FR3064453A1 - CLOTHING WITH INTEGRATED ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM AND CHARGING TERMINAL - Google Patents

Abstract

A garment (1) comprises an energy storage system (2) integrated and intended to power a motor (10) electric vehicle (4) of the electric bicycle type. Said energy storage system (2) comprises a plurality of energy storage modules (3) interconnected by mechanical pivot hinges (14) of the energy storage modules (3) to each other to maintain flexibility of the garment (1), and a plurality of connecting elements comprising electrical connection elements (26) of the energy storage modules (3) in pairs and at least one first connection member (6) adapted to be operably coupled to at least one connector (8) of the electric vehicle engine (10).

Description

(57) A garment (1) has an integrated energy storage system (2) intended to power an electric vehicle engine (10) (4) of the electrically assisted bicycle type. Said energy storage system (2) comprises a plurality of energy storage modules (3) interconnected by mechanical pivot hinges (14) of the energy storage modules (3) between them to maintain a flexibility of the garment (1), and a plurality of connection elements comprising electrical connection elements (26) energy storage modules (3) in pairs and at least a first connection member (6) capable of be operatively coupled to at least one connector (8) of the electric vehicle engine (10).

Garment with integrated energy storage system and charging station [001] The invention relates to the field of energy storage systems, in particular of batteries and / or supercapacitors, of the types used for electrically assisted vehicles.

Currently, the number of delivery companies using bicycle couriers is increasing considerably. More and more couriers are traveling on electrically assisted vehicles, for example electric bikes. Couriers generally have a greater or lesser number of races to perform during their tour. At the arrival point of delivery in urban areas, the courier often parks his electric vehicle in the street usually at the foot of a building in order to have access to his final delivery point where he will deliver the product to the customer, typically an apartment in this building.

Commonly, the energy storage system is secured to the electric vehicle but can be removable in order to avoid making them easy targets for malicious people when the electric vehicle is parked on the street. In this case, the courier disconnects the energy storage system, disconnects it from the vehicle, for example using a set of keys, and takes it by hand leaving his electric vehicle on the street. The same operations are to be performed in reverse when the courier resumes his tour. This therefore generates a significant loss of time when customers are waiting for their delivery, especially hot cooked products.

In addition, the energy storage system is considered to be an additional bulk, and annoying for the courier who already carries all the products to be delivered during his tour.

The present invention improves the situation.

According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a garment comprising an integrated energy storage system and intended to power an electric vehicle engine of the electrically assisted bicycle type, said energy storage system comprising:

a plurality of energy storage modules linked together by mechanical pivot hinges of the energy storage modules between them to keep the clothing flexible, and

- A plurality of connection elements comprising electrical connection elements of the energy storage modules two by two and at least one first connection member capable of being operatively coupled at least to a connector of the electric vehicle engine.

Thanks to these provisions, the energy storage system is no longer directly exposed since it is included in a garment worn permanently by the courier using the electric vehicle. In addition, the courier is not likely to forget the energy storage system on the electric vehicle when he parks it on the street between two deliveries.

The aforementioned electrical connection elements can simply be cables or electrical wires. Alternatively, the pivot hinges can be made of a metal or other conductive material to ensure the electrical connection of the modules. In this case, two pairs of hinges may be provided on each module, a pair comprising a hinge connected to a positive terminal, and another hinge connected to a negative terminal to ensure a series connection of the modules. In addition, in this alternative embodiment, care is taken to provide an insulating material surrounding at least the hinges.

According to one embodiment, the garment comprises a belt comprising said plurality of energy storage modules connected two by two by a mechanical pivot hinge.

The term “includes” here means that the garment may include a belt comprising the energy storage modules. For example, the energy storage modules can be sewn into the garment at the waist, so as to form this belt. We can also understand that the garment is a belt as such.

Thus, the wearing of the energy storage system by a user, or courier, does not constrain his movements since the arrangement and arrangement of the modules, in particular by mechanical pivot hinges, ensure the flexibility of the garment.

In one embodiment, the plurality of connection elements comprises a second connection member capable of being operatively coupled at least to a connection connection for recharging the energy storage system.

According to one embodiment, the first and / or second connection members are connected to respective first and / or second connection cables, said garment comprising an opening giving access to said first and / or second connection cables.

According to one embodiment, the energy storage modules are assembled in series.

[015] Serial assembly allows the voltage of the energy storage system to be adjusted according to the power necessary for the operation of the vehicle's electrical assistance.

According to one embodiment, the energy storage modules are lithium-based batteries, with a voltage between 24V and 48V.

