EP4041591A1

EP4041591A1 - Method for locking a plug arranged on a charging cable to a mating plug, and charging station for carrying out the method

Info

Publication number: EP4041591A1
Application number: EP20771820.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Raimund Thiel; Jens Klein
Original assignee: SMA Solar Technology AG
Current assignee: SMA Solar Technology AG
Priority date: 2019-10-09
Filing date: 2020-09-10
Publication date: 2022-08-17
Also published as: DE102019127197A1; US20220231455A1; WO2021069175A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for locking a connection of a plug (10) to a mating plug (20) arranged on an electric vehicle (34). The plug (10) is arranged on a charging cable (31) which is connected to a charging post (30) of a charging station (36), in particular a charging cable (31) which is rigidly connected to a charging post (30) of a charging station (30). The plug (10) is paired with a first locking element (11), and the mating plug (20) is paired with a second locking element (21), wherein the first locking element (11) and the second locking element (21) interact in order to lock the connection between the plug (10) and the mating plug (20), and each element has an activated state and a deactivated state. The method has the steps of: - operating the first locking element (11) paired with the plug (10) in an activated state in a first operating mode of the charging station (30) in order to lock the connection between the plug (10) and the mating plug (20) when the second locking element (21) paired with the mating plug (20) is activated and - operating the first locking element (11) paired with the plug (10) in a deactivated state in a second operating mode of the charging station (30) in order to unlock the connection between the plug (10) and the mating plug (20) when the second locking element (21) paired with the mating plug (20) is activated. The invention additionally relates to a charging station which is suitable for and designed to carry out the method.

Description

METHOD OF LOCKING A PLUG ARRANGED ON A CHARGING CABLE WITH A MISCELLANEOUS PLUG AND CHARGING STATION FOR PERFORMING THE METHOD

Technical field of the invention

The invention relates to a method for locking a connection between a connector of a charging station and a mating connector of an electric vehicle. The plug is arranged at one end of a charging cable which is connected to a charging column of the charging station. In particular, the method aims at establishing a locked connection between the plug and the mating connector in a first operating mode of the charging station and establishing an unlocked connection between the plug and the mating connector in a second operating mode of the charging station. The charging cable can in particular be a charging cable permanently connected to the charging station. The invention further relates to a charging station with a charging column, a charging cable connected to the charging column and a plug arranged on the charging cable, which is suitable and set up for carrying out the method.

State of the art

An electric vehicle (EV = Electro Vehicle), in particular an electric car, can be charged at public charging stations in different ways. In a first variant, the charging process takes place via a charging cable that is owned by a user of the EV. Here, the charging cable has a connector at each of its ends, which is connected to a complementary mating connector on the EV and on a charging column assigned to the charging station. Such a charging station or its charging column thus comprises a complementary mating connector, but generally not a charging cable permanently connected to the charging column. In a second variant, the charging process takes place via a charging cable that is generally permanently or permanently connected to a charging column of the charging station. Such a charging cable only has a connector at its free end, which is connected to a complementary mating connector on the EV. Conventional charging stations are designed either only for the first variant, only for the second variant, or both for the first variant and the second variant. They accordingly (i) either exclusively have a complementary mating connector for the Connection of a separate charging cable, (ii) exclusively a charging cable permanently connected to the charging station, or (iii) a combination of a complementary mating connector and a charging cable permanently connected to the charging station.

During the charging process, a connection between the plug of the charging cable and the complementary mating connector on the EV is usually mechanically locked. An operating principle of a conventional lock is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Fig. 1 shows a plug 1, which is arranged at the end of a - not shown in Fig. 1 - charging cable. On its housing 4, the plug 1 has at least one, often several, receiving openings 3, into each of which a second locking element which is arranged on the EV and which can be activated and deactivated, engages. As shown in FIG. 2, the second locking element 6 is, for example, an axially displaceable bolt 7 which, when the second locking element 6 is activated, engages in one of the receiving openings 2 of the connector 1 on the charging cable side. This is to prevent the connection of connector 1 and mating connector 5 from being disconnected under load - i.e. when there is a significant current flow between the charging station and EV. The mechanical lock typically remains in place until it is unlocked by a user of the EV, for example by actuating the key assigned to the EV. During unlocking, the bolt 7 of the second locking element 6 moves axially out of the receiving opening 3 of the plug 1 and thus enables the connection of plug 1 and mating plug 5 to be separated.

The conventional locking of connector 1 and mating connector 5, with its operating principle, also pursues the purpose of protecting a charging cable that is in the possession of an EV user - i.e. not permanently connected to the charging station of the charging station - from access by third parties and possible theft . The disadvantage here, however, is that the connection of the plug and mating plug can often be locked long after the charging process has ended, e.g. B. because the corresponding EV user is currently not on site to unlock the connection. The conventional locking is brought about exclusively by activating the second locking element of the EV and can only be unlocked by deactivating the second locking element. The connection is locked and unlocked regardless of whether it is the charging cable is a charging cable permanently connected to the charging station of the charging station or a separate charging cable. Therefore, a charging station that has a charging cable permanently connected to a charging station of the charging station is blocked for a subsequent charging process. The blockage continues until the user of the EV whose mating connector is locked with the connector of the charging cable is available on site to unlock the connection between the connector and the mating connector. The infrastructure of charging stations, which is currently still weak, is therefore not fully utilized, as this prevents the charging station from being used for a second EV immediately after the charging process has been completed at a first EV.

Document DE 10 2013 015 954 A1 discloses a method for charging an energy supply unit of an electric motor vehicle with electrical energy from an electrical charging station having a charging cable. The charging cable is locked before the start of a charging process on the electric vehicle. The locking of the charging cable is released by the electric vehicle after receiving a universal release signal if the charging process has been completed at this point in time.

Document US 2019/0061538 A1 discloses an electric vehicle with a storage device that can be charged with electrical energy via a charging cable. The vehicle includes: an inlet configured to receive a charging plug located at one end of the charging cable, and a cable locking mechanism located near the inlet. The cable locking mechanism can switch between a locking state and an unlocking state. The electric vehicle further comprises a control device configured to charge the storage device in a first operating mode with a first current value when the charging plug and the inlet are connected to one another and the cable locking mechanism is in the locked state. The control device is further configured to charge the storage device in a second operating mode with a second current value that is less than the first current value when the charging plug and the inlet are connected to one another and the cable locking mechanism is in the unlocked state. The document DE 102018123314 A1 discloses a charging plug on the charging cable side for insertion into a charging socket on the charging station side for charging a traction battery of a motor vehicle via a charging cable. The charging plug has a locking undercut on the outside, which a locking element of the charging station engages behind to lock the charging plug in the charging socket. The charging plug also has a manual emergency release with an active element in order, when the emergency release is operated manually, to ensure that the locking element no longer engages behind the locking undercut.

Object of the invention

The invention is based on the object of specifying a method for locking a connection between a plug and a complementarily designed mating plug, the plug being arranged on a charging cable of a charging column assigned to a charging station. On the one hand, the method should reliably prevent the connection from being disconnected under load, but on the other hand not unnecessarily block the charging station for subsequent charging processes. In particular, such a charging station should not be unnecessarily blocked for subsequent charging processes if the charging station has a charging column with a charging cable permanently connected to the charging column. It is also an object of the invention to provide a charging station suitable for carrying out the method.

solution

In a method of the type mentioned at the outset, the object is achieved according to the invention with the features of independent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the method are specified in claims 2 to 9. The object of indicating a charging station suitable for carrying out the method is achieved according to the invention with the features of independent claim 10. Advantageous embodiments of the charging station are listed in claims 11 to 15.

Description of the invention

The method according to the invention aims to lock a connection between a plug of a charging station and a mating plug arranged on an electric vehicle (EV). The plug is arranged at one end of a charging cable, the other end of which is connected to a charging station in the charging station. A first locking element is assigned to the connector and a second locking element is assigned to the mating connector. The first locking element and the second locking element each have an activated state and a deactivated state and cooperate to provide locking of the connector and the mating connector. The procedure consists of the following steps:

Operating the first locking element assigned to the connector in a first operating mode of the charging station in an activated state in order to lock the connection of the connector to the mating connector when the second locking element assigned to the mating connector is activated, and

Operating the first locking element assigned to the plug in a second operating mode of the charging station in a deactivated state in order to unlock the connection of the plug with the mating connector when the second locking element assigned to the mating connector is activated.

The charging cable can in particular be a charging cable that is permanently connected to the charging column of the charging station. A charging cable permanently connected to the charging station is understood to mean a charging cable that cannot be disconnected from the charging station or from the charging station, or can only be disconnected by qualified personnel specially authorized by the charging station operator. Such a charging cable can, for example, be wired, in particular screwed, to the charging column on one side - usually within a housing of the charging column - and have the plug at its other end. A permanently connected charging cable can also have a connector at both ends, one of which is firmly connected to a complementary mating connector on the charging column, e.g. via a locked lock.

A charging process of the EV can advantageously take place in the first operating mode of the charging station. During the first operating mode, the connector and the mating connector are locked together. The first locking element of the connector and the second locking element of the mating connector are each in their activated state. A disconnection of the connector and mating connector in the first operating mode of the charging station is thus safely suppressed by the interaction of the two activated locking elements. Even in the first operating mode of the charging station, however, the charging process can be interrupted by a user of the EV, for example at his or her special request. In this case, the second locking element assigned to the mating connector can be deliberately put into a deactivated state. For such a deactivation, however, it is necessary that the EV user consciously initiates this, since it is typically coupled with another function of the EV, for example a locking mechanism of the vehicle. Alternatively or cumulatively, it is possible for the second locking element to be put into the deactivated state in response to a separate release signal. The release signal can be generated, for example, via a vehicle key assigned to the EV. In the deactivated state of the second locking element, the connection of the connector and mating connector can also be disconnected when the first locking element assigned to the connector is activated.

When the EV charging process has ended, the charging station can advantageously be in the second operating mode. Specifically, when the charging process is nearing the end or is complete, for example because an energy store of the EV has reached its individual target value for the stored energy, the charging station can switch to the second operating mode. In the second operating mode of the charging station, the first locking element assigned to the plug is in its deactivated state. In the deactivated state of the first locking element, the connection of plug and mating connector can also be disconnected when the second locking element assigned to the mating connector is in its activated state. In the deactivated state of the first locking element, the connection of the plug and the mating connector is unlocked and the connection can be separated regardless of whether the second locking element assigned to the mating connector is in its activated state or its deactivated state.

Overall, the connection of the connector and the mating connector is only locked when both the first locking element of the Connector, and at the same time the second locking element of the mating connector are each in their activated state. As soon as at least one of the locking elements of the plug and mating connector is in the deactivated state, the connection of the plug to the mating connector is unlocked and can be separated. It goes without saying that an unlocked connection is also present when both the first locking element of the connector and the second locking element of the mating connector are each in their deactivated state.

The method enables an EV user of a second EV to disconnect the connector and mating connector when the charging process on a first EV has ended. The EV user of the second EV can thus start a new charging process on the second EV after the end of the charging process on the first EV without an unlocking initiated by the EV user of the first EV - for example triggered by the second locking element of the mating connector - is required. Rather, the connection of the plug and the mating connector can be unlocked automatically by the charging station, which recognizes when the EV charging process is completed on the basis of measurements of electrical quantities that are already carried out during the charging process. The charging station is thus not blocked after the end of the charging process in that the connection of plug and mating connector remains locked because the second locking element of the mating connector is in its activated state. At the same time, however, unintentional disconnection of the connector and mating connector during the charging process of the EV due to the interaction of the activated first locking element of the connector and the activated second locking element of the mating connector is reliably prevented.

In one embodiment of the method, activation and / or deactivation of the first locking element, possibly also of the second locking element, can take place by an electric motor or electromagnetic. Advantageously, a transition from the activated state of the first locking element to the deactivated state of the first locking element can be made depending on a measurement of electrical variables in the Plug and / or take place in the charging station of the charging station. Such electrical variables, for example a battery voltage of the energy store assigned to the EV and a charging current, are usually detected by the charging station anyway. In this way, the charging station can determine when the EV has finished charging. Usually, after the end of the charging process, only a battery voltage - and thus an energy content of the battery - is kept constant, which takes place with a very low current, possibly also a current of 0A. In this state, the connection of the connector and the mating connector can be disconnected without the risk of an electric arc and the connection can be unlocked or unlocked. The charging process can be terminated in different ways or triggered by different events. For example, the termination of the charging process can be triggered by the fact that the storage device of the electric vehicle is fully charged to its maximum possible energy content. Alternatively, it is possible to terminate the charging process by reaching or exceeding a predefined charging time and / or a predefined charging energy. To unlock the connection, a control signal can be transmitted from the charging station to the connector. In response to the control signal, an electromotive or electromagnetic actuator in the plug can act on the first locking element and put the first locking element into the activated state or into the deactivated state. In principle, the control signal can be transmitted by radio or wired. In an advantageous embodiment of the method, however, the control signal for activating and / or deactivating the first locking element assigned to the plug is wired from the charging column, in particular via a line of the charging cable designed for power transmission, a communication line already present in the charging cable or a separate signal line of the charging cable.

The connection can also be locked and unlocked without transmitting a control signal from the charging station to the plug. This is possible, for example, when a current measurement, as well as a generation of the control signal on the actuator assigned to the first locking element in the connector itself, for example via an actuator arranged in the connector Control unit, takes place. In an alternative variant of the method, a transition from the activated state of the first locking element to the deactivated state of the first locking element can take place via an actuator assigned to the first locking element, which is driven by a magnetic field that flows through the connection between the plug and mating connector Charging current is generated. In this case, the actuator can be held in a first position by a spring that acts mechanically on the actuator, in which the first locking element is in the deactivated state. During a charging process of the EV, on the other hand, a significant charging current flows through the charging cable and at the same time through the connection between plug and mating connector. The charging current generates a magnetic field that surrounds a current-carrying line of the charging cable in a circular manner, which acts on the actuator and generates a force on the actuator which is directed against the force of the mechanical spring. If the magnetic field is sufficiently strong, the actuator can therefore be moved by the magnetic field into a position in which the first locking element is in the activated state. When the charging process has ended, the charging current is sufficiently low to move the actuator back into the first position by the force of the mechanical spring.

In a further embodiment, the first locking element assigned to the plug can have a receiving opening which is arranged in a housing of the plug. The receiving opening can have a closable edge area along its circumference. The second locking element assigned to the mating connector can contain a displaceable, in particular axially displaceable bolt which, in its activated state, engages in the receiving opening of the first locking element and thus mechanically locks the connection of the connector and the mating connector. It is not absolutely necessary here for the circumference of the receiving opening to be completely closed when the edge area is closed. Rather, it is possible for the periphery of the receiving opening to be slightly open in the vicinity of the edge area even when the edge area is closed. However, the opening distance is smaller than a diameter of the second locking element designed as a bolt, so that the bolt cannot be moved out of the receiving opening of the first locking element in the activated state of the second locking element. To unlock the Connector and the mating connector, the edge area of the receiving opening can be opened or opened to an opening spacing that exceeds a diameter of the bolt, so that the bolt is also activated when the second

Locking element, but in the deactivated state of the first

Locking element can be moved out of the receiving opening. The opening distance can be enlarged before a relative movement of the plug and mating plug, for example by means of an electric motor or electromagnetic. However, it is also within the scope of the invention that the opening distance is only increased by a relative movement of the plug and mating plug. The latter is the case, for example, when the closable edge area of the receiving opening is kept closed by an activated locking means in the closed state, while the locking means is deactivated in the unlocked state and enables the edge area to be opened. Specifically, the closable edge area of the receiving opening can be closed or narrowed via a lockable web which is rotatably or displaceably mounted in the housing in the deactivated state of the first locking element.

A charging station according to the invention for an EV comprises a charging column, a charging cable connected to the charging column and a plug arranged on the charging cable. The charging cable can in particular be a charging cable that is permanently connected to the charging column. The connector is designed to establish a locked connection with a mating connector of the electric vehicle. For this purpose, the plug has a first activatable and deactivatable locking element which is designed to interact with a second activatable and deactivatable locking element of the mating connector for the purpose of locking. In a first operating mode, the charging station is designed and set up to operate the first locking element assigned to the connector in an activated state in order to lock the connection of connector and mating connector when the second locking element of the mating connector is activated. In addition, in a second operating mode, the charging station is designed and set up to operate the first locking element assigned to the connector in a deactivated state in order to unlock or keep unlocked the connection of connector and mating connector even when the second locking element of the mating connector is activated. The The charging station also has a control unit for controlling the plug. In this case, the control unit, optionally in connection with an actuator assigned to the first locking element, is designed and set up to lock the connector with the mating connector according to the method according to the invention. The advantages already explained in connection with the method result.

In one embodiment of the charging station, the first locking element assigned to the plug can have a receiving opening. The receiving opening can be arranged in a housing of the plug and have a closable edge area along its circumference. In this case, the receiving opening in the first operating mode of the charging station can be designed to at least partially enclose a second locking element designed as a bolt in its activated state in such a way that a movement of the activated second locking element out of the receiving opening, and thus a relative movement of the plug and the Mating connector, is safely suppressed. The first locking element in its deactivated state can be designed and set up to open a previously completely closed edge area of the receiving opening or to increase an opening distance d of a previously not completely closed edge area so that the opening distance d exceeds a diameter of the second locking element designed as a bolt . For example, the first locking element of the plug can have a web which, in the deactivated state of the first locking element, is rotatably or displaceably mounted in the housing. In contrast, in an activated state of the first locking element, rotation and / or displacement of the web is suppressed by a suitable locking means acting on the web. In this way, a relative movement between the plug and the mating plug is made possible when the first locking element is deactivated and when the second locking element is in its activated state. In this case, the connection between plug and mating connector is unlocked and can be disconnected. In contrast, the connection of plug and mating plug is securely locked when the first locking element of the plug and the second The locking element of the mating connector is present in its activated state at the same time.

In an advantageous embodiment, the charging station can have a signaling device which is set up to display the current operating mode of the charging station. The signaling device can be arranged on the plug and / or on the charging column of the charging station. The signal device can be used to directly identify whether the charging station is currently operating in the first operating mode or in the second operating mode. In this way, especially in the case of a plurality of charging stations, it is immediately apparent at which of the plurality of charging stations a charging process is still running or has already been completed. Furthermore, the charging station can have an emergency switch, in particular a lockable emergency switch, the emergency switch being designed to put the charging station into the second operating mode. In this way, the connection between plug and mating connector can be unlocked, in particular even when the second locking element of the mating connector is activated. This enables an authorized person, for example a service technician responsible for the charging station, to separate the plug and the mating plug even if the event that would otherwise end the charging process has not yet been reached. The lockable emergency switch ensures that only people can operate the emergency switch who have a release element assigned to the closing mechanism of the emergency switch. The release element can be designed as a mechanical key. Alternatively, however, the locking mechanism can also be designed as a sensor in order to detect a release element, for example a fingerprint, which identifies the authorizing person.

In an advantageous embodiment of the charging station, the first locking element can have an electromotive or electromagnetic drive. In particular, the first locking element of the plug can have an electromagnetic or electromagnetic release device. A release device is to be understood in particular as a locking means assigned to the first locking element, for example acting on the closable edge region. The charging station can comprise a measuring device connected to the control unit for detecting electrical variables during the charging process, for example an electrical voltage of an energy store assigned to the EV and / or a charging current. The control unit of the charging station can be designed and set up to operate the charging station either in the first operating mode or in the second operating mode as a function of the detected electrical variables.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the following description of the figures and the subclaims, the features of which can be used individually and in any combination with one another.

Brief description of the figures

The invention is illustrated below with the aid of figures. From these show

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a conventional connector;

2 shows an operating principle of a conventional locking of a connection between plug and mating plug;

3 shows a charging station according to the invention for an electric vehicle in one embodiment;

4a shows a view of a locked connection of plug and mating plug in a first embodiment of the method according to the invention;

FIG. 4b shows a view of an unlocked connection of plug and mating plug from FIG. 4a in the first embodiment of the method according to the invention; FIG.

FIG. 5a shows another view of the locked connection of plug and mating plug from FIG. 4a; FIG.

FIG. 5b shows another view of the unlocked connection of plug and mating plug from FIG. 4b. Fiqurenbeschreibunq

In FIG. 3, a charging station 36 according to the invention for an electric vehicle 34 is illustrated in one embodiment. The charging station 36 comprises a charging column 30 and a charging cable 31 fixedly connected to the charging column 30. In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, the charging cable 31 fixedly connected to the charging column 30 is screwed at one end inside a housing of the charging column 30. It is thus firmly (in the sense of inseparable or not easily releasable) connected to the charging column 30. At its other end, the charging cable 31 has a plug 10 which is designed to be connected to a complementary mating plug 20 of the EV 34. A charging current can flow via the connection of plug 10 and mating plug 20 during a charging process of the EV 34 in order to charge an energy store 35 of the EV 34 to a target value. The charging station 36 also comprises a measuring device 33 for the detection of electrical variables that are assigned to the charging process, for example a voltage of the energy store 35 or a charging current, and a control unit 32 connected to the measuring device 33.

The charging station 36 can be operated in two operating modes via the control unit 32. The EV 34 is charged in a first operating mode of the charging station 36. In the first operating mode, the connector 10 is connected to the mating connector 20 in a locked manner. For this purpose, a first locking element 11 of the connector 10 and a second locking element 21 of the mating connector 20 are each in the activated state (cf. FIGS. 4a and 5a). A separation of the connection of plug 10 and mating plug 20 in the first operating mode of the charging station 36 is thus reliably prevented. An arc due to inadvertent separation of the connection and damage to components of the charging station 36 and / or the EV 34 resulting therefrom is thus prevented. When the charging process is completed, the charging station 36 is operated by the control unit 32 in the second operating mode. In this case, the first locking element 11 of the plug 10 is in its deactivated state, as a result of which the connection between plug 10 and mating plug 20 is unlocked (see FIGS. 4b and 5b). A separation of the connection of the plug 10 and the mating connector 20 is thus made possible even when the second locking element 21 of the mating connector 20 is activated. The control unit 32 is designed and set up, the charging station 36 as a function of the data provided by the measuring device 33 to operate detected electrical quantities in the first operating mode or in the second operating mode.

4a, 4b, 5a, and 5b show views of a lockable connection of a plug 10 and a mating plug 20, which is produced using an embodiment of the method according to the invention and is produced with a plug 10 of the charging station 36 according to the invention from FIG. 3 . Figures 4a and 5a show the locked state of the connection, while Figures 4b and 5b illustrate the unlocked state of the connection. In addition, FIGS. 4a and 4b show the connection from a side view, while FIGS. 5a and 5b show the corresponding connection in a top view. The operating principle of an embodiment of the method for producing a locked or unlocked connection is explained below with reference to FIGS. 4a, 4b, 5a and 5b.

While the EV 34 is charging, the charging station 36 is in the first operating mode. Correspondingly, the first locking element 11 of the connector 10, as well as the second locking element 21 of the mating connector 20, are each in their activated state. The first locking element 11 of the plug 10 contains a receiving opening 11, the second locking element 21 an axially displaceable bolt 22 which is driven via an electromagnetically acting actuator 23. An edge region 14 of the receiving opening 11 running along a circumference of the receiving opening 11 is closed by a locked web 15. To close the receiving opening 11, the web is fixed in its position on a housing 13 of the plug 10 by means of locking means 16. In the locked state of the connection, the bolt 22 reaches through the closed receiving opening 11 and thus prevents a relative movement of the connector 10 to the mating connector 20. A separation of the connection is therefore not possible, which is illustrated schematically by the crossed-out arrow in the connector 10.

An imminent completion of the charging process is determined by the charging station 36, in particular on the basis of electrical variables assigned to the charging process, which are detected by the measuring device 33 and evaluated by the control unit 32. Specifically, the charging station 36 can determine whether a previously specified target value for a Energy storage 35 of the EV 34 is reached. If the completion of the charging process is recognized by the charging station 36, the charging station 36 changes, controlled by the control unit 32, to the second operating mode. In the second operating mode, a charging current flowing via the charging cable 31 is limited to a small value, possibly to 0A. At the same time, the locking element 11 of the plug 10 is put into a deactivated state via the control unit 32. In the example shown in FIGS. 4b, 5b, the lock 16 is released on one side of the web 15, which is symbolized in FIG. 5b by an open circle. In the deactivated state of the first locking element, the web 15 is mechanically connected to the housing 13 of the plug 10 only at one end. The connection is rotatable. In the event of a relative movement of the plug 10 and the mating plug 20, for example in response to an attempt to separate the connection, the web 15 folds outwards and releases the edge area 14 of the receiving opening 12 on one side up to the opening distance d. The opening distance d is selected in such a way that it exceeds a diameter of the bolt 22. The second locking element 21 of the mating connector 20, embodied as a bolt 22, can thus be moved out of the receiving opening 12 of the connector 10 even when the second locking element 21 is activated. The connection is unlocked and the connection of the plug 10 and the mating connector 20 can be separated, which is symbolized in FIG. 4 b by an arrow on the plug 10 pointing away from the mating connector 20.

Reference list

1 connector

2 (first) locking element

3 receiving opening

4 housings

5 mating connectors

6 (second) locking element 7 bolts

10 plugs

11 (first) locking element

12 receiving opening

13 housing

14 border area

15 bridge

16 locking device 20 mating connector 21 (second) locking element 22 bolt 23 actuator

30 charging station

31 charging cable

32 control unit

33 Measuring device

34 electric vehicle

35 memory

36 charging station d opening distance

Claims

1. A method for locking a connection between a plug (10) and a mating plug (20) arranged on an electric vehicle (34), the plug

(10) is arranged on a charging cable (31) connected to a charging column (30) of a charging station (36), in particular on a charging cable (31) permanently connected to a charging column (30) of a charging station (30),

- A first locking element (11) being assigned to the connector (10) and a second locking element (21) assigned to the mating connector (20), the first locking element (11) and the second locking element (21) for providing locking of the connector (10) ) and mating connector (20) interact and each have an activated state and a deactivated state, with the steps:

- Operating the first locking element assigned to the plug (10)

(11) in a first operating mode of the charging station (30) in an activated state in order to lock the connection of the plug (10) with the mating connector (20) when the second locking element (21) assigned to the mating connector (20) is activated, and

- Operating the first locking element (11) assigned to the plug (10) in a second operating mode of the charging station (30) in a deactivated state in order to connect the plug (10) when the second locking element (21) assigned to the mating connector (20) is activated ) with the mating connector (20).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein activation and / or deactivation of the first locking element (11), optionally also of the second locking element (21), takes place by an electric motor or electromagnetic.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein in the first operating mode of the charging station (36) a charging process of the electric vehicle (34) takes place, and wherein in the second operating mode of the charging station (36) the charging process of the electric vehicle (34) is ended.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a transition from the activated state of the first locking element (11) in the deactivated state of the first locking element (11) depending on a measurement of electrical variables of the charging station (36), in particular in the plug

(10) and / or in the charging station (30).

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a transition from the activated state of the first locking element (11) to the deactivated state of the first locking element (11) takes place via an actuator which is driven by a magnetic field generated by a charging current .

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a control signal for deactivating the plug (10) assigned to the first locking element

(11) is transmitted from the charging station (30) via a line designed for power transmission or a separate signal line of the charging cable (31).

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plug (10) associated first locking element (11) has a receiving opening (12) which is arranged in a housing (13) of the plug (10) and a closable edge area along its circumference (14), and wherein the second locking element (21) assigned to the mating connector (20) has a displaceable bolt (22) which, in the activated state, engages in the receiving opening (12) of the first locking element (11).

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein for unlocking the plug (10) and the mating connector (20) the edge region (14) of the receiving opening (12) opens or is opened to an opening distance (d) which corresponds to a diameter of the bolt (22) exceeds, so that the bolt (22) can be moved out of the receiving opening (12) in the deactivated state of the first locking element (11).

9. The method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the closable edge region (14) of the receiving opening (11) is closed or narrowed via a lockable web (15) which is rotatable in the housing (13) in the deactivated state of the first locking element (11) or is slidably mounted.

10. Charging station (36) for an electric vehicle (34) with a charging column (30) and a charging cable (31) connected to the charging column (30), in particular with a charging cable (31) firmly connected to the charging column (30), and a plug (10) arranged on the charging cable (31), - wherein the plug (10) is designed to establish a locked connection with a mating connector (20) of the electric vehicle, and for this purpose has a first activatable and deactivatable locking element (11) which is designed with a second activatable and deactivatable locking element ( 21) of the mating connector (20) to interact for the purpose of locking,

- wherein the charging station (36) is designed and set up in a first operating mode to operate the first locking element (11) assigned to the plug (10) in an activated state in order to connect the plug

(10) and mating connector (20) to lock when the second locking element (21) of the mating connector (20) is activated, and

- wherein the charging station (36) is designed and set up in a second operating mode, the first locking element assigned to the plug (10)

(11) to operate in a deactivated state in order to unlock the connection of plug (10) and mating connector (20), in particular also when the second locking element (21) of the mating connector (20) is activated, characterized in that the charging station (36 ) has a control unit (32) for controlling the plug (10), which is designed and set up, optionally in connection with an actuator assigned to the first locking element (11), the connection of the plug (10) to the mating plug (20) according to a To lock the method according to any one of the preceding claims.

11. Charging station (36) according to claim 10, wherein the first locking element (11) assigned to the plug (10) has a receiving opening (12) which is arranged in a housing (13) of the plug (10) and a closable one along its circumference Has edge region (14), and in the first operating mode of the charging station (30) is designed to at least partially enclose a second locking element (21) designed as a bolt (22) in its activated state in such a way that a movement of the activated second locking element (21 ) is suppressed from the receiving opening (12).

12. Charging station (36) according to claim 11, wherein the first locking element (11) is designed and set up in the deactivated state to open a previously completely closed edge region (14) of the receiving opening (12) or one To increase the opening distance (d) of a previously not completely closed edge area (14) so that the opening distance (d) exceeds a diameter of the second locking element (21) designed as a bolt (22).

13. Charging station (36) according to claim 12, wherein the first locking element (11) has a web (15) which is rotatably or displaceably mounted in the housing (13) in the deactivated state of the first locking element (11).

14. charging station (36) according to one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the first locking element (11) has an electric motor drive or an electromagnetic release device.

15. Charging station (36) according to one of claims 10 to 14, with a measuring device (33) connected to the control unit (32) for the detection of electrical variables, the control unit (32) being designed and set up to control the charging station (36) as a function of to operate the detected electrical quantities in the first operating mode or in the second operating mode.

16. Charging station (36) according to one of claims 10 to 15 with a signaling device which is set up to display the current operating mode of the charging station (36).

17. Charging station (36) according to one of claims 10 to 16, with an emergency switch, in particular a lockable emergency switch, which is designed to put the charging station (36) in the second operating mode in order to connect the connector (10) and mating connector ( 20), especially when the second locking element (21) of the mating connector (20) is activated.