FR2976865A1 - Hybrid vehicle, has socket includes swiveling assembly for orienting movable plug when plug is coupled to socket, so that plug is placed in front of access door for filling neck to prevent or limit opening of filling neck - Google Patents

Abstract

The vehicle has an internal combustion engine associated with a fuel tank having a filling neck (9), and an electric motor associated with a battery connected to a socket (7) for charging through connection with a movable plug, where the filling neck and the socket are accessible by respective access doors (3, 5) that are placed adjacent to each other. The socket includes a swiveling assembly for orienting the movable plug when the plug is coupled to the socket, so that the plug is placed in front of the access door for the filling neck to prevent or limit the opening of the filling neck.

Description

HYBRID VEHICLE

The invention lies in the field of hybrid type vehicles comprising both a heat engine and an electric motor for its propulsion. More specifically, the invention relates to the charging of electricity and / or fuel of such vehicles.

On hybrid type vehicles, the connection base for the connection of an electric battery charging device is often placed at the front of the vehicle, as for example in document EP2116405, or the opposite of the passenger compartment relative to the filler neck of the fuel tank.

To minimize the changes caused by the presence of an access door to the battery charging means on the body parts design, it has been sought an implantation of said hatch which is close to the access door to the door. Fuel tank. It should be noted that, for safety reasons, it is preferable not to perform the electric power charging operations simultaneously with the operations of filling the fuel tank. This is why this implementation of access to the fuel tank to the charging socket must be accompanied by means to deter or prevent their simultaneous use. Various systems have already been proposed for this purpose in the prior art.

For example, the document EP2174815 presents a security system that does not allow the opening of the access door to the fuel tank when the access door to the electrical outlet for the load is open and vice versa. For this purpose, the hatches have elements for detecting their opening and elements for holding the hatch which is not open in the closed position. The implementation of this solution therefore involves the mounting of different devices, which increases the cost. There is therefore a need for a simpler and more economical solution.

Document JP2008-162543 proposes a single hatch for access to the fuel tank and the electric power charging socket. The electric charging socket is pivotally mounted. It is placed in front of the opening of the tank for recharging electrical energy to prevent access. Alternatively, it retracts to release access to the tank opening. It is also possible to place the plug on the flap of the tank access hatch. This solution has the disadvantage of involving a complicated assembly. On the other hand the mounting of the recharging electrical socket (or connection base) on a movable member (pivoting) decreases the durability of the charging device which may break after a number of uses.

JP2010-208529 proposes to simply have the connection base to a source of electrical energy and the neck of the fuel tank side by side in two non-parallel planes so that the connection of one prohibits the use of the other by bulk. This solution has the disadvantage of modifying the accessibility data of the neck of the tank or the connection base which are placed in a housing deeper in the bodywork than in the usual configurations. Indeed the walls of said housing are sinking towards each other towards the inside of the vehicle to obtain the desired angle. By seeking to prohibit the simultaneous use of a mobile socket and a fuel dispensing gun, this solution therefore modifies the conditions of access to the connection base and the tank neck from outside the vehicle. This can cause some discomfort to the user when connecting the socket to the base or filling the tank. In addition, it is necessary to add a flap between the neck and the socket if you want to protect the electric charging socket (or connection base) from any fuel projections.

The object of the invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing a new hybrid vehicle having means for deterring or preventing simultaneous recharging of fuel and electrical energy and which does not have the drawbacks of the art. prior.

For this purpose, the invention proposes a hybrid vehicle comprising a heat engine associated with a fuel tank having a neck for its filling, an electric motor associated with a battery connected to a connection base for charging electricity by connection with a mobile socket, said tank neck and said connection base being each accessible from the outside of the vehicle by means of two separate access hatches, the vehicle being remarkable in that the hatches access to the neck of the tank and the base connecting means are arranged adjacent to each other and in that the connection base has means for orienting the mobile socket when it is coupled to said base so that at least a portion of said socket is arranged in front of the trapdoor access to the filler neck of the tank so as to prevent or limit the opening.

Preferably, the connection base and the neck of the reservoir are arranged in the same housing accessible from the outside of the access hatches of said connection base and said neck, said access doors forming a double hatch.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the orientation means of the connection base comprise means for pivoting the mobile socket in said connection base in order to make the electrical connection, the connection base being arranged so that the pivoting of the mobile socket is in the direction of the access door of the neck of the tank.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the orientation means of the connection base comprise a specific arrangement of the electrical contacts presented by said base and acting as polarizer during the coupling of the mobile socket.

Optionally, the hatch for access to the neck of the tank is pivotally mounted for opening and / or closing, the vehicle is remarkable in that said access door to the neck of the tank pivots towards the hatch access to the connection base for opening.

Advantageously, the access hatches have means for isolating the connection base and / or the neck of the reservoir, preferably in the form of a suction cup.

Preferably, the access door of the connection base is disposed above the access door of the neck of the tank.

Preferably, the neck of the reservoir is oriented to place a fuel dispensing nozzle that it receives for filling said reservoir at least in part in front of the access door to the connection base so as to prevent or limit the opening.

Optionally, the hatches for access to the neck of the tank and / or the connection base have closure / opening means preferably in the form of an electromagnetic latch, which can be controlled from the dashboard of the vehicle. Preferably, the closing / opening means of the access hatches are configured to allow the opening of only one trapdoor at a time.

It will be understood, from reading the definition that has just been given, that the implementation of the invention consists firstly in arranging adjacently the access hatches to the connection base for recharging. electrical energy and the neck of the fuel tank and secondly to provide means at said base to orient the mobile socket so that the connection to the base places said mobile socket and / or its power cable to least partially in front of the access door of the fuel tank in order to prevent its full opening or to limit its opening so that it remains insufficient for the passage of a fuel dispensing gun. To do this, the invention will associate the proximity of the two hatches to the orientation taken by the mobile socket for its connection. The direction of connection of the mobile socket is defined by the orientation of the connection base. Taking advantage of the presence of rigid elements on the mobile jacks such as the handles used for their manipulation, the invention consists in arranging on a vehicle the connection base and its access hatch with respect to the neck of the fuel tank. and its access door so that said handle of the mobile socket is placed in front of the tank neck or in front of its access door when the mobile socket is connected. Preferably, when the connection base and the neck of the tank are placed in the same housing, they are placed on the same plane.

The invention will be clearly understood and other aspects and advantages will become clear from reading the following description given by way of example with reference to the appended figures, in which: FIG. 1 shows a general view of a vehicle showing an example of implementation of the access hatches; - Figure 2 illustrate an example of arrangement according to the invention of a connection base and a tank neck; FIGS. 3a and 3b illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the invention implementing a base involving the pivoting of the mobile socket for its connection; FIGS. 4a and 4b illustrate another embodiment of the invention implementing another type of electrical connector.

Reference will firstly be made to FIG. 1 showing a hybrid vehicle (1) according to the invention. This vehicle (1) has a known manner a heat engine fueled by a tank. A first access hatch (3) provides access from the outside to the neck of said tank for filling. It also presents an electric motor powered by a battery. A second access door (5) provides access from the outside of the vehicle to the connection base associated with said battery for charging electricity. As can be seen in Figure 1, the two access doors (3, 5) are arranged adjacent to each other. Preferably, the access hatches (3, 5) of said connection base and said neck are contiguous and form a double door giving access to a common housing where are arranged both the connection base and the filler neck of the tank .

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 2, the hatches (3, 5) are arranged to be one above the other. Nevertheless, an arrangement next to one another along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle is also conceivable. The access hatches (3, 5) to the connection base (7) and the neck (9) of the fuel tank are therefore distinct from each other. So that it is possible to have access only to the connection base (7) or the neck (9) of the fuel tank. When the traps (3, 5) are arranged one above the other, the skilled person will benefit from the access hatch (5) to the connection base (7) for recharging energy electric is arranged above the access hatch (3) to the neck (9) of the fuel tank. This arrangement minimizes the risk of fuel projection on the connection base (7).

The connection base (7) is intended to receive a male mobile electrical plug connected to a power cable. The power outlet is connected by its cable to a power source and its connection to the base (7), or socket, can recharge the vehicle battery. There are several types of electrical connectors that can be used in the context of the invention. The invention is intended for hybrid vehicles whose electrical mobile socket needs to be oriented in a specific manner in the base (7) for its connection. The invention consists in taking advantage of this specific orientation to use the electrical socket as an instrument for blocking the access hatch (3) to the fuel tank and / or as shutter member of the neck (9) of said tank.

According to a first embodiment illustrated in Figures 2, 3a and 3b, the electrical connector implemented involves a rotation of the mobile socket (15) for connection. Such electrical connectors are known to those skilled in the art and are for example described in document EP0619628. The movable socket (15) has a handle (19) rigid to facilitate its handling. The base (7) has a protective element (11) intended to hide at rest the contact parts of said base (7) and which is rotatably mounted therein. The coupling of the mobile socket (15) on the base (7) is done in two steps. Firstly, the movable socket (15) is placed in the base (7) against the protection element (11) as illustrated in FIG. 3a. In a second step, the user prints a rotational movement to said movable socket (15) which will rotate it in the base (13) curved of the base (7) until the contact elements of the base ( 7) and the mobile socket (15) are connected, as illustrated in Figure 3b.

The invention takes advantage of this rotational movement to bring the handle (19) rigid of the mobile socket (15) in front of the access door (3) to the neck of the fuel tank. The base (7) is arranged in the vehicle so that the pivoting of the movable socket (15) for its connection is in the direction of the hatch (3) for access to the fuel tank. The handle (19) of the mobile socket (15) is then placed at least partly in front of the hatch (3) access to the tank, and its power cable (17). When the movable plug (15) is connected, it is no longer possible to open, or at least open completely or sufficiently, the fuel tank access hatch (3) to insert a dispensing gun fuel in the neck (9) of said tank. Even though the hatch (3) access to the reservoir would have been opened by the user prior to the coupling of the mobile socket (15) on its base (7), the congestion generated by the mobile socket (15) prevents the gun from being inserted into the neck (9) of the fuel tank.

Similarly, in the case where the fuel dispensing gun has been inserted into the neck (9) before the pivoting of the movable plug (15), it is no longer possible to pivot said plug (15) in the base (7) due to the space generated by said gun, and thus to make the electrical connection between the socket (15) and the base (7). It is clear how the combination of the effects associated with the arrangement of the access hatches (3, 5), one adjacent to the other and to the orientation given to the mobile socket (15) by the base (7) allow to prevent or deter attempts to fill the fuel tank during the battery charging operation.

According to another embodiment shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b, the connector comprises a pedestal (21) and a movable receptacle (23) requiring positioning in a given orientation of the one with respect to the other with a view to their connection. . This orientation is due to the positioning of the contacts (25) in the base (21) intended to cooperate with the opposing contacts of the mobile socket (23). The arrangement of the contacts (25) plays the role of polarizing. Such electrical connectors are known to those skilled in the art and are for example described in document EP0619628. According to this embodiment, the handle of the movable socket (23) is in the form of a stick to facilitate its grip. Locking in position of the mobile socket (23) in the base (21) is done by the manipulation of a trigger disposed on the butt (27). The arrangement of the contacts (25) of the mobile socket (23) and the base (21) allow the coupling of the mobile socket (23) in the base (21) only in a given position. The invention then consists in orienting the base (21) so that the rigid butt (27) of the mobile socket (23) is placed at least partly in front of the access door (3) to the tank during the connecting said mobile socket (23).

As in the previous embodiment, the opening of the access door (3) of the fuel tank will be blocked at least in part so that it is not possible to insert a fuel dispensing gun in the neck (9) of the tank. Similarly, in the event that the access door (3) to the neck (9) of the tank was previously opened, it is no longer possible to make the electrical connection during filling of the tank due to congestion generated by the gun which prevents the coupling of the mobile socket (23) on the base (21).

In addition, it is possible to orient the neck (9) of the fuel tank in addition so that when it receives a dispensing gun for filling said tank, said gun is disposed at least partly in front of the trap door. access (5) to the connection base (7, 21) so as to prevent or limit its opening.

When the obstruction achieved by the handle of the mobile socket or the dispensing gun is not complete, the difficulties encountered in attempting to recharge its battery while filling its tank must be sufficient, according to the invention, to constitute an element. psychological discouraging the user to do so.

Different obstacles can therefore be added, such as for example a pivoting mounting of the hatch (3) for access to the neck (9) of the tank in the direction of the hatch (5) for access of the connection base (7, 21) in order to of its opening.

It is also possible that the access hatches each have closing / opening means that can be controlled from the dashboard. The choice is given to the user to open one or other of the access hatches. Both access hatches can not be opened at the same time. Preferably, the means for opening / closing the access hatches is in the form of an electromagnetic latch.

The fact that the vehicle has separate access hatches for the connection socket of the battery charging system and the filler neck of the fuel tank makes it possible to maintain independent protection and / or isolation systems . For example, it is possible to place a suction cup on the inner face of the access door of the tank neck opposite said neck. This suction cup then makes it possible to contain any fuel vapors that may be released from the tank when reloading electrical energy from the vehicle. Similarly, a suction cup placed on the internal face of the access door to the connection base will protect said base from any fuel projections. In general, the mere presence of the access door protects the base and possibly its contacts from shocks with the dispensing gun.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, only by way of example but encompasses all the variants that may be envisaged by those skilled in the art within the framework of the definition that has been given.

Claims (9)

REVENDICATIONS1. Hybrid vehicle (1) comprising a heat engine associated with a fuel tank having a neck (9) for filling it, an electric motor associated with a battery connected to a connection base (7, 21) for charging electric energy by connection with a movable socket (15, 23), said tank neck (9) and said connection base (7, 21) being each accessible from outside the vehicle (1) by means of two hatches (3, 5) access ports, the vehicle (1) being characterized in that the hatches (3, 5) for access to the neck (9) of the tank and to the connection base (7, 21) are arranged adjacent to each other. other and in that the connection base (7, 21) has means for orienting the mobile socket (15, 23) when coupled to said base (7, 21) so that at least a portion of said socket (15, 23) is arranged in front of the access door (3) to the filler neck (9) of the tank so as to prevent or to limit the opening. 2. Hybrid vehicle (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that the connection base (7, 21) and the neck (9) of the reservoir are arranged in a single housing accessible from the outside access hatches (3). , 5) of said connection base (7, 21) and said neck (9), said access doors (3, 5) forming a double hatch. 3. Hybrid vehicle (1) according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the orientation means of the connection base (7) comprise means for pivoting the movable socket (15) in said connection base (7). to make the electrical connection, the connection base (7) being arranged so that the pivoting of the mobile socket (15) is in the direction of the hatch (3) for access to the neck (9) of the tank. 4. Hybrid vehicle (1) according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the orientation means of the connection base (21) comprise a specific arrangement 10 of electrical contacts (25) presented by said base (21) and playing the keying role when coupling the mobile socket (23). 5. Hybrid vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the door (3) access to the neck (9) of the tank is pivotally mounted for opening and / or closing, characterized in that said access hatch (3) at the neck (9) of the tank pivots towards the hatch (5) for access of the connection base (7, 21) in order to open it. 6. hybrid vehicle (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5 characterized in that the access doors (3, 5) have means for isolating the connection base (7, 21) and / or the neck (9) tank, preferably in the form of a suction cup. 7. hybrid vehicle (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6 characterized in that the hatch (5) for access of the connection base (7) is disposed above the hatch (3) access of the neck (9) of the tank. 20 8. hybrid vehicle (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7 characterized in that the neck (9) of the tank is oriented to place a fuel dispensing nozzle that it receives for filling said tank at least part in front of the access door (5) to the connection base (7, 21) so as to prevent or limit its opening. 25 9. hybrid vehicle (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8 characterized in that the hatches (3, 5) for access to the neck (9) of the tank and / or the connection base (7, 21) have each of the closing / opening means preferably in the form of an electromagnetic latch, which can be controlled from the vehicle dashboard.