JP5272976B2 - Vehicle battery exchange device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To replace a battery for a shorter time as compared with a conventional technique, in a battery replacement device of a vehicle taking the battery out of a battery storing part provided in the vehicle and storing a new battery in the battery storing part by an elevation means in a stopping state of the vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: This elevation means 14 is constituted to be shifted to two stages of first speed without a hindrance, even if a table 16 mounted with the battery 42 abuts on the vehicle, and second speed faster than the first speed. The battery replacement device includes a plurality of replacement device side switches 25 for detecting a rising position when elevating and moving the table 16 at the second speed by contact with the vehicle to be movable integrally with the table 16. A control device 26 decelerates from the second speed to the first speed when at least one of the replacement device side switches 25 is turned ON when elevating and driving the elevation means 14. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle battery exchange device, and more particularly to a vehicle battery exchange device equipped with a large battery as a power source.

  Among vehicles equipped with a large battery (battery unit) as a power source such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, 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. Or replacing the depleted battery with a charged battery to bring the battery to a fully charged state. 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). In the battery exchange device disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the battery unit is taken out from the battery housing part or when the battery unit is housed in the battery housing part, the lock unit of the battery unit is locked or unlocked by replacing the lifting means. It is performed in a state where it is confirmed that the table supports the battery unit at an appropriate position.

  Further, the battery exchange device of Patent Document 1 has a problem that the place where the battery unit can be exchanged is limited to the place where the battery exchange device is installed. A battery exchange device for solving this problem has also been proposed (see Patent Document 2). In the battery exchange device disclosed in Patent Document 2, a battery unit (battery device) is made to enter a battery mounting portion of an electric vehicle using a transport carriage with a lifting function, and then the battery unit is lifted by a lifting function. Attach the battery unit to the battery mount. In an electric vehicle, a rising start position confirmation sensor for detecting that the battery unit has reached the rising start position and a lifting function of the transport carriage indicate that the battery unit has been lifted from the rising start position and has reached the mounting position. An attachment position confirmation sensor for detection is provided. The electric vehicle is mounted on the electric vehicle based on the output signal from the ascent start position confirmation sensor, and the battery device is installed on the basis of the output signal from the attachment position confirmation sensor. An attachment position confirmation lamp for notifying that the position has been reached is provided. In this battery exchange device, the operator moves the transport carriage to a position facing the battery mounting portion of the electric vehicle that is stopped at an arbitrary position, and performs the battery exchange work by operating the lifting function by manual operation. Is called.

JP-A-6-262951 JP 2002-362263 A

  The merit of the battery replacement method is that the battery can be fully charged in a short time, which is less than the refueling of a gasoline vehicle, as compared to the method of charging with the battery mounted on the vehicle. For this reason, in a battery exchange system, it is so preferable that battery replacement can be completed in a short time. In the above-described prior art, the battery exchange device of Patent Document 1 is suitable for a shorter time replacement, but in order to complete the battery replacement in a shorter time, the lifting speed of the battery by the lifting means can be increased. It is valid. However, if the ascending / descending speed is increased, it is difficult to stop the battery housing part (battery mounting part) and the vehicle body without applying a large impact.

  In addition, the state of the plurality of tires attached to the vehicle (air pressure and wear state) and the state of the suspension are different. Furthermore, since there is a variation in the weight balance between the left and right or the front and rear of the vehicle including the occupant and the load, when the vehicle stops at the battery replacement position, the variation in the vertical position in the battery storage portion of the vehicle, and There is a slight horizontal tilt. The variation in the position in the vertical direction and the inclination in the horizontal direction make it more difficult to control the lifting means.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to take out a battery from a battery storage portion provided in the vehicle by a lifting and lowering means when the vehicle is stopped, and to remove a new battery from the battery storage portion. In the battery exchange device for a vehicle housed in the vehicle, the battery can be exchanged in a shorter time than in the prior art.

  In order to achieve the first object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a battery is taken out from a battery storage portion provided in a vehicle by a lifting means in a stopped state of the vehicle, and a new battery is stored in the battery storage portion. It is the battery exchange apparatus of the vehicle to accommodate. The elevating means is configured to be capable of shifting the table on which the battery is mounted in two stages of a first speed that does not hinder the battery from contacting the vehicle and a second speed that is faster than the first speed, A plurality of switching device side switches for detecting the rising position when the table is moved up at the second speed are provided so as to be able to move together with the table, and at least one of the switching device side switches is turned on when the lifting means is driven up. In this case, control means for decelerating from the second speed to the first speed is provided. Here, “battery” is not limited to a single bare battery, but also means a battery unit in which a plurality of batteries are mounted in a battery case, and is generally used in the state of a battery unit.

  In the present invention, the table on which the battery is placed does not rise at a constant speed from the beginning to the position where the table should be stopped, but is raised by shifting in two stages. It is performed during the ascending at the first speed that does not interfere with the vehicle. And since it raises at 2nd speed faster than 1st speed until it decelerates to 1st speed, the table in which a battery is mounted is 1 to the appropriate position which delivers and receives a battery between battery storage parts. It moves in a shorter time than the structure that moves at the stage speed. Therefore, battery replacement can be performed in a shorter time than in the prior art. In addition, when the vehicle stops at the battery replacement position, there are basically variations in the vertical position and a slight horizontal inclination in the battery storage portion of the vehicle due to the tire condition and the like. Therefore, when the table moves up, at least one of the plurality of switching device side switches is first turned on. At that time, the deceleration from the second speed to the first speed is performed, so the deceleration is performed at an appropriate time. Is called.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, at least three of the switching device side switches are provided so as to exist on one plane, and the control means is replaced when the table is raised. When all the device-side switches are turned on, the driving of the elevating means is stopped after the driving is continued for a predetermined minute time. Here, the “predetermined minute time” is, for example, required for moving the distance that the limit switch actuator moves at the first speed until the limit switch plunger is turned on from the off state. It means the same time as the time.

  After decelerating to the first speed, when the table rise is stopped when all of the switches on the exchange side are turned on, the battery is replaced with the battery compartment in a horizontal state as a rare case. When stopped at the position, all switches on the exchange side are turned on simultaneously when the table is raised. Since the elevating means is controlled to stop driving at the same time as the deceleration from the second speed to the first speed, the impact when the table is stopped increases. However, according to the present invention, when the vehicle stops at the battery replacement position, the battery storage unit is in a horizontal state, and the lifting means is not at the second speed even if all of the switching device side switches are simultaneously turned on when the table is raised. After being controlled to decelerate from the first speed to the first speed, stop control is performed after a predetermined minute time. Therefore, the impact when the table is stopped is reduced. Further, since the predetermined minute time is short as described above, the battery replacement is performed in a short time even if the switching device side switches are all turned on at the same time and do not stop immediately.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the vehicle includes a battery detection switch that is turned on in a state where the battery is stored in an appropriate position of the battery storage unit. In the storing operation for storing the battery in the battery storage unit, when the battery detection switch is turned on, a lock device that locks the battery stored in the battery storage unit is locked. Here, “the battery is stored in an appropriate position in the battery storage unit” means that the position of the battery stored in the battery storage unit is locked or unlocked without any trouble by the locking device that locks the battery. Means a possible position.

  In this invention, when a new battery is stored in the battery storage unit by the lifting and lowering means, the lock device is locked with the battery detection switch provided on the vehicle turned on, and the battery is stored in an appropriate position. The battery is locked. Accordingly, it is not necessary to determine the lock or unlock timing of the lock device provided in the vehicle based on the detection information of the sensor provided on the battery exchange device side, and the lock device is illegally operated due to communication abnormality of the communication means. Can be prevented.

  According to the first to third aspects of the present invention, when the vehicle is stopped, the lifting / lowering means removes the battery from the battery storage provided in the vehicle and stores the new battery in the battery storage. Therefore, the battery can be replaced in a shorter time than in the prior art.

(A) is a schematic top view of a battery exchange apparatus, (b) is a schematic side view of a battery exchange apparatus, (c) is a schematic front view which shows the relationship between a vehicle and a raising / lowering means. The battery removal procedure is shown, (a) is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the battery exchange device and the vehicle in a state where the vehicle is stopped at the battery exchange position, and (b) is a table up to a position where some of the exchange device side switches are turned on. (C) is a schematic diagram in the state where the lock of the locking device is released, (d) is a schematic diagram in a state where the table on which the battery is placed is moved to the lowered position. A battery storing procedure is shown, (a) is a schematic diagram of a state where the battery is transferred onto a table positioned at the lowered position, and (b) is a battery mounted to a position where some of the switching devices are turned on. The schematic diagram of a state where the table is raised, (c) is a schematic diagram of a state in which the battery is stored in the battery storage unit and locked by the locking device, (d) is a schematic diagram of the state where the table is moved to the lowered position .

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. 1, the battery exchange device 11 is provided on the ground, and a support plate 12 (illustrated in FIG. 1C) that supports an electric vehicle 41 as a vehicle is disposed above the battery exchange device 11. In this case, the electric vehicle 41 is provided so as to be stopped in a horizontal state. A wheel stopper (not shown) is provided on the support plate 12 to contact the rear wheel of the electric vehicle 41 when the battery is replaced to position the electric vehicle 41 at the battery replacement position. The support plate 12 is configured such that the electric vehicle 41 travels in a back (reverse movement) from a slope (not shown) and stops at the battery replacement position.

  The electric vehicle 41 is provided with a battery storage portion 43 for storing the battery 42 so that it can be taken in and out from below the vehicle body. As the battery 42, a battery unit in which a plurality of batteries are mounted in a battery case is used, but is simply referred to as a battery. A lock device 44 that prevents the battery 42 stored in the battery storage unit 43 from dropping is provided around the battery storage unit 43. The locking device 44 is configured by a cylinder in which a piston rod 44a is disposed so as to be able to enter and leave a latching hole (not shown) formed in the battery case, and is configured to be able to lock the battery 42 at four positions. Yes. The locking device 44 is in a locked state when the piston rod 44a enters the latching hole, but the latching hole is a long hole that allows the battery 42 to move downward when the lifting / lowering means moves downward in the locked state. It is formed with. The latching hole is formed such that the battery detection switch 45 that is turned on in the state where the lifting of the elevating means 14 is turned off is turned off when the battery 42 is lowered in the locked state.

  The electric vehicle 41 includes a battery detection switch 45 that is turned on when the battery 42 is stored in an appropriate position of the battery storage unit 43. The battery 42 is stored in an appropriate position in the battery storage unit 43. The position of the battery 42 stored in the battery storage unit 43 is locked or unlocked without any trouble by the locking device 44 that locks the battery 42. Means that this is a possible position. A plurality of battery detection switches 45 are provided, and in this embodiment, four battery detection switches 45 are provided so as to be in contact with the four corners of the upper surface of the battery 42. The lock device 44 is operated so as to lock the battery 42 stored in the battery storage unit 43 when all the battery detection switches 45 are turned on when the lifting means 14 of the battery exchange device 11 is driven up.

  The support plate 12 interferes with the movement of the battery 42 between the battery storage unit 43 and the battery exchange device 11 when the electric vehicle 41 is stopped at the battery exchange position with the rear wheel abutting the wheel stop. An opening 12a having a size not to be formed is formed.

  The battery exchange device 11 can transfer the battery 42 between the elevating means 14 and the elevating means 14 that elevates and lowers the battery 42 at a position facing the battery storage portion 43 of the electric vehicle 41 stopped at the battery exchange position. And a transport unit 15 provided so that the transport direction is parallel to (same as) the front-rear direction of the electric vehicle 41 stopped at the battery replacement position.

  The elevating means 14 has a pantograph-type configuration, and the pantograph mechanism for elevating the table 16 on which the battery 42 is placed includes two sets of first links 17 and second links 18. Both the links 17 and 18 are connected to a pair of upper support members 19 having the same length and pivotable at the center by a shaft, and connected to a pair of upper support members 19 fixed to the table 16, and have a lower end paired to a pair of lower support members 20. It is connected to. The lower end of the first link 17 is rotatably connected to the lower support member 20, and the upper end of the first link 17 is rotatable to an upper support shaft 21 that is movably provided along a long hole 19 a formed in the upper support member 19. It is connected to. The second link 18 is pivotally connected to a lower support shaft 22 that has a lower end that is movable along a long hole 20 a formed in the lower support member 20, and an upper end that pivots to the upper support member 19. Connected as possible. The lower support shaft 22 is fixed to a slider (not shown) that moves along the screw shaft 24 by a screw shaft 24 that is rotated by a motor 23 (shown only in FIG. 1B). When the motor 23 is driven forward, the distance between the end portions of the first link 17 and the second link 18 is narrowed and the table 16 is raised, and when the motor 23 is driven reversely, the ends of the first link 17 and the second link 18 are driven. The interval between the portions is widened so that the table 16 is lowered.

  The motor 23 places the table 16 on which the battery 42 is placed on a taper-shaped guide plate (not shown) arranged on the outer edge of the vehicle, for example, a part of the battery storage unit 43 or the battery storage unit 43. It is configured to be capable of shifting in two stages: a first speed that does not hinder the contact and a second speed that is faster than the first speed. The table 16 includes a plurality of exchange device side switches 25 (four in this embodiment) that can move together with the table 16 to detect the raised position by contact with the vehicle when the table 16 is moved upward at the first speed. It is provided to exist above. The switching device side switch 25 is in a state where the upper part of the battery 42 placed on the table 16 is accommodated in the battery accommodating part 43 and the upper surface of the battery 42 is not detected by the battery detection switch 45 when the elevating means 14 is driven to rise. Thus, the limit switch is turned on by contacting the lower surface of the electric vehicle 41 around the battery storage unit 43. That is, each switching device side switch 25 is fixed to the side surface around the table 16 so as not to enter the battery housing portion 43.

  When the electric vehicle 41 is stopped at the battery replacement position and the battery storage unit 43 is tilted from the horizontal, the table 16 comes into contact with a part of the periphery of the battery storage unit 43 when the table 16 is moved upward. The electric vehicle 41 is pushed up until the battery storage unit 43 is in a horizontal state, and the inclination of the electric vehicle 41 can be corrected.

  A control device 26 (shown in FIG. 1C) as a control means for driving the elevating means 14, that is, a control device 26 for controlling the motor 23, is based on whether the switch 25 is turned on or off. The shift timing and stop timing of the motor 23 during the ascending drive are determined. The control device 26 first drives the motor 23 at the second speed when the elevating means 14 is driven up, and decelerates from the second speed to the first speed when at least one of the switching device side switches 25 is turned on. Further, when all of the switching device side switches 25 are turned on when the table 16 is raised, the control device 26 continues driving for a predetermined minute time and then stops driving the elevating means 14. The predetermined minute time is set to a time required for the table 16 to move up at the first speed from the time when all of the switching device side switches 25 are turned on to the position where all the battery detection switches 45 are turned on. That is, for a predetermined minute time, the table 16 indicates the distance that the limit switch actuator moves at the first speed before the plunger of the limit switch used as the battery detection switch 45 changes from the OFF state to the ON state. It is set to the same time as the time required to move.

  The lifting / lowering means 14 exchanges (transfers) the battery 42 with the conveying means 15, but in order to avoid interference with the switching device side switch 25 fixed around the table 16, FIG. As shown in (b), the conveying means 15 is provided so as not to overlap the elevating means 14 and so that one end of the conveying means 15 is positioned in the vicinity of the elevating means 14.

  The conveyance means 15 is comprised with the chain conveyor 27 provided with a pair of chain 27a, and conveys the battery 42 in the state which mounted the battery 42 between a pair of chains 27a. Both chains 27a are supported by a frame 28 having leg portions 28a and are simultaneously driven by a drive motor 29 capable of rotating forward and reverse. The conveyance means 15 conveys the battery 42 between the transfer position between the elevating means 14 and the battery conveyance means (none of which is shown) to the battery storage unit. 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.

  Near the raising / lowering means 14 of the conveying means 15 is provided a transfer device 30 for transferring a new battery 42 conveyed to one end of the conveying means 15 from the conveying means 15 onto the table 16 of the raising / lowering means 14. . The transfer device 30 includes a support member 32 that is moved up and down by a lifter 31, and a cylinder 33 that is fixed on the support member 32 so that a piston rod 33 a extends in the transport direction of the transport means 15. A pressing plate 34 is fixed to the tip of the piston rod 33a. The cylinder 33 has a raised position where the pressing plate 34 can be engaged with the battery 42 on the conveying means 15 and moved onto the table 16, and a standby position where the pressing plate 34 cannot be engaged with the battery 42 on the conveying means 15 ( The lifter 31 is moved to the lowered position. When the piston rod 33a protrudes at the raised position, the pressing plate 34 transfers the battery 42 from the conveying means 15 onto the lifting means 14.

  A transfer device (not shown) for transferring the battery 42 placed on the table 16 of the elevating means 14 onto the conveying means 15 is located on the opposite side of the transfer device 30 with the elevating means 14 interposed therebetween. Is provided. Further, the control device 26 controls not only the lifting and lowering means 14 but also the conveying means 15 and the transfer device 30.

Next, the operation of the battery exchange device 11 configured as described above will be described.
The electric vehicle 41 travels up to the support plate 12 via a slope (not shown), and stops with the rear wheel placed on the wheel stopper of the support plate 12. When the electric vehicle 41 stops at the battery replacement position for battery replacement, the battery storage portion 43 is in a state of facing the table 16 of the elevating means 14 as shown in FIG. The electric vehicle 41 has a plurality of tire states (air pressure and wear states), suspension states, and the vehicle left and right or front and rear weight balance including occupants and loads. When the battery replacement position is stopped, the battery storage unit 43 has a reference state in which there is a variation in the vertical position and a slight horizontal inclination. From this state, the battery exchange device 11 starts battery exchange.

  First, the elevating means 14 is driven up at a high second speed. As shown in FIG. 2B, the control device 26 decelerates to the first speed when at least one of the switching device side switches 25 is turned on. At this time, the other switch 25 and the battery detection switch 45 provided above the battery storage unit 43 are still in the off state. Further, a part of the table 16 is in contact with a part of the battery 42 and a part of the peripheral edge of the battery storage part 43. From this state, the elevating means 14 is further driven to rise at the first speed, and when the table 16 is raised, the tilt of the vehicle body is corrected and becomes horizontal, so that all the switching device side switches 25 are turned on. When all the switching device side switches 25 are turned on, the control device 26 continues to drive the motor 23 for a predetermined minute time, and then stops driving the elevating means 14. As a result, as shown in FIG. 2C, the table 16 stops in a state where the inclination of the vehicle body is corrected to be horizontal and the battery 42 turns on all the battery detection switches 45. The lower side of the electric vehicle 41 is easily contaminated during traveling, etc. If the reflection unit is provided on the lower side of the electric vehicle 41 by using a photoelectric switch for the switching device side switch 25, there is a risk of malfunction due to the contamination of the reflection unit. However, since the switching device side switch 25 is constituted by a limit switch, malfunctions are reduced as compared with the case where a photoelectric switch is used.

  When all the battery detection switches 45 are turned on, the lock device 44 is driven to unlock as shown in FIG. 2C, and the piston rod 44a is moved to a position that does not hinder the battery 42 from descending. The lock is released. In this state, since the battery 42 is horizontally supported by the table 16, the unlocking operation of the locking device 44 is performed smoothly. Next, the raising / lowering means 14 is driven downward, and the battery 42 is placed on the table 16 and lowered to the transfer position to the conveying means 15 as shown in FIG. Further, as the table 16 descends, the electric vehicle 41 is tilted. Next, a transfer device (not shown) is driven, and the battery 42 is transferred from the table 16 onto the transport means 15. Thereafter, the transport unit 15 is driven and the used battery 42 is unloaded from the battery exchange device 11.

  Next, the fully charged new battery 42 is transferred from the battery storage unit onto the transfer means 15 by the battery transfer means and is carried into the battery exchange device 11. The new battery 42 is transported by the transport means 15 to a transfer position in the vicinity of the elevating means 14. In this state, the transfer device 30 is driven, and the new battery 42 is transferred from the conveying means 15 onto the table 16 of the elevating means 14 to be in the state shown in FIG.

  Next, the elevating means 14 is driven to rise at a high second speed. Then, as shown in FIG. 3B, when the battery 42 enters the battery storage portion 43 and the table 16 is raised to a position where at least one of the switching device side switches 25 is turned on, the lifting means 14 is moved to the first position. Decelerated to speed. At this time, the other switching device side switch 25 and all the battery detection switches 45 are in the OFF state. Further, a part of the table 16 is in contact with a part of the peripheral edge of the battery storage unit 43. From this state, the elevating means 14 is further driven to rise at the first speed, and when the table 16 is raised, the tilt of the vehicle body is corrected and becomes horizontal, so that all the switching device side switches 25 are turned on. When all the switching device side switches 25 are turned on, the control device 26 continues to drive the motor 23 for a predetermined minute time, and then stops driving the elevating means 14. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3C, the table 16 stops in a state where the inclination of the vehicle body is corrected to be horizontal and the battery 42 turns on all the battery detection switches 45.

  When all the battery detection switches 45 are turned on, as shown in FIG. 3C, the lock device 44 is driven to lock, and the piston rod 44a engages with the battery 42 to hold the battery 42. Moved to. Next, the lifting / lowering means 14 is driven downward, and as shown in FIG. 3D, the new battery 42 is stored in the battery storage portion 43 in a locked state supported by the piston rod 44a, and the table 16 is moved to the lowering position. The battery replacement work is completed by the arrangement.

  In addition, when the electric vehicle 41 stops at the battery replacement position, the battery storage unit 43 may stop in a horizontal state as a rare case. In that case, all the switching device side switches 25 are simultaneously turned on while the table 16 is moving up at the second speed. In the configuration in which the table 16 is stopped when all the switching device side switches 25 are turned on, the impact is increased because the deceleration from the second speed to the first speed and the stop control are performed simultaneously. However, since the control device 26 continues driving for a predetermined minute time after all the switching device side switches 25 are turned on, the control device 26 stops driving the elevating means 14, so that the table 16 is surely set to the first speed. Stop after slowing down.

According to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The elevating means 14 for elevating and lowering the battery 42 has two stages of a first speed that does not hinder the battery 16 coming into contact with the vehicle and a second speed that is faster than the first speed. It is configured to be capable of shifting. Therefore, the table 16 on which the battery 42 is placed moves in a shorter time than the configuration in which the table 16 moves to a proper position where the battery 42 is transferred to and from the battery storage unit 43 at a single speed. Therefore, battery replacement can be performed in a shorter time than in the prior art.

  (2) The battery exchanging device 11 is provided with a plurality of exchanging device side switches 25 that detect the ascending position when the table 16 is moved up at the first speed so as to be able to move together with the table 16 and is exchanged when the elevating means 14 is driven up. When at least one of the device-side switches 25 is turned on, a control means (control device 26) is provided that decelerates from the second speed to the first speed. Therefore, when the electric vehicle 41 is stopped at the battery replacement position while the battery storage unit 43 is inclined from the horizontal due to the condition of the tire and the like, an appropriate change from the second speed to the first speed is performed using the inclination. Deceleration timing can be set.

  (3) At least three switching device side switches 25 are provided so as to exist on one plane, and the control device 26 has a predetermined minute amount when the switching device side switches 25 are all turned on when the table 16 is raised. After continuing the driving for the time, the driving of the elevating means 14 is stopped. Accordingly, when the vehicle stops at the battery replacement position, even when the battery housing 43, which is a rare case, is in a horizontal state, the elevating means 14 is controlled to decelerate from the second speed to the first speed, Since the stop control is performed after a short time, the impact when the table 16 stops is reduced. Further, since the predetermined minute time is short as described above, the battery replacement is performed in a short time even if the switching device side switches 25 are all turned on at the same time and do not stop immediately.

  (4) The electric vehicle 41 includes a battery detection switch 45 that is turned on in a state where the battery 42 is stored in an appropriate position of the battery storage unit 43. When the lifting / lowering means 14 for storing the battery 42 in the battery storage unit 43 is driven upward, the lock device 44 that locks the battery 42 stored in the battery storage unit 43 with the battery detection switch 45 turned on is locked. Is done. Therefore, it is not necessary to determine the lock or unlock timing of the lock device 44 provided in the electric vehicle 41 based on the detection information of the sensor provided on the battery exchange device side, and when obtaining information on the battery exchange device side Unauthorized operation of the locking device 44 due to communication abnormality of the communication means can be prevented.

  (5) The switching device side switch 25 is configured by, for example, a limit switch so as to detect the raised position of the table 16 by contact with the vehicle, and engages with the lower surface of the electric vehicle 41 at the periphery of the battery storage unit 43. It turns on. Therefore, the setting of the mounting position is facilitated as compared with the configuration in which the raised position is detected in a non-contact state with the vehicle.

(6) Since the switching device side switch 25 is configured by a limit switch, malfunctions are reduced as compared to the case where a photoelectric switch is used.
(7) The lock device 44 is configured such that the battery 42 that is in contact with the table 16 in the locked state is movable as the table 16 is moved up and down. Therefore, even when the electric vehicle 41 stops at the battery replacement position with the battery storage portion 43 tilted from the horizontal, the table 16 comes into contact with the tilted battery 42 and then reaches the ascending stop position that supports the battery 42 horizontally. It can move smoothly.

The embodiment is not limited to the above, and may be embodied as follows, for example.
The elevating means 14 is not limited to a pantograph type configuration, and may be configured to elevate the table 16 using a ball screw extending in the vertical direction, for example.

  ○ Without providing the battery detection switch 45 on the vehicle side, the information that the table 16 is in a state of supporting the battery 42 at the appropriate position of the battery housing portion 43 when the elevating means 14 is driven upward is communicated by the battery exchanging device. 11 may be transmitted to the vehicle side.

  The locking device 44 is not limited to a configuration in which a lock pin (piston rod 44a) is slid horizontally and inserted into a long hole formed on the battery 42 side to be locked. For example, a gripping device that protrudes a pin on the battery 42 side and holds the pin on the vehicle side may be provided. Moreover, it is good also as an apparatus of the structure arrange | positioned at the lock position which supports a battery, and a lock release position, when a nail | claw-shaped lock member rotates in a vertical plane.

