EP3140151A1

EP3140151A1 - Vehicle charging station comprising an articulated arm

Info

Publication number: EP3140151A1
Application number: EP15732593.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Florian BÜHS; Peter Enenkel; Jürgen FRANCKE; Andre Rompe; Frank Voss; Andreas Laske
Original assignee: Siemens AG
Current assignee: Siemens Mobility GmbH
Priority date: 2014-07-23
Filing date: 2015-06-23
Publication date: 2017-03-15
Also published as: CN106536267A; RU2017105756A; WO2016012173A1; RU2017105756A3; US20170217324A1; AT516078A1; CA2955876A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle charging station for charging the energy accumulator (17) in a battery-driven vehicle (5), in particular an electric bus or a hybrid vehicle, the vehicle (5) parking in a pre-defined parking position (24) during the charging process. Said charging station comprises: a) a base (2) which is arranged in the vicinity of the pre-defined parking position (24); b) an articulated arm (4), one end of which is mounted in a revolute joint (3) on the base (2) and is rotary driven by means of a rotary drive (31) and the other end of which is connected to a supply-contact device (8) by means of a second revolute joint (7), such that the supply-contact device (8) can be moved, by means of a pivoting movement of the articulated arm (4), between an idle position, in which the supply-contact device (8) is positioned above the vehicle roof (10), and a working position, in which, for charging purposes, electrical contact is made between the supply-contact device (8) and a receiving-contact device (9) arranged in a static manner on the vehicle roof (10).

Description

description

Vehicle charging station with an articulated arm

Technical area

The invention generally relates to the technical field of electric vehicles, in particular a charging station and a method for charging an energy store in one

Electric vehicle.

Prior art Public transport has been around for a long time

Battery-powered transport systems known, for example from DE 24 05 198. Recently, all-electric buses are used, the entire energy requirement is covered by the entrained battery system. In the city of Vienna today already such full electric buses are operated, the drive power completely from several

entrained lithium ferrite batteries with a

Total capacity of about 100 kWh refer. The batteries are partly at the roof or at the rear of the vehicle

accommodated. These batteries are recharged within about 15 minutes during the operating time in each case in an end station of the bus line and overnight when the

Full electric bus is not in operation. For charging, a current collector provided on the vehicle roof of the electric bus is deployed at the push of a button and brought into contact with a catenary network above the electric bus. Before starting the journey, the contact with the catenary network is again separated by a manual switching action. The disadvantage is that the pantograph together with the Hebebzw. Lowering device is carried on the vehicle roof. This requires additional drive energy and reduces the payload of the full electric bus. In addition, the lifting or lowering device of several moving parts. Together with the drive technology, they are exposed to the weather on the roof and are prone to failure. In addition, the structure of the extendable pantograph claimed on the vehicle roof

Construction volume, which limits the passage height of the electric bus. Manual switching operations are required for charging. It would be desirable but an automatic charging process.

Presentation of the invention

It is an object of the present invention to obviate the above drawbacks and approach

create, with the charging of the energy storage of a battery-powered vehicle as possible no vehicle-side contact device with moving parts is required and wherein the charging process is largely automated. The object is achieved by a charging station for an electric vehicle according to the features of claim 1, by a method according to the features of claim 7, and by a vehicle according to the features of claim 11. Advantageous embodiments, aspects and details of

Invention will become apparent from the respective dependent claims, the description and the accompanying drawings.

The invention is based on the consideration that when charging the energy storage of a stationary, located in a predefined parking position electric vehicle, not a vehicle-side contact device to a

Catenary network docks, but the station side

Contact device is movable.

The charging station according to the invention comprises

a) a base that is close to the predefined

Parking position is arranged; b) a pivot arm, which is rotatably mounted with its one end to in a mounted on the base rotary drive about an axis and at its other end by means of a second pivot joint with a station-side in

Contact device is connected so that the station-side contact device by a pivoting movement between a rest position (Figure 3), in which the station-side

Contact device is located above the vehicle roof, and a working position (Figure 1), in which an electrical contact between the station-side in contact device and a fixed on the vehicle roof contact device is made adjustable.

An essential advantage results from the fact that

no pantograph with moving parts is required on the vehicle side. The weight per vehicle is correspondingly lower. The vehicle-side contact device can be easily performed, for example by

strip-shaped contacts elements which are arranged substantially flush with the vehicle silhouette on the vehicle roof. The contact device on the vehicle roof is therefore robust and less prone to interference from the effects of weather. The loading procedure can be automated.

In a preferred embodiment, the on the

Vehicle roof arranged contact device by a

Arrangement of at least two elongated contact strips formed. Due to their size, these contact strips are dimensioned in such a way that reliable electrical connection can be established between the charging voltage-carrying contacts brought about by the pivoting movement of the swivel arm and the vehicle-side contacts within a predetermined parking position tolerance. The contact strips can either in the direction of

Longitudinal extension of the vehicle or transversely thereto on the Vehicle roof be arranged. As a result, the parking position tolerance limit is increased in the former case in the direction of travel, in the second case transverse to the direction of travel.

In a very particularly preferred embodiment can

be provided that the station-side contact device has four arranged in the form of a cross contact strip, which cooperate with corresponding contact strips which are arranged on the vehicle roof in the form of a quadrangle. It is advantageous if the contact strips of the cross have the same length, and form the contact strips of the quadrilateral side portions of a square. This results in both the direction of travel and across the

Driving direction a favorable tolerance range of

predefined parking position of the vehicle. It is sufficient if the vehicle parking position lies within these limits.

In another preferred embodiment, it can also be provided conversely that the station-side contact device, that contact device which is lowered by the pivoting movement on the vehicle roof, consists of four in the form of a square or rectangle arranged contact strip, and on the vehicle roof contact portions in the form of a cross are arranged.

With regard to a good contact, it may be advantageous if the rotary drive is an electrical position drive and the second rotary joint is operatively coupled with this rotary drive, that in the working position (loading position) contact elements of the feed contact device are aligned substantially parallel to the vehicle roof level and with spring force abut against corresponding contact elements of the receiving contact device.

The object set out above is also achieved by a method for charging the energy store in a battery-powered vehicle, wherein the vehicle is in a predefined Parking position is brought and wherein a charging station is used which has the following:

i. a base disposed near the predefined parking position;

ii. a swivel arm with one end attached to one at the base

Rotary drive is mounted rotationally driven about an axis and is connected at its other end by means of a second rotary joint with a contact device;

Wherein the method comprises the following step: iii. the contact device is characterized by a pivoting movement between a rest position

(Figure 3), in which the contact device is located above the vehicle roof, in a working position (Figure 1), in which an electrical connection between the contact device and one on the

Vehicle roof arranged contact device is made, pivoted.

It is advantageous if the pivoting movement between the rest position and the working position takes place in a pivot plane which is arranged substantially perpendicular to the direction of the longitudinal extension of the parked in the parking position vehicle. Thereby, it is possible for the articulated arm, both on a vehicle parked on one side of the base, to pivot alternately as well as to a vehicle parked on the opposite side of the base, and make contact for loading.

If the rotary drive is controlled by an electric control device to which the signal is fed to a parking position recognition device, it is possible that the charging process is completely automatic. The invention also relates to a battery powered vehicle in which on the vehicle roof or on a side wall, a receiving contact device is fixedly mounted, which has elongated contact strips, which are arranged either in the form of a cross or in the form of a square / rectangle. As already stated, the position of the vehicle in the parking position can then vary within the limits defined by the cross or square shape and needs to be less accurate.

It is advantageous here if the individual contact strips or contact strips are made of an electrically highly conductive material, e.g. Copper are executed and in one

Contact plate of an electrical insulator are at least partially embedded.

Advantageously, the contact plate is a truncated pyramid, which is firmly mounted with its base surface on the vehicle roof. The contact strips are arranged on the side facing away from the base surface top surface of the truncated pyramid and can protrude from this top surface. By the oblique side surfaces of the truncated pyramid is incident

Rainwater well drained.

Brief description of the drawing

To further explain the invention, reference is made in the following part of the description to drawings, from which further advantageous embodiments, details and effects of the invention can be taken by way of non-limiting embodiment.

FIG. 1 shows a vehicle loading station with an articulated arm according to the invention in a schematic side view;

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1; Figure 3 rest positions of the joint arm;

Figure 4 arranged on a vehicle roof contact strips;

Figure 5 shows a preferred variant of the invention with a

Contact device consisting of four

Contact strips.

Embodiment of the invention

1 shows a vehicle loading station 1 in a front view. The vehicle charging station 1 essentially consists of a stationary base or frame 2 and an articulated arm 4 mounted therein. A parking vehicle 5 is located on a carriageway 6 in a predefined manner

Parking position 24 (Figure 2). The vehicle 5 is

battery-operated, not rail-bound, for example an initially mentioned full electric bus. In addition to the vehicle 5, the columnar base 2 is arranged at a distance 13 at the edge of the roadway. At an upper end of the columnar base 2, a hinge 3 is arranged at a height 23 from the roadway 6. In this hinge 3, the articulated arm 4 is mounted with its one end. By means of a rotary drive 31, the articulated arm 4 about an axis 25 (Figure 2) is pivotable. In Figure 1, this pivoting movement is indicated by the double-arrow 26. The articulated arm 4 functions with its other end as a carrier of a station-side contact device by wearing with its facing away from the base 2 end a dining contact device 8. This food contact device 8 is electrically connected to a not shown in the drawings energy supply network (traction voltage network). This energy supply network is the charging process for the vehicle-side energy storage 17

taken required electrical energy. The mechanical connection between the articulated arm 4 and the

Contact device 8 produces another rotary joint 7. As will be explained in more detail below, this is

Swivel 7 operatively connected to the rotary drive 31.

FIG. 1 shows the articulated or swivel arm 4 in a so-called working position. This working position corresponds to a battery charging position, i. The energy store 17 of the vehicle 5 is charged. For this purpose, previously the articulated arm 4 from a rest position in which the feed contact device 8 was located above the vehicle roof 10 (see Figure 3a, 3b, 3c) lowered into the working position by a pivoting movement. In the working position, an electrical contact between the corresponding contact elements of the feed-contact device 8 and located on the vehicle roof 10 receiving contact device 9 is made. In the illustration of Figure 1, this pivoting movement takes place in the clockwise direction. As the double arrow 26 in Figure 1 but already suggests, it is of course also possible to load not only this illustrated in Figure 1 vehicle 5, but also a located on the other side of the base 1 vehicle 5 alternately by the articulated arm 4th not in the figure 1

Is pivoted clockwise but counterclockwise. For charging the energy storage device 17 of the battery-powered vehicle 5, therefore, the vehicle 5 is first brought into a predetermined parking position 24 and parked there. Subsequently, the feed contact device 8 of the articulated arm 4 is lowered onto the vehicle roof 10 by a pivoting movement, so that an electrical connection between contacts of the feed contact device 8 with

corresponding contacts of the receiving contact device 9 can be produced. This lowering is done as I said by a rotational movement of the joint arm 4, which is mounted in the rotary joint 3 of the base 2 and not closer

shown rotary drive 31 is driven. The rotary drive 31 is a position-controlled electric drive, which is coupled in an operative connection with the rotary joint 7. This coupling can be mechanical (linkage), or by the joint 7 is also driven by a drive, not shown. In this way, a defined position of the contact device 8 with respect to the roadway 6 or vehicle roof 10 can be adjusted, for example parallel to the road surface 6.

This makes it possible for that within limits

Height differences between the vehicle side

Contact device 9 and 6 road can be compensated. These differences in height may, for example, result from different loads, unevenly distributed cargo, changing tire pressure or vehicle types. The rotary drive 31 does not have to be electric, but may also be a controlled pneumatic or hydraulic drive. The individual contact elements of the feed contact device 8 can be designed differently, for example metal brushes, which are tensioned with a spring before.

The drawing of Figure 1 shows the arrangement of the joint 3 and rotary drive 31 at a height 23 to the roadway 6. In order to load vehicles 5 with a different height (z-direction) between the vehicle roof 10 and the roadway 6, is in the base second a linear drive device is provided, with which the height 23 can be set within limits. The drawing of Figure 2 shows the working position in a plan view. On the vehicle roof 10 is a vehicle-side receiving contact device 9, which consists of three directed in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the vehicle 5 contact strip or contact strips. The axis of rotation 25 of the rotary joint 3 runs approximately parallel to the roadway 6 or to the longitudinal extent of the parked vehicle 5 (x-direction). The receiving contact device 9 is stationary on the vehicle roof 10, and has no moving parts. It consists of contact strips or contact strips which are embedded in a plane parallel to the plane of the vehicle roof 10 in an insulator contact plate.

The electrical energy for charging the vehicle battery 17 is a non-illustrated

Power supply network taken. The charging process is controlled by a arranged in the base 2 control device 18. The controller 18 also controls the

Rotary drive 31, so that the production of the electrical contact and the charging process is automatically initiated when the vehicle 5 is within predetermined limits of a predefined parking position 24 and is released for loading.

In this case, a position detection device 15 monitors the correct parking position 24 of the vehicle 5. This position detection device 15 may, for example, a device for measuring the distance 13 (y-direction) between the columnar base 2 and the side wall 16 of the vehicle 5, and a position detection in the direction of travel (x direction). If the vehicle 5 is outside a predefined parking position 24, an automatic charging process is not carried out and this incorrect position of the vehicle 5 is displayed by an acoustic and / or optical signal. As drawn in FIG. 2, the vehicle parking position 24 is defined by markings. The pivoting movement of

Articulated arm 4 takes place about the axis of rotation 25, which runs approximately parallel to the direction of travel (x-direction) of the vehicle 5. As already stated, the position of the vehicle 5 is detected or checked prior to the charging process, ie, the lateral distance 13 between the base 2 and the side wall 16 of the vehicle 5 (distance in the y direction) and the distance 14 in the direction of travel (x). Direction). Only if that is Vehicle 5 in a predetermined tolerance field of

Parking position 24, an automatic charging is triggered. The rest position of the articulated arm 4 may be different depending on the circumstances of the site. In the illustration of Figure 3a, a rest position is shown, in which the height is limited. In Figure 3b and Figure 3c is on

Site of the base 2, the height is not limited, the articulated arm 4 is stretched out. In the rest position of Figure 3b show the contact strips of the feed contact device 8 down (z-direction). They are thus largely protected from the weather. The rest position of the articulated arm 4 shown in FIG. 3c shows a rest position in which the clearance profile of large-height vehicles passing by on the roadway 6 is not impaired.

FIG. 4 shows, in a top view of the vehicle roof 10, two possible arrangements of the vehicle-side receiving contact device 9. In FIG

Contact device 9 of three parallel to each other

arranged contact strips which are aligned in the longitudinal extent of the vehicle (Figure 4a) and transverse to the longitudinal extent of the vehicle (Figure 4b). When docking with the station-side contact device 8 in the first case, the tolerance in the direction of travel (x-direction), in the second case, transverse to the direction of travel (i.e., in the y-direction) is less restricted.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention is shown in more schematic in Figure 5a. It allows greater tolerance in both the x and y directions. In this case, the station-side feed-contact device 8 either consists of four contact strips not connected to each other, either in the form of a square or rectangle 11 or in

Shape of a cross 12 are arranged. If the

vehicle-side contact device 9 contact strips in shape a square, the contact strips of the station-side contact device 8 are arranged in the form of a cross, and vice versa. As a result, the docking of the contact devices 8, 9 simplified considerably. The

Requirements for the accuracy of the vehicle 5 in the parking position 24 are thereby less stringent (depending on the formation of rectangular shape and corresponding cross shape). Both in the direction of travel and transverse to the direction of travel different and relatively larger deviations are allowed. The sensors for detecting parking position of the

Vehicle can be made simpler.

The individual contact strips or contact strips are made of copper and each in contact plates 19,22 of a

embedded electrical insulator.

FIG. 5b shows a possible embodiment in which the contact strips 4 arranged on side lengths of a square are embedded in a contact plate 19 designed as a truncated pyramid. The truncated pyramid has a height 20. The contact strips 11 are on the surface facing away from the base surface of the truncated pyramid

arranged and stand from this surface. If those

Contact plate 19 is arranged with the base surface on a vehicle roof 10 lying on, incident rainwater from the contacts 11 is well derived.

FIG. 5c shows the counterpart associated with FIG. 5b with a cross-shaped contact arrangement 12, which are likewise correspondingly embedded in a contact plate 22 made of an insulator. The station-side contact device 8 can basically be formed either according to FIG. 5b or according to FIG. 5c. It just depends on that

corresponding counterpart (either rectangle / square with cross, or cross with rectangle / square).

The arrangement of the vehicle-side contact device 9 can on one half of the vehicle roof 10 or both be arranged. In the latter case, a charging process in both directions of entry into the vehicle 5

Parking position 24 possible.

Although the invention in detail by the preferred

The invention has not been limited by the disclosed examples, and other variations can be derived by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention

To leave invention.

It is conceivable, for example, that the articulated arm is formed from individual rotary-driven partial articulated arms, each of these arms being provided with individual contacts,

For example, one arm per pole is formed. The partial arms can be mounted individually or jointly in the joint 3.

In the drawings, the contact strips are shown as a rectangle; Of course, other forms are conceivable.

The arrangement of the contact strips in a rectangle or in a broken cross is of course limited not only to the forms shown and described in the drawing, but can also other forms, each with more than four station-side or vehicle-side

Include contact strips.

