FR3144072A1 - Electrical charging socket for charging an electric vehicle and system - Google Patents

Abstract

The electrical charging socket comprises a base body (100), an electrical charging connector (20) which slides relative to the base body (100), a system for aligning the electrical charging connector (20) with a connector complementary electric charging of an electric vehicle, a locking member (35; 74, 75) of the base body (100) to the electric charging connector, a force system capable of exerting sufficient force to connect or disconnect the connectors electric charging (20) and electric recharging, the force system being able to slide in translation the electric charging connector (20) relative to the base body (100) in two opposite directions between two positions: a forward position fitting in which the electrical charging connector (20) is not fitted to the electrical charging connector and a position after fitting in which the electrical charging connector (20) is fitted to the electrical charging connector. Figure for abstract: figure 1

Description

Electric charging socket for charging an electric vehicle and system FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to an electric charging socket for recharging an electric vehicle, more precisely to a system for recharging an electric vehicle.

TECHNOLOGY BACKGROUND

In the field of electric automobiles, connection systems are known comprising a male connector fixed to the automobile, and a female connector fixed to a power cable a few meters long connected to a charging station.

The connectors most commonly used on automobiles are called “Mennekes sockets”, or Type 2 connectors which are the European standard for automobile vehicle charging.

The automotive industry and the European Union have chosen an extension to the Type 2 connector called Combo 2 or CCS (“Combined Charging System”) to ensure direct current charging at higher powers of up to 350 kW. This system ensures backward compatibility with Type 2 alternating current charging systems.

• Renault ZOE ;
• BMW (toute la gamme 100% électrique et hybride rechargeable sauf scooter BMW C-Evolution) ;
• Volkswagen (toute la gamme 100% électrique et hybride rechargeable) ;
• Hyundai Ioniq ;
• Mercedes (toute la gamme 100% électrique et hybride rechargeable) ;
• Tesla Model S et X.

The CCS connector is installed primarily on vehicles produced for the European market and on some vehicles sold in Australia and China. The following list is not exhaustive:

• Renault ZOE;
• BMW (the entire 100% electric and plug-in hybrid range except BMW C-Evolution scooter);
• Volkswagen (the entire 100% electric and plug-in hybrid range);
• Hyundai Ioniq;
• Mercedes (the entire 100% electric and plug-in hybrid range);
• Tesla Model S and X.

However, this type of plug requires a certain amount of force to be connected correctly due to the friction of the connectors. The thrust required to connect or disconnect a new CCS connector on a vehicle is estimated at approximately 4kg.

Having to perform such a push at each start of charging and a reverse push at each end of charging when using an electric automobile is a constraint. Sometimes, in certain circumstances, performing such a push can be difficult, or impossible (disability, lack of support, lack of space to perform the movement, lack of solidity and rigidity of an automatic connection system).

The invention thus aims to provide assistance in connecting a connector requiring a thrust greater than 1 kg to be connected or disconnected. The field of application concerns Type 2 sockets for electric automobiles but also any other socket standard used for any type of existing or future electric vehicle where a thrust greater than 1 kg must be exerted to connect or disconnect the charging system .

Thus, the invention relates to an electrical charging socket characterized in that it comprises a base body, an electrical charging connector sliding relative to the base body, a system for aligning the electrical charging connector with a complementary electric charging connector of an electric vehicle, a locking member of the base body to the electric charging connector, a force system capable of exerting sufficient force to connect or disconnect the electric charging and electric charging connectors, the force system being able to slide in translation the electric charging connector relative to the base body in two opposite directions between two positions: a position before fitting in which the electric charging connector is not fitted to the electric charging connector and a post-fitting position in which the electric charging connector is fitted to the electric charging connector.

This charging socket eliminates the need for support on the ground to absorb the connection reaction forces. Instead, the force required to plug and unplug the charging port is applied to the vehicle. Thanks to these provisions, connