DE102019129363A1 - CHARGING STATION - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a charging station for electric (passenger) vehicles with a housing which has a mains connection for supplying power to the charging station with alternating current, the charging station having at least a first and a second charging cable, each connectable to the housing, for charging at least two different electrical persons -Comprises motor vehicles with alternating current, wherein a load management system is present in the housing, which is designed to distribute the electrical power provided by the network connection to at least the first and second charging cables.

Description

The present invention relates to a charging station for electric motor vehicles or passenger motor vehicles.

With the increasing number of electric vehicles, there is an ever greater need for charging stations for such vehicles. Charging stations are now also being installed in private households or small companies, with one charging station usually being provided for each vehicle to be charged.

If several vehicles are to be charged, they are connected to different charging stations and charged by the different charging stations.

Here, however, the problem can arise that the electrical energy required or queried by the individual charging stations overloads the electrical installation. This can occur especially in private households.

In order to counter overload, the individual charging stations can be networked with each other, which, however, results in a high level of networking effort. In addition, the necessary planning and setting tasks can be very time-consuming.

If, on the other hand, several vehicles are to be charged at one charging station, it is necessary to connect the vehicles to the charging station one after the other, which in turn creates effort for the user.

It is therefore the object of the invention to create a simple way of charging several vehicles.

This object is achieved by a charging station according to claim 1.

The charging station according to the invention is suitable for electric passenger vehicles and comprises a housing, in particular a single housing, which has a mains connection for supplying power to the charging station with alternating current, the charging station having at least a first and a second charging cable, each connectable to the housing, for charging comprises at least two different electric passenger vehicles with alternating current. A load management system is present in the housing, which is designed to distribute the electrical power provided by the mains connection to at least the first and second charging cables.

The invention offers the advantage that a load management system is already present in the housing of the charging station, which distributes the power provided by the network connection to the different charging cables, and thus to different vehicles to be charged. A complex infrastructure with several charging stations or communication between individual charging stations can accordingly be dispensed with. The complexity of the installation of the charging station is thus significantly reduced, so that the charging station according to the invention can also be installed by electricians who are not specially trained in the area of electrical charging stations.

According to the invention, it is also advantageous that it is possible with the charging station to charge two or more vehicles (without being plugged in by a user) on low-dimensioned supply lines or electrical connections with a comparatively low maximum power. The charging station according to the invention is therefore particularly suitable for private households and small businesses, since neither complex concepts for planning the infrastructure of different charging stations nor complex electrical installations are necessary.

In the case of the charging station according to the invention, a mains connection is preferably provided in or on the housing, which provides both the power supply for the electronics of the charging station and the power supply for the charging process of the vehicles connected by means of the charging cables. In particular, at least two, but preferably a maximum of five, charging cables are connected to the charging station. For example, two or three charging cables can be used to connect all electric vehicles in a normal household at the same time and then charge them.

The simultaneous connection means that human interaction is no longer necessary during the charging process, so that a user does not have to monitor whether the charging process of a first vehicle has already been completed and a cable cable can now be reconnected and connected to another vehicle. Instead, the load management system can switch over automatically.

Electric motor vehicles are to be understood as meaning, in particular, electrically powered cars, electrically powered motorcycles, electrically powered trucks and the like. The charging station can also be used for electrically powered watercraft (e.g. small electric boats or electric jet skis). In the future, smaller electric aircraft (e.g. electric flight taxis) could also be charged with the charging station.

The vehicles can in particular be charged with an alternating voltage of at least 110 or 230 V. Accordingly, the mains connection can also be made using an alternating voltage of at least 110 or 230 V.

Multi-phase alternating current connections can also serve as a network connection, so that 400 V, for example, can be available to the charging station.

The charging station can preferably comprise a single housing, the housing being able to measure, for example, up to 1 meter in the spatial direction with its maximum extension. An interior of the housing can be covered by a cover, in particular by a single cover, and can be accessible after the cover has been removed. It is advantageous that the manufacturing costs for the charging station can be relatively low due to the components arranged in a housing.

Further embodiments of the invention can be found in the description, the claims and the drawings.

According to a first advantageous embodiment, the mains connection comprises connection terminals for a single-phase and / or three-phase mains cable, the connection terminals preferably being arranged within the housing. The connection terminals already in the charging station make the installation of the charging station particularly easy. The connection terminals can, for example, be designed for a maximum output of 3 kW, 3.7 kW, 7.4 kW or 22 kW.

