DE102021117075A1 - Portable cord storage device and charging cord assembly for a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a portable cable holding device (10) for holding a charging cable (12, 20) for charging an energy store in a motor vehicle (18), the cable holding device (10) having a first cable reel (26) which rotates about a first axis of rotation (A). can be rotated, and onto which at least a first part (12a, 12b; 20a, 20b) of the charging cable (12, 20) can be rolled up by rotating the first cable reel (26) about the first axis of rotation (A). The cable receiving device (10) has an actuator for automatically rotating the cable reel (26) about the first axis of rotation (A) and an actuating unit (30) with a control unit (32) which is designed to activate the actuator in order to automatically Rotate the first cable reel (26) to trigger.

Description

The invention relates to a portable cable receiving device for receiving a charging cable for charging an energy store of a motor vehicle. In this case, the cable receiving device has a cable reel which can be rotated about an axis of rotation and onto which at least a first part of the charging cable can be rolled up by rotating the cable reel about the axis of rotation. Furthermore, the invention also relates to a charging cable arrangement with such a portable cable receiving device.

Electric and hybrid vehicles are known to have a rechargeable energy store, such as a high-voltage battery. If this energy store is empty, it can be recharged at a charging infrastructure external to the vehicle. For this purpose, the motor vehicle can be connected to this charging infrastructure via a charging cable. Such a charging infrastructure can be provided, for example, by a conventional household socket, by a wall box or a charging station. Depending on which charging infrastructure is to be used for charging, there are also different charging cables. A cable for charging at a household socket is also referred to as a mode 2 cable and has a conventional Schuko plug at one end and a type 2 plug for coupling to the motor vehicle at the other end, for example. Mode 2 cables often also have a control device, which is also referred to as an IC-CPD (In-Cable Control and Protection Device). A mode 3 cable is suitable for charging at wall boxes and charging stations. For example, a Mode 3 cable has a Type 2 charging connector at both ends. When carried in the vehicle, such charging cables are primarily stored in the rear trunk or front trunk, which is also referred to as a frunk, when the motor vehicle is not being charged.

Since the cables are usually exposed to the weather conditions, such as wind, rain, snow, dust and so on, and are laid over the ground from the charging point to the vehicle charging socket, they get very dirty. When it is then stowed away in the vehicle, it is unavoidable that the hands of the driver or user are not also contaminated. In most cases, the charging cables are stowed loosely and not fixed in the trunk and frunk, so that they take up unnecessary space and at the same time slip while driving and thus take on a different position and shape. If you transport another charging cable in the vehicle, a so-called cable salad is inevitable. Due to the points listed, the handling of the charging cable is often negative for the user and represents a loss of comfort compared to classic vehicle concepts.

the U.S. 2014/0111158 A1 describes a charging cable receiving device with a charging plug, a housing with an inner space, a charging cable accommodated in the inner space, which has an end which extends out of an opening in the housing and to which the charging plug is connected. The charging cable has another end at which electrical power is provided. A cable drum is also accommodated in the interior, onto which the other end of the charging cable is wound. However, such a cable receiving device is very large and is not suitable for being carried in a motor vehicle.

Furthermore, the DE 10 2009 016 895 A1 a charging connection device for an electrically powered motor vehicle. This charging connection device is intended for integration into a motor vehicle. Furthermore, this charging connection device has an electrical connection device, which includes a charging cable and which can be connected to the accumulator, as well as an electrical plug-in device for connection to an electrical supply source. The charging cable can be rolled onto a cable reel of the charging connection device. To connect to the external electrical supply, the charging cable can be pulled out of the connection body, in particular against a pretension of the cable reel. However, a charging connection device that is permanently installed in the vehicle has the disadvantage that this typically only allows a specific plug type to be provided, which severely restricts the possible uses.

Furthermore, the DE 10 2013 221 651 A1 a portable charging cable for charging an energy storage device of an electrically powered vehicle. The charging cable includes a cable drum arranged on the housing, onto which the cable can be wound when the charging cable is not being used to charge the energy store of the vehicle. The charging plug can be arranged in a gripping shell of the housing of the cable drum, with the gripping shell being able to be gripped by a user to carry the charging cable or the cable drum. Although this enables a charging cable to be easily stowed away, it is still desirable to be able to increase the user's convenience even further.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a portable cable storage device and a charging cable arrangement that enable the charging process to be made even more convenient and simpler for a user.

This object is achieved by a portable cable storage device and a charging cable arrangement with the features according to the respective independent patent claims. Advantageous configurations of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent patent claims, the description and the figures.

A portable cable receiving device according to the invention for receiving a charging cable for charging an energy store of a motor vehicle has a first cable reel which can be rotated about a first axis of rotation and onto which at least a first part of the charging cable can be rolled up by rotating the first cable reel about the first axis of rotation. Furthermore, the cable receiving device has an actuator for automatically rotating the cable reel about the first axis of rotation and an actuation unit with a control unit that is designed to activate the actuator in order to trigger the automatic rotation of the first cable reel.

The invention has the great advantage that the cable receiving device allows a charging cable to be wound up and/or unwound automatically. This simplifies handling of the charging cable enormously for a user and also means that the need to touch the charging cable to an even greater extent of the charging cable, which may be heavily soiled, is avoided or can even be avoided completely. After a charging process, the user can, for example, simply remove the motor vehicle charging plug located at one end of the charging cable from the motor vehicle and also activate a corresponding plug on the charging infrastructure side and then automatically roll up the charging cable. The charging cable that is ultimately rolled up onto the cable reel can then be easily carried, transported and stowed away, in particular in an extremely compact manner, so that the cable receiving device with a charging cable accommodated thereon can also be easily stowed in the motor vehicle, such as in a trunk or frunk. Differently configured cables can also be accommodated on the cable receiving device, for example a mode 2 charging cable and/or mode 3 charging cable, as described above. However, not only can such a charging cable be rolled up onto the cable reel by automatically rotating the cable reel, but alternatively or additionally the charging cable can also be unrolled in a completely analogous manner. For this purpose, the cable reel, in particular the first cable reel, can be designed to be rotated in different, in particular opposite, directions of rotation. Correspondingly, the actuator can also be designed to automatically rotate the cable reel in and counter to a predetermined direction of rotation about the axis of rotation. The actuation unit can be designed analogously to control the actuator accordingly in order to trigger automatic rotation of the first cable reel in or against the specific direction of rotation, depending on the situation or the user's wishes. The invention thus advantageously makes it possible for the driver or user not to have to touch the dirty charging cable, and the associated contamination of the hands does not occur. Furthermore, the device, that is to say the portable cable holding device, can be used to effortlessly roll up and down without the user having to exert any force for this purpose. After the cable is rolled up, it can be stowed away in the vehicle in a very clean and space-saving manner. These points contribute to the charging process being perceived as well thought-out and convenient by the driver or user.

The actuator can include an electric motor, for example. This enables a particularly simple and compact design of the portable cable storage device. The energy supply for operating the actuator can continue to be provided by the actuating unit. In addition to the control unit, this can also have an energy store or at least one compartment for accommodating an energy store. In the simplest case, this energy store can be designed, for example, as one or more batteries, for example as a primary cell or rechargeable battery, D batteries, C batteries or button cells, or the like. Such an energy store for the cable receiving device does not necessarily have to be part of the cable receiving device. For example, the cable receiving device can also have a battery compartment into which such an energy store in the form of a battery or the like can be inserted. It is preferred that the cable receiving device comprises a rechargeable energy store or at least in turn a battery compartment for accommodating such a rechargeable energy store. This can be removed from the cable holder for charging or, as is preferred, can remain in the cable holder for charging. To charge this energy store, the actuation unit can, as will be explained in more detail later, have corresponding charging contacts, via which the actuation unit can be coupled to an external energy source, which can also be provided by a motor vehicle, for example. The energy store for the cable receiving device not only serves to supply energy to the actuator, but can also be used, for example, to supply power to the control unit itself.

The first cable reel may be provided in the form of or comprise a cylindrical member, for example a roller. Optionally, the first cable reel can also have guides that can be arranged laterally on such a cylinder. In the following, the first cable reel is therefore also sometimes referred to as a roller or cylinder, but this should not exclude the cable reel from being able to include other components in addition to such a cylinder. The same applies to the second cable reel, which will be described in more detail later.

Furthermore, the actuating unit is preferably non-rotatable. In other words, when the cable reel is rotated about its axis of rotation, it also rotates relative to the stationary actuating unit. For easy carrying of the cable receiving device, the actuating unit can also have a handle, for example. As a result, the cable receiving device can be easily transported via the actuation unit. The actuator, in particular the electric motor, is arranged in particular outside of a region of the actuating unit. In other words, the electric motor is preferably not part of the actuation unit. The actuation unit and the actuator can be electrically connected to one another accordingly in order to enable a signal transmission from the actuation unit, in particular from the control unit, to the actuator and/or an energization of the actuator by the control unit.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the cable receiving device has a receiving unit on which the actuating unit is detachably arranged, so that the actuating unit can be separated from the rest of the cable receiving device, in particular with the receiving unit having first contact elements and the actuating unit having second contact elements which are connected to the first Contact elements are electrically conductively connected when the actuating unit is arranged as intended on the receiving unit. In this way, the partial component that is provided by the actuating unit can advantageously be separated from the rest of the device, that is to say the rest of the cable receiving device. This sub-component can thus advantageously be accommodated in the vehicle during the charging process, so that it is protected from dirt and moisture. This is particularly advantageous since the control unit and an energy store for the actuator or the electric motor are located in this subcomponent, ie in the actuating unit. The actuation unit therefore does not necessarily have to be watertight or splash-proof, which simplifies the design of the actuation unit. At the same time, for example, the operating unit can be charged during the charging process in the vehicle, more precisely its energy storage. Only after the charging process has ended and the cable is to be stowed away again can the actuation unit be removed from the vehicle and the charging cable automatically rolled up after the actuation unit has been arranged again as intended on the receiving unit. The complete cable storage device, including the charging cable, can then be stowed away in the vehicle again.

The second contact elements of the actuation unit can also be used at the same time as a charging interface for charging an energy store accommodated in the actuation unit. A corresponding charging device, in which the actuating unit can be accommodated in order to charge its energy store, can be provided in a suitable position in the motor vehicle, for example. Such a charging device can have third contact elements, for example, which are designed to correspond to the first contact elements of the receiving unit in terms of their geometric arrangement and design. It is also conceivable for the actuation unit to have an inductive charging interface instead, which enables inductive charging of an energy store accommodated in the actuation unit. A complementary inductive charging unit can be provided accordingly in the motor vehicle. Motor vehicles often have inductive charging options for charging mobile communication devices anyway. It would be conceivable that such an inductive charging option, which is provided by the motor vehicle, can also be used to charge the energy store accommodated in the actuating unit.

The actuation unit and the receiving unit can be firmly connected to one another. This can be done via a connection or locking mechanism that can be configured as desired. For example, a latching mechanism can be provided which latches when the actuating unit is arranged as intended in the receiving unit. This locking mechanism can automatically lock or arrest the connection between the actuating unit and the receiving unit as soon as the actuating unit is brought into its intended position on the receiving unit and arranged on it. In order to release such a locking again, for example the actuating unit or additionally or alternatively the recording unit have a corresponding switch or an actuating element or the like. If this is actuated by a user, the lock can advantageously be released again, and the actuation unit can thus be removed from the receiving unit. Such an actuating element can be designed, for example, as a switch, which is preferably designed mechanically. In other words, the locking mechanism is also preferably designed mechanically and/or magnetically and therefore does not require any electrical energy for locking or releasing the locking.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the actuation unit has at least one first actuation element that can be actuated by a user, the control unit being designed to detect actuation of the actuation element and, depending on the actuation being detected, activate the actuator for triggering the rotation of the first cable reel to control at least one predetermined first direction of rotation. This first actuation element differs from the actuation element for releasing the lock already described above. This first actuating element now serves to trigger the automatic winding and/or unwinding of the charging cable by triggering the automatic rotation of the first cable reel. So if the user wants the charging cable to be automatically rolled back onto the first cable reel after charging, for example, he can simply actuate this first actuating element on the actuating unit. Then the charging cable, at least the first part of it, is rolled up onto the first cable reel. The first actuating element can also be associated with a direction of rotation of the first cable reel. In other words, the actuation unit can also have a further actuation element, which is assigned to the opposite direction of rotation for rotating the first cable reel. Depending on whether a user wants to initiate automatic winding or unwinding of the charging cable, he can activate the corresponding actuating element of an actuating unit. Such an actuating element can be designed, for example, as a switch, button or the like. The first actuating element can also be in the form of a toggle switch and can have two tilting directions, each of which is associated with a corresponding direction of rotation of the first cable reel. In addition, it is conceivable that the user briefly actuates the first actuating element in order to trigger the rotation of the cable reel and presses it again in order to stop the rotation of the first cable reel. Alternatively, it can also be provided that the user has to actuate the actuating element for as long as the first cable reel is to rotate. In other words, the first cable reel rotates as long as the first actuating element is actuated. If the actuation is terminated, the rotation of the first cable reel is also terminated. Here, too, there are no limits to the design options. If the cable or the first cable part is completely unwound from the first cable reel, the rotation of the cable reel can also be stopped automatically without any interaction by the user. These are just a few exemplary design options for the first actuating element. Numerous further and different configuration options for the first actuating element are also conceivable.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the cable holding device has a second cable reel, which can be rotated about a second axis of rotation, and onto which at least a second part of the charging cable can be rolled up by rotating the second cable reel about the first axis of rotation, the second cable reel being independent of of the first cable reel is rotatable. The first part of the charging cable is connected to a first charging port and the second part of the charging cable is connected to a second charging port. The first charging connection can be designed for coupling to a corresponding charging connection of the motor vehicle and the second charging connection can be designed for coupling to a connection device of an electrical energy source, such as a household socket, a wall box or charging station. The design of the cable receiving device with two independently rotatable cable reels has the great advantage that the two opposite ends of a charging cable with the respective connection devices can be rolled up and down independently of one another. The unrolled cable length can thus be set individually for each end of the charging cable. An unnecessarily long unrolling of the charging cable, which in turn can represent a tripping hazard, can thus advantageously be avoided. This enables significantly more customization options and more reliable winding and unwinding of the respective charging cable parts. This is also particularly advantageous if the charging cable is designed as a mode 2 cable as described above. Such a mode 2 cable usually also has a control device, namely the in-cable control and protection device. This is usually housed in a housing, for example a box-shaped or cuboid housing. Accordingly, such a control device can separate the first part of the charging cable from the second part of the charging cable or lie in the middle between this first and second part of the charging cable. Especially with a charging cable designed in this way, it is particularly advantageous to provide two cable reels, since this means that the two charging cable parts connected to such a control device can be rolled up are, is made possible in a particularly simple manner. Nevertheless, it would also be conceivable to roll up the first and second parts of the charging cable onto a common first cable reel.

The second cable reel can otherwise be designed as described for the first cable reel. In other words, it is preferred that the second cable reel can also be controlled or rotated automatically via an actuator, such as can be driven via an electric motor, for example. Such an electric motor or actuator in general can in turn be controlled via the control unit in the actuating unit. The second cable reel can also be rotatably mounted in two different directions of rotation and rotated accordingly for the automatic winding and/or unwinding of the second part of the charging cable. In order to trigger a rotation of the second cable reel, one or more corresponding additional actuating elements can be provided on the actuating unit, which can be configured as described for the first actuating element.

Nevertheless, it is also conceivable that the functional principle of the second cable reel is designed differently than the first cable reel. A purely mechanical cable retraction could also be provided by the second cable reel, for example, which is triggered via a spring mechanism, similar to the retractions still used today in corded vacuum cleaners. In addition, implementation via a crank mechanism or, in general, manual rotation of the second cable reel to roll up or unroll the second part of the charging cable is also conceivable.

It is also advantageous if, for example, a manual turning option, for example via a crank mechanism, is provided in addition to the automatic turning mechanism of the first and/or second cable reel. This also allows a user to wind up and unwind the cable manually, for example if the energy store of the operating unit has been forgotten to charge and is empty.

In a further very advantageous embodiment of the invention, the receiving unit has a receiving area for receiving a control device of the charging cable, which is arranged between the first and second parts of the charging cable. This is the already described control device of the charging cable, which is also referred to as an in-cable control and protection device. In this way, this control device of the charging cable can also be stowed away in a particularly advantageous manner. The charging cable parts protruding from this control device on both sides, for example, can be routed onto the corresponding cable rollers and rolled up on them. Nevertheless, the cable receiving device, if its receiving unit is designed with such a receiving area for receiving a control device of the charging cable, can also be used analogously for other charging cables without such a control device, for example for mode 3 cables. In this case, simply no control device is inserted into the receiving unit. Instead, for example, the middle part of the charging cable can simply be positioned in this receiving area or passed through it.

The cable holding device can thus be used particularly flexibly, since it is not designed to use a special type of cable, but rather is compatible with different cable types.

In the event that the cable receiving device also has the second cable reel described above, there are also different options for positioning the two cable reels in relation to one another. In a very advantageous embodiment, the first and second cable reels are arranged one above the other and coaxially with one another. Furthermore, it is preferred in this case that the two cable reels are arranged on the same side in relation to the actuating unit, in particular such that the actuating unit is arranged together with the receiving unit on one side of the first and second cable reel in the direction of their axes of rotation. The portable cable receiving device is then carried as intended and held in one hand, for example by means of a carrying handle arranged on the actuating unit. In this case, the two cable reels are arranged in such a way that their axes of rotation are aligned essentially vertically. In this state, the cable receiving device can also be configured so that it can be turned off. Such an alignment of the cable reels has particularly great advantages when it is combined with a cable slip protection, as will be explained in more detail later. This enables the rolled-up cable or the rolled-up cable parts to be released, for example, by actuation by a user. With this design or arrangement of the cable reels relative to one another, this automatic complete unwinding or falling of the cable parts from the reels is supported by gravity and is therefore particularly easy and quick for the user. Nevertheless, the cable reels can also be arranged in such a way that, in the intended carrying and/or setting position of the portable cable receiving device, they are essentially horizontal with their respective axes of rotation extend. Even then, the cable reels can be arranged coaxially to one another or, alternatively, not coaxially and, for example, parallel to one another.

Accordingly, it represents a further advantageous embodiment of the invention when the first and second cable rolls are arranged next to one another in the radial direction and axially parallel to one another, in particular on opposite sides of the receiving unit. This enables a particularly flat arrangement of the cable reels and the receiving unit with the actuating unit received therein relative to one another, which results in space advantages when the cable receiving device is stowed away in the motor vehicle. However, there are also numerous other ways in which the first and second cable reels can be arranged in relation to one another and in relation to the receiving unit.

Furthermore, it is an advantageous embodiment of the invention if at least the first cable reel has a roll-up area onto which the first part of the charging cable can be rolled up, and the cable roll has a roll-up area in the direction of at least one end of the cable roll in the direction of the first axis of rotation the first axis of rotation limiting cable anti-slip protection, wherein the cable anti-slip protection is adjustable between a securing position and a release position. Such a cable slip-off safeguard can advantageously be used to prevent the cable from unintentionally slipping off the roll-up area in the direction of the first axis of rotation of the first cable reel. For example, such a cable anti-slip device can be designed in terms of its geometric design as is known from conventional cable reels, for example disc-shaped with a disc diameter that is larger than a diameter of the cable reel in the winding area. However, the cable slip guard does not necessarily have to be disk-shaped or circular, but can also be designed, for example, as an arm protruding in the radial direction or as several such arms, which, starting from the first axis of rotation, have a greater length in the radial direction is as a radius of the cable reel in the reeling area. This also makes it possible to efficiently prevent a charging cable part loaded onto the roll-up area from slipping off in the axial direction. Such a cable slip-off safeguard is now advantageously designed to be adjustable between a securing position and a release position, at least on one side of the cable reel, in particular here by way of example the first cable reel. In the securing position, as described, the charging cable is prevented from accidentally slipping off the cable reel, while such slipping is possible particularly easily when the cable-slip protection device is in the release position. For example, the cable slip guard can be designed as a lateral guide on a cylinder, through which the roll-up area of the cable reel is provided. This guide can be designed in such a way that it folds away when the cable slip protection is transferred into the release position and the entire cable or the entire rolled-up cable part can be pulled from the cylinder as a result. Such an adjustable cable slip guard can also be arranged on both sides of the first cable reel or only on one of the two sides. The second cable reel can accordingly also be designed with such a cable slip protection.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the cable receiving device has at least one second actuating element that can be actuated by a user for adjusting the cable slip guard and/or for triggering the rotation of the first cable reel in a second direction of rotation, opposite to the first, and/or for releasing a lock between the actuating unit and the receiving unit and/or for triggering the rotation of the second cable reel. Depending on the functionality and design provided by the cable receiving device, corresponding actuating elements can be provided on the actuating unit. All actuating elements can thus advantageously be combined by one unit, namely the actuating unit. The operating unit thus advantageously functions as an operating and control element for the cable receiving device.

Furthermore, the invention also relates to a charging cable arrangement for a motor vehicle with a cable receiving device according to the invention or one of its configurations and a charging cable for a motor vehicle with an electrically chargeable energy store. The advantages described for the portable cable storage device according to the invention and its configurations apply in the same way to the charging cable arrangement according to the invention. The charging cable can be designed as already described above. It can therefore be a mode 2 charging cable or a mode 3 charging cable or any other charging cable. The charging cable is designed to couple the motor vehicle to a motor vehicle-external energy source for charging the electrically chargeable energy store of the motor vehicle.

Furthermore, the invention also relates to a motor vehicle with a portable cable storage device according to the invention or one of its configurations. The motor vehicle can, for example, have a recording area for recording the have portable cable storage device. Such a receiving area can be provided, for example, in a trunk or frunk of the motor vehicle, for example as a corresponding recess. In addition, the motor vehicle can have a charging option, as described above, for charging an energy store accommodated in the actuation unit of the cable receiving device. Such a charging option can also be configured as already described in detail above.

The motor vehicle according to the invention is preferably designed as a motor vehicle, in particular as a passenger car or truck, or as a passenger bus or motorcycle. In addition, the motor vehicle is preferably designed as an electric and/or hybrid vehicle with a rechargeable energy store, for example a high-voltage battery.

The invention also includes the combinations of features of the described embodiments. The invention also includes implementations that each have a combination of the features of several of the described embodiments, unless the embodiments were described as mutually exclusive.