The lithium-based batteries are lighter than most commonly used batteries, which does not clutter the wearer of the garment.

[018] In addition, the storage modules, of the battery type, can be well arranged in a balanced manner in the garment, so that the user does not suffer from an improperly distributed weight.

[019] According to one embodiment, the garment comprises a safety chasuble.

Likewise, by “comprises” it can be understood that the garment comprises a safety chasuble or that the garment can be a safety chasuble as such.

[021] The wearing of a safety chasuble on the road is compulsory. The chasuble also makes it possible to differentiate the couriers of different delivery companies since each chasuble is in the image of the company. Thus the integration of an energy storage system on such a garment does not force the user to wear a garment to which he is not accustomed.

[022] The invention also relates to a charging station for recharging such clothing, comprising a receptacle capable of receiving the clothing and a connection interface operatively coupled to the receptacle for connection to said second.

Generally, when the energy storage system is secured to the electric vehicle, the courier must think, when storing his electric vehicle at the end of the tour, to detach the energy storage system and connect it to a terminal dedicated to recharging. The present invention simplifies this operation.

[024] At the end of the tour, the courier simply deposits and connects his clothing to the charging station. He therefore does not risk forgetting to charge the energy storage system because, at that moment, he necessarily removes his clothing.

[025] Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description of exemplary embodiments below and on examining the appended drawings in which:

[026] Figure 1 is a schematic view of a garment with integrated energy storage system powering an electric vehicle, [027] Figure 2 is a schematic top view of a garment with energy storage system integrated according to the invention, [028] Figure 3 is a schematic view of the recharging of clothing with energy storage system integrated on a charging station according to the invention, [029] Figure 4 is another mode of assembly of energy storage modules.

[030] Below is a detailed description of several embodiments of the invention, with examples and with reference to the drawings.

[031] Figure 1 illustrates an electric vehicle 4, comprising a motor 10 placed here on the hub 16 of the front wheel 15a of the electric vehicle 4 (or more simply "vehicle 4"). The vehicle 4 is for example an electrically assisted bicycle. The motor 10 is not necessarily placed on the hub 16 of the front wheel 15a. It can for example be placed on the rear hub of the bicycle. It can also be placed on the bottom bracket 20 or even be offset. In this case, the transmission is done for example by means of a belt. The vehicle 4 can also include several motors 10. For example, a second motor can be placed on the hub 16 of the rear wheel 15b. The objective of the motor 10 is to provide additional pedaling to the user of the vehicle 4.

The vehicle 4 also includes all the elements necessary for its proper functioning. For example, the vehicle 4 illustrated in FIG. 1 further comprises a front wheel 15a, a rear wheel 15b, a vehicle frame 17, a handlebar 18, a seat 19 and a crankset 20.

The vehicle 4 may also include a control screen 9 indicating in particular a state of charge of all the modules providing the electrical supply of the vehicle 4 (described later with reference to FIG. 2). This control screen 9 can be placed on the handlebar 18 so as to be visible to the user when using the vehicle 4. The vehicle 4 also comprises a connector 8 and sensors (not shown). The sensors can be used to detect parameters such as the presence of pedaling, the cadence of pedaling or the force exerted on the crankset 20.

[034] These parameters are then integrated by a controller (not shown), connected for example to the connector 8, which is suitable for example for determining whether the engine 10 must be started or for controlling the engine 10 during the different phases of the journey in vehicle 4. For example, if the sensors detect a significant force exerted on the pedals 20, the controller sends a command so that the motor 10 starts or so that its power increases if it has already been started. The connector 8 is also able to stop the motor 10.

In the nonlimiting example illustrated in FIG. 1, the connector 8 is placed in a compartment, itself placed on the seat tube 21. The compartment can also contain electronic components of the vehicle, in particular the aforementioned controller.

The connector 8 is connected to the motor 10 and to the control screen 9 by means of cables 22a, 22b. More specifically, a cable 22a can connect the motor 10 to the connector 8 by first following the rod 23 of the vehicle 4, then the down tube 24 in order to go up along the seat tube 21 to the connector 8. The cable 22b connects the control screen 9 to the connector 8, for example along the handlebars 18 to the downtube 24 where it joins the cable 22a to the connector 8.

[037] Depending on the position of the motor 10, the control screen 9 and the connector 8, the cables 22a and 22b may be arranged differently on the vehicle 4. In the case where the vehicle 4 comprises more than one motor 10 , other cables are used to connect the other motors to connector 8.

[038] In the example presented, the cables 22a, 22b are pressed outside and against the frame of the vehicle 4. However, the cables 22a, 22b can be hidden directly inside the frame of the vehicle 4.

[039] In order to supply power to the engine 10, the control screen 9 and the electronic components of the vehicle (for example the controller), an energy storage system 2 is provided by the invention. The energy storage system 2 can be placed in a garment 1, worn by the user of the vehicle 4. When the user uses the vehicle 4, he connects the energy storage system 2 to the connector 8.

The connector 8 serves as the power supply interface for the motor 10, the control screen 9 and for example the controller.

[041] Reference is now made to FIG. 2, which illustrates a garment 1 comprising an energy storage system 2 according to the invention. In a particular embodiment, the garment 1 can be a safety chasuble. However, the garment can also be a coat, a belt (or "banana" around the waist), a jacket or any other type of garment that a user is likely to wear while driving the vehicle. We can for example favor a garment worn on the upper body of the user, so as not to interfere with his lower limbs when he pedals.

[042] The energy storage system 2 comprises for example a plurality of energy storage modules 3 (or "modules 3"). The modules 3 can have a generally parallelepiped shape and therefore have more than one face.

[043] The modules 3 can be lithium type batteries, with a voltage between 24V and 48V. The lithium-based battery has the advantage of being light enough for the user to be able to carry an energy storage system 2 comprising several modules 3 of the lithium battery type without being cluttered. The modules 3 can also be supercapacitors.

[044] For clarity, the energy storage system 2 is shown as visible inside the garment 1, however the energy storage system 2 can for example be hidden in the lining of the garment 1, comprising for example an insulating interior coating. Moreover, more generally, the energy storage system 2 can also be placed in a shell so as to ensure the safety of the user. For example, in the event of an accident, the shell prevents the modules 3 from being pierced following too violent a shock.

[045] The adjacent modules 3 are interconnected for example by means of mechanical pivot hinges 14 (or "hinges 14"). In a variant of this embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 4, the hinges 14 connect for example more than two modules 3 two by two. More specifically, a hinge 14 can connect two modules 3 to each other by one of their adjacent faces, and another hinge 1 can connect one of these two modules 3 to another module 3 by another face. The hinges 14 make it possible to rotate two modules 3 connected to one another relatively to each other. Thus, this configuration makes it possible to retain a certain flexibility when the energy storage system 2 formed by the assembly of the modules 3 and the hinges 14 is placed on a large surface of the garment 1.

[046] In another embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the energy storage system 2 is formed by modules 3 assembled two by two by a single hinge 14 so as to form a belt of modules 3. More precisely, the modules 3 are assembled two by two one after the other. The hinges 14 allow the modules 3 to pivot between them. The energy storage system 2 thus formed is, in a particular embodiment, integrated into the garment 1 at the waist, so that it can be adjusted to the user. Alternatively, the modules can be larger and occupy, for example, part of the back of the garment in order to possibly protect the user in the event of an impact. In this case also, a hinge is kept at least between two modules to provide flexibility to the garment.

[047] The energy storage system 2 thus assembled may alternatively not be integrated into a garment but for example be a belt as such.

[048] Thus, the hinges allow the modules 3 to move relative to one another, so that the garment 1 remains flexible enough so that the user wearing the garment 1 is not constrained by the energy storage system 2 in his movements. Such an arrangement of the modules 3 also makes it possible to distribute the weight of the storage system 2 so that the user is not unbalanced when wearing the garment 1.

[049] The energy storage system 2 comprises a plurality of connection elements, comprising electrical connection elements 26 of the modules 3 in pairs, a connection cable 27 capable of being connected to at least one first member connection 6 capable of being operatively coupled at least to the connector 8 of the engine 10 of the vehicle 4.

The modules 3 can be connected in series, by means of the electrical connection elements 26, so that the total voltage of the energy storage system 2 is increased in proportion to the number of modules 3 forming it. The total voltage is chosen as a function of the voltage necessary for the operation of the engine 10 of the vehicle 4. An example of serial connection of the modules 3 is illustrated in FIG. 4.

[051] The garment 1 further comprises an opening 5, capable of authorizing access to the connection cables 27, 28 which make it possible to connect the first connection member of the energy storage system 2 respectively to the connector 8 of the vehicle 4, and a second connection member 7 to a connection interface 13 for recharging the energy storage system 2. The connection cables 27, 28 may include the electrical connection elements 26.