In addition, the housing, in particular on a rear side, can have a bushing for the power cable.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the load management system comprises setting means, by means of which the maximum electrical power and / or the maximum current of the network connection can be communicated to the load management system. The setting means can in particular be mechanical setting means, for example rotary switches, DIP switches, jumpers and the like. It goes without saying that reporting the maximum current (with a constant voltage of the mains connection) is equivalent to reporting the maximum power. With the setting means, in particular, powers of 1.5 kW and / or up to 22 kW can be set as the maximum electrical power of the network connection. Correspondingly, maximum currents can be set, which e.g. correspond to a power of 1.5 kW and / or up to 22 kW. The maximum current communicated with the setting means can preferably correspond to the current protected by a fuse. For example, the maximum electrical power of the mains connection is 3.7 kW if the charging station is connected to a single-phase 230 V alternating current and the mains cable is fused with 16 A. In this case, either a maximum current of 16 A or a maximum power of 3.7 kW can be set on the setting means. With a three-phase connection (400 V) and a maximum current of 32 A, the maximum electrical power of the mains connection can increase to e.g. 22 kW.

The setting means are preferably not operable from outside the housing and cannot be operated when the housing is closed, in order to prevent inadvertent adjustment of the setting means.

The load management system preferably records the maximum electrical power of the network connection stored on the setting means and regulates the electrical power delivered to all charging cables or vehicles and / or the electrical current delivered in such a way that the maximum electrical power and / or the maximum electrical current of the network connection to none Time is exceeded. Overloading the electrical installation in a private household, for example, can be effectively avoided in this way.

In other words, the load management system can be designed to monitor the power drawn from the network connection and to limit the drawn power to the maximum electrical power of the network connection. The limitation can in particular take place in such a way that the vehicles to be charged are informed of a limitation of the electrical power to be drawn by the respective vehicle and / or of the current to be drawn. The load management system thus effects the limitation.

It goes without saying that the electrical power of the network connection can be divided up by dividing the (maximum) current as well as by dividing the (maximum) power. In particular, for this purpose a respective vehicle can also be informed via the charging cable which maximum current the vehicle may draw.

A division or limitation of the power of the network connection described herein can therefore be brought about, for example, by limiting the current for a vehicle.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the load management system is designed to transfer the power provided by the network connection to the charging cable at a time or to divide the power provided by the network connection sequentially to the charging cables. This means that either two or more vehicles can be charged at the same time or that one vehicle is charged at a time and the load management system charges different vehicles connected via the charging cables one after the other.

• - eine von einem Benutzer vorgegebene Reihenfolge eingehalten wird,
• - zunächst eine Ladung des Fahrzeugs erfolgt, welche den höchsten Ladestand aufweist, und/oder
• - jeweils eine Ladung des Fahrzeugs erfolgt, welches momentan die meiste elektrische Leistung oder den höchsten Strom abnehmen kann.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the load management system is designed to divide the power provided by the network connection sequentially to the charging cables by

• - an order specified by a user is adhered to,
• - the vehicle is initially charged with the highest charge level, and / or
• - each time the vehicle is charged, which can currently draw the most electrical power or the highest current.

More precisely, the user can, for example, specify an order in which the connected vehicles are to be charged. The connected vehicles are then initially fully charged in the specified sequence, with a switch only to the next after the charging of one vehicle has been completed. Alternatively, it is also possible to first fully charge the vehicle that already has the highest charge level (e.g. in percent) or that can be expected to be fully charged within the shortest possible time. This procedure has the advantage that at least a fully charged vehicle is available again after the shortest possible time.

As an alternative or in addition, the vehicle that can draw the most electrical power (and thus the highest current) at a given point in time can be charged. The electrical power that can be consumed by a vehicle can vary, in particular this consumable power can decrease if the batteries of the vehicle warm up during charging. The charging station can now check in each case which vehicle can currently draw the most electrical power, the charging station then charging this vehicle in each case. For this purpose, a first vehicle can be charged for a few minutes, for example. If the charging power for the first vehicle then drops due to warming, charging of the first vehicle can be stopped and a second vehicle can be charged instead. If the charging power of the second vehicle then decreases, it is possible to switch back to charging only the first vehicle.

Most of the electrical power can either be determined absolutely, i.e. in kilowatts, or relatively, i.e. as a percentage of the maximum possible charging power of a vehicle. This procedure enables all vehicles to be charged in a shorter time.

The vehicle can communicate the maximum possible charging power of a vehicle to the charging station via the charging cable. Alternatively, the maximum possible charging power and / or battery capacity of a vehicle can be stored manually in the charging station. This is particularly possible in a private environment, for example if a first vehicle is always charged with a charging cable # 1 and a second vehicle is always charged with a charging cable # 2. The respective maximum charging power and / or battery capacity of the vehicles can be stored once in the charging station and then used to optimize all subsequent charging processes.

According to an advantageous embodiment, a predetermined order of priority is stored in the charging station. This means that there is a sequence for the charging cables in which the connected vehicles are fully charged. For example, the vehicle connected to a charging cable # 1 can always be fully charged first. After that, the vehicle connected to a charging cable # 2 can be fully charged, etc.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, a priority switch is provided on or in the housing, by means of which a vehicle to be charged first can be set. The priority switch can be used to set the aforementioned order when loading the vehicles. For example, the priority switch can determine the sequence in such a way that a vehicle used daily for commuting is always fully charged first, in order to keep this vehicle always fully operational as possible.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the load management system is designed to signal a maximum electrical power to be drawn from the respective vehicle and / or a maximum current to be drawn from the respective vehicle via a respective charging cable. This means that the charging station does not itself limit the electrical current delivered to a respective charging cable or vehicle, but rather transmits to the respective vehicle the maximum electrical power or current the vehicle is allowed to use. A charger can then be present in the respective vehicle, which rectifies the alternating current supplied by the charging station and charges the batteries of the vehicle with direct current. The vehicle charger can limit the current drawn via the charging cable so that the maximum power to be consumed signaled to the vehicle is not exceeded.

In this case, the maximum electrical power to be drawn or the maximum current to be drawn can preferably be signaled by means of pulse width modulation, in particular a 12 V signal.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the load management system comprises one, in particular only one, microcontroller and / or a logic circuit for determining the distribution of the electrical power provided by the network connection to the charging cables. The (single) microcontroller or the logic circuit preferably contains all of the information that is required to distribute the electrical power of the network connection to the charging cables. For example, the microcontroller can know the maximum electrical power and thus the current of the network connection (based on the setting of the setting means) as well as the maximum possible charging power of the connected vehicles. A distribution of the electrical power to the vehicles can then be determined from this. In particular, the microcontroller and / or the logic circuit can also include algorithms which bring about a charging behavior described herein.

In addition to the strategies described above when charging the vehicles, it is also possible for the load management system to divide the available electrical power of the network connection in such a way that each vehicle has the same amount of electrical charging power (and thus the same amount of electricity) available, with charging can then take place simultaneously. Alternatively, the available electrical power (and thus the charging current) can also be divided in the ratio of the maximum charging power of the connected vehicles, whereby charging can also take place at the same time. Alternatively or additionally, the load management system can also charge each vehicle in turn for a certain period of time, the periods of time preferably either being of the same length or being adapted in the ratio of the respective maximum charging power or the battery capacity of the individual vehicles.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the load management system is designed to receive a signal of readiness for charging via a charging cable and then to switch electrical energy from the network connection through to the corresponding charging cable. The connected vehicle can therefore signal to the charging station that charging can now begin. In this case, the load management system can switch the network connection through to the corresponding charging cable. Switching through can take place, for example, with a contactor and / or a corresponding semiconductor switch (e.g. by means of IGBTs). For example, the three phases of the mains connection can be switched through to a charging cable. The mains connection can also be switched through to several charging cables at the same time.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the charging cables are designed in accordance with IEC 62196 Type 2. At the end of the charging cable, a vehicle coupling can be provided, which is intended to be plugged into a vehicle. With the appropriate design of the charging cable, the charging station can be coupled with electric vehicles usually sold in Europe.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, several type 2 sockets for the charging cables are provided in or on the housing. The charging cables of the type mentioned above can accordingly be plugged into the type 2 sockets. The sockets on the housing may have a latch that is activated when a load is in progress.

