CN215419385U

CN215419385U - Column

Info

Publication number: CN215419385U
Application number: CN201990000458.3U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 莫罗·德劳里
Original assignee: Alfazero SpA
Current assignee: Alfazero SpA
Priority date: 2018-02-09
Filing date: 2019-02-08
Publication date: 2022-01-04
Anticipated expiration: 2029-02-08
Also published as: WO2019155409A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a pole 10 for charging an electric vehicle, comprising a box 12 having a fixed structure 14 and at least one openable door 16. The tank can assume a closed use configuration and an open maintenance configuration. The column 10 includes: -a user interface 18; -an electrical power socket 20; a power/electronic supply circuit 22 adapted to supply power to an electric outlet through an external distribution network 24; an electronic supply card 26 adapted to manage the supply of power to an electric outlet; and-an electronic user interface card 28 adapted to manage the operation of the user interface. The user interface and the power socket are accessible from the outside even when the case is in the closed use configuration, whereas the power/electronic supply circuits, the electronic supply card and the electronic user interface card are contained within the case and are accessible from the outside only when the case is in the open maintenance configuration. In the column according to the utility model, the power/electronic supply circuit, the electronic supply card and the electronic user interface card are mounted on the inner surface of the door.

Description

Column

Technical Field

The utility model relates to a column (column) for charging an electric vehicle.

Background

With the popularity of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, a need has arisen to establish a network of charging posts throughout the area to ensure that electrical energy is replenished while parking.

Charging columns of known type basically comprise a tank which must be installed at the point of the network served by the underground electric network. Power and service management electronics are located inside the cabinet. In addition to the power supply circuit intended to supply the electrical energy for charging, many other control circuits are necessary, in particular for columns suitable for public use. In fact, generally the column must provide the possibility of installing: a user interface, a customer identification module, a payment module, a module for communicating with a remote panel, and one or more security modules. In a known manner, the cabinet comprises a door to allow a technician, for example during the steps of installing and maintaining the column, to access the internal electronics. The overall dimensions of the columns are generally reduced to a minimum, for example to facilitate handling and transport of the columns, and to reduce their visual impact in a well-known urban environment (e.g. a historic town centre).

Although popular, the known type of charging post is not without drawbacks. First, they are characterized by a lack of flexibility in the installation process. In order to enlarge the network as much as possible, it is necessary to install charging posts both in new and existing sites (such as, for example, parking lots in shopping centers, airports, train stations, and historic town centers). Furthermore, in addition to the public use of the network, it is necessary to install a private post and thus be located in a garage or a private parking lot. In all other cases, except in the case of field installation at the time of construction, it is not always possible to guarantee the supply of power via underground cables present in correspondence with the columns. Instead, it is generally necessary to mount the supply cables and the column itself on an existing floor that does not allow excavation work.

Furthermore, the box constituting the column of known type has a door with a predetermined opening pattern, for example to the right or to the left. Of course, the default open mode cannot take into account the specific requirements that may arise during the installation phase. For example, in existing venues, obstructions from building and/or city elements already present near the columns may prevent proper opening of the doors, making access to the internal electronics difficult or impossible.

Furthermore, even if the opening of the door can be fully guaranteed, the large number of electronic circuits inside the column and the reduction of the available internal space make it difficult for the technician to access all the individual circuits in any case. It will be easier to access circuits located in close proximity to the door, and more difficult to access other circuits, especially those located more internally within the same cabinet.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages highlighted above with respect to the prior art.

In particular, it is an object of the utility model to provide a charging column which allows a technician to easily access all internal electronic circuits.

Furthermore, the object of the utility model is to provide a charging post which allows easy installation even in situations where excavation work is not possible.

Drawings

For a better understanding of the present invention and to its advantages, some exemplary and non-limiting embodiments of the utility model are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 schematically shows a partial perspective front view of a charging column according to the prior art;

fig. 2 schematically shows a partial perspective front view of a charging column according to the utility model;

figure 3 schematically shows a section similar to the one taken along the line III-III of figure 1;

figure 4 schematically shows a section similar to the one taken along the line IV-IV of figure 2;

figure 5 shows a perspective view of a charging column according to the utility model in a closed configuration;

figure 6 shows the column of figure 5 in an open configuration; and

figure 7 shows a sequence of steps of reconfiguration of the hinges of the door.

Detailed Description

Since the utility model is designed to be used in the presence of gravitational acceleration g, it is intended that gravitational acceleration g uniquely defines the vertical direction. Accordingly, it should be understood that the terms "high," "higher," "above," and the like are expressly defined relative to the terms "low," "lower," "below," and the like, based on the gravitational acceleration g. Similarly, it is understood that the horizontal direction is also defined based on the gravitational acceleration g.