[052] The first and second connection members 6, 7 can be either a female interface or a male interface, the connection means to the connector 8 and to the connection interface 13 being adjusted according to the type of the connection member . For example, in the case where the first and / or the second connection member 6, 7 are female interfaces, male interfaces are provided respectively on the connector 8 or on the connection interface 13 in order to authorize their connection. In the case where the first and / or the second connection member 6, 7 are male interfaces, female interfaces are provided respectively on the connector 8 or on the connection interface 13 in order to authorize their connection.

[053] The first and second connection members 6, 7 can be a single connection member authorizing the supply of the motor 10 and the recharging of the energy storage system 2.

[054] Figure 3 shows a charging station 11 for recharging the energy storage system 2. The charging station 11 includes a receptacle 12 adapted to receive the garment 1. The charging station 11 further comprises an interface connection 13, operatively coupled to receptacle 12 to be connected to the second connection member 7 for recharging the energy storage system 2.

[055] The charging station 11 may for example include a base 25, suitable for being placed on a support, for example on the ground. The receptacle 12 can extend vertically from the base 25. The receptacle 12 is, for example, a hook-type gripping member. The connection interface 13 can be located at the base 25, but it is understood that it can be located anywhere else, provided that the connection interface 13 and the second connection member 7 of the storage system 2 can be connected to each other.

[056] The terminal is specially adapted to recharge a garment 1 as described above. The charging station simplifies the recharging operation of the energy storage system, since it does not need to be removed or separated from the garment when it is recharged.

[057] We now describe a possible way of using a garment within the meaning of the invention.

[058] Garment 1 is for example intended to be worn by a courier of a delivery service company. Initially, the user (or "the courier") collects a garment 1 from a charging station 11. The energy storage system 2 could for example be recharged by the charging station 11 overnight.

[059] After taking a vehicle 4 and donning the garment 1, the user connects the energy storage system 2 to the connector 8 by means of the first connection member 6. The connector 8 is supplied for the entire duration of delivery by the energy storage system 2, more particularly by the modules 3 forming the energy storage system 2.

The connector 8 is then able to regulate the motor 10 in order to lighten the effort provided by the user by pedaling. The connector 8 also sends information to the control screen 9. The information can for example be the charge rate of the energy storage system 2, so that the user knows whether to change clothing 1 to delivery day.

[061] At the end of the day, the user simply disconnects the first connection member 6 from the connector 8 of the vehicle 4, places the garment 1 on a charging station 11 and connects the connection interface 13 and the second connection member 7 in order to recharge the energy storage system 2 overnight, for example.

[062] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above by way of example; it extends to other variants.

[063] For example, hinges connecting the battery modules 3 in the form of a hinge as described in FIG. 2 have been described above. Alternatively, it may be another means, such as that for example a flexible fabric on which the battery modules 3 are glued, or else a flexible belt (made of elastomeric material for example) in which the modules 3 are slipped. In general, it will thus be understood that the terms “pivoting hinge mechanical "encompass any embodiment allowing two modules 3 to pivot relative to one another around at least one axis of rotation situated between the two modules as illustrated in FIG. 2.

[064] Alternatively, one can provide a portable charging station 11, composed of the connection interface 13 and a transformer.

Claims (8)

Claims 1. Garment (1) comprising an integrated energy storage system (2) and intended to power an electric vehicle engine (10) of the electric assistance bicycle type, said energy storage system (2) including: a plurality of energy storage modules (3) connected together by mechanical pivot hinges (14) of the energy storage modules (3) between them to keep the clothing flexible (1), and - a plurality of connection elements comprising electrical connection elements (26) energy storage modules (3) in pairs and at least one first connection member (6) capable of being operatively coupled at least to a connector (8) of the electric vehicle engine (10) (4). 2. Garment (1) according to claim 1, comprising a belt comprising said plurality of energy storage modules (3), said energy storage modules (3) being linked in pairs by a mechanical pivot hinge ( 14). 3. Garment (1) according to one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the plurality of connection elements comprises a second connection member (7) adapted to be operatively coupled at least to a connection interface (13 ) for recharging the energy storage system (1). 4. Garment (1) according to claim 3, wherein the first and / or second connection members are connected to respective first and / or second connection cables (27, 28), said garment (1) comprising an opening ( 5) giving access to said first and / or second connection cables (27, 28). 5. Garment (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the energy storage modules (3) are assembled in series. 6. Garment (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the energy storage modules (3) are lithium batteries with a voltage between 24V and 48V. 7. Garment (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a safety chasuble. 8. charging station (11) for recharging clothing (1) according to one of claims 3 and 4, comprising a receptacle (12) adapted to receive the clothing (1) and a connection interface (13) coupled to operatively to the receptacle (12) to be connected 5 to said second connection member (7) for recharging the energy storage system (2).