EP2539970A1

EP2539970A1 - Charging arrangement for an electric vehicle

Info

Publication number: EP2539970A1
Application number: EP10846397A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jari Mattila; Jani Ahokas
Original assignee: Valmet Automotive Oy
Current assignee: Valmet Automotive Oy
Priority date: 2010-02-26
Filing date: 2010-03-04
Publication date: 2013-01-02
Also published as: EP2539970A4; FI121865B; WO2011104422A1; FI20105193A0

Abstract

A charging arrangement for an electric vehicle, wherein the socket (11) used for charging is accommodated on a mobile subframe (12) which is movable between an ejected position and an inner position so that when the subframe (12) is in the inner position a protective cover (10) hides the socket (11) and a plug (17) connected thereto. The protective cover is provided with a lead-in (18) for a charging cable (16).

Description

CHARGING ARRANGEMENT FOR AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates specifically to charging of electrically driven or hybrid vehicles from an electric plug.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As the requirements for emissions from vehicles are being tightened, various methods for their reduction have been developed intensively. Examples of these include completely electrically driven cars, partially electrically driven cars and different technologies reducing the emissions from internal- combustion engines, such as electric warming-up of the engine or different environmentally friendlier alternative fuels.

The warming-up of the engine coolant by electricity is a well known technique and comprises connecting the cable leading to the engine heater of a car to normal mains current using a plug specifically designed for a vehicle. Often, the problem with an electric plug situated in the front end of the car is the susceptibility to weather and especially to snow. For this reason, the plug is protected with a spring- loaded closure flap which closes when the charging cable is removed from the plug. Often, these plugs are small, so it is possible to devise their placement for example in the front grill of the car so that the plug is well protected and its appearance would not disturb the overall look of the nose.

The need for electric power in a completely electrically driven or a partially electrically driven car to be charged from the electric network is substantially greater. On this account, power current is needed to quickly charge the electric car. Quick charging is needed for example in cases where one wishes to charge the car during the journey. However, the electric plug that is applicable for needs of the car block heater is not suited to quick charging be- cause the electric current needed requires the use of a larger plug. Typically, the power plugs are larger so their placement in the body of the car is not as easy. An example of a plug to be used is described in the IEC international standard number IEC 62196-1:2003 titled "Plugs, socket-outlets, vehicle couplers and vehicle inlets - Conductive charging of electric vehicles - Part 1: Charging of electric vehicles up to 250 A A.c. and 400 A d.c".

The closest prior art solution is to use a conventional closing lid or a protective cover in the placement of the plug, such as used to cover the gas tank filler cap, and to accommodate the power socket behind it. Many different manufacturers have solutions like this. A problem in a suchlike solution is that the lid protecting the charging plug cannot be closed for the duration of the charging period and, thus, the plug should be placed so that a random passer-by could not remove the car from being charged or by accident hit the lid that is open during charging. On this ac- count, it is desirable to accommodate the plug under the protective cover in such a manner that the entire charging plug, except for the emerging cable, is thereunder. Alternatively, in using the modern power plugs, the power socket to be accommodated in the car would be set very deep relative to the body surface, so the charging hole and the lid protecting it should be large enough to accommodate, in addition to the power plug, also a hand. This is disadvantageous for the overall structure and appearance of the car.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention describes a charging system for at least partially electrically driven vehicle, wherein the charging socket of the vehicle is installed under a protective cover in such a manner that when the protective cover of the charging socket is open, the charging socket is movable between at least two different positions. Typically, the charging socket fixed to a mobile subframe slides outwards so that connecting the plug of a charging cable to the socket is easy. At the same time as the protective cover is closed the charging socket slides back in, providing for closure of the protective cover in such a manner that the cable cannot be released without opening it. For leading in the cable, there is a hole in the protective cover.

In one embodiment of the invention the mobile subframe that facilitates the connecting and releasing of the plug is locked in an ejected position while the protective cover is open, so that inserting the plug in the socket does not move the subframe and thereby the socket. The closure of the protective cover releases the locking of the subframe, and the socket may slide back in the body work of the vehicle, leaving the protective cover locked and the charging plug on. When the accumulators of the car are not charged and> the plug of the charging cable is not inserted in the charging socket, the protective cover is closed, in which case it is possible to lock the subframe in an inner position so as to not be able to move for exam- pie during driving. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the subframe is always automatically locked in the inner position. Although the term ejected is used in this application, the person skilled in the art understands that the movable subframe may also be extracted from the inner position; the same also applies to the inward movement. In the present invention by a closed position is meant a position where the protective cover is either fully closed or slightly ajar to facilitate the leading in of the cable. In one embodiment of the invention the protective cover is locked to the closed position so that it cannot be opened without opening the locking by a key or a central locking system. A small play in the closed position provides for easy use of cables of different thicknesses and reduction of the size of the hole used to lead in the cable. A smaller hole is easier to be protected from contaminants and it does not jump out so easily in the appearance of the car. The play may be realized . by leaving the protective cover slightly open in the direction of its normal path of movement or for example by a separate mechanism by tilting so that the protective cover remains slightly open at the lead-in of the cable.

In one embodiment of the invention the sub- frame is fixed to slide bars which are fixed to the body work of the vehicle either directly or for example by body fastenings. Furthermore, in one embodiment of the invention the charging arrangement comprises means for moving the subframe to the ejected position. In one embodiment of the invention this means is a gas spring .

Furthermore, the present invention relates to a partially or fully electrically driven vehicle which comprises the charging arrangement as described above. In the present application by a partially electrically driven vehicle is meant a vehicle which comprises, in addition to an electric motor, another power unit, typically an internal-combustion engine.

The charging system according to the present invention offers a possibility to connect an electrically driven vehicle to charging via a power plug so that the plug cannot be released in the middle of charging without keys to the vehicle or remote control to the locking. With the arrangement according to the present invention the power plug is easy to be connected to the ejected socket of the vehicle and pushed thereafter behind the locking protective cover. The securing of the plug is thus protected for both vandalism and damages. As a result of the aforesaid, both ease of use and safety are thus achieved by the present invention.

LIST OF FIGURES

Fig. 1 presents one arrangement according to the invention in a closed position,

Fig. 2 presents one arrangement according to the invention in a half-open position, and

Fig. 3 presents one arrangement according to the invention in an open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Fig. 1 presents one embodiment of the charging arrangement according to the present invention. The charging arrangement comprises a protective cover 10, a socket 11, a movable subframe 12, two slide bars 13, a body fastener 14 and a gas spring 15. Fig. 1 also shows the charging cable 16 having the charging plug 17 at one end. In Fig. 1 the charging arrangement is closed, the plug is in place and accumulators of the vehicle are being charged. The socket 11 is connected to the electric system of the vehicle to charge the accumulators of the vehicle.

In Fig. 1 the protective cover 10 is one which rises upwards in an articulated manner on sup- porting arms, thus exposing the charging socket. The protective cover may also be fixed at one edge in an- articulated manner, opening as a hatch, or in other applicable manners and it may be connected for example to the bonnet badge or other emblem of the vehicle. The socket 11 is a power socket that is applicable for charging an electric vehicle. In the present embodiment the socket is moved by the mobile subframe 12 which is moved by slide bars 13. However, the subframe may also be moved by other applicable bars or shifter mechanisms. The mobile subframe may alternatively be for example a base which is supported at the bottom with one or more bars, or for example a subframe located in a pipe or a tunnel, its path of movement being limited with automatic shifter means. The path of movement may also be for example arched or diverge from the linear movement in another manner.

The structure 14 of Fig. 1 is presented for the sake of clarity and is used to fasten the present embodiment to the body work of the vehicle. In the present embodiment the mobile subframe 12 is thus firmly fixed to the body work by slide bars 13 and the structure 14. The gas spring 15 is used to push the mobile subframe to an ejected position. In Fig. 1 the charging cable 16 and its plug 17 are shown in an inner position. The mobile subframe 12 in the inner position is, in the present example, locked in place, preventing the movement of the socket 11 and the plug 17 connected thereto. Typically, the locking is associated to the protective cover being in a closed position. The protective cover 10 may be connected to the central locking system of the vehicle. In addition to the protective cover, the socket may also be provided with an additional locking system which mechanically locks the plug to the socket. The additional locking system may also be connected to the central locking system of the vehicle.

Fig. 2 presents the same embodiment with Fig. 1. In Fig. 2 the charging arrangement is being opened or closed. During opening, the protective cover 10 is shifting aside and the mobile subframe 12 is sliding outwards on slide bars 13 relative to the body work of the vehicle. In the present example the gas spring 15 pushes the mobile subframe 12 outwards. Alternatively, the mobile subframe 12 may be mechanically connected for example to the mechanism of the protective cover 10 or it may be extracted in other manners. In closing, the mobile subframe is pushed back to the inner position. Alternatively, it may be automatically pulled to the inner position by connecting it to the mechanics of the protective cover 10, using a spring equivalent to the gas spring 15 or other mechanism which retracts the mobile subframe 12, the socket 11 fixed thereto and the plug 17 to the inner position.

Fig. 3 presents the same embodiment with Fig. 1 and 2. In Fig. 3 the protective cover 10 of the charging system is in a fully open position, thus allowing the use of the socket and removal of the plug

17 or connecting it to the socket. The protective cover being open, the mobile subframe 12 is locked to its outermost position to facilitate the securing and removal of the plug. Typically, the locking of the subframe 12 to the ejected position is associated to a situation where the protective cover 10 is in the fully opened position. Fig. 3 also displays the hole

18 in the protective cover 10 designed for leading in the cable 16 when the protective cover 10 is closed. This way, the protective cover may be fully closed also when the charging plug 17 is in place. With reference to the closed position of Fig. 1, it should be noticed that by a closed position is meant a position where the protective cover 10 is either fully closed or slightly ajar to facilitate the leading in of the cable. In one embodiment of the invention the protective cover 10 is locked into the closed position so that the protective cover 10 cannot be opened without opening the locking by a key or a central locking system. A small play in the closed position provides for easy use of cables of different thicknesses and reduction of the size of the hole 18 to be used to lead in the cable. The play may be realized by leaving the protective cover 10 slightly open in the direction of its normal path of movement or by a separate mechanism by tilting so that the protective cover 10 remains slightly open at the lead-in 18 of the cable.

The invention is not limited merely to the exemplary embodiments referred to above; instead, many variations are possible within the scope of the inventive idea defined by the claims..

Claims

1. A charging arrangement for an electric vehicle, the charging arrangement comprising:

a protective cover (10) which is fixed to the body work of the vehicle; and

a socket ( 11 ) ;

c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that

the socket is installed to a subframe (12) mobile relative to the body work of the electric vehicle and movable between at least two positions when said protective cover (10) is open.

2. The charging arrangement according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the mobile subframe (12) comprises two slide bars (13) which are fixed to the body work of the vehicle.

3. The charging arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the mobile subframe (12) of the charging arrangement is locked in an ejected position when said protective cover (10) is opened.

4. The charging arrangement according to any one of the previous claims 1 to 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the mobile subframe (12) of the charging arrangement is locked in an inner position when said protective cover (10) is closed.

5. The charging arrangement according to any one of the previous claims 1 to 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the charging arrangement comprises pusher means (15) for ejecting the charging plug.

6. The charging arrangement according to claim

5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the pusher means (15) is a gas spring.

7. The charging arrangement according to any one of the previous claims 1 to 6, c h a r a c t e r - i z e d in that the charging arrangement comprises locking means for locking the mobile subframe in place to at least one desired position.

8. The charging arrangement according to any one of the previous claims 1 to 7, c h a r a c t e r - i z e d in that the protective cover comprises a hole (17) for leading in the charging cable.

9. The charging arrangement according to any one of the previous claims 1 to 8, cha r a c t e r i z e d in that the socket is a power socket.

' 10. A vehicle which is at least partially electrically driven, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the electric vehicle comprises the charging arrangement according to any one of the previous claims 1 to 9.