JP2001197606A - Power supply switching device for traveling vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a power supply switching device for a traveling vehicle, which can switch batteries according to the running state of a traveling vehicle, by detecting the running stage without detecting the voltages of the batteries. SOLUTION: The power supply switching device is provided with a serial battery circuit, which is constituted by connecting a plurality of batteries B1-B4 in series as the power source of a motor 13, and one of the batteries B1-B4 is used as the power source of various sensors, such as a brake motor 23, electromagnetic clutch 24, acceleration sensor 25, induction sensors 32a and 32b, magnet sensor 33, etc., various actuators, such as controller 26, throttle motor 35, etc., and lamp 42, etc. On order to selectively switch the battery for the electrical equipment according the running state of a golf cart 11, the controller 26 and a battery-switching section 45 are provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of connecting a plurality of batteries in series, and changing a high voltage from the series circuit and a low voltage of the batteries constituting the series circuit to different first loads. And a power supply switching device for a traveling vehicle, which can switch and use a battery to which the low voltage is applied when the battery is applied to a second load.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, power is supplied to a plurality of loads having different rated voltages from a plurality of batteries having different rated output voltages.

In this case, a group of batteries connected in series,
It is known that power is supplied to a load having a high rated voltage, and at least one of the batteries connected in series is supplied with power to a load having a low rated voltage. -125033).

In this technique, the voltage between the positive and negative terminals of a battery that supplies power to a load having a low rated voltage is detected, and when the voltage between the positive and negative terminals of the battery falls below a predetermined value, another battery is detected. To supply power to a load having a low rated voltage so that the discharge amount of each battery is not biased.

In recent years, traveling vehicles provided with loads having different rated voltages have been proposed, and it is conceivable to mount batteries capable of supplying power to a plurality of loads having different rated voltages. ing.

[0006]

However, conventionally, in the case of a power supply switching device which is capable of supplying power to a plurality of loads having different rated voltages as described above, the voltage between the positive and negative terminals of each battery is reduced. Is required, and when the number of batteries constituting the series circuit increases, a detection circuit is required accordingly, resulting in an increase in cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a traveling vehicle power supply switching device capable of detecting a traveling state of a traveling vehicle without detecting a battery voltage and switching a battery according to the traveling state. is there.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a power supply for a first load, wherein a plurality of batteries are connected in series to change a load according to traveling. A power supply switching device for a traveling vehicle, comprising: a battery series circuit serving as a supply source, wherein at least one of the batteries constituting the battery series circuit is used as a power supply source of a second load. The gist of the present invention is a traveling vehicle power supply switching device including a selection unit for selecting and switching the battery according to the traveling state of the traveling vehicle.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the selection means switches and selects at least one battery serving as a power supply source of the second load without changing a series combination order of the battery series circuits. The present invention is to provide a power supply switching device for a traveling vehicle.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the selecting means connects a negative terminal of the battery series circuit and a negative terminal of the battery serving as a power supply source of the second load to a common ground terminal. A power supply switching device for a traveling vehicle, which changes the combination order of the battery series circuit and switches and selects at least one battery serving as a power supply source of the second load. is there.

The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claims 1 to 3.
In any one of the above, the selection means is connected to the battery series circuit and outputs a control signal when a switching timing condition is satisfied, and is sequentially connected based on a control signal from the control means. The present invention also provides a traveling vehicle power supply switching device including switching means for switching.

(Operation) According to the first aspect of the present invention,
The selection means switches and selects the second load supply battery according to the traveling state of the traveling vehicle.

As a result, according to the traveling state of the traveling vehicle,
The second load supply battery can be switched to another battery. For example, depending on the traveling of the traveling vehicle, the first
When the load of the battery increases and the amount of battery discharge increases, the amount of discharge of the battery that supplies power to the second load, which is a low-voltage load, increases more than the other batteries. Therefore,
By switching the battery serving as the power supply source of the second load according to the traveling state, the load on each battery can be reduced.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the selection means switches and selects at least one battery serving as a power supply source of the second load without changing the order of series combination of the battery series circuits. As a result, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, the circuit configuration of the selecting means is simplified.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the selection means connects the negative terminal of the battery series circuit and the negative terminal of the battery serving as the power supply source of the second load to the common ground terminal. In order to change the combination order of the battery series circuits,
To select one battery.

As a result, the minus terminal of the battery series circuit serving as the power supply source of the first load and the minus terminal (negative terminal) of the battery serving as the power supply source of the second load can be used as a common terminal. it can.

According to the present invention, the control means outputs the control signal when the switching timing condition is satisfied in accordance with the traveling state of the traveling vehicle. The switching means sequentially switches based on a control signal from the control means. As a result, it is possible to automatically switch the battery that is the power supply source of the second load.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention embodied in a golf cart capable of automatic traveling will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. I do.

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view showing the configuration of a golf cart as a traveling vehicle, and FIG. 2 is an electric block diagram of the power supply switching device. The traveling vehicle according to the present embodiment is used as a golf cart 11 used in a golf course.
The golf cart 11 has a drive source for a hybrid engine including an electric motor and an internal combustion engine. In the present embodiment, a series hybrid engine is employed as the hybrid engine.

The series hybrid engine of this embodiment has a gasoline engine which is an internal combustion engine. The engine includes an AC generator driven by the engine, and a rectifier circuit (charging circuit) for rectifying the AC generated by the generator into a DC having a predetermined value, thereby forming the engine power generation type charger 12. are doing.

The engine generator-type charger 12 starts to be driven by a drive command signal from a controller 26 based on an ON signal of a key switch (not shown).
1 to charge the battery device B mounted thereon.

A transmission 14 is connected to an electric motor 13 constituting the series hybrid engine. Electric motor 13 (hereinafter referred to as motor)
Are electrically connected so as to receive power supply from the battery device B, and are rotated by the driver (drive circuit) when a drive signal is input from the controller 26 to the driver (drive circuit).

In the present embodiment, the motor 13 and a driver (drive circuit) for driving the motor 13 are 48V-system loads, correspond to the first load, and correspond to the battery device B.
To 48V.

The motor 13 includes a transmission 1
4, the driving force from the motor 13 drives the pair of rear wheels RWa and RWb, which are driving wheels, to rotate. In the present embodiment, a series hybrid engine is used as the hybrid engine. However, instead of the series hybrid engine, a driving force is obtained from both an internal combustion engine including a gasoline engine or a diesel engine and an electric motor. It may be a parallel hybrid engine that can perform the same.

The golf cart 11 has a handle 15 for manually steering the front wheels FWa and FWb for manual operation (manual operation), an accelerator pedal 16 for changing the motor speed of the motor 13, and a vehicle. Pedal 17 and brake unit 1 for applying braking to vehicle
8, connected to the brake unit 18 and the rear wheel R
Brake mechanism 2 including drum brakes 19 to 22 provided on Wa, RWb and front wheels FWa, FWb, respectively.
0 is provided.

The brake unit 18 has a brake structure at all times, and the drum brakes 19 to 22 are constantly urged to the braking side by a brake spring (not shown). The brake unit 18 includes the brake pedal 1.
7, a brake motor 23, an electromagnetic clutch 24, a link mechanism, and a wire mechanism (both not shown). The depressing force of the brake pedal 17 is transmitted to each of the drum brakes 19 to 22 by wires of a link mechanism and a wire mechanism to brake the vehicle. The brake motor 23 is used for acceleration / deceleration running and braking stop in the automatic driving mode, and releases the braking by the brake spring by forward rotation, and allows the vehicle to be braked by the brake spring by reverse rotation. I do.

The electromagnetic clutch 24 is used to disconnect the brake motor 23 and the brake pedal 17 from a brake spring (not shown). When the electromagnetic clutch 24 is connected, the brake clutch 17 and the brake motor 2
3 when the brake pedal 17 is disconnected.
And the brake motor 23, and the braking by the brake spring is instantaneously applied. The “disconnect” operation of the electromagnetic clutch 24 is performed at the time of parking and at the time of emergency stop.

The accelerator pedal 16 is provided with an accelerator sensor 25 composed of a potentiometer, and outputs an accelerator signal proportional to the accelerator operation amount of the accelerator pedal 16 to the controller 26. Also, brake pedal 1
7 is provided with a brake switch 27, and outputs a brake signal to the controller 26 in response to the depression operation of the brake pedal 17.

The steering wheel 15 is used for the steering mechanism 2
8. The steering mechanism 28 is of a rack and pinion type, and a pinion (not shown) is operated by the handle 15 via a steering shaft 30.
The front wheels FWa and FWb can be steered via tie rods 28a connected to a rack (not shown). The steering mechanism 28 includes a steering motor 29. When the steering motor 29 is driven to rotate, the steering shaft 30
, Front wheels FWa and FWb, which are steered wheels, are steered. When the steering motor 29 is rotated, the steering wheel 15 is disconnected from the steering shaft 30 by the steering switching clutch 31, and manual operation is disabled.

The golf cart 11 is capable of automatic traveling in addition to ordinary traveling by manual operation, and has a controller 26 for performing automatic traveling. The controller 26 enables the vehicle speed control in the manual driving mode, the steering control in the automatic driving motion mode, the vehicle speed control, and the motor rotation control in both modes. The controllers 26 include guidance sensors 32a and 32b, and magnets. A sensor group such as a sensor 33 and an inclination sensor 34, the steering motor 29, the throttle motor 35, the steering switching clutch 31, the electromagnetic clutch 24, and the like are electrically connected.