  The exchange device side switch 25 and the battery detection switch 45 are not limited to limit switches, and other switches such as a reed switch and a photoelectric switch may be used. However, a reed switch is preferred over a photoelectric switch. For example, a reed switch is used as the switching device side switch 25, and a permanent magnet is provided on the vehicle side at a position where the reed switch is turned on when the table 16 reaches a position to be decelerated from the second speed to the first speed. . In the case of a photoelectric switch, for example, the light projecting / receiving unit is attached to the table 16 below the table upper surface in a state where the light travels substantially horizontally. In addition, on the vehicle side (electric vehicle 41 side), the light projected from the light projecting / receiving unit can be reflected to the light projecting / receiving unit in a state where the upper surface of the table is in contact with the battery 42 accommodated in the battery housing 43. A reflection part is provided in the state.

  The lifting / lowering means 14 may be disposed between the pair of chains 27 a of the transport means 15. In this case, the length of the table 16 in the direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the conveying means 15 is formed shorter than the length between the pair of chains 27a. Further, in order to avoid interference between the exchange device side switch 25 and the conveying means 15, the exchange device side switch 25 is connected via a specially shaped bracket that does not interfere with the frame 28 when the table 16 is moved upward, for example, a U-shaped bracket. To the table 16.

The relationship between the transport direction of the transport unit 15 and the front-rear direction of the vehicle stopped at the battery replacement position is not limited to being parallel (same direction) but may be orthogonal.
O It is good also as a structure which does not advance and stop to a battery replacement position by a backward movement but a vehicle advances to a battery replacement position by a forward movement. In this case, the wheel stopper contacts the front wheel of the vehicle and positions the vehicle at the battery replacement position.

  The conveying means 15 is not limited to a chain conveyor but may be a belt conveyor or a roller conveyor. In the case of a roller conveyor, the transfer device 30 cannot adopt a configuration in which the cylinder 33 is moved by the lifter 31 between the raised position and the lowered position below the conveying means 15, and the pressing plate 34 is connected to the battery 42 above the roller conveyor. And a position where the pressing plate 34 does not interfere with the battery 42 on the roller conveyor.

  ○ As a configuration in which the vehicle stops above the battery exchange device 11 when replacing the battery, the battery exchange device 11 is provided in a pit formed on the ground, and the vehicle is on the plate covering the pit or on the ground so as to straddle the pit. It is good also as a structure which stops by.

  The vehicle may be a vehicle equipped with a large battery as a power source, and is not limited to the electric vehicle 41 having only the battery as a driving power source, but may be a hybrid car having both a motor and an engine. .

The following technical idea (invention) can be understood from the embodiment.
(1) In the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the switching device side switch performs detection by contact with a vehicle.

  (2) In the invention described in claim 3, the lock device is configured such that a battery in contact with the table in the locked state is movable as the table is raised and lowered.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Battery exchange apparatus, 14 ... Elevating means, 16 ... Table, 25 ... Switch apparatus side switch, 26 ... Control apparatus as control means, 41 ... Electric vehicle as vehicle, 42 ... Battery, 43 ... Battery storage part, 44 ... lock device, 45 ... battery detection switch.

Claims (3)

A vehicle battery exchange device for a vehicle that takes out a battery from a battery storage portion provided in the vehicle and lifts a new battery into the battery storage portion by the lifting means in a stop state of the vehicle,
The elevating means is configured to be able to change the speed of the table on which the battery is placed in two stages of a first speed that does not hinder the battery from contacting the vehicle and a second speed that is faster than the first speed. A plurality of switching device side switches for detecting the rising position during the upward movement at the second speed are provided so as to be able to move together with the table. When at least one of the switching device side switches is turned on when the lifting means is driven upward, A battery exchange device for a vehicle, comprising control means for decelerating from the second speed to the first speed.   The switching device side switch is provided in at least three so as to exist on one plane, and the control means is driven for a predetermined minute time when all the switching device side switches are turned on when the table is raised. The vehicle battery exchange device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the driving of the elevating means is stopped after continuing.   The vehicle includes a battery detection switch that is turned on when the battery is stored in an appropriate position of the battery storage unit, and the battery detection switch is turned on during storage work for storing the battery in the battery storage unit. The vehicle battery exchange device for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a lock device for locking the battery stored in the battery storage portion is locked.

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