• 1 eine schematische Darstellung einer tragbaren Kabelaufnahmeeinrichtung mit einem aufgenommenen Ladekabel gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung;
• 2 eine schematische Darstellung eines Mode-2-Ladekabels, welches von einer Kabelaufnahmeeinrichtung gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung aufnehmbar ist;
• 3 eine schematische Darstellung eines Mode-3-Ladekabels, wie dieses ebenfalls von einer Kabelaufnahmeeinrichtung gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung aufnehmbar ist;
• 4 eine schematische Darstellung der Betätigungseinheit der Kabelaufnahmeeinrichtung aus 1 gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung;
• 5 eine weitere schematische Darstellung der Betätigungseinheit aus 4 aus einer anderen Perspektive gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung;
• 6 eine schematische Darstellung der Kabelaufnahmeeinrichtung aus 1 mit abgenommener Betätigungseinheit gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung; und
• 7 eine schematische Darstellung einer Kabelaufnahmeeinrichtung gemäß einem weiteren Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below. For this shows:

• 1 a schematic representation of a portable cable storage device with a recorded charging cable according to an embodiment of the invention;
• 2 a schematic representation of a mode 2 charging cable, which can be accommodated by a cable receiving device according to an embodiment of the invention;
• 3 a schematic representation of a mode 3 charging cable, as this can also be accommodated by a cable receiving device according to an embodiment of the invention;
• 4 a schematic representation of the actuating unit of the cable receiving device 1 according to an embodiment of the invention;
• 5 Another schematic representation of the actuation unit 4 from another perspective according to an embodiment of the invention;
• 6 a schematic representation of the cable receiving device 1 with the actuating unit removed according to an embodiment of the invention; and
• 7 a schematic representation of a cable receiving device according to a further embodiment of the invention.

The exemplary embodiments explained below are preferred embodiments of the invention. In the exemplary embodiments, the described components of the embodiments each represent individual features of the invention that are to be considered independently of one another and that each also develop the invention independently of one another. Therefore, the disclosure is also intended to encompass combinations of the features of the embodiments other than those illustrated. Furthermore, the described embodiments can also be supplemented by further features of the invention that have already been described.

In the figures, the same reference symbols designate elements with the same function.

1 shows a schematic representation of a portable cable accommodation device 10 with an accommodated charging cable 12 according to an embodiment of the invention. In this example, the charging cable 12 is designed as a mode 2 charging cable 12 and has a first charging cable part 12a, which includes a first connection device 14a at its end, and a second charging cable part 12b with a second connection unit 14b at the end. The two charging cable parts 12a, 12b are connected to one another via a control device 16 of the charging cable 12. This control device 16 is also referred to as IC-CPD. Such a mode 2 charging cable is again shown schematically in 2 shown. The first connection 14a is designed for coupling to a corresponding connection device of a motor vehicle 18, for example as a type 2 charging plug. The second connection 14b is designed as a connection for coupling to a standard household socket, ie as a safety plug. However, the cable receiving device 10 is not only designed to receive such a mode 2 charging cable 12, but other cable types, such as a mode 3 charging cable 20, can also be used, such as this example in 3 is shown. Such a charging cable 20 can also have two charging cable parts 20a, 20b, which, however, are not separated from one another by a control device 16, as in the case of the mode 2 charging cable. Corresponding connection units 22a, 22b are again located at the respective ends of the charging cable parts 20a, 20b, with the first connection unit 22a in turn being designed for coupling to a corresponding connection unit on motor vehicle 18 and, for example, also being designed as a type 2 charging plug, with the second connector device 22b of the charging cable 20 is designed for coupling to a charging station 24 or a wall box. In other words, this second connection device 22b can also be in the form of a type 2 plug, for example.

The portable cable storage device 10, such as that in 1 is shown provides a device for automatically winding and unwinding the charging cable 12 ready. This includes a receptacle for the cable 12 or the respective cable parts 12a, 12b. In the present example, this recording is provided as two cable rolls. In this example, a first cable reel 26 is provided for the first cable part 12a and a second cable reel 26 for the second cable part 12b. However, it can also be provided that the two cable parts 12a, 12b can be rolled up onto a common cable reel 26. Furthermore, the cable receiving device 10 has a receiving unit 28 and an actuating unit 30 that can be arranged on it and is arranged as intended in this illustration. The receiving unit 28 has a receiving area 46 for receiving the control device 16 of the charging cable 12 . If the charging cable 12 or 20 does not have such a control device 16 , this receiving area 46 can simply remain free or the charging cable 12 or 20 can simply be fed through this area 46 .

The actuating unit 30 is shown again schematically and in perspective in 4 shown in a plan view obliquely from below and in 5 schematically in a plan view obliquely from above. This actuation unit 30 can advantageously be separated from the rest of the cable receiving device 10 . The actuating unit 30 represents a control and carrying component. The actuating unit 30 includes, among other things, a control unit 32 and an energy store 34 or at least one receiving area for such an energy store 34. In addition, the actuating unit 30 can also include a carrying handle 33 in order to carry the cable receiving device 10 and to facilitate removal from the receiving device 28.

Furthermore, the cable receiving device 10 has at least one cable winding mechanism, which can be provided, for example, by an actuator not shown here, for example in the form of an electric motor or comprising such an electric motor. The mechanism can thus be designed in such a way that at least one of the cylinders provided by the cable reels 26 can be rotated forwards and/or backwards by the rotation of the electric motor. This turning or the rotation about the respective axes of rotation A of the respective cable reels 26 is in 1 illustrated by the arrows 36. The turning 36 is triggered via the actuating unit 30. This includes a logical control which can be provided by the already mentioned control unit 32, in particular for the electric motors. This actuation unit 30 also provides the power supply for the electric motors, in particular by means of the energy store 34 already mentioned, which can be provided in the form of a battery, for example. Furthermore, the actuation unit 30 includes switches 38, such as these, for example, in 5 are recognizable. Furthermore, the actuation unit 30 also has connections 40, such as these, for example, in 4 are shown. In this case, the connections 40 are arranged on a side of the actuating unit 30 which is arranged opposite the switches 38 . The actuating unit 30 can in turn be contacted and firmly connected to the receiving unit 28 via the connections 40 . An additional independent mechanical locking mechanism may also be provided. Using the switch 38, the user can specify whether the cable 12 or the respective cable part 12a, 12b should be rolled up or down. Furthermore, the immediate release of the complete cable 12 can be caused when it is coiled. For this purpose, a further switch 38 can be provided, which, when actuated, one or more lateral guides on the cylinder can be folded away and the entire cable 12 can thereby be pulled from the cylinder or the cable reels 26 . Such lateral guides are not explicitly shown here, but can be provided in the form of a cable slip guard, which can be adjusted between two different positions, namely a securing position and a release position.

If required, the actuating unit 30 can be separated from the receiving unit 28 via a further switch 38, which is preferably of mechanical design, for example by releasing a latching mechanism. If charging is to take place, the driver takes the entire device 10, including the charging cable 12, out of the trunk or frunk and, via the switch 38 of the operating unit 30, releases as much cable 12 as is required to connect to the infrastructure, for example a charging station 24, and to be able to plug into the vehicle charging socket of the vehicle 18. It is very advantageous if, as is the case in 1 is shown, two cable rollers 26 are provided, via which the individual cable parts 12a, 12b can be rolled up and down independently and individually. The user then separates the actuating unit 30 from the receiving unit 28. The actuating unit 30 can then advantageously be stowed in the vehicle 18. In addition, the possibility can also be provided in the trunk or frunk of charging the energy store 34 of the actuating unit, for example Example of a corresponding provided by the motor vehicle 18 contact. These charging contacts located in the vehicle 18 can, for example, be designed in such a way that they have the same arrangement as the connections 42 of the receiving unit 28. This is again shown in perspective without the operating unit 30 6 shown. This contact for charging the actuation unit 30 in the vehicle 18 can in turn be permanently integrated in the trunk or frunk or be designed as a retrofit solution for connection to a 12-volt cigarette lighter. Another more convenient option is to charge the battery or the energy store 34 inductively when the actuation unit 30 is in the trunk or in the frunk. When the charging process of vehicle 18 or its energy store is complete, the user can remove actuating unit 30 from motor vehicle 18 again and contact it with receiving unit 28 or arrange it on it as intended. After the two plugs 14a, 14b have been disconnected on the infrastructure side and on the vehicle side, the cable ends or the respective cable parts can be removed by actuating the switch 38 and the rotary movement of the cylinder 26 thus triggered, controlled by the control unit 32, which can be designed as an electronic control unit ECU 12a, 12b are rolled up automatically. The control unit can be designed to detect during the process of automatic rolling whether irregularities occur during rolling or unrolling, for example whether too much torque has to be applied. The control unit can have a corresponding application for this purpose. This would be an indication that, for example, dirt, objects or limbs have interfered with the process. The control unit 32 can then interrupt the automatic winding or unwinding process until a safe state is restored.

The complete device, that is, the cable receiving device 10, including the cable 12, can then be stowed away in the vehicle 18, for example in the trunk or in the frunk. If necessary, the battery 34 of the operating unit 30 can be charged inductively or conductively.

7 FIG. 1 shows a further embodiment of a portable cable storage device 10. This can in principle be designed as described above, in particular with the exception of the differences described below.

Here the cables 12 or cable parts 12a, 12b are not wound over vertical rotary rollers, i.e. cable rollers 26, with vertical axes of rotation A, as in 1 shown, up and unwound, but via electrically driven horizontal turntable, ie cable reels 26, the axes of rotation A are vertical. The principle of operation is analogous to the cable receiving device 10 described above. Only the direct release of the cable can be solved more conveniently here, in that after the release switch, which can represent one of the switches 38, the base 44 is folded away and thus the entire cable assembly 12 is separated from the two Turntables or cable reels 26 slips due to gravity. Correspondingly, the bottom 44 represents an example of a cable slipping protection device mentioned above. In particular, the actuating unit 30 can also be configured in this example in exactly the same way as the actuating unit 30 for the exemplary embodiment of the cable receiving device 10 1 be designed. In other words, the actuation unit 30 of the cable receiving device 10 can be switched off 7 be designed as these also in 4 and 5 is shown separated from the rest of the cable storage device 10 and has been previously described. In addition, the receiving area 46 for receiving the control device 16 of the cable 12 can be arranged in a recessed manner inside the upper cable reel 26, which represents a very compact and space-saving configuration.

Overall, the examples show how the invention provides a device for automatically winding and unwinding a charging cable in the form of a portable cable receiving device that makes it possible to make the charging process for charging an energy store of a motor vehicle significantly easier and more convenient.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• US20140111158A1 [0004]
• DE 102009016895 A1 [0005]
• DE 102013221651 A1 [0006]

Claims (10)

Portable cable holding device (10) for holding a charging cable (12, 20) for charging an energy store of a motor vehicle (18), the cable holding device (10) having a first cable reel (26) which can be rotated about a first axis of rotation (A), and onto which at least a first part (12a, 12b; 20a, 20b) of the charging cable (12, 20) can be rolled up by rotating the first cable reel (26) about the first axis of rotation (A), characterized in that the cable receiving device (10) has a actuator for automatically rotating the cable reel (26) about the first axis of rotation (A) and an actuation unit (30) with a control unit (32) which is designed to control the actuator in order to trigger the automatic rotation of the first cable reel (26). . Portable cable storage device (10) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the cable receiving device (10) has a receiving unit (28) on which the actuating unit (30) is detachably arranged, so that the actuating unit (30) can be separated from the rest of the cable receiving device (10), in particular the receiving unit ( 28) has first contact elements (42) and the actuating unit (30) has second contact elements (40) which are electrically conductively connected to the first contact elements (42) when the actuating unit (30) is arranged on the receiving unit (28). Portable cable storage device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating unit (30) has at least one first actuating element (38) which can be actuated by a user, the control unit (32) being designed to enable actuation of the actuating element (38) to be detected and, depending on the detection of the actuation, to control the actuator for triggering the rotation of the first cable reel (26) in at least one predetermined first direction of rotation. Portable cable storage device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cable storage device (10) has a second cable reel (26) which can be rotated about a second axis of rotation (A) and on which at least one second part (12b, 12a ; 20b, 20a) of the charging cable (12, 20) can be rolled up by rotating the second cable reel (26) about the first axis of rotation (A), the second cable reel (26) being rotatable independently of the first cable reel (26). Portable cable storage device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving unit (28) has a receiving area (46) for receiving a control device (16) of the charging cable (12, 20), which is located between the first and second part (12a, 12b; 20a, 20b) of the charging cable (12, 20) is arranged. A portable cable storage device (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and second cable reels (26) are arranged one above the other and coaxially with one another. Portable cable storage device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and second cable reels (26) are arranged next to one another in the radial direction and axially parallel to one another, in particular on opposite sides of the storage unit (28). Portable cable storage device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least the first cable reel (26) has a roll-up area onto which the first part (12a, 12b; 20a, 20b) of the charging cable (12, 20) can be rolled up, and wherein the first cable reel (26) has at least one end of the first cable reel (26) in the direction of the first axis of rotation (A) a cable slip guard (44) that limits the roll-up area in the direction of the first axis of rotation (A), wherein the Cable slip protection (44) is adjustable between a backup position and a release position. Portable cable holding device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cable holding device (10) has at least one second actuating element (38) which can be actuated by a user - for adjusting the cable slip-off safeguard (44); and/or - for triggering the rotation of the first cable reel (26) in a second direction of rotation opposite to the first; and/or - for releasing a locking between the actuating unit (30) and the receiving unit (28); and/or - for triggering the rotation of the second cable reel (26); having. Charging cable arrangement for a motor vehicle (18), with a portable cable receiving device (10) according to one of the preceding claims and a charging cable (12, 20) for a motor vehicle (18) with an electrically chargeable energy store.

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