Patent Description:
In recent years, with the rapid development of new energy vehicles, the global sales of new energy vehicles have continued to grow. However, the charging time of the power battery of the new energy vehicle is long, and such problem is generally solved by adopting a method for quickly changing the power battery. According to such battery change mode, the purpose of supplementing electric energy of the new energy vehicle is achieved by directly changing the battery pack of the new energy vehicle, rapid electric energy supplement can be realized, and meanwhile, battery maintenance and service life prolonging are facilitated.

However, a current locking device for locking the battery pack to the vehicle body requires a large amount of space. Such a locking device is for example known from <CIT>. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a locking device which requires less space, can realize high fastening performance, and has an anti-loosening structure with high reliability.

The present application provides a quick-change lock assembly according to claim <NUM> and a locking device according to claim <NUM> using the same.

In a first aspect, provided is a quick-change lock assembly, comprising: a shell with a hollow cavity formed therein; a quick-change bolt arranged in the cavity, and internally provided with a through hole along the axial direction, the quick-change bolt being capable of moving axially to protrude from the cavity or be accommodated in the cavity; a bolt driving rod, comprising a bolt matching section, a flange portion and a tool matching section, wherein the bolt matching section is configured to be slidably inserted into the through hole, and matched with the through hole such that the quick-change bolt is able to rotate with the bolt driving rod, and a first side surface, opposite to the quick-change bolt, of the flange portion is configured to be able to push the quick-change bolt to move axially; an elastic member, both ends of which respectively abut against the inner top wall of the shell and the first side surface of the flange portion; and a locking mechanism fixed to the shell, wherein the locking mechanism abuts against a second side surface of the flange portion, the locking mechanism is provided with an opening from which the tool matching section protrudes, and the second side surface is located on the opposite side of the first side surface; wherein first anti-loosening teeth are provided on the second side surface of the flange portion, and the locking mechanism is provided with second anti-loosening teeth adapted to be engaged with the first anti-loosening teeth for locking or disengaged from the same for unlocking. According to the configuration of the quick-change lock assembly of the present application, the installation space needed by the locking device can be greatly reduced, and meanwhile, high fastening performance as well as anti-loosening and anti-rotation performance with high reliability can be achieved.

In some embodiments, the first anti-loosening teeth and the second anti-loosening teeth are inclined toothed structures. The quick-change bolt can be better prevented from loosening by using the anti-loosening teeth with the inclined toothed structures.

In some embodiments, the angle of inclination of the first anti-loosening teeth and the second anti-loosening teeth is <NUM>°-<NUM>°. By setting the angle of inclination of the anti-loosening teeth to be <NUM>°-<NUM>°, the anti-loosening and anti-rotation effects can be optimally achieved.

In some embodiments, the quick-change bolt is provided with a trapezoidal thread. By means of such configuration, the service life of the quick-change bolt can be improved.

In some embodiments, the through hole comprises a first through hole section and a second through hole section, wherein the cross section of the first through hole section is less than the cross section of the second through hole section. The bolt matching section comprises a guide portion and a driving portion, wherein the guide portion is configured to be inserted into the first through hole section to guide the insertion of the bolt driving rod, and the driving portion is configured to be inserted into the second through hole section to be matched with the second through hole section, enabling the quick-change bolt to rotate with the bolt driving rod. By means of such configuration, since the first through hole section can be thinner than the second through hole section, the rigidity of the quick-change bolt can be enhanced.

In some embodiments, the cross sections of the driving portion and the second through hole section are polygonal, or the driving portion is in spline fit with the second through hole section. By means of such configuration, the quick-change bolt can be driven by the bolt driving rod in a simple manner.

In some embodiments, a boss is formed at the top of the shell, and the outer ring of the boss has a toothed structure. By means of interference fit of the toothed structure, the shell of the quick-change lock assembly is pressed into a battery pack beam, such that quick installation of the quick-change lock assembly and the battery pack beam can be achieved.

In a second aspect, provided is a locking device, comprising the quick-change lock assembly as described above; and a nut assembly comprising a quick-change nut, the quick-change nut comprising a nut body in which a threaded through hole matched with the quick-change bolt is formed. By using the quick-change lock assembly of the present application, the installation space needed by the locking device can be greatly reduced, and meanwhile, high fastening performance as well as anti-loosening and anti-rotation performance with high reliability can be achieved.

In some embodiments, the nut assembly further comprises: a cover plate; and a base, the cover plate being fixedly connected to the base, and an accommodating space being formed between the cover plate and the base; wherein the quick-change nut further comprises a cap portion connected to the nut body, the cap portion is arranged in the accommodating space, the base is provided with an opening from which the nut body protrudes, and the accommodating space is configured to allow the quick-change nut to move within a predetermined range. By means of such configuration, when the axis of the quick-change bolt and the axis of the quick-change nut are not in a straight line, the quick-change bolt and the quick-change nut can be better aligned.

In some embodiments, a flanging is provided on the base and/or the cover plate, and the flanging is configured to limit the rotation of the quick-change nut relative to the base and/or the cover plate. Through arrangement of the flanging, when the quick-change bolt and the quick-change nut are tightened, the quick-change nut can be prevented from rotating relative to the base and/or the cover plate.

In some embodiments, the cover plate is provided with an opening from which the quick-change bolt protrudes. Through the arrangement of such opening, the nut assembly is allowed to adapt to the quick-change bolts with different lengths.

In a third aspect, provided is a vehicle, comprising: a battery pack beam with a hole formed therein; a vehicle body beam with a groove formed therein; and the locking device as described above, wherein the nut assembly is fixed into the groove of the vehicle body beam, and the quick-change lock assembly is fixed into the hole of the battery pack beam. By means of such configuration, the installation space needed by the locking device can be further reduced.

According to the locking device of the present application, particularly the quick-change lock assembly of the present application, the problem about the installation space needed by a quick-change lock can be reduced, convenient assembly and replacement can be achieved, assembly alignment is simple, and assembly efficiency is high.

The drawings described herein are intended to provide a further understanding of the present application, which constitute a part of the present application. The illustrative embodiments of the present application and the description thereof are for explaining the present application and do not constitute an undue limitation of the present application. In the drawings:.

In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of embodiments of the present application clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly described below with reference to the drawings for the embodiments of the present application. It is apparent that the described embodiments are some of, rather than all of, the embodiments of the present application. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort fall within the protection scope of the present application which is defined by the appended claims.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in the present application have the same meanings as those commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present application belongs. The terms used in the specification of the present application are merely for the purpose of describing specific embodiments, but are not intended to limit the present application. The terms "comprising" and "having" and any variations thereof in the specification and the claims of the present application as well as the foregoing description of the drawings are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions. The terms "first", "second" and the like in the specification and the claims of the present application as well as the above drawings are used to distinguish different objects, rather than to describe a specific order or primary-secondary relationship.

Reference herein to "embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of the present application. The appearance of this phrase in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is a separate or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive of other embodiments. It is understood explicitly and implicitly by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described in the present application can be combined with other embodiments.

In the description of the present application, it should be noted that the terms "mounting", "connecting", "connection" and "attachment" should be understood in a broad sense, unless otherwise explicitly specified or defined. For example, it may be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integrated connection; and it may be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or may be a communication between the interior of two elements. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present application can be understood according to specific situations.

In the present application, the term "and/or" is only an association relationship for describing associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, A and/or B may represent three situations: A exists alone, both A and B exist, and B exists alone. In addition, the character "/" in the present application generally means that the associated objects before and after it are in an "or" relationship.

In the present application, "a plurality of" means two or more (comprising two), similarly, "a plurality of groups" means two or more groups (comprising two groups), and "a plurality of sheets" means two or more sheets (comprising two sheets).

The battery mentioned in embodiments of the present application refers to a single physical module comprising a plurality of battery cells to provide higher voltage and capacity. For example, the battery mentioned in the present application may include a battery module, a battery pack, or the like.

The present application provides a quick-change lock assembly which requires less space, can achieve high fastening performance, and meanwhile has an anti-loosening structure with high reliability, as well as a locking device using the quick-change lock assembly.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present application will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

A locking device <NUM> of the present application comprises a quick-change lock assembly <NUM> and a nut assembly <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic exploded diagram of a quick-change lock assembly in a locking device according to some embodiments of the present application. <FIG> is a schematic exploded diagram of a nut assembly in a locking device according to some embodiments of the present application. <FIG> is a sectional view of a locking device comprising a quick-change lock assembly and a nut assembly according to some embodiments of the present application. <FIG> is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a quick-change lock assembly and a nut assembly of a locking device according to some embodiments of the present application are respectively installed on a battery pack beam and a vehicle body beam. <FIG> is a sectional view of a state before a quick-change lock assembly is installed on a nut assembly. <FIG> is a schematic diagram illustrating a state after a battery pack beam is locked to a vehicle body beam using a locking device according to some embodiments of the present application.

