EP3427359A1

EP3427359A1 - Cable reel for recharging an electric vehicle

Info

Publication number: EP3427359A1
Application number: EP17713355.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Frédéric GAILLARD; Daniel Chatroux
Original assignee: Commissariat a lEnergie Atomique CEA; Commissariat a lEnergie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives CEA
Current assignee: Commissariat a lEnergie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives CEA
Priority date: 2016-03-09
Filing date: 2017-03-08
Publication date: 2019-01-16
Also published as: FR3048826A1; FR3048826B1; WO2017153683A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an electric cable reel for recharging a motor vehicle, comprising a housing (72) and a cable (3), a first end of which is connected to a first electric connection plug that is secured to the housing and is located in a wall thereof, and a second end of which supports a second electric connection plug (34), the first plug protruding from said housing wall, at least in an operational position, in order to be connected to a power outlet.

Description

REFILL FOR AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE REFILL

The present patent application claims the priority of the French patent application FR16 / 51946 which will be considered as an integral part of the present description.

Field

The present description generally relates to electric charging systems for motor vehicles and, more particularly to the production of a wire reel device intended to be connected to an electrical installation for recharging a vehicle.

Presentation of the prior art

Charging the battery or batteries of a motor vehicle is generally done by connecting a battery charger contained in the vehicle to a source of electrical energy, such as an electricity distribution network or a photovoltaic system. For this, a cable connects the charger to a charging station supplied with electricity.

The cable is equipped with a connection plug to a power supply installation side socket and / or vehicle side.

There is a need for improvement of the electrical connection devices, in particular for devices applied to the charging of electric vehicles. EP 2 811 602 discloses an electric cable reel having a rotating drum, the reel housing having a socket for connection in a garage or parking space.

Documents DE 10 2013 221 652 and JP 2010 052861 describe cable reels in which the cable exits into a face of the housing in order to be connected to a socket.

summary

One embodiment aims to overcome all or part of the disadvantages of current electrical connection devices.

One embodiment provides an electric cable reel particularly suitable for the electric charging of motor vehicles.

Thus, an embodiment provides an electric cable reel for charging a motor vehicle, comprising:

a housing ;

a cable whose first end is connected to a first electrical connection plug, connected to the housing and present in a wall thereof, and a second end of which carries a second electrical connection plug, the reel being intended to be placed on the side vehicle and the first plug being, at least in a position of use, protruding from said wall of the housing to be connected to a socket.

According to one embodiment, said first plug protruding from the housing is intended to connect to a corresponding socket on the vehicle side.

According to one embodiment, said first plug is retractable into the housing.

According to one embodiment, said cable is wound around a drum rotatably mounted in a housing crown.

According to one embodiment, said first plug is secured to the drum. According to one embodiment, safety and control equipment is inserted on the cable near the second plug.

According to one embodiment, the outer periphery of the housing comprises a groove for receiving a portion of the cable between the equipment and the second plug.

According to one embodiment, said wall comprises at least one ventilation orifice of the interior of the housing.

One embodiment provides a charging electrical connection system of a motor vehicle, comprising:

vehicle side, a socket;

a reel as above; and

an electricity supply facility.

According to one embodiment, the vehicle comprises a receiving housing of the housing.

According to one embodiment, the system comprises a nozzle connected to a ventilation system of the vehicle and intended to cooperate with said ventilation port.

Brief description of the drawings

These and other features and advantages will be set forth in detail in the following description of particular embodiments in a non-limiting manner with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 very schematically shows an embodiment of a conventional electrical connection for charging a battery of a motor vehicle and, in part, such a vehicle;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a cable reel for charging a motor vehicle;

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the reel of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the reel of Figure 2, unwound cable; Figure 5 shows, schematically, the reel of Figure 2 connected to a vehicle;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a body region of a vehicle having a receiving housing of a reel; and

Figures 7A and 7B are perspective views illustrating an alternative embodiment of a reel.

detailed description

The same elements have been designated with the same references in the various figures. For the sake of clarity, only the elements that are useful for understanding the described embodiments have been shown and will be detailed. In particular, the management of the recharging of a vehicle battery has not been detailed, the embodiments described being compatible with the usual solutions. In addition, the realization of the electric cable itself has also not been detailed, the embodiments described being again compatible with the usual cables.

In the description which follows, when reference is made to absolute position qualifiers, such as the terms "before", "backward", "up", "down", "left", "right", etc., or relative, such as the terms "above", "below", "upper", "lower", etc., or with qualifiers for orientation, such as the terms "horizontal", "vertical", etc., it reference is made to the orientation of the figures or to a connection system in a normal position of use. Unless otherwise stated, the terms "approximately", "substantially", and "of the order of" mean within 10% or 10%, preferably within 5% or 5%.

This description refers to an example of application to an electric cable reel for charging an electric vehicle. However, the embodiments that will be described apply more generally to all reels for which similar problems arise. Figure 1 shows, very schematically, an embodiment of a conventional electrical connection for the charge of a battery of a motor vehicle and such a vehicle.

A rechargeable electric or hybrid vehicle 1 comprises one or more batteries (not shown) intended to supply all or part of the energy necessary for its propulsion. These batteries are connected to one or more charge and control devices (charger) for controlling the charging of the batteries when connected to an electricity supply installation. The installation 5 may be a public charging station of the service station type, a domestic installation (for example at the vehicle user's residence), etc.

The connection between the installation and the vehicle is effected by means of an electric cable 3 'connected on the one hand to the installation 5 and on the other hand to a socket 12 (whose receptacle is symbolized in dotted lines in Figure 1) of the vehicle, connected to the charger (not shown). The plug 12 is intended to receive, in opposite form, a plug 32 'connected to one end of the cable 3'. Side electrical installation 5, the connection is made by a plug 34 'connected to the other end of the cable 3'. For security reasons, a security and control equipment 36 'is inserted on the cable near the plug-end end 34'.

To store the cable between two uses, it has been proposed cable reels. The reel is then generally disposed on the supply side and the user unrolls the cable to connect to the vehicle.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a cable reel device for charging a motor vehicle.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the reel 7 of FIG.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the reel 7 of Figure 2, unwound cable. The device 7 comprises: a housing 72 and a cable 3, a first end of which is connected to a plug 74 connected to the housing 72 (carried by the housing) and present in a wall 76 thereof, and a second free end of which is connected to a plug 34 for connection to an electricity supply installation (for example 5, Figure 1). The plug 74 is, at least in a position of use, protruding from the wall 76 towards the outside of the housing to be connected to a socket on the vehicle side.

In the embodiment of Figure 3, the face 76 is part of a drum 722 rotatably mounted in a ring 724, the drum 722 and the ring 724 forming the housing 72.

The cable 3 is wound around the drum 722 being contained laterally by the wall 76, defining an outer face of the housing 72, and by a wall 726 internal to the housing. The drum 722 is, for example, rotatably mounted around a hub 728 carried by the wall of the housing 72, opposite the wall 76 and integral with the ring 724.

Preferably, a security and control equipment 36 containing the usual elements is interposed in the path of the cable near the plug 34. Typically, the safety equipment 36 contains electrical protection circuits (circuit breakers, etc.). ) and load control. In the embodiment of Figures 2 to 4, this equipment 36 adapts to the shape of the ring 724 and constitutes a portion thereof when the cable 3 is wound. According to this embodiment, a part of the cable (its plug-end end section 38) can not be wound inside because of equipment 36. A circumferential groove 725 in the crown is then preferably provided. 724 to receive this section 38 of cable 3 between the equipment 36 and the plug 34. The length of the section 38 between the plug 34 and the safety equipment is generally standardized. For example, this length is a few tens of centimeters, for example of the order of 30 centimeters or less, which is perfectly suited to a reel s' registering in a diameter of a few tens of centimeters (for example, between 20 and 50 centimeters).

In the example shown in Figures 2 to 4, the wall 76 of the drum further comprises:

a lug 762 serving as a gripping member for the user to rewind the cable 3;

a support pad 764 in a receptacle of the reel, vehicle side, as will be discussed in connection with Figure 6; and

a port 766 facilitating the flow of air inside the housing, as will be described later.

Figure 5 shows schematically the reel 7 of Figure 2 connected to a vehicle.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the vehicle body region 1 comprising a housing 14 for receiving the housing 72 of the reel 7.

Unlike conventional systems, a plug carried by one end of the cable is not connected, but the reel 7, or more precisely its housing 72, is connected via the plug 74 carried by the wall 76. bottom of the housing 14, vehicle side, has a socket 16 for receiving the plug 74 while the housing 72 is partially inserted in the housing 14.

In the example of Figure 6, it is assumed the presence of a nozzle 18 of an air intake, connected for example to the ventilation system of the vehicle, cooperating with the orifice 766 (Figure 2) to ventilate the air. inside the housing and thus prevent overheating of the cable if it is unrolled only partially.

According to an alternative embodiment, only the plug 74 engages the body of the vehicle, the wall 76 being pressed against the body. However, an advantage of an embodiment in which the housing 72 partially engages in the housing 14 is that it improves the seal and protects the connection plug 74, taken 16. The socket 16 is fixed on the vehicle side, its shape serves as a key to the user performs the connection.