According to a first aspect thereof, the present invention relates to a column 10 for charging electric vehicles, comprising a box 12, the box 12 having a fixed structure 14 and one or more doors 16 openable, wherein the box 12 can assume a closed use configuration and an open maintenance configuration. The column 10 includes:

-a user interface 18;

-an electrical power socket 20;

a power/electronic supply circuit 22 adapted to supply power to the power socket 20 through an external distribution network 24;

an electronic supply card 26 adapted to manage the supply of electrical energy to the electrical outlet 20; and

an electronic user interface card 28 adapted to manage the operation of the user interface 18.

The user interface 18 and the power receptacle 20 are externally accessible even when the case 12 is in the closed use configuration, while the power/electronic supply circuit 22, the electronic supply card 26 and the electronic user interface card 28 are contained inside the case 12 and are externally accessible only when the case 12 is in the open maintenance configuration.

Inside the column 10 according to the utility model, the power/electronic supply circuits 22, the electronic supply card 26 and the electronic user interface card 28 are mounted on the inner surface of said one or more doors 16.

Preferably, the column 10 has the overall shape of a prism and advantageously comprises a plurality of doors 16 distributed on the lateral surface of the prism. In this case, the power/electronic supply circuitry 22, the electronic supply card 26 and the electronic user interface card 28 may each be mounted on an interior surface of more than one door 16.

For example, fig. 5 and 6 show a post that is generally prism-shaped with a triangular base. In this embodiment, the column 10 includes three doors 16, one on each side of the prism (see in particular fig. 6).

The user interface 18 preferably comprises a display and/or a keyboard and/or a touch screen display.

The power receptacle 20 preferably conforms to one of the standards defined in the field of electric vehicle charging, and even more preferably it conforms to one of the standards defined in the applicable IEC (international electrotechnical commission) standard.

As mentioned above, the power/electronic supply circuitry 22, the electronic supply card 26 and the electronic user interface card 28 are mounted on the inner surface of the door 16. In this way, when a technician opens the door 16 of the enclosure 12 to perform maintenance operations, the electrical and electronic components (generally designated 30) mounted on the door 16 come out of the interior compartment 32 of the enclosure 12 and they become accessible from multiple sides. The advantages achieved by this technical feature can be easily seen from a comparison between figure 3, which schematically represents the prior art, and figure 4, which schematically represents the present invention. In the case 12 of fig. 3, once the door 16 is opened, only one side (the right side in the plan view of fig. 3) of the respective sides of the electric and electronic parts 30 is exposed, and the other three sides are all covered by the wall of the case 12. In contrast, in the case 12 of fig. 4, once the door 16 is opened, all three sides of the electrical and electronic components 30 are exposed, with only one side resting on the door 16 itself. This makes it easier to access the electrical and electronic components 30.

Preferably, the column 10 according to the utility model also comprises a payment unit 34 adapted to accept economic transactions from the user. The payment unit 34 is externally accessible even when the housing 12 is in the closed configuration of use. The payment unit 34 may comprise, for example, a cash payment module, such as a banknote acceptor and/or a coin acceptor, and/or a module for payment by electronic money, such as a POS (point of sale) accepting payment by credit card and/or payment by smartphone. The column 10 also comprises an electronic payment card 36 adapted to manage the user's payments, if the payment unit 34 is present. The electronic payment card 36 is contained within the housing 12 and is externally accessible only when the housing 12 is in the open maintenance configuration.

Preferably, the column 10 further comprises one or more of the following additional components:

an electronic communication card 38 adapted to communicate with a remote panel;

one or more safety modules 40 adapted to guarantee the safety of the column 10, even in the event of a break and/or accident;

one or more cooling fans 42 adapted to create forced air circulation in the interior compartment 32 of the cabinet 12 to cool the electrical and electronic components 30.

The electronic communications card 38, the security module 40 and the cooling fan 42, if present, are contained within the interior compartment 32 of the case 12 and are externally accessible only when the case 12 is in the open maintenance configuration.

Preferably, other electrical and electronic components 30 are also mounted on the inner surface of one of the doors 16. Such electrical and electronic components 30 may, for example, comprise one or more of the following: an electronic payment card 36, an electronic communications card 38, one or more security modules 40, and one or more cooling fans 42.