First, the configuration of the quick-change lock assembly <NUM> of the locking device <NUM> of the present application will be described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the quick-change lock assembly <NUM> comprises a shell <NUM>, a quick-change bolt <NUM>, an elastic member <NUM>, a bolt driving rod <NUM> and a locking mechanism <NUM>. The shell <NUM> has a substantially cylindrical structure with a hollow cavity formed therein, and an opening <NUM> formed in the top wall. In some embodiments, a boss <NUM> is further formed at the top of the shell <NUM>, and the outer ring of the boss <NUM> has a toothed structure for pressing the shell <NUM> into a battery pack beam <NUM> of a new energy vehicle by means of interference fit, as will be described later.

The quick-change bolt <NUM> is arranged in the cavity and is configured to be able to move axially, so as to protrude from or be accommodated in the cavity via the opening <NUM>. In other words, the quick-change bolt <NUM> forms a clearance fit with the shell <NUM>. A through hole <NUM> is axially formed in the quick-change bolt <NUM> for being matched with a bolt matching section <NUM> of the bolt driving rod <NUM> to be described below. In some embodiments, the quick-change bolt <NUM> may be provided with a trapezoidal thread whereby the service life of the bolt can be improved.

The bolt driving rod <NUM> comprises the bolt matching section <NUM>, a flange portion <NUM> and a tool matching section <NUM>. The bolt matching section <NUM> is configured to be slidably inserted into the through hole <NUM>, and matched with the through hole <NUM> such that the quick-change bolt <NUM> is rotatable with the bolt driving rod <NUM>. A first side surface (upper surface in <FIG>), opposite to the quick-change bolt <NUM>, of the flange portion <NUM> can abut against the bottom of the quick-change bolt <NUM>, such that when the quick-change bolt <NUM> is installed, the quick-change bolt <NUM> can be pushed to move axially. The tool matching section <NUM> is configured to be matched with a tool, and when a battery is locked or disassembled, the tool drives the tool matching section <NUM> to rotate, so as to drive the quick-change bolt <NUM> to rotate via the bolt matching section <NUM>, thereby realizing the tightening or disassembly of the quick-change bolt <NUM>. Although not explicitly shown in the figures, as would be understood by those skilled in the art, for example, the tool matching section <NUM> may be internally formed with a polygonal through hole, and the front end of the tool may be a polygonal prism to fit therewith, such that the tool is able to drive the tool matching section <NUM> to rotate.

In some embodiments, as shown in <FIG>, the bolt matching section <NUM> comprises a guide portion <NUM> and a driving portion <NUM>. The guide portion <NUM> may be formed in a round rod shape, and the driving portion <NUM> may be formed in a polygonal prism shape. Correspondingly, as shown in <FIG>, the through hole <NUM> comprises a first through hole section <NUM> and a second through hole section <NUM>. The cross section of the first through hole section <NUM> may be less than the cross section of the second through hole section <NUM>. The first through hole section <NUM> may be formed as a through hole of which the shape is corresponding to the guide portion <NUM> and which has a circular cross section. The guide portion <NUM> is configured to be inserted into the first through hole section <NUM>, to guide the insertion of the bolt driving rod <NUM>. The second through hole section <NUM> may be formed as a polygonal through hole of which the shape is corresponding to the driving portion <NUM>. The driving portion <NUM> is configured to be inserted into the second through hole section <NUM>, and matched with the second through hole section <NUM>, enabling the quick-change bolt <NUM> to rotate with the bolt driving rod <NUM>. Alternatively, in some other embodiments, the driving portion <NUM> may be in spline fit with the second through hole section <NUM>. Here, it should be noted that in the embodiment where the through hole <NUM> comprises the first through hole section <NUM> and the second through hole section <NUM>, the length of the second through hole section <NUM> needs to be appropriately selected such that after the quick-change bolt <NUM> is tightened to the quick-change nut, and the bolt driving rod <NUM> is reset, the driving portion <NUM> does not come out of the second through hole section <NUM>.

Both ends of the elastic member <NUM> respectively abut against the inner top wall of the shell <NUM> and the first side surface of the flange portion <NUM>. Therefore, when the elastic member <NUM> resets after being compressed, the elastic member <NUM> pushes the flange portion <NUM> in a direction away from the inner top wall of the shell <NUM>. In some embodiments, the elastic member <NUM> may be a spring. In these embodiments, the spring can be sleeved on the outer side of the quick-change bolt <NUM>.

The locking mechanism <NUM> has a circular shape corresponding to the shell <NUM>, and is fixed to the shell <NUM>. In some embodiments, the locking mechanism <NUM> can be locked with the shell <NUM> via a threaded connection. In some embodiments, the locking mechanism <NUM> may be formed in the shape of a pit on the inner side for accommodating the flange portion <NUM> of the bolt driving rod <NUM>. Here, it should be noted that when the locking mechanism <NUM> is fixed to the shell <NUM>, the elastic member <NUM> has been brought into a compressed state. Therefore, at this time, the flange portion <NUM> is pushed by the elastic member <NUM>, and the lock mechanism <NUM> abuts against a second side surface, on the side opposite to the first side surface, of the flange portion <NUM>. The locking mechanism <NUM> is provided with an opening <NUM> from which the tool matching section <NUM> protrudes. First anti-loosening teeth <NUM> are provided on the second side surface of the flange portion <NUM>, second anti-loosening teeth <NUM> are provided on the side, abutting against the flange portion <NUM>, of the locking mechanism <NUM>, and the second anti-loosening teeth <NUM> adapt to be engaged with the first anti-loosening teeth <NUM> for locking or disengaged from the same for unlocking.

In some embodiments, the first anti-loosening teeth <NUM> and the second anti-loosening teeth <NUM> are inclined toothed structures. In these embodiments, the angle of inclination of the first anti-loosening teeth <NUM> and the second anti-loosening teeth <NUM> is preferably <NUM>°-<NUM>°.

Next, the configuration of the nut assembly <NUM> of the locking device of the present application will be described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>.

The nut assembly <NUM> comprises a cover plate <NUM>, a quick-change nut <NUM> and a base <NUM>. The quick-change nut <NUM> is provided with a nut body <NUM> and a cap portion <NUM> connected to the nut body <NUM>. The nut body <NUM> is provided with a threaded through hole which is matched with the quick-change bolt <NUM>. An accommodating space is formed between the cover plate <NUM> and the base <NUM>. In some embodiments, the cover plate <NUM> may be formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape protruding in the middle, and the base <NUM> may be formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape. Thus, the accommodating space may be formed between the cover plate <NUM> and the base <NUM>. In some embodiments, threaded holes <NUM> may be formed at four corners of the cover plate <NUM>, and through holes <NUM> may be formed at the positions, corresponding to the threaded holes <NUM>, of the base <NUM>. Thus, the cover plate can be fixedly connected to a vehicle body beam <NUM> of the new energy vehicle, for example, by bolts <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, as will be described later. The cap portion <NUM> of the quick-change nut <NUM> is arranged in the accommodating space. The accommodating space is configured to allow the quick-change nut <NUM> to move within a predetermined range, thereby ensuring that the quick-change nut <NUM> is aligned with the quick-change lock assembly <NUM>. The base <NUM> is provided with an opening <NUM> from which the nut body <NUM> protrudes. The diameter of the opening <NUM> is greater than the diameter of the outer ring of the nut body <NUM>, thereby allowing the quick change nut <NUM> to move within the predetermined range as described above.

In some embodiments, a flanging <NUM> is provided on the base <NUM> to limit rotation of the quick-change nut <NUM> relative to the base <NUM>. Alternatively, in some other embodiments, the flanging <NUM> may also be provided on one side of the cover plate <NUM>. Alternatively, flangings <NUM> may be provided on both the base <NUM> and the cover plate <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the cover plate <NUM> is provided with an opening <NUM> from which the quick-change bolt <NUM> protrudes. Therefore, the quick-change bolts with different lengths <NUM> are allowed to be accommodated.

Next, with reference to <FIG>, an embodiment of locking a battery pack to a vehicle body of the new energy vehicle by using the quick-change lock assembly <NUM> and the nut assembly <NUM> of the present application is illustrated.

As shown in <FIG>, a substantially circular hole <NUM> corresponding to the shape of the shell <NUM> of the quick-change lock assembly <NUM> is formed in the battery pack beam <NUM> of the new energy vehicle. During installation, the boss <NUM> of the shell <NUM> is aligned with the circular hole <NUM>, the shell <NUM> of the quick-change lock assembly <NUM> is pressed into the battery pack beam <NUM> through interference fit of the toothed structure for riveting and fixing, achieving quick installation of the quick-change lock assembly <NUM> and the battery pack beam <NUM>.

On the other hand, a substantially rectangular groove <NUM> corresponding to the appearance of the nut assembly <NUM> is formed in the vehicle body beam <NUM> of the new energy vehicle. The nut assembly <NUM> is arranged in the groove <NUM> and supported by the groove <NUM>. Through holes <NUM> are formed in the positions, corresponding to the threaded holes <NUM> of the nut assembly <NUM>, of the groove <NUM>. The bolts <NUM> are inserted into the through holes <NUM> and matched with the threaded holes <NUM> to fix the nut assembly <NUM> into the groove <NUM> of the vehicle body beam <NUM>. An opening <NUM> is formed in the position, corresponding to the nut body <NUM> of the nut assembly <NUM>, of the groove <NUM>, and the nut body <NUM> passes through the opening <NUM> to cooperate with the quick-change bolt <NUM> of the quick-change lock assembly <NUM> to achieve locking.

During installation, as shown in <FIG>, a tool is used to drive the bolt driving rod <NUM> to rotate via the tool matching section <NUM> of the bolt driving rod <NUM>, whereby the bolt driving rod <NUM> also drives the quick-change bolt <NUM> to rotate via the bolt matching section <NUM> until the quick-change bolt <NUM> is in threaded connection with the quick-change nut <NUM> to achieve tightening. During such process, both ends of the elastic member <NUM> respectively abut against the inner top wall of the shell <NUM> and the first side surface of the flange portion <NUM>, such that the elastic member <NUM> is further compressed. When the quick-change bolt <NUM> is tightened, the tool is removed, and the bolt driving rod <NUM> is reset by the elastic member <NUM>. As previously described, since the elastic member <NUM> is already in the compressed state when the locking mechanism <NUM> is fixed to the shell <NUM>, i.e., before starting to rotate the quick-change bolt <NUM>, even if the bolt driving rod <NUM> is reset, the elastic member <NUM> still pushes the bolt driving rod <NUM>, thereby causing the bolt driving rod <NUM> to abut against the locking mechanism <NUM>. Thus, the first locking teeth <NUM> provided on the first side surface of the flange portion <NUM> of the bolt driving rod <NUM> are engaged with the second locking teeth <NUM> provided on the locking mechanism <NUM>. By means of engagement of the anti-loosening teeth, it is possible to prevent the quick-change bolt <NUM> from loosening.

<FIG> illustrates the schematic diagram showing the state after the battery pack beam is locked to the vehicle body beam using the locking device. According to the locking device of the present application, particularly the one-piece quick-change lock assembly of the present application, quick assembly of the locking device can be achieved, and meanwhile, the anti-loosening and anti-rotation effects are achieved.

It should be understood that although the locking device is described above in connection with the power battery of the new energy vehicle, the locking device is not limited to being only applied to the power battery, but may also be applied to other locking scenarios.

Claim 1:
A quick-change lock assembly (<NUM>), comprising:
a shell (<NUM>) with a hollow cavity formed therein;
a quick-change bolt (<NUM>) arranged in the cavity, and internally provided with a through hole (<NUM>) along the axial direction, the quick-change bolt (<NUM>) being capable of moving axially to protrude from the cavity or being accommodated in the cavity;
a bolt driving rod (<NUM>), comprising a bolt matching section (<NUM>), a flange portion (<NUM>) and a tool matching section (<NUM>), wherein the bolt matching section (<NUM>) is configured to be slidably inserted into the through hole (<NUM>), and matched with the through hole (<NUM>) such that the quick-change bolt (<NUM>) is rotatable with the bolt driving rod (<NUM>), and a first side surface, opposite to the quick-change bolt (<NUM>), of the flange portion (<NUM>) is configured to be able to push the quick-change bolt (<NUM>) to move axially;
an elastic member (<NUM>), both ends of which respectively abut against an inner top wall of the shell (<NUM>) and the first side surface of the flange portion (<NUM>); and
a locking mechanism (<NUM>) fixed to the shell (<NUM>), wherein the locking mechanism (<NUM>) abuts against a second side surface of the flange portion (<NUM>), the locking mechanism (<NUM>) is provided with an opening (<NUM>) from which the tool matching section (<NUM>) protrudes, and the second side surface is located on the opposite side of the first side surface,
wherein first anti-loosening teeth (<NUM>) are provided on the second side surface of the flange portion (<NUM>), and the locking mechanism (<NUM>) is provided with second anti-loosening teeth (<NUM>) adapted to be engaged with the first anti-loosening teeth (<NUM>) for locking or disengaged from the same for unlocking.