Compilation of the reference numbers used

1 vehicle charging station

2 base, fixed base frame

3 swivel joint

4 articulated arm

5 vehicle

6 lane

7 second pivot,

8 food contact device

9 Recording contact preparation

10 vehicle roof

11 contact strips, arranged in a square

12 contact strips, arranged in a cross

13 distance between 2 and 5

14 distance in the vehicle direction

15 parking position recognition device

16 side wall

17 energy storage, vehicle side

18 control device

19 contact plate, vehicle side

20 plate thickness

21 slope

22 contact plate

23 Distance between 3 and 6

24 parking position

25 axis of rotation

26 arrow 31 rotary drive

Claims

Vehicle charging station for charging the energy storage device (17) in a battery-operated vehicle (5), in particular an electric bus or hybrid vehicle, wherein the vehicle (5) is parked in a predefined parking position (24) during the charging process, comprising:

a) a base (2) that is close to the

predefined parking position (24) is arranged; b) an articulated arm (4), one end of which is in a swivel joint (3) on the base

(2) is mounted and rotationally driven by means of a rotary drive (31), and which is connected at its other end to a feed contact device (8) by means of a second swivel joint (7), so that the feed contact device (8) is connected by a pivoting movement of the articulated arm (4) between a rest position, in which the feed contact device (8) is located above the vehicle roof (10), and a working position in which, for the purpose of charging, there is electrical contact between the feed contact device (8) and a on the

Vehicle roof (10) arranged stationary

Receiving contact device (9) is made, is adjustable.

Vehicle charging station according to claim 1, characterized

characterized in that the feed contact device ( 8 ) is set up with contact strips

Receiving contact device (9), which are arranged essentially in a plane of the vehicle roof (10) or in a plane parallel thereto, to establish electrical contact.

3. Vehicle charging station according to claim 2, characterized

characterized in that the feed contact device (8) is designed to provide an electrical contact with at least two elongated contact strips of the receiving contact device (9), which in their longitudinal extent either in the direction or transversely to the direction of the

Longitudinal extension of the vehicle (5) are arranged to produce.

4. Vehicle charging station according to claim 2, characterized

characterized in that the feed contact device (8) consists of four contact strips which are in the form of a

Cross are arranged to make electrical contact with corresponding contact strips of the receiving contact device (9), which are arranged in the form of a square on the vehicle roof (10).

to produce.

5. Vehicle charging station according to one of claims 2 -4,

characterized in that the rotary drive (31) is an electric position drive and the second

Swivel joint (7) is operatively coupled to this rotary drive (31) in such a way that in the working position

Contact elements of the feed contact device (8) are aligned essentially parallel to the plane of the vehicle roof (10) and with spring force

corresponding contact elements of the receiving

contact device (9).

6. Vehicle charging station according to one of claims 2-4,

characterized in that the rotary drive (31) is arranged on the base (2) at a height (23), the

Height (23) is adjustable by means of a drive.

Method for charging the energy storage device (17) in a battery-operated vehicle (5), in particular an electric bus or hybrid vehicle, wherein the vehicle (5) is brought into a predefined parking position (24) for the purpose of charging, with a charging station (1),

full : i. a base (2) located near the

predefined parking position (24) is arranged;

ii. an articulated arm (4), one end of which is attached to the base (2).

Swivel joint (3) mounted and rotated around an axis (25) by means of a rotary drive (31).

is rotationally driven, and at its other end by means of a second swivel joint

(7) is connected to a feed contact device (8), characterized by the following process step:

iii. the feed contact device (8) becomes

Charging the energy storage using the

Rotary drive (31) from a rest position, in which the feed contact device (8) is in a position above the vehicle roof (10), into a working position in which an electrical connection between corresponding contacts of the feed contact device

(8) and a receiving contact device arranged on the vehicle roof (10).

(9) is made, pivoted.

Method according to claim 7, characterized in that the pivoting movement between the rest position and the working position takes place in a pivoting plane which is essentially perpendicular to the direction of the

Longitudinal extension of the vehicle (10) parked in the parking position (24).

Method according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the rotary drive (31) is controlled by a control device (18).

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the control device (18) is a vehicle Position signal is fed to a parking position detection device (15), whereby the pivoting movement and the loading process are automatically triggered.

11. Battery operated, non-rail-based

Vehicle (5) with a receiving contact device (9) which is firmly attached to the vehicle roof (10) and has elongated contact strips which are either in the shape of a cross or in the shape of a square or

Rectangle are arranged.

Vehicle according to claim 11, characterized in that the contact strips (11) are at least partially formed from an electrical insulator

Contact plate (16) are embedded.

Vehicle according to claim 12, characterized in that the contact plate (16) has the shape of a

Has a truncated pyramid and the contact strips (11) in the area of the edges of the top surface of the

Truncated pyramid are arranged.