JP3309864B2 - Battery charger for mobile vehicles - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a battery charger for a vehicle provided on the ground for charging a battery mounted on the vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, mobile vehicles used in unmanned transport equipment, for example, are prepared in a plurality of models having different sizes according to the size and weight of the goods to be transported. The one corresponding to was prepared.
In order to shorten the charging time and avoid high-speed charging that adversely affects the battery, the capacity of the battery mounted on the moving vehicle depends on the size (model) of the moving vehicle. This is because a larger charging device that can supply a larger charging current is required as the capacity of the battery is larger.

[0003]

However, as described above, preparing a battery charging device corresponding to each type of mobile vehicle is disadvantageous in terms of management and maintenance, and increases the cost of the entire transportation equipment. Contributes to It is conceivable to prepare a charging device that can supply all types of mobile vehicles by varying the charging current that can be supplied from the minimum current to the maximum current, but generally the type (size) of the mobile vehicle used is determined by the transport equipment. The use of such a charging device in a transport facility using a small moving vehicle is wasteful in terms of cost and space, and is not practical .

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a battery charging device for a mobile vehicle that can cope with a plurality of types of mobile vehicles of different sizes without waste.
Is to provide .

[0005]

A battery charger for a mobile vehicle according to the present invention is provided on the ground side to charge a battery mounted on the mobile vehicle. And a rectifying unit connected to the main unit, and an AC connection terminal for supplying an externally supplied AC voltage to the rectifying unit to the main unit. A DC connection terminal for inputting a DC voltage for charging from the rectification unit; and a rectification unit connected to the AC connection terminal on the main unit side for inputting the AC voltage from the main unit. A
C connection terminal and adjusts the input AC voltage to a DC voltage.
And a DC connection terminal connected to a DC connection terminal on the main body unit side for supplying the DC voltage to the main body unit. The AC voltage input from the main unit or another rectifying unit via one of the AC connection terminals to the other A
Supply to other rectifier units via C connection terminal, and
Two DC connection terminals are provided, one of which is DC
The D signal input from another rectifier unit via a connection terminal
The C voltage is supplied to the main unit or another rectifying unit via the other DC connection terminal, so that the C voltage can be freely connected to the main unit and another rectifying unit.

[0006]

According to the characteristic structure of the present invention, by connecting the AC connection terminal on the rectifier unit side to the AC connection terminal on the main unit side, the AC voltage supplied from the outside to the main unit is supplied to the rectifier unit. By connecting the DC connection terminal on the body unit side to the DC connection terminal on the rectification unit side, the rectification unit causes
The charging DC voltage generated by rectifying the C voltage is input from the rectifying unit to the main unit, and the DC voltage is supplied to the mobile vehicle from the main unit connected to the mobile vehicle by the connection mechanism. The car battery is charged. In other words, the main unit having the connection mechanism with the mobile vehicle and the rectifying unit connected thereto are modularized as separate units, so that the main unit can be used for any of a plurality of types of mobile vehicles having different sizes. The main unit can be shared by configuring the rectifying unit to have a charging current according to the capacity of the battery mounted on the mobile vehicle. By connecting the connection terminals to each other and the DC connection terminals to each other, it is possible to supply the AC voltage from the main unit to the rectification unit and to supply the DC voltage from the rectification unit to the main unit.

Further, by connecting one of the two AC connection terminals provided on the rectifying unit to the main unit or another rectifying unit and connecting the other to another rectifying unit, the main unit or the other rectifying unit is connected. An AC voltage input from another rectifying unit is supplied to the other rectifying unit, and one of the two DC connection terminals provided on the rectifying unit is connected to the other rectifying unit, and the other is connected to the main unit or the main unit. By connecting to another rectifier unit, the DC voltage input from the another rectifier unit is supplied to the main unit or another rectifier unit, and the rectifier unit can be connected to the main unit and other rectifier units. Therefore, the rectifying unit can be shared. For example, if the charging current of the rectifying unit is set in accordance with the battery having the smallest capacity, a charging device that supplies an integral multiple of charging current can be configured by connecting a plurality of rectifying units in parallel. Two or three types of rectifying units may be prepared, and a plurality of rectifying units may be combined and connected in parallel.

[0008]

As described above, according to the characteristic configuration of the present invention, the main unit is shared and mounted on the mobile vehicle so that it can cope with a plurality of types of mobile vehicles of different sizes without waste. the charging current corresponding to the capacity of the battery by replacing the rectifying unit so that it can supply can be connected to the main unit, moreover, AC with both units
By connecting the connection terminals to each other and the DC connection terminals to each other, an AC voltage is supplied from the main unit to the rectification unit, and a DC voltage is supplied from the rectification unit to the main unit.
Since the C voltage is supplied, for example, compared to the rectifying unit from an external commercial power source to be such as to provide AC voltage directly, the work for supplying an AC voltage becomes as simple to rectification unit, the rectification unit Can be easily replaced. In addition, the rectifier unit be shared, move
By connecting a plurality of rectifier units as appropriate according to the battery capacity of the vehicle, the capacity of the battery mounted on the vehicle
Since the charging current according to the amount can be supplied , the capacity of the battery mounted on the mobile vehicle can be handled without waste. Moreover, those multiple rectifying units
When connecting units, connect the DC connection terminals of each rectifier unit.
Other rectifier unit or body unit
By connecting to the DC connection terminal of the
DC voltage from each rectifier unit
While connecting the AC connection terminals of each rectifier unit in parallel.
A of other connected rectification unit or main unit
By connecting to the C connection terminal, A
C voltage can be supplied to each rectifier unit
Work to supply AC voltage can be easily performed
You. Therefore, there is no need to use multiple types of mobile vehicles of different sizes
Can provide a battery charger for mobile vehicles
Reached.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a moving vehicle A traveling along a guide line L laid on a traveling road surface stops at a charging station provided with a charging device B for charging the battery 1. ing. The mobile vehicle A constitutes an unmanned transport facility, travels from station to station using the battery 1 as a power source, and carries out a task of transporting a load.
Also, as shown in FIG. 1, the control device 2 of the moving vehicle A determines that charging is necessary if the terminal voltage of the battery 1 monitored via the voltage detecting circuit 3 falls below a predetermined value, and determines that charging is necessary. Drive to the station.

[0010] A power receiving connector 4 is provided on the left side surface of the mobile vehicle A, and a power feeding connector 5 is provided at a position facing the charging device B. The power supply connector 5 is driven in and out by a motor 7 via a rack and pinion 6. That is, by protruding from the state of being retracted into the charging device B, it is connected to the power receiving connector 4 of the mobile vehicle A.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the power receiving connector 4 includes a pair of power receiving electrodes 41 and a pair of connection confirmation electrodes 4.
2 is provided. A pair of power supply electrodes 51 and a pair of connection confirmation electrodes 52 are provided at positions facing these electrodes of the power supply connector 5 (see FIGS. 4 and 6). As shown in FIG. 4, the electrodes 51 and 52 of the power supply connector 5 are attached to the power receiving connector 4 by a coil spring 5a so as to be capable of being displaced backward.

Further, a rod 53 for connection position confirmation (hereinafter referred to as a dog) 53 similar in shape to the connection confirmation electrode 52 is provided on the power supply connector 5 in the same manner as the electrodes 51 and 52.
It is attached so as to be able to be displaced backward while being urged by a. At a position of the power receiving connector 4 opposite to the dog 53, a hole 43 for letting a distal end portion of the dog 53 escape is provided.

Therefore, when the power supply connector 5 approaches the power receiving connector 4, if the relative positional relationship between the two connectors in a plane perpendicular to the approach direction is proper, the dog 53 does not cause the backward displacement. If the relative positional relationship is deviated, the tip of the dog 53 hits the front surface of the power receiving connector 4 and the dog is displaced backward. The presence or absence of the backward movement of the dog 53
It is detected by a microswitch 54 attached to the back of the power supply connector 5.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the charging device B includes a main unit B1 having the above-described power supply connector 5 as a connection mechanism with the vehicle A, and a rectifying unit B2 connected thereto. Consists of The main unit B1 includes a communication device 8 for performing optical communication with the vehicle A, a main body control device 9, and the like, in addition to the power supply connector 5, a rack and pinion 6 for driving the power supply connector 5 out, and a motor 7. ing.

The rectifying unit B2 includes a step-down transformer 10,
A rectifier circuit 11 and the like by a diode bridge are provided, and the AC voltage from a commercial power supply is stepped down and rectified to generate a DC voltage for charging, and is supplied to the main unit B1. As shown in FIG. 1, the power is supplied from the outside to the main unit B1.
AC connection for supplying AC voltage to rectifier unit B2
DC voltage for charging from terminal 12 and rectifier unit B2
A DC connection terminal 13 for input is provided.
Input the AC voltage from the main unit B1 to the knit B2.
To the AC connection terminal 12 on the main unit B1 side.
The AC connection terminal 12 to be connected and the main unit B1
In order to supply the DC voltage, the DC of the main unit B1 is used.
And a DC connection terminal 13 connected to the connection terminal 13.
Have been. Further, the rectification unit B2 is connected to the AC connection terminal 1
2 and 2 sets of DC connection terminals, respectively.
It is configured to be connectable to one and another one rectification unit B2 or to another two rectification units B2.

That is, the rectifying unit B2 is connected to the AC connection.
Connection via one of the AC connection terminals 12 of the connection terminals 12.
Input from body unit B1 or other rectification unit B2
Through the other AC connection terminal 12
Supply to another rectifier unit B2 and the DC connection terminal
Through the DC connection terminal 13 of one of the
The DC voltage input from the flow unit B2 is
The main unit B1 or another
The rectifier unit B2 is configured to be supplied to the rectifier unit B2 so that a plurality of rectifier units B2 can be connected in parallel to supply a charge current that is an integral multiple of the charge current that can be taken out by one rectifier unit B2 to the main unit B1. I have. Incidentally, in the case of FIG. 1, two rectifier units B2 are connected in parallel. However, in the case of a transport facility using a small mobile vehicle, the charging current is also reduced by the small capacity of the battery mounted on the mobile vehicle. Since the size is small, one rectifying unit B2 can be used in time. Conversely, in the case of a transport facility using a larger mobile vehicle, a large charging current can be supplied by connecting three or four rectification units B2 in parallel with the capacity of the battery mounted on the mobile vehicle. To do.

Even if the size of the moving vehicle changes, the main unit B1 can be shared, as shown in FIG.
The positions of the power receiving connector 4 and the like are standardized regardless of the size of the moving vehicle. However, the configuration is such that the power supply connector 5 can be changed according to the charging current. That is,
A power supply connector 5 including a power supply electrode 51 that is thicker as the battery capacity is larger is used.

Next, the charging procedure will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. First, the moving vehicle A stops at a predetermined position of the charging station. At this time, the position in the vehicle width direction is regulated by the guide line L and its sensor (not shown), and the position in the front-rear direction is determined by the photo sensor 14 provided in the moving vehicle A and the main unit B1 of the charging device B. Is regulated by the reflection plate 15 provided in the first position. The control device 2 of the moving vehicle A determines whether or not the stop position is appropriate based on the information from the photosensor 14, and if not, drives the traveling device (not shown) to correct the position (processing). (I)).

Then, when the stop position becomes proper, a charge request signal is transmitted to the charging device B (process (b)). More precisely, from the control device 2 of the mobile vehicle A to the main control device 9 of the charging device B via the communication device 16 provided in the mobile vehicle A and the communication device 8 provided in the main unit B1 of the charging device B. Sent. Then, the main body control device 9 of the charging device B:
After transmitting the charging start signal to the mobile vehicle A, the motor 7 is driven to rotate forward to cause the power supply connector 5 to protrude toward the power receiving connector 4 of the mobile vehicle A (process (c)). In addition, moving vehicle A
The control device 2 closes the mobile-vehicle relay 17 (see FIG. 1) in response to receiving the charging start signal to close the charging circuit of the battery 1.

As described above, if the relative positional relationship between the power supply connector 5 and the power receiving connector 4 is deviated, the dog 5 is moved as the power feeding connector 5 approaches the power receiving connector 4.
3 is displaced backward, and the microswitch 54 is turned on.
Upon detecting this, the main controller 9 immediately stops the motor 7, reversely drives the power supply connector 5 to retreat, and performs an abnormal process such as transmitting an abnormal signal to the vehicle A.

When the relative positional relationship between the power supply connector 5 and the power reception connector 4 is proper, the electrodes facing the two connectors 4 and 5 come into contact with each other as the two connectors 4 and 5 approach. However, as shown in FIG.
Is made longer than the connection confirmation electrode 52, so that the power supply electrode 51 first contacts the power reception electrode 41, and then the connection confirmation electrode 4
2,52 come into contact.

As shown in FIG. 1, the connection confirmation electrodes 42,
A signal indicating whether or not 52 has come into contact has been input to the main body control device 9. When the main body controller 9 detects that the connectors 4 and 5 have been properly connected based on this signal,
As shown in the process (e), the motor 7 is stopped, the main body side relay 18 is closed, and charging is started. However, if the contact of the connection confirmation electrodes 42 and 52 is not detected even when the power supply connector 5 reaches the protruding limit detected by a limit switch (not shown), the above-described abnormality processing is performed.

When the charging of the battery 1 proceeds and the terminal voltage of the battery 1 exceeds a predetermined value, the voltage detection circuit 3
, The control device 2 determines that the charging is completed, opens the mobile vehicle relay 17, and transmits a charging completion signal to the charging device B (process (g)). After receiving the charging completion signal, the main body control device 9 opens the main body side relay 18 and then drives the motor 7 in the reverse direction to retract the power supply connector 5.
If the reverse limit is detected by a limit switch (not shown), the motor 7 is stopped, and the charging operation end signal is transmitted to the vehicle A.
Send to Thus, a series of charging operations is completed.

Hereinafter, another embodiment will be described. In the above embodiment, several types of rectifying units having different charging currents that can be taken out may be prepared, and these may be combined and connected in parallel to obtain a desired charging current.

The electrical connection between the rectification units or between the rectification unit and the main unit can take various connection forms. For example, each unit may be provided only with connection terminals, and the units may be connected by a cable. Alternatively, one of the two sets of terminals may be a connector directly attached to the unit, and the other may be a wire harness suitable for the connector. Good. Alternatively, if the rectifying units are mechanically connected to each other or the rectifying unit and the main unit, the connection terminals may be in contact with each other to be electrically connected.

The charging circuit and the charging procedure are not limited to those in the above embodiment, and various known techniques can be applied. The connection mechanism between the charging device and the mobile vehicle is not limited to that of the embodiment. For example, a connection mechanism that approaches and separates vertically from the bottom surface of the mobile vehicle to the floor may be provided.

In the claims, reference numerals are provided for convenience of comparison with the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the configuration shown in the attached drawings.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a mobile vehicle battery charger and a mobile vehicle according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the battery charger and the mobile vehicle in plan view.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the battery charger and the mobile vehicle in an elevation view.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of a power supply connector and a power reception connector.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a power receiving connector.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a power supply connector.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a charging procedure.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a charging procedure.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Battery 5 Connection mechanism 12 AC connection terminal 13 DC connection terminal A Moving vehicle B1 Main unit B2 Rectification unit

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A battery charger for a mobile vehicle provided on the ground side for charging a battery (1) mounted on the mobile vehicle (A), wherein a connection mechanism (5) with the mobile vehicle (A) is provided. And a rectifying unit (B2) connected to the main unit (B1). The rectifying unit (B2) converts the AC voltage supplied from outside to the main unit (B1). ) And a DC connection terminal (1) for inputting a charging DC voltage from the rectifier unit (B2).
3), and the rectification unit (B2) is provided with the main unit (B
1) The AC connected to the AC connection terminal (12) of the main unit (B1) for inputting the AC voltage from
A connection terminal (12) and the input AC voltage
A rectifier circuit 11 for rectifying the pressure to
1) a DC connection terminal (13) connected to a DC connection terminal (13) on the main unit (B1) side to supply the DC voltage; and the rectifier unit (B2) includes: Two connection terminals (12) are provided, and the AC voltage input from the main unit (B1) or another rectification unit (B2) via one of the AC connection terminals (12) is connected to the other AC connection terminal. Supply it to another rectifier unit (B2) via a terminal (12), and
Two connection terminals (13) are provided, one of which is DC
The DC voltage input from another rectifier unit (B2) via the connection terminal (13) is transferred to the other DC connection terminal (1).
A mobile vehicle configured to be connected to the main unit (B1) and another rectifying unit (B2) so as to be supplied to the main unit (B1) or another rectifying unit (B2) via 3). For battery charger.