The throttle motor 35 is composed of a linear solenoid, is driven based on an opening degree instruction signal output from the controller 26, and is provided with a throttle (not shown) provided in an intake system of the engine of the engine power generation type charger 12. Adjust the opening amount of. Further, a starter motor (not shown) is driven by a starter signal output from the controller 26 to start the engine power generation type charger 12.

When the brake command signal is input to the built-in driver from the controller 26, the brake motor 23 supplies a drive current corresponding to the signal value from the controller 26. As a result, the drum brakes 19 to 22 are driven. Drive and brake the vehicle. The electromagnetic clutch 24 connects or disconnects both the brake pedal 17 and the brake motor 23 based on an on / off signal from the controller 26.

When a steering instruction signal is input from the controller 26 to the built-in driver in the automatic driving mode, the steering motor 29 supplies a driving current corresponding to the signal value from the driver, and as a result, the steering motor 29 The shaft 30 is rotated. The steering switching clutch 31 connects or disconnects both the steering wheel 15 and the steering shaft 30 based on an on / off signal from the controller 26.

The pair of left and right guidance sensors 32a and 32b are attached to a T-shaped arm 37 which is supported at the front end of the vehicle so as to be rotatable in a horizontal direction with a support point as a rotation center O. The base end of the T-shaped arm 37 is swingably connected to a tie rod 28a of a steering mechanism 28 connected to a steering shaft 30, and the front wheels FWa, FWb are steered according to the operation of the steering mechanism 28. Rotate to match the direction.

The inductive sensors 32a and 32b are composed of detection coils and are disposed so as to face the ground.
A guide line (not shown) embedded in the guide path of the golf course is magnetically detected. That is, an alternating current is passed through the induction wire, and the induction sensors 32a and 32b detect the alternating magnetic field generated by the alternating current.

Then, the guidance sensors 32a and 32b sense the width of lateral deviation (steering deviation amount) from the guide line embedded in the guidance passage, and transmit the detection result of the deviation width to the controller 26. The controller 26 controls the steering motor 29 to rotate the pinions of the steering mechanism 28 to rotate the front wheels FWa and FWb from the guide lines so that the positions of the guide sensors 32a and 32b become the normal positions. Following the turning, the T-shaped arm 37 is rotated. As a result, the controller 26 controls the steering based on the outputs of the guidance sensors 32a and 32b so that the vehicle does not deviate from the guidance line.

The magnet sensor 33 is attached to a predetermined position of the vehicle so as to face the ground, and includes a plurality of permanent magnets embedded at predetermined intervals in a guide path Y (see FIG. 2) of a golf course. Magnet T (see Fig. 2)
Is detected magnetically. For example, when the magnet T is configured by a plurality of permanent magnet magnetic poles, a combination (pattern) of the arrangement of the S pole and the N pole in the arrangement
Is output to the controller 26. The arrangement combination of the magnetic poles is used by the controller 26 as an instruction signal for performing traveling control such as stopping, starting, and speed of the vehicle.

In the present embodiment, the magnet T is
In addition to running control such as stop, start, and speed of the vehicle, the vehicle is also provided as a switching command unit for battery switching control in the battery device B. That is, a plurality of predetermined locations in the guide path provided in the golf course are points where the low voltage load of the golf cart 11 becomes large. For example,
Examples of places where the low-voltage load becomes large include places where rising and falling, undulations are continuous, places where left and right bends are continuous, and the like. On these guide paths, the brake motor 23 and the steering motor 29 are continuously used. Therefore, the amount of low-voltage discharge (low-voltage-side current consumption) from the battery device B increases.

Therefore, the place where the ascending and descending and the undulation continue,
A magnet T for instructing the battery switching control at the end of traveling in a traveling section where the current consumption on the low voltage side of the battery is large, such as a place where left and right turns are continuous.
Is provided.

On an instrument panel (not shown) of the vehicle, a main key switch (not shown), a manually operable traveling mode changeover switch 40 for instructing switching between a manual traveling mode and an automatic traveling mode, and instructing start and stop are provided. There are provided various switches such as a start / stop switch 41 and various lamps 42 for performing a warning display and the like. When the automatic traveling mode is selected by the traveling mode changeover switch 40, an automatic traveling mode instruction signal is input to the controller 26, and the controller 26 switches the traveling mode of the vehicle from the manual traveling mode to the automatic traveling mode, and Control for

When the manual traveling mode is selected, a manual traveling mode instruction signal is input to the controller 26, and the controller 26 switches the traveling mode of the vehicle from the automatic traveling mode to the manual traveling mode, and performs control for manual traveling. I do.

