FR3142130A1 - MOTOR VEHICLE INCLUDING AN ON-BOARD CHARGING CABLE WINDING SYSTEM - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising: - a traction battery (B); - at least one on-board charging cable (C) equipped with a charging connector (F), connected to the traction battery (B); - at least one lateral reinforcement part of the vehicle housing a longitudinal reel (E) comprising :- two rails (RL);- one fixed roller (GF); and- movable rollers (G1, G2) mounted on the rails (RL), moving away from or approaching the fixed roller (GF), with corresponding springs (R1, R2) moving the movable rollers (G1, G2) away, the charging cable (C) being wound around said rollers (G1, G2, GF) so as to be unwound when said rollers (G1, G2, GF) are brought together; or distant in the opposite case. The invention also relates to a method based on such a vehicle. Figure 3.

Description

MOTOR VEHICLE INCLUDING AN ON-BOARD CHARGING CABLE WINDING SYSTEM

The invention relates to the field of power supply for electric vehicles, and more specifically the cable charging systems of these vehicles.

In this area, to connect an electric vehicle to a charging station, an extension cable is removed from the trunk and connected to an interface on the vehicle, and on the charging station. After use, the cable is stored in the trunk of the vehicle.

Unfortunately, the cable may be forgotten, or inaccessible when the trunk is loaded.

The objective of the invention is to remedy the defects of the prior art, and in particular to propose a charging cable solution accessible in the event of a loaded trunk, limiting the risk of forgetting the cable.

To achieve this objective, the invention proposes a motor vehicle in a reference frame in space comprising a front-rear axis following a direction of movement of the motor vehicle, a lateral axis perpendicular to the front-rear axis, and a vertical axis. perpendicular to the front-rear axis and to the lateral axis, the motor vehicle comprising:
- a traction battery;
- at least one on-board charging cable comprising one end electrically connected to the traction battery, and one end comprising a charging connector configured to be connected to a charging station;
- at least one longitudinal reinforcement piece arranged laterally to the motor vehicle with reference to the lateral axis,
characterized in that it further comprises a longitudinal winder disposed in said reinforcing piece, comprising:
- at least one longitudinal rail;
- at least one fixed roller; And
- at least one movable roller mounted on the rail, movable between a distant position where said movable roller is at a first distance from said fixed roller, and a close position where said movable roller is at a second distance from said fixed roller less than the first distance ;
- at least one return means for driving said movable roller towards the remote position;
the charging cable being wound around said fixed roller and said movable roller, so as to take a retracted configuration with the connector retracted to a first length of the reel when said movable roller is in the remote position, and an unwound configuration with the remote connector at a second length of the reel greater than the first length when said movable roller is in the close position.

Advantageously, the invention makes it possible to integrate a 220V electrical connection into the vehicle in place of the extension charging cable provided as an accessory in the trunk. In particular, the connector is accessible via an inspection hatch, and allows the vehicle to be directly connected to an electrical terminal with ease of use. This also allows easier use for the user.

According to one variant, the reel comprises at least two movable rollers.

This makes it possible to extend the route of the cable in the reel, and therefore to lengthen the cable.

According to a variant, the motor vehicle further comprises a winding actuator receiving the charging cable, the winding actuator being arranged between the winder and the connector, and equipped with a control means,
and in that the winding actuator is configured to, depending on said control means, hold the charging cable in position, or release the charging cable.

This makes it easier to use in an unrolled configuration, and makes it easier to wind the cable.

According to a variant, the connector is equipped with a socket adapter, and at least one specific configurations plug, configured to connect the socket adapter to a corresponding specific configurations charging station socket.

This allows the vehicle to be adapted to different charging station configurations.

According to a variant, return means comprises a tension spring having one end fixed in the reel, and the other end fixed to said movable roller.

This makes it easy to wind the cable into the reel.

According to one variant, the motor vehicle comprises a bodywork, and a connector hatch in the bodywork, configured to provide access to the connector.

This provides access to the connector in the hatch.

According to one variant, the motor vehicle comprises two longitudinal reinforcement pieces, and two longitudinal reels.

The invention further relates to a vehicle charging method for a motor vehicle according to the invention, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:
- access the connector;
- unwind the charging cable by counteracting said return means;
- connect the connector to a charging station;
- unplug the connector from the charging station;
- wind the charging cable using the winder.

The invention will be further detailed by the non-limiting description of variants, and on the basis of the appended figures, in which:
- schematically illustrates a view in space of a part of a vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, equipped with a reel closed by a removable cover;
- schematically illustrates a sectional view along II-II of the winder of the , without said cover, in a remote configuration where the movable rollers are in a first so-called rest position;
- schematically illustrates the winder of the , in a close configuration where the movable rollers are in a second so-called rest position;
- schematically illustrates a close-up view of a left part of the reel of the ;
- schematically illustrates a sectional view along VV of the winder of the ; And
- schematically illustrates an elevational view of a chute, a hatch and a connector for the motor vehicle according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.

The invention relates to an electric motor vehicle which comprises a traction battery B, and an on-board charging cable C connected to the traction battery B. For simplification, the only illustrates part of the vehicle.

The on-board C cable includes an F connector, such as an electrical plug, to connect to a charging station to charge the vehicle.

The motor vehicle is described in a reference frame in space comprising a front-rear axis X following a direction of movement of the motor vehicle, a lateral axis Y perpendicular to the front-rear axis the front-rear axis X and the lateral axis Y.

The invention proposes to integrate an electric reel E with a 220v cable C for example, in an element of the structure on BEV and PHEV vehicles. The system is partitioned in a battery tray reinforcement lateral to battery B and the vehicle, and closed by a removable CE cover. The ultracompact system is preferably in modular form.

The connection to the terminal is accessible via an inspection hatch (illustrated in ). It allows the vehicle to be directly connected to the electrical terminal with comfort of use and greater ease for the user.

Thus, the invention proposes to integrate a compact system into an existing structural element, the battery tray reinforcement, which will be adapted to accommodate a reel E of charging cable C, here parallelepiped. This reinforcement of significant length is located laterally of the battery, for example on both right and left sides.

The reel system includes mobile rollers G1, G2 with sliding axes on integrated rails RL; and a fixed roller GF. The movable rollers G1, G2 are retained by tension springs R1, R2, in particular towards a front end of the reel E (on the left of Figures 2 and 3). The R1, R 2 springs include cords to facilitate winding. The fixed roller GF is here fixed to the other end of the reel E (towards a rear end, to the right of figures 2 and 3).

When the user unwinds the cable C, he acts on the relaxation of the springs R1, R2, and the movable rollers G1, G2 therefore move towards the fixed connecting roller GF. The minimum gain from cable C overtravel is four times the length of the battery box reinforcement. For a greater need for cable length C, it is possible to add other rollers (the configuration can be adapted according to the profile of the side member of the motor vehicle).

The cable C is preferably locked in the unwound position by a cable reel system (in the form of an actuator of holding parts SM) located in the area of the hatch (illustrated in detail in ). This type of system can be the one mounted on vacuum cleaners. Winding is done mechanically or electrically via a switch I located for example in the hatch.

In the preferred variant, the winding of the cable C is carried out by an electrical control via a switch control I located in the hatch. An MC motor integrated in the hatch area allows cable C to be rewound. The movement is thus more flexible, and avoids the risk of contact or shock of the plug F, F1 on the bodywork H.

The bundle of cable C runs along a tubular chute T in the fuel filling zone of the prior art. This T chute will have a certain flexibility to accept the different positions of the hatch depending on the vehicle platform.

Thanks to a universal adapter F0, integrated into the electrical wire of cable C at connector F, several types of power sockets (for example all those offered in the world: type A, B, C, etc., O: fifteen configurations in total), can be plugged into the F0 adapter. A specific F1 socket is used for this purpose. The vehicles are supplied with the F1 plug corresponding to the standard of the importing country.

In particular, the reel E constitutes a module that is easily integrated into the vehicle, and represents a saving of time during assembly. This modularity of the system makes it possible to standardize it on all of the applicant's vehicle platforms.

Further advantages in the preferred embodiment are as follows:
- ease of use, because there is no extension supplied in the trunk;
- the reel makes it possible to manage a significant length of cable C, for greater comfort for the user: integrated into a 170cm battery tray reinforcement, it is possible to quadruple (at a minimum) the length of cable C, i.e. 680 cm;
- compactness: the housing being in a structural element, there is a significant saving of space in the vehicle, the reel E being compact compared to a conventional cylindrical winding system;
- the reel system being modular, it can be applied to all of the applicant's electrical platforms, which implies ease of integration;
- the F0 adapter integrated into the electrical cable C, allows you to connect all types of sockets used throughout the world, i.e. 15 in total (the vehicle will be supplied with the socket corresponding to the country of use or import);
- reliability of the winding unlike cylindrical systems which can knot the electrical cable C;
- the integrated T chute facilitates guidance and limits traction effort; due to its flexibility, it accepts the different positions of the access hatch depending on the vehicle platform;
- the option with the electric winding allows flexibility of use and protects against the risk of contact of the F1 socket with the bodywork H.

In use, the represents the rest position. The user accesses the hatch, for example by opening a cover (not shown). He can then grab the F connector and pull it as shown in , to plug the F plug into a socket on the charging station.

By unwinding the cable C, the springs R1, R2 are stretched towards the right of Figures 2 and 3, opposite to their return force. Cable C is held in position by the SM holding system.

At the end of recharging, the user unplugs the plug F from the socket, and presses the switch I to trigger the winding of the cable C under the effect of the return force of the springs R1, R2 to return to the position rest.

Claims (8)

Motor vehicle in a reference frame in space comprising a front-rear axis (X) following a direction of movement of the motor vehicle, a lateral axis (Y) perpendicular to the front-rear axis (X), and a vertical axis ( Z) perpendicular to the front-rear axis (X) and the lateral axis (Y), the motor vehicle comprising:
- a traction battery (B);
- at least one on-board charging cable (C) comprising one end electrically connected to the traction battery (B), and one end comprising a charging connector (F) configured to be connected to a charging station;
- at least one longitudinal reinforcement piece arranged laterally on the motor vehicle with reference to the lateral axis (Y),
characterized in that it further comprises a longitudinal reel (E) disposed in said reinforcing piece, comprising:
- at least one longitudinal rail (RL);
- at least one fixed roller (GF); And
- at least one movable roller (G1, G2) mounted on the rail (RL), movable between a distant position where said movable roller (G1, G2) is at a first distance from said fixed roller (GF), and a close position where said movable roller (G1, G2) is at a second distance from said fixed roller (GF) less than the first distance;
- at least one return means (R1, R2) for driving said movable roller (G1, G2) towards the remote position;
the charging cable (C) being wound around said fixed roller (GF) and said movable roller (G1, G2), so as to take a retracted configuration with the connector (F) retracted to a first length of the reel (E ) when said movable roller (G1, G2) is in the remote position, and a configuration unrolled with the connector (F) distant to a second length of the reel (E) greater than the first length when said movable roller (G1, G2) is in the close position. Motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the reel (E) comprises at least two movable rollers (G1, G2). Motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that it further comprises a winding actuator (MC) receiving the charging cable (C), the winding actuator (MC) being arranged between the reel (E) and the connector (F), and equipped with a control means (I),
and in that the winding actuator (MC) is configured to, depending on said control means (I), hold the charging cable (C) in position, or release the charging cable (C). Motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the connector (F) is equipped with a plug adapter (F0), and at least one plug (F1) of specific configurations, configured to Connect the plug adapter (F0) to a corresponding specific configurations charging station socket. Motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the return means (R1, R2) comprises a tension spring having one end fixed in the reel (E), and the other end fixed to said movable roller (G1, G2). Motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising a bodywork (H), characterized in that it further comprises a connector hatch in the bodywork (H), configured to provide access to the connector (F). Motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising two longitudinal reinforcing pieces, and two longitudinal reels (E). Vehicle charging method for a motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:
- access the connector (F),
- unwind the charging cable (C) by counteracting said return means (R1, R2);
- connect the connector (F) to a charging station;
- disconnect the connector (F) from the charging station;
- wind up the charging cable (C) using the winder (E).