FI121865B - Charging device for electric vehicles - Google Patents

Description

ELECTRICAL VEHICLE CHARGING ARRANGEMENT FIELD OF THE INVENTION

In particular, the invention relates to charging electric or hybrids powered vehicles from an electrical outlet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As vehicle emissions become more stringent, a variety of methods have been developed to reduce emissions. Examples include fully electric cars, partially electric cars, and various combustion engine emission reduction technologies, such as electrically preheating the engine or various environmentally friendly alternative fuels.

Electrically preheating the engine coolant is a well-known technique and connects the line to the car's engine heater with a conventional mains power supply using a plug specifically designed for the vehicle. Often the problem with the electrical plug on the front of the car is the vulnerability to weather and especially snow. Therefore, the plug is protected by a spring-loaded protective flap that closes when the charging cable is removed from the plug. Often these pis-25 shields are small, so it is possible, for example, to place them in the front grille of the car so that the plug is well protected and does not interfere with the overall appearance of the bow, co *? Fully electric or fully electric co o 30 rechargeable, partially electric car

Ee need is significantly greater. Therefore, a quick charge of the electric car Q_ 'requires power. fast

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2 downloads are needed for example in cases where

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° where you want to charge your car midway. However, a suitable electrical plug for the car's cubic cm 35 amps is not suitable for fast charging because the required electrical current requires the use of a larger plug. Typically, power plugs are larger in size, so placing them in the car body is not as easy. An example of a plug 5 to be used is described in IEC International Standard Reference IEC 62196-1: 2003 and entitled "Plugs, socket-outlets, vehicle couplers and vehicle inlets - Part 1: Charging of electric vehicles up to 250 A Ac and 400 10 A dc '.

The closest prior art solution is to use a conventional closure hatch or protective cap, such as that used to protect the fuel tank filler cap, to place the plug and to place a power socket 15 behind it. Such solutions are available from many different manufacturers. The problem with such a solution is that the cover that protects the charging plug cannot be closed during charging and thus the plug should be positioned so that a random passer-by can unload the car or accidentally crash into the open door while charging. Therefore, it is desired to place the plug under the protective cover so that the entire charging plug, except the outgoing cable, is under the protective cover. Alternatively, using the existing power map plugs, the power socket in the car should be located very deep relative to the body surface, so the charging opening and the protective cover should be large enough to accommodate the power plug as well as the hand. Such is the overall slit 9 of the car, which is disadvantageous in terms of field and appearance.

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| SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention describes a charging system for at least a partially electric vehicle, with the vehicle charging socket being mounted under a cover so that when the charging socket cover is open, the charging socket is movable between at least two different positions. Typically, the charging socket slides outwardly attached to the moving subframe so that the plug of the charging cable 5 is easily connected to the socket. When the protective cover is closed, the charging socket slides backwards inward, allowing the protective cover to close so that the cord cannot be disconnected without opening the protective cover. There is a notch in the protective cover for cable entry.

In one embodiment of the invention, the movable auxiliary body facilitating the insertion and removal of the plug is locked when the protective cover is open in the ejected position, so that inserting the plug into the socket does not move the subframe and thus the socket. Closing the cover 15 unlocks the subframe and the socket can slide back into the vehicle body structure, leaving the cover locked and the charging plug engaged. When the car battery is not charged and the plug of the charging cable is not inserted into the charging socket, the protective cover is closed so that it is possible to lock the subframe into an internal position so that it cannot move, for example, while driving. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the subframe is always automatically locked in its internal position. Although the term "25" is used in this application, the skilled artisan will appreciate that the movable subframe may also be pulled out of the interior position; the same applies to inward movement. In the present invention, the closed position refers to a position in which the protective cover is either co 30 fully closed or slightly gaped in the cable entry.

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o facilitate. In one embodiment of the invention, the cover is locked in a closed position such that

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the protective cover cannot be opened without unlocking it with the co key or the central locking system. A small excess of 35 ° in closed position allows easy use of wires of different thicknesses, as well as Minimization of the slot used for cable passage. The smaller cavity is less well protected from contamination and does not stand out so easily from the car's appearance. The movement can be realized by leaving the protective cover slightly open in the direction of its normal trajectory or by tilting it, for example, with a separate mechanism, so that the protective cover remains slightly open at the cable entry.

In one embodiment of the invention, the subframe is attached to sliding rails which are fixed to the vehicle body structure either directly or by means of, for example, frame brackets. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the charging arrangement comprises means for moving the auxiliary body into the extended position. In one embodiment of the invention, the device is a gas spring.

The present invention further relates to a partially or fully electric vehicle having a charging arrangement as described above. In the present application, a partially electric vehicle refers to a vehicle having, in addition to the electric motor 20, another power source, typically an internal combustion engine.

The charging system of the present invention provides the ability to connect an electric vehicle for charging via a power plug such that the plug cannot be removed during charging without the use of vehicle keys or remote control locking. With the arrangement of the present invention, the power plug is easy to connect to the vehicle's extended power outlet and then to insert a lockable protective cover? 30 behind. The plug attachment is thus protected against both vandalism and damage. Because of the above

The present invention thus achieves both

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LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1 shows an arrangement according to the invention in a closed position, Figure 2 shows an arrangement 5 according to the invention in a semi-open position, and Figure 3 shows an arrangement according to the invention in an open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment of a charging arrangement according to the present invention. The charging arrangement comprises a protective cover 10, a socket 11, a movable auxiliary body 12, two sliding rails 13, a run cage 14 and a gas spring 15. Figure 1 also shows a charging line 16 with a charging plug 17 at its end. stationary and charging the vehicle batteries. The outlet 11 is connected to the vehicle electrical system to charge the vehicle batteries.

In Fig. 1, the protective cover 10 is a protective cover which rises upwards from the pivoting arms on the support arms, thereby exposing the charging socket. The protective cover may also be secured at its edges by pivoting, overturning, or other suitable means, and may be joined, for example, to a vehicle's bow mark or other emblem. Socket 11 is a power socket suitable for charging an electric vehicle. In the present embodiment w, a moving image subframe 12 is used to move the socket, which is moved by sliding rails 13g 30. However, the auxiliary frame may also be displaced by other suitable rails or transfer mechanisms, cc

Alternatively, the movable subframe may be an exemplary cd substrate supported on the bottom by one or more rails on a rail or, for example, a subframe disposed in a tube or tunnel o 35, the movement of which is limited by automatic transfer means. For example, the path may also be curved or otherwise deviate from linear motion.

The structure 14 of Figure 1 is shown for clarity and is used to attach the present application to the vehicle body structure. Thus, in the present embodiment, the movable auxiliary body 12 is secured to the body structure by sliding rails 13 and structure 14. The gas spring 15 is used to push the movable subframe into the extended position. In Figure 110, the charge line 16 and its plug 17 are shown in the interior position. In the present example, the movable auxiliary body 12 is locked in position, preventing the outlet 11 and the plug 17 attached to it from moving. Typically, the locking is associated with the protective cover being in the closed position. The protective cover 10 may be connected to a central vehicle locking system. In addition to the protective cover, the socket can also be provided with an additional locking system that mechanically locks the plug into the socket. The auxiliary locking system may also be combined with the vehicle central locking system.

Figure 2 shows the same embodiment as Figure 1. In Figure 2, the charging arrangement is being opened or closed. During opening, the protective cover 10 is sliding aside and the movable auxiliary body 12 is sliding on the sliding rails 13 with respect to the vehicle body structure. In the present example, the gas spring ^ 15 pushes the movable auxiliary body 12 outward. Alternative- (M .... ...

, the otherwise movable auxiliary body 12 may be mechanically connected to the mechanism of the protective cover 10, for example 30, or it may be pulled out in other ways. When closing,

Push the subframe back into the inner position. Alternatively, it can be automatically pulled into the inner position 1 by connecting it to the mechanics of the protective cover 10, LT) 35 using a spring corresponding to the gas spring 15 or some other mechanism pulling the movable subframe 12, 7 into the socket 11 and plug 17.

Fig. 3 shows the same embodiment as Figs. 1 and 2. In Figure 3, the protective cover 5 10 of the charging system is in the fully open position, thereby allowing the outlet to be used and the plug 17 to be removed or inserted. When the protective cover is open, the movable auxiliary body 12 is locked in its outermost position to facilitate attachment and removal of the plug. Typically, the locking of the subframe 10 in the extended position is associated with a situation where the protective cover 10 is in the fully opened position. Fig. 3 also shows a recess 18 in the protective cover 10, which is provided for the passage of the conductor 16 when the protective cover 10 is closed. In this way, the protective cover can be completely closed even when the charging plug 17 is in place. Referring to the closed position of Figure 1, it is to be noted that the closed position refers to a position in which the protective cover 10 is either fully closed or slightly spaced 20 to facilitate cable passage. In one embodiment of the invention, the protective cover 10 is locked in a closed position such that the protective cover 10 cannot be opened without unlocking it with a key or a central locking system. The small clearance in the closed position 25 allows easy use of wires of different thicknesses, as well as the reduction of the recess 18 used for conducting the wire. The maneuver can be realized by leaving the protective cover 10 slightly open in the direction of its normal trajectory, by tilting it? 30 so that the protective cover 10 remains slightly open from the raised lead-through 18.

The invention is not limited to the foregoing-

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but many modifications are possible while remaining within the scope of the claims,

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^ 35 within the scope of the inventive idea defined by them, p

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Claims (10)

A charging arrangement for an electric vehicle, the charging arrangement comprising a lockable protective cover (10) 5 attached to the vehicle body structure and a socket (11) mounted on an auxiliary body (12) movable with respect to the vehicle body structure movable between at least two positions; when said protective cover (10) is open, characterized in that the auxiliary body (12) and the charging socket (11) connected thereto are arranged to slide between the first extended position and the inserted second position, wherein the charging plug (17) of the charging cable (16) is plugged into socket 15 (11), and in another position the subframe (12), charging socket (11) and charging plug (17) connected to the charging socket are in the retracted position where the protective cover (10) can be closed and locked so that the charging plug 17) Be 20 detachable from the charging socket during charging a without opening the protective cover. Loading arrangement according to Claim 1, characterized in that the movable subframe (12) comprises two sliding rails (13) which are fastened to the vehicle body structure. Charging arrangement according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the auxiliary frame (12) of the movement arrangement of the charging arrangement is locked in the extended position when said protective cover (10) is opened. X en Q_ co Charging system according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the movable auxiliary body (12) of the la-35 system is locked in its inner position when said protective cover (10) is closed. Charging arrangement according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the charging arrangement comprises pushing means (15) for ejecting the charging plug. 5 Charging arrangement according to Claim 5, characterized in that the pushing means (15) is a gas spring. Charging arrangement according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the charging arrangement comprises locking means for locking the movable subframe in place in at least one desired location. 15 Charging arrangement according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the protective cap has a recess (17) for passing the charging cable. Charging arrangement according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the outlet is a power outlet. Vehicle, at least partially electric, characterized in that the electric vehicle comprises a charging arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 9. δ CM CO O CO O X cc CL CO 05 δ o δ CM