Alternatively or additionally, the charging cables can also be attached directly to the housing (and to contacts in the housing), so that no sockets are necessary and sources of error during use are avoided.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, at least one holder for fastening the housing to a wall or a mounting post is provided in or on the housing. In addition, at least one holding fork for at least one charging cable and / or a vehicle coupling of the charging cable can be provided in or on the housing.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the network connection comprises connection terminals arranged within the housing for a single-phase and / or three-phase network cable, the load management system comprises mechanical setting means arranged within the housing, by means of which the maximum electrical power and / or the maximum current of the network connection can be communicated to the load management system , the interior of the housing and thus the connection terminals and the mechanical adjustment means are accessible after removing a single cover, the load management system is designed to sequentially distribute the power provided by the mains connection to the charging cable, the load management system is designed, via a respective charging cable one of the respective vehicle maximum To signal the electrical power to be consumed and / or a maximum current to be consumed, the load management system includes exactly one microcontroller to determine the distribution of the electrical power provided by the mains connection or the current to the charging cables, are the charging cables designed in accordance with EEC 62196 Type 2, are in or A holder is provided on the housing for fastening the housing to a wall or a mounting post, and a plurality of holding elements are formed on the housing for suspending a vehicle coupling of the charging cable in each case. The above-mentioned features specifically describe an embodiment of the charging station.

• - ein Deckel eines Gehäuses der Ladestation geöffnet wird,
• - in dem Inneren des Gehäuses eine elektrische Verbindung zwischen der Ladestation und einem Netzkabel eines Netzanschlusses hergestellt wird,
• - in dem Inneren des Gehäuses ein Einstellmittel betätigt wird, um der Ladestation die maximale elektrische Leistung und/oder den maximalen Strom des Netzanschlusses mitzuteilen,
• - das Gehäuse mittels des Deckels verschlossen wird,
• - zumindest zwei Fahrzeuge gleichzeitig mittels zweier Ladekabel an die Ladestation angeschlossen werden und
• - die zwei Fahrzeuge automatisch gleichzeitig und/oder nacheinander geladen werden.

The invention also relates to a method for assembling and operating a charging station for several electric motor vehicles or for electric passenger motor vehicles, in which

• - a cover of a housing of the charging station is opened,
• - an electrical connection between the charging station and a power cord of a power supply is established in the interior of the housing,
• - a setting means is actuated in the interior of the housing in order to inform the charging station of the maximum electrical power and / or the maximum current of the mains connection,
• - the housing is closed by means of the cover,
• - at least two vehicles are connected to the charging station at the same time using two charging cables and
• - the two vehicles are automatically charged at the same time and / or one after the other.

It can be seen from the method according to the invention that only a few method steps are necessary in order to arrive at a functional charging station for several vehicles, this being possible in particular on electrical installations with low performance. In particular, the above-mentioned method steps are carried out exclusively in order to enable at least two vehicles to be charged simultaneously and / or one after the other (without further human intervention).

Otherwise, the statements made about the charging station according to the invention apply accordingly to the method according to the invention. This is particularly true with regard to advantages and preferred embodiments.

• 1 eine Ladestation in detaillierter Ansicht; und
• 2 eine Ladestation in einer Doppelgarage.

The invention is described below purely by way of example with reference to the drawings. Show it:

• 1 a charging station in a detailed view; and
• 2 a charging station in a double garage.

1 shows a charging station 10 . The charging station 10 includes a housing 12th through which a three-phase power cord 14th is passed through. The power cord 14th is on connection terminals 16 electrically connected, the terminals 16 again with a load management system 18th are electrically coupled.

The load management system 18th includes a microcontroller on a circuit board 30th and DIP switches 32 , which serve as adjustment means.

In addition, inside the housing of 1 Fuses 34 , Residual current circuit breaker 36 and contactors 38 shown. The contactors 38 are used to switch through the electrical power, which is supplied via the power cord 14th the charging station 10 is fed to three charging cables 20th .

The charging cables 20th each include vehicle couplings at the end 22nd .

As in 1 is shown includes the housing 12th a lid 24 , which is in the in 1 shown removed position, the interior of the housing 12th releases. In the lid 24 are status LEDs 26th incorporated that indicate, for example, an active charging process or the successful completion of a charging process. The lid 24 also includes holding forks 28 , in which the vehicle clutches 22nd are attachable.

The specific location of the charging station 10 is in 2 shown, the charging station 10 there in a double garage 40 is shown. A vehicle 42 can by means of the charging station 10 at the same time with other vehicles 42 can be charged without an electrical installation in the double garage 40 to overload. At least part of the way to charge the vehicle 42 The necessary energy can be obtained from the double garage 40 attached photovoltaic modules 44 to be provided.

List of reference symbols

10

Charging station

12th

casing

14th

Power cord

16

Connection terminal

18th

Load management system

20th

Charging cable

22nd

Vehicle coupling

24

cover

26th

Status LED

28

Holding fork

30th

Microcontroller

32

Dip switch

34

Fuse

36

Residual current circuit breaker

38

Power contactor

40

Double garage

42

vehicle

44

Photovoltaic module

Claims (15)

Charging station (10) for electric motor vehicles or electric motor vehicles (42) with a housing (12) which has a mains connection (14, 16) for supplying energy to the charging station (10) with alternating current, the charging station (10) having at least a first and a second charging cable (20) that can be connected to the housing (12) for charging at least two different electric motor vehicles (42) with alternating current, a load management system (18) being present in the housing (12) which is designed to distribute the electrical power provided by the mains connection (14, 16) to at least the first and second charging cables (20). Charging station (10) Claim 1 wherein the mains connection (14, 16) comprises connection terminals (16) for a single-phase and / or three-phase mains cable (14), the connection terminals (16) preferably being arranged within the housing (12). Charging station (10) Claim 1 or 2 wherein the load management system (18) comprises setting means (32) by means of which the maximum electrical power of the network connection (14, 16) and / or the maximum current of the network connection (14, 16) can be communicated to the load management system (18). Charging station (10) Claim 3 wherein the load management system (18) is designed to monitor the power drawn from the network connection (14, 16) and to limit the drawn power to the maximum electrical power of the network connection (14, 16). The charging station (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the load management system (18) is designed to divide the power provided by the network connection (14, 16) at a time to the charging cables (20) or the power provided by the network connection sequentially to the Split charging cable (20). The charging station (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the load management system (18) is designed to sequentially distribute the power provided by the network connection (14, 16) to the charging cables (20) by - an order specified by a user is adhered to, - the vehicle (42) which has the highest charge level is initially charged and / or - The vehicle (42) is charged, which can currently draw the most electrical power or the highest current. Charging station (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a priority switch is provided on or in the housing (12), by means of which a vehicle (42) to be charged first can be set. The charging station (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the load management system (18) is designed to supply a maximum electrical power to be drawn from the respective vehicle and / or a maximum current to be drawn from the respective vehicle (42) via a respective charging cable (20) signal. Charging station (10) Claim 8 , wherein the maximum electrical power to be consumed is signaled by means of pulse width modulation, in particular a 12V signal. Charging station (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the load management system (18) has one, in particular only one, microcontroller (30) and / or a logic circuit for determining the distribution of the electrical power provided by the mains connection (14, 16) to the charging cables (20) includes. Charging station (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the load management system (18) is designed to receive a signal of readiness for charging via a charging cable (20) and then to connect electrical energy from the mains connection (14, 16) to the corresponding charging cable (20) . Charging station (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the charging cables (20) are designed in accordance with IEC 62196 type 2 and / or several type 2 sockets are provided for the charging cables (20) in or on the housing (12). Charging station (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a holder for fastening the housing (12) to a wall or a mounting post is provided in or on the housing (12). Charging station (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - The mains connection (14, 16) comprises connection terminals (16) arranged within the housing (12) for a single-phase and / or three-phase mains cable (14), - The load management system (18) comprises mechanical setting means (32) arranged within the housing (12), by means of which the maximum electrical power and / or the maximum current of the network connection (14, 16) can be communicated to the load management system (18), - The interior of the housing (12) and thus the connection terminals (16) and the mechanical adjustment means (32) are accessible after removing a single cover (24), - The load management system (18) is designed to divide the power provided by the network connection (14, 16) sequentially to the charging cables (20), - The load management system (18) is designed to use a respective charging cable (20) to signal a maximum electrical power to be consumed by the respective vehicle (42) and / or a maximum current to be consumed, - The load management system (18) comprises exactly one microcontroller (30) for determining the distribution of the electrical power provided by the network connection (14, 16) or the provided current to the charging cables (20), - the charging cables (20) are designed in accordance with IEC 62196 Type 2, - In or on the housing (12) a holder for fastening the housing (12) to a wall or a mounting post is provided, - A plurality of holding elements (28) for suspending a vehicle coupling (22) of the charging cables (20) are formed on the housing (12). Method for assembling and operating a charging station (10) for several electric motor vehicles or electric passenger motor vehicles (42), in which - A cover (24) of a housing (12) of the charging station (10) is opened, - In the interior of the housing (12) an electrical connection between the charging station (10) and a power cable (14) of a power connection (14, 16) is established, - In the interior of the housing (12) a setting means (32) is actuated in order to inform the charging station (10) of the maximum electrical power and / or the maximum current of the mains connection (14, 16), - the housing (12) is closed by means of the cover (24), - At least two vehicles (42) are connected to the charging station (10) at the same time by means of two charging cables (20) and - The two vehicles (42) are automatically charged simultaneously and / or one after the other.

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