The start / stop switch 41 is a switch for starting or stopping the golf cart 11 in the automatic running mode. Further, as sensors for detecting the running state of the vehicle, a vehicle speed sensor 43 for detecting the vehicle speed is provided on the axles of the rear wheels RWa and RWb, a motor speed sensor 44 is provided on the output shaft of the motor 13, and a predetermined position of the vehicle. Is the inclination of the vehicle (traveling on level ground, traveling uphill, traveling downhill)
Are provided, and each of the sensors is electrically connected to the controller 26.

[0043] Further, the place where the ascending and descending and undulating are continuous,
The magnet T for instructing the battery switching control at the time of ending the traveling in the traveling section where the low voltage / current consumption of the battery is large, such as a place where left and right turns are continuous, etc. It is also a means for knowing, that is, a means for knowing the battery consumption state (running state of the running vehicle). When the controller 26 detects the instruction signal from the magnet T via the magnet sensor 33, the traveling state of the vehicle is known.

The controller 26 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) storing various control programs for performing automatic running and manual running, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) serving as a working memory. A memory), and performs various controls according to the traveling mode based on the various control programs, and performs battery switching control.

Next, the battery device B and the battery switching section 45 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the battery device B includes a series circuit of a plurality of batteries B1 to B4 (battery series circuit). Each battery B1 to B4
Is 12 V in the present embodiment.

Next, the battery switching section 45 will be described. The negative terminal (negative terminal) of the battery B1 is 48
It is connected to the V-system ground terminal Ga. Also, battery B
Negative terminals (negative terminals) 1 to B4 are connected to ground terminals Gb of the 12 V system via relay contacts 61 to 64, respectively.

The plus terminal (positive terminal) of the battery B4 is connected to a 48V load-side output terminal a. A series circuit of batteries B1 to B4 having a rated voltage of 48 V supplies power to the motor 13 as a 48V load via a load-side output terminal a.

The positive terminals (positive terminals) of the batteries B1 to B4 are connected to one terminal via relay contacts 71 to 74, respectively.
It is connected to the load side output terminal b of the 2V system. One of the batteries B1 to B4 supplies power to a 12V-system load via the load-side output terminal b.

Here, the load of the 12V system corresponds to the second load. In the present embodiment, the brake motor 23, the electromagnetic clutch 24, and the accelerator sensor 25 except the motor 13 and its driver (drive circuit) are used. , Steering motor 29,
Various sensors such as induction sensors 32a and 32b, a magnet sensor 33, a controller 26, a throttle motor 35
And other electric components such as the lamp 42 and the like.

When the signal input from the magnet sensor 33 is a battery switching instruction signal, the controller 26 determines that the switching timing condition is satisfied and sends the switching signal as a control signal to the interface 8.
5 is output. The interface 85 inputs the switching signal to one of the relay drive circuits 81 to 84 in response to the switching signal input at that time.

The relay drive circuit 81 includes a relay contact 61,
71, the relay drive circuit 82
The relay drive circuit 83 connects the relay contacts 63 and 73 to
The relay drive circuit 84 is adapted to turn on and off the relay contacts 64 and 74, respectively.

Therefore, when a switching signal is input to each of the relay driving circuits 81 to 84, the relay contact corresponding to the relay driving circuit input at that time is closed, and if no switching signal is input, , The relay contact opens. That is, the relay contacts 61 to 64, the relay contacts 71 to 74
Are normally open contacts (make contacts).

The controller 26 updates the input order of the switching signals to the relay drive circuits 81 to 84 every time the switching instruction signal is input from the magnet sensor 33.
Further, for example, when a switching signal is input to the relay driving circuit 81, the next switching instruction signal is input to the controller 26, and is input to the relay driving circuit 82 based on the next switching instruction signal. A switching signal for the relay drive circuit 81 is input. In this way, every time the switching instruction signal is input, the input order is updated, and the switching signal is input to the next relay drive circuit.

The battery switching section 45 is constituted by the relay drive circuits 81 to 84, the relay contacts 61 to 64, and the relay contacts 71 to 74. In the present embodiment, the battery switching unit 45 corresponds to a switching unit, the controller 26 corresponds to a control unit, and the controller 26 and the battery switching unit 45 constitute a selection unit. Further, the battery device B, the controller 26, and the battery switching unit 45 constitute a power supply switching device.

Now, the operation of the power supply switching device in the golf cart 11 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. When the key switch (not shown) is first turned on, the controller C sets the counter C in the controller 26 to 0 as an initial value before executing this processing routine for the first time. Circuit 8
It is assumed that a switching signal is being output to No. 1.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the battery switching control executed by the controller 26. While the golf cart 11 is automatically traveling along the guide path, the magnet T provided in the guide path Y is detected. When the magnet T is a magnet T for instructing the battery switching control, the magnet sensor 33 , A switching instruction signal is input to the controller 26.

Then, the controller 26 interrupts the control routine shown in FIG. 3 based on the switching instruction signal. Step 10 (hereinafter, step is referred to as S) to S
In 30, it is determined which value of the counter C is between 0 and 2, and if the counter C is “0”, the interface 8 is sent to the relay drive circuit 81 in S 40.
A switching signal is input through the switch 5. If the counter C is "1" in S20, a switching signal is input to the relay drive circuit 82 via the interface 85 in S50. S30
If the counter C is "2", a switching signal is input to the relay drive circuit 83 via the interface 85 in S60. If C is not 0, 1, or 2 in S10 to S30, a switching signal is input to the relay drive circuit 84 via the interface 85 in S70.

After performing the processing of S40 to S70, the counter C is incremented by one in S80,
At 90, if the counter C is not "3",
This processing routine is performed as it is, otherwise, S
In step 100, the value of the counter C is reset to "0", and this processing routine is temporarily terminated.

As a result, the controller 26 sequentially switches the driving of the relay driving circuits 81 to 84 by incrementing the counter C every time the switching instruction signal is input.

According to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. (1) In the present embodiment, a plurality of batteries B1 to B4
Are connected in series, and a battery series circuit serving as a power supply source of the motor 13 (first load) is provided. One of the batteries B1 to B4 constituting the battery series circuit is connected to the brake motor 23, the electromagnetic clutch 24, and the accelerator. Sensor 2
5. Induction sensors 32a and 32b, magnet sensor 33
, Various actuators such as the controller 26, the throttle motor 35, etc., the lamp 42, etc.
It is simply called an electrical component and corresponds to a second load. ) Power supply source. The controller 26 and the battery switching unit 45 (both constituting a selection unit) are provided so as to switch and select the battery for the electrical component according to the traveling state of the golf cart 11 (the traveling vehicle).

As a result, the battery for the electrical component can be switched to another battery according to the running state of the golf cart 11. For this reason, when the amount of discharge increases in accordance with the travel of the golf cart 11 in which the rotational torque of the brake motor 23 and the steering motor 29 increases, the discharge of the battery that supplies power to the electrical components that are low-voltage loads is performed. The quantity is
The load on each battery can be reduced by switching the battery which is a power supply source of the electrical component which is a low-voltage load depending on the running state, although the number of batteries is larger than that of other batteries.

(2) In the present embodiment, the controller 26 and the battery switching unit 45 do not change the combination of the series order of the batteries B1 to B4 in the battery series circuit.
One battery serving as a power supply source for electrical components is switched and selected. As a result, in addition to the operation and effect (1), the number of relay contacts can be reduced and the circuit configuration can be simplified as compared with the second embodiment described later.

(3) In this embodiment, the magnet T
Is, besides the traveling control such as stop, start, speed, etc. of the vehicle,
Further, it is provided as switching command means for battery switching control in the battery device B. The controller 26
When a signal (switching instruction signal) from the magnet T is input, it is determined that the switching timing condition is satisfied, and a switching signal as a control signal is input to any of the relay drive circuits 81 to 84 via the interface 85. I did it. The relay drive circuits 81 to 84 are sequentially switched based on a switching signal from the controller 26.

As a result, it is possible to automatically switch the battery which is the power supply source of the electric component. (4) In the present embodiment, 48V as the first load
The system load is the motor 13 and its driver (drive circuit)
And the load of the 12V system as the second load is the motor 1
3 and various drivers such as a brake motor 23, an electromagnetic clutch 24, an accelerator sensor 25, a steering motor 29, induction sensors 32a and 32b, a magnet sensor 33, a controller 26, a throttle motor 35, etc. Lamp 42 such as an actuator
And other electrical components.

As a result, the load of the 12 V system is normally 12 V
It can be shared with parts of an engine-type golf cart equipped with a system battery, and cost can be reduced.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. FIG. In addition,
In the present embodiment, only the configuration of the battery switching unit 45 is different from that of the first embodiment, and the other configuration is the same. Therefore, the same configuration as the configuration of the first embodiment and the corresponding configuration are the same. The description will be omitted by attaching the reference numerals, and the description will be focused on the differences between the configurations.

In this embodiment, the combination order of the series connection of the batteries B1 to B4 constituting the battery device B is changed every time the battery is switched, so that the ground connected to the first load and the second load is changed. The terminal G is common.

The battery switching section 45 of the present embodiment will be described. The negative terminals (negative terminals) of the batteries B1 to B4 are connected to the ground terminal G via relay contacts 61 to 64, respectively.

The plus terminals (positive terminals) of the batteries B1 to B4 are connected to 12 V via relay contacts 71 to 74, respectively.
It is connected to the load side output terminal b of the system. The batteries B1 to B4 are connected in series in a loop through relay contacts 51 to 54 (switching contacts) constituting transfer contacts as shown in FIG. Each of the relay contacts 51 to 54 is connected to a load-side output terminal a of a 48 V system, and via the relay contacts 51 to 54, a positive terminal (positive terminal) of each of the batteries B4, B1, B2, B3. ) Is switchable and connectable to the 48 V load-side output terminal a.

The relay drive circuit 81 includes a relay contact 51,
61, 71 and the relay drive circuit 82
2, 62, 72, the relay drive circuit 83 switches the relay contacts 53, 63, 73, and the relay drive circuit 84 switches the relay contacts 54, 64, 74, respectively, and turns them on and off.

When the signal input from the magnet sensor 33 is a battery switching instruction signal, the controller 26 determines that the switching timing condition is satisfied and sends the switching signal as a control signal to the interface 8.
5 is output. The interface 85 inputs the switching signal to one of the relay drive circuits 81 to 84 in response to the switching signal input at that time.

Therefore, when a switching signal is input to each of the relay drive circuits 81 to 84, the relay contacts 61 to 64 and the relay contacts 7 corresponding to the relay drive circuit input at that time are input.
When the switches 1 to 74 are closed and the switching signal is not input, the relay contacts are opened. On the other hand, the relay contact 51
In 54, when the switching signal is input to each of the relay drive circuits 81 to 84, the relay contact corresponding to the relay drive circuit input at that time is switched and connected to the load side output terminal a of the 48V system.

Then, at the relay contacts 51 to 54 of the remaining relay drive circuits to which the switching signal is not input, the negative and positive terminals of the batteries B1 to B4 are connected to form a series circuit of batteries.

At this time, the negative terminal (negative terminal) in the series circuit of the batteries B1 to B4 is connected to the ground terminal G via any one of the relay contacts 61 to 64. For example, when the battery B1 is used as a power supply for the second load, the relay drive circuit 81
1 and 71 are turned on, and the relay contact 51 is switched and connected to the load side output terminal a of the 48 V system. In this state, in the battery device B, the plus terminal of the battery B4 is connected to the load-side output terminal a of the 48V system, and the batteries B4 to B1 are connected in series. The positive terminal of the battery B1 is connected to the load side output terminal b of the 12V system, and the negative terminal (in this case, the negative terminal is also the negative terminal in the series circuit of the batteries B1 to B4) is connected to the ground terminal G.
Connected to.

The controller 26 updates the input order of the switching signals to the relay drive circuits 81 to 84 every time the switching instruction signal is input from the magnet sensor 33.
Further, for example, when a switching signal is input to the relay driving circuit 81, the next switching instruction signal is input to the controller 26, and is input to the relay driving circuit 82 based on the next switching instruction signal. A switching signal for the relay drive circuit 81 is input. In this way, every time the switching instruction signal is input, the input order is updated, and the switching signal is input to the next relay drive circuit.

In the present embodiment, the relay drive circuit 81
To 84, relay contacts 51 to 54, relay contacts 61 to 6
4. Battery switching unit 45 by relay contacts 71 to 74
Is configured.

In this embodiment, the battery switching section 45 corresponds to switching means, the controller 26 corresponds to control means, and the controller 26 and the battery switching section 45 constitute selection means. Further, by the battery device B, the controller 26, and the battery switching unit 45,
It constitutes a power supply switching device.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, when a switching signal is input to the relay drive circuit 81 via the interface 85 in S40 in the battery switching control flowchart of FIG.
1 is turned on, and the relay contact 51 is switched and connected to the load side output terminal a of the 48 V system. In this state, the battery device B
Indicates that the positive terminal of the battery B4 is connected to the 48 V load-side output terminal a, and the batteries B4, B3, B2, and B1
Are connected in series in this order. Further, the battery B1 serves as a power source for the second load.

In S50, when a switching signal is input to the relay drive circuit 82 via the interface 85, the relay drive circuit 82 turns on the relay contacts 62 and 72, and connects the relay contact 52 to the 48V load side output terminal a. Switch connection. In this state, the battery device B is connected to the battery B1.
Is connected to the 48 V load side output terminal a via the relay contact 52, and the batteries B1, B4, B
3, B2 in series. Further, the battery B2 serves as a power source for the second load.

In S60, when a switching signal is input to the relay drive circuit 83 via the interface 85, the relay drive circuit 83 turns on the relay contacts 63 and 73, and connects the relay contact 53 to the 48V load-side output terminal a. Switch connection. In this state, the battery device B is connected to the battery B2.
Are connected to the 48V-system load-side output terminal a, and are connected in series in the order of batteries B2, B1, B4, and B3. Further, the battery B3 is a power source for the second load.

In S70, when a switching signal is input to the relay drive circuit 84 via the interface 85, the relay drive circuit 84 turns on the relay contacts 64 and 74, and connects the relay contact 54 to the 48V load-side output terminal a. Switch connection. In this state, the battery device B is connected to the battery B3.
Are connected to the 48V-system load-side output terminal a, and are connected in series in the order of batteries B3, B2, B1, and B4.

The other S10 to S30, S80 to S1
00 operates in the same manner as in the first embodiment. According to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) In the present embodiment, the controller 26 and the battery switching unit 45 change the combination of the order of the series of batteries B1 to B4 in the battery series circuit to form one power supply source for electric components. The battery is switched and selected.

As a result, (1) of the first embodiment,
(3) In addition to the same effects as (4), compared to the first embodiment, a common ground terminal can be used for both the first load and the second load. Can be simplified.

The above embodiment may be modified as follows. 1) In the above embodiments, the relay drive circuits 81 to 84
Although the switching means is constituted by the relay contacts that are turned on and off by them, the switching means may be embodied as a thyristor drive circuit and a thyristor that is turned on and off by the thyristor drive circuit.

The switching means may be constituted by a switching transistor drive circuit and a switching transistor which is turned on and off by the switching transistor drive circuit.

2) In both of the above embodiments, the magnet T serves as a switching command means for battery switching control in the battery device B, such as a place where rising and falling, undulation continues, a place where left and right bends continue, and the like. It is provided to issue an instruction for battery switching control at the end of traveling in a traveling section where the current consumption is large.

Instead of this, the magnet T is used as switching command means for battery switching control in the battery device B so that the current consumption of the battery can be reduced, for example, at places where rising and falling, undulations are continuous, and where left and right turns are continuous. It may be provided to give an instruction for battery switching control at a point where traveling in a large traveling section is started.

In this case, after traveling of the traveling section,
Although the battery consumption (discharge amount) increases to some extent, if the magnet T is provided so as to be appropriately switched thereafter, it is possible to prevent the specific battery from being overdischarged.

3) It is also possible to use an existing magnet provided at the golf course as a switching command means for battery switching control. That is, in the automatic traveling mode, in places where the up and down movements and undulations are continuous, and where the left and right turns are continuous, before entering the section, acceleration, high speed running, deceleration running, constant speed running, etc. from the magnet T The instruction signal is detected by the magnet sensor 33. By using the magnet T, it is possible to instruct the battery switching control at a point where the vehicle starts traveling in a traveling section where the current consumption of the battery is large, such as a place where a brake is required.

In this case, it is not always necessary to switch the battery at the time when the magnet T is detected.
The battery switching may be performed by the controller 26 after a predetermined time has elapsed from the time when the magnet T is detected.

That is, the predetermined time is a scheduled completion time of the running section in which the current consumption of the battery is large, and after the predetermined time is measured by the timer 86 (see FIGS. 2 and 4) provided in the controller 26, , Battery switching control is performed.

In this manner, the timer 86 can switch the battery at a suitable time. Note that the predetermined time is not limited to the above-described time. In addition, the timer 86 of the controller 26 measures the accumulated energizing time to the brake motor 23 or the steering motor 29, and the accumulated energizing time is set. The time when the time reaches the predetermined value may be set as the predetermined time. Alternatively, the battery switching control may be performed when the integrated current amount from the battery reaches a predetermined value instead of the predetermined time.

4) In the configurations of the above-described embodiments, a transmission device for transmitting radio waves instead of a magnet constituted by a plurality of magnetic poles of a permanent magnet is used as the switching command means of the battery switching control. Similarly to the above, the transmitter may be installed as a magnet where necessary in the guide path. In this case, a receiver for receiving a signal transmitted from the transmitter is provided in a traveling vehicle such as the golf cart 11, and an instruction signal for battery switching control is input from the receiver to the controller 26 ( 2 and 4
(See "Instruction signal" illustrated in FIG.

In addition to radio waves, infrared (or ultrasonic)
May be replaced by a transmitter for transmitting the infrared ray and a receiver for receiving the infrared rays (or ultrasonic waves). 5) In the battery device B, the rated voltage is set to 48V for the batteries B1 to B4 having the rated voltage of 12V. However, the rated voltage is not limited to this, and may be another rated voltage.

The number of batteries connected in series in the battery switching unit 45 is not limited to four, but may be any number of two or more. Further, the number of batteries connected to the second load need not be limited to one, and may be any number as long as it is less than the number of batteries constituting the battery device B. That is, if the number of batteries constituting the battery device B is 6, an appropriate number such as 2 or 3 out of 1 to 5 is used.

6) In the first and second embodiments, a series hybrid engine is used. However, the present invention may be embodied in a traveling vehicle such as a golf cart equipped with a parallel hybrid engine.

7) The traveling vehicle may be embodied as a so-called electric vehicle (EV) without an internal combustion engine. In this case, it is assumed that the electric vehicle supplies a plurality of loads having different rated voltages, a battery device in which a battery is connected in series to these loads, and power from the battery of the battery device. The load corresponding to the first load changes during running of the electric vehicle, such as an electric motor for driving the running.

It is preferable that the present invention is embodied as a traveling vehicle capable of automatic traveling, but the present invention is not limited to this. Further, the traveling vehicle may be capable of only manual traveling.

Further, the automatic traveling vehicle is intended to include not only an automatic traveling vehicle having a configuration capable of temporarily performing manual traveling as in the above embodiment, but also an automatic traveling vehicle which is unable to perform manual traveling. Here, in addition to the technical ideas described in the claims, the technical ideas grasped by the above-described embodiments are listed below together with their effects.

(1) The selection means for switching and selecting according to the traveling state of the traveling vehicle is to perform the switching and selection in response to an instruction from the switching instruction means provided on the traveling path. The power supply switching device for a traveling vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims.

The magnet T according to the first and second embodiments
Corresponds to the switching command means, and the guide path corresponds to the traveling path. The position of the switching command means is set at a predetermined location provided on the traveling path, for example, as a location where the traveling load of the traveling vehicle becomes large, ascending and descending, a location where undulations are continuous, a location where left and right turns are continuous, and the like. By doing so, a switching command can be given according to the traveling state of the traveling vehicle.

(2) The selection means for switching and selecting according to the traveling state of the traveling vehicle is selected by an instruction at predetermined time intervals by timer means which operates based on a command from the switching command means provided on the traveling path. The power supply switching device for a traveling vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, and (1).

In the above 3), the timer 86 provided in the controller 26 corresponds to the timer means. By doing so, the battery can be switched at a suitable time by the timer means.

(3) The travel according to any one of claims 1 to 4, and (1) and (2), wherein the first load is a motor that is a travel drive source of an automatic traveling vehicle. Power supply switching device for vehicles. The motor 13 of the first and second embodiments corresponds to a traveling drive source. By doing this,
The battery can be switched in accordance with the driving state of the motor, which is the driving source for driving, that is, the driving state of the vehicle.

[0106]

As described above in detail, according to the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the traveling state of the traveling vehicle is detected without detecting the battery voltage, and
The batteries can be switched, and as a result, the load on each battery can be reduced.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the first aspect is provided.
In addition to the operation described above, the circuit configuration of the selection means can be simplified. According to the invention described in claim 3, a minus terminal of the battery series circuit serving as a power supply source of the first load;
The negative terminal (negative terminal) of the battery serving as the power supply source of the second load can be used as a common terminal, and the grounding configuration of the electric circuit can be simplified.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to automatically switch the battery which is the power supply source of the second load, so that the operation and effect of the first aspect can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view of a golf cart that is a traveling vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an electric block diagram of the power supply switching device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart executed by the controller.

FIG. 4 is an electric block diagram of a power supply switching device according to a second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

B: Battery device, B1 to B4: Battery, T: Magnet, G, Ga, Gb: Ground terminal, 11: Golf cart, 12: Engine power generation type charging, 13: Motor (first load), 26: Controller ( Control means), 33 ... magnet sensor, 45 ... battery switching unit (constituting switching means, and controller 26 together with selecting means).

Claims (4)

[Claims] A battery is connected in series and includes a battery series circuit serving as a power supply source of a first load whose load changes according to running, and at least one of the batteries constituting the battery series circuit is provided. A traveling vehicle power supply switching device that uses a battery as a power supply source of a second load, comprising: a traveling unit that includes a selection unit that switches and selects a second load supply battery according to a traveling state of the traveling vehicle. Power supply switching device for vehicles. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection means switches and selects at least one battery serving as a power supply source of the second load without changing a series combination order of the battery series circuit. Power supply switching device for traveling vehicles. 3. The combination of a battery series circuit for connecting a negative terminal of a battery series circuit and a negative terminal of a battery serving as a power supply source of a second load to a common ground terminal. The traveling vehicle power supply switching device according to claim 1, wherein the order is changed, and at least one battery serving as a power supply source of the second load is switched and selected. 4. The control means for outputting a control signal when a switching timing condition is satisfied, and a switching means connected to the battery series circuit for sequentially switching based on a control signal from the control means. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein
A power supply switching device for a traveling vehicle according to claim 1.