In the embodiment where a shoe 764 (Figure 2) is present projecting from the wall 76, it is in the lower part when the reel is connected. Thus, this pad bears inside the housing 14 in its lower part. This reduces the mechanical stress on the plug 74 - socket 16 assembly.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are perspective views illustrating an alternative embodiment in which the plug 74 is retractable inside the housing 2. For example, the plug 74 is movable in translation along an axial direction of the crown 724. Thus, , the plug 74 is output (Figure 7B) when the reel 7 must be connected to the vehicle 1 and is returned to the housing otherwise. This reduces the overall bulk while protecting the plug 74.

An advantage of the embodiments described is that the fact that the housing 72 is pressed against the body of the vehicle 1, or even engaged in the housing 14, reduces the overhang or lever arm that exists in a conventional system (FIG. 1) where the cable opening from the end of the plug 32 ', generates a moment of force on the connection to the socket 12 which may damage it. Damage to the socket is particularly troublesome because it is the fixed element of the link, vehicle side, the replacement of which generates significant costs.

Another advantage of the described embodiments is that the reel 7 is particularly convenient to use. For example, during charging, the plug 34 is connected to the installation side (5, Figure 1) and the cable is unwound by driving the housing 72 to the vehicle. Then the housing is "connected" to the vehicle 1. Once charging is complete, the user disconnects the plug 74, thus the housing, and rewinds the cable 3 by rotating the drum 722 in the crown 724, for example by using the ergot 762. Another advantage of the described embodiments is that the reel or reel being carried by the vehicle eliminates the risk of soiling occurring when a reel is placed on the ground.

In practice, the plug 74 protruding from the reel 7 and the socket 16 corresponding to the vehicle side are plugs and special plugs for the automotive field meeting the standards in the field for use outdoors.

The reel 7 can be easily stored in the trunk of the vehicle without losing space. For example, a dry plug 16 can be provided, that is to say not electrically connected to receive the plug 74.

Various embodiments have been described. Various variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

For example, the wall 76 may be fixed relative to the housing, the plug 74 being connected to the cable by rotating contacts so that rotation of the drum inside the crown does not twist the cable.

According to another variant, the general shape of the reel (the shape of the crown) is not circular (for example polygonal, square, triangular, etc.). It will be noted that certain vehicles are already equipped with a housing 14 for socket 16 for connecting an electric charging cable. These housings are generally much larger in size than the size of the socket 16 to allow a user to enter the hand in the housing by manipulating a conventional plug (32 ', Figure 1). We can then plan to size the reel 7 according to the size of the existing housing 14.

In another example, the plug 74 is not centered with respect to the housing.

Furthermore, the practical implementation of the embodiments that have been described is within the abilities of those skilled in the art from the functional indications given above. The constitution of the plug 74 is of the type of cards commonly used to be compatible with the known connections.

Claims

An electric cable reel for charging a motor vehicle, comprising:

a housing (72);

a cable (3) having a first end connected to a first electrical connection plug (74) connected to the housing and having a wall (76) thereof, and a second end of which carries a second electrical connection plug (34),

the reel being intended to be placed on the vehicle side and the first plug being, at least in a position of use, protruding from said wall of the housing to be connected to a socket (16).

2. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein said first plug (74) projecting from the housing is for connecting to a corresponding socket (16) on the vehicle side.

3. Dispenser according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said first plug (74) is retractable into the housing (72).

4. The dispenser of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said cable (3) is wrapped around a drum (722) rotatably mounted in a ring (724) of the housing (72).

5. Dispenser according to claim 4, wherein said first plug (74) is integral with the drum (722).

6. Dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a safety and control equipment (36) is inserted on the cable (3) near the second plug (34).

7. Dispenser according to claim 6, wherein the outer periphery of the housing (72) comprises a groove (725) for receiving a section (38) of the cable (3) between the equipment (36) and the second plug ( 34).

8. Dispenser according to any one of the claims

1 to 7, wherein said wall (76) has at least one ventilation port (766) of the interior of the housing (72).

9. A charging electrical connection system of a motor vehicle, comprising: vehicle side, a socket (16);

a reel according to any one of the preceding revendi ^¬ cations; and

an electricity supply facility (5).

10. System according to claim 9, wherein the vehicle comprises a housing (14) for receiving the housing (72).

11. System according to claim 9 or 10, in their connection to claim 8, comprising a nozzle (18) connected to a ventilation system of the vehicle and intended to cooperate with said ventilation port (766).