Preferably, each door 16 is mounted on the fixed structure 14 of the cabinet 12 by means of a hinge 44, the hinge 44 allowing the movement from the closed configuration to the open configuration and vice versa. Furthermore, such hinges 44 are preferably easily reconfigurable. For example, according to some embodiments, the fixed structure 14 of the case 12 includes a base 46, a plurality of posts 48, and a removable cover 50. The hinges 44 are constituted by pins 52, these pins 52 being partially receivable in suitable seats (seats) formed respectively in the base 46 of the cabinet 12 and in the removable cover 50, and in the door 16 itself. In more detail, the first pin 52 may be partially received in a seat formed in the base 46 of the cabinet 12, and partially in a seat formed in a lower portion of the door 16. Likewise, the second pin 52 may be partially received in a seat formed in the upper portion of the door 16, and partially in a seat formed in the removable cover 50 of the case 12. This configuration allows the door 16 to rotate about the hinge axis 44 defined by the two pins 52.

Preferably, seats adapted to partially receive the pins 52 are formed on both sides (right and left sides) of the door 16, base 46 and removable cover 50 of the cabinet 12. In this way, once the cover 50 of the cabinet 12 is removed, the pin 52 can be moved from one side of the door 16 to the other, thereby enabling reconfiguration of the manner in which the door 16 is opened. This reconfiguration operation is schematically illustrated by the series of fig. 7. For example, the door 16 of fig. 7.a is hinged on its right side, but due to the above features, the door 16 can be easily reconfigured so that the door 16 is hinged on its left side (see fig. 7. d). After the cover 50 of the case 12 is temporarily removed (fig. 7.b), the pin 52 can be moved (fig. 7.c) and the cover 50 can be repositioned. This reconfiguration can be easily accomplished during installation and/or maintenance of the column 10, and can also be performed several times depending on the particular needs that may occur.

More preferably, the technician can move the pin 52 by hand without any tools. In this way, the reconfiguration operation of the door 16 is particularly simple.

According to a second aspect thereof, the present invention relates to a column 10 for charging electric vehicles, comprising a box 12, the box 12 having a fixed structure 14 and at least one openable door 16, wherein the fixed structure 14 is adapted to be anchored on a horizontal external base (base)54, and wherein the fixed structure 14 comprises a lower power supply portion 56, the lower power supply portion 56 having an external opening 58 adapted to pass a power supply cable 60, wherein the external opening 58 may have:

a first lateral horizontal orientation in which the external opening 58 is adapted to have at least a partially horizontally oriented cable 60 parallel to the external base 54 pass through; and/or

A second lower vertical orientation (vertical-lower orientation) in which the external opening 58 is adapted to have at least partially vertically oriented cables 60 passing therethrough perpendicular to the external base 54.

The column 10 conforms to what has been described above. The cable 60 is adapted to connect the charging post 10 to the external distribution network 24.

In other words, the charging column 10 according to the present invention may be used under various conditions. In case the installation site is being built and/or allows to carry out excavation work, the installation may be carried out in a similar way as in the prior art columns. In particular, installation of the column 10 may include the step of preparing an underground foundation 62 dedicated to receiving and supporting the column 10. The supply cable 60 can also be laid in a known manner in a suitable excavation (excavation)64, the excavation 64 passing straight through the foundation 62 of the column 10 (see the diagram of figure 1). In contrast, when the installation site does not allow to carry out excavation works, for example because it is located in a multistorey parking garage or in a famous urban environment, the installation of the column 10 according to the utility model is significantly different from the prior art and benefits from the technical features described above. In particular, in the case where excavation work is not possible, the installation of the column 10 may not include the step of preparing the dedicated foundation 62. In this case, the column 10 according to the utility model may be anchored to any existing foundation 54, such as a floor, by means of fasteners 66, such as screws, expansion pins, chemical dowels (chemical dowels) or the like. Furthermore, even the laying of the cable 60 must be carried out in a conduit above the ground.

Due to the presence of the lower power supply portion 56, the power supply cable 60 can also reach the box 12 from the lateral horizontal opening 58, while ensuring the complete operation and maximum safety of the column 10 itself.

As the skilled person will appreciate, the present invention allows to overcome the drawbacks highlighted above with respect to the prior art

In particular, the present invention provides a charging column 10 that allows a technician to easily access all internal electronic circuitry.

Further, the present invention provides a charging post 10 that allows easy installation even in a case where excavation work is impossible.

It is clear that the specific features are described in conjunction with various embodiments of the utility model in an illustrative and non-limiting sense. It is obvious that further modifications and variations can be made by those skilled in the art to meet contingent and specific requirements. For example, features described in connection with embodiments of the utility model may be inferred therefrom and applied to other embodiments of the utility model. However, such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A column (10) for charging electric vehicles, comprising a box (12), said box (12) having a fixed structure (14) and one or more doors (16) that can be opened, wherein said box (12) can assume a closed use configuration and an open maintenance configuration; the column (10) comprises:

-a user interface (18);

-an electrical power outlet (20);

-a power/electronic supply circuit (22) adapted to supply power to said power socket (20) through an external power distribution network (24);

-an electronic supply card (26) adapted to manage the supply of electrical energy to said electrical power outlet (20);

-an electronic user interface card (28) adapted to manage the operation of the user interface (18);

wherein the user interface (18) and the electrical power socket (20) are externally accessible even when the case (12) is in the closed use configuration, while the power/electronic supply circuit (22), the electronic supply card (26) and the electronic user interface card (28) are contained within the case (12) and are externally accessible only when the case (12) is in the open maintenance configuration;

the column (10) being characterized in that the power/electronic supply circuit (22), the electronic supply card (26) and the electronic user interface card (28) are mounted on the inner surface of the one or more doors (16).

2. Column (10) according to claim 1, having the overall shape of a prism and comprising a plurality of doors (16), said plurality of doors (16) being distributed on the lateral surfaces of the prism and each being provided, on its own internal surface, with said power/electronic supply circuit (22) and/or with said electronic supply card (26) and/or with said electronic user interface card (28).

3. Column (10) according to claim 1, wherein the user interface (18) comprises a display and/or a keyboard and/or a touch screen display.

4. A pole (10) according to any of claims 1-3, wherein the electrical outlet (20) complies with one of the standards defined by the applicable IEC standard.

5. A post (10) according to any of claims 1-3, further comprising one or more of the following additional components:

-a payment unit (34) and an electronic payment card (36), the payment unit (34) being adapted to accept an economic transaction from a user, the electronic payment card (36) being adapted to manage the payment of the user;

-an electronic communication card (38) adapted to communicate with a remote panel;

-one or more safety modules (40) adapted to secure the column (10);

-one or more cooling fans (42) adapted to create forced air circulation in the internal compartment (32) of the cabinet (12).

6. The post (10) of claim 5 wherein one or more of the following is mounted on an inner surface of the door (16):

-said electronic payment card (36),

-said electronic communication card (38),

-one or more security modules (40),

-one or more cooling fans (42).

7. Column (10) according to claim 1, wherein the fixed structure (14) is adapted to be anchored on a horizontal external base (54), and wherein the fixed structure (14) comprises a lower power supply portion (56), said lower power supply portion (56) having an external opening (58) adapted to be crossed by a power supply cable (60), wherein said external opening (58) can have:

-a first lateral horizontal orientation in which the external opening (58) is adapted to be crossed by the at least partially horizontal cable (60) parallel to the external base (54); and/or

-a second lower vertical orientation in which the external opening (58) is adapted to be crossed by the at least partially vertical cable (60) perpendicular to the external base (54).

8. The post (10) of claim 7 adapted to be anchored to any existing base (54) by a fastener (66).

9. Column (10) according to claim 8, wherein the fastener (66) comprises a screw and/or an expansion pin and/or a chemical pin.

10. A post (10) according to any of claims 7-9, wherein the external opening (58) is adapted to receive a cable (60) laid in a conduit above ground.

11. The post (10) according to any one of claims 7-9, wherein the external base (54) comprises an underground dedicated foundation (62), and wherein the external opening (58) is adapted to receive a cable (60) laid in a specific excavated canal (64), the specific excavated canal (64) leading to the foundation (62).

12. Column (10) according to claim 1, wherein the door (16) is mounted on the fixed structure (14) of the box (12) by means of a hinge (44), wherein the fixed structure (14) of the box (12) comprises a base (46), a plurality of uprights (48) and a removable cover (50), and wherein the hinge (44) comprises a pin (52), the pin (52) being partially receivable in suitable seats formed in the base (46) of the box (12) and in the removable cover (50) and in the door (16), respectively.

13. The column (10) of claim 12, wherein: a first pin (52) is partially received in a seat formed in the base (46) of the box (12) and partially in a seat formed in a lower portion of the door (16); and a second pin (52) is partially received in a seat formed in an upper portion of the door (16) and partially in a seat formed in the removable cover (50) of the box (12).

14. The column (10) according to claim 12 or 13, wherein: seats are obtained on the right and left sides of the door (16), of the box (12), of the base (46) and of the removable cover (50), suitable for partially receiving the pins (52).

15. Column (10) according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the pin (52) can be moved by hand without any tools.

16. A post (10) for charging electric vehicles, comprising a box (12), said box (12) having a fixed structure (14) and at least one openable door (16), wherein said fixed structure (14) is adapted to be anchored on a horizontal external base (54), and wherein said fixed structure (14) comprises a lower power supply portion (56), said lower power supply portion (56) having an external opening (58) adapted to be crossed by a power supply cable (60), wherein said external opening (58) can have: