device for driving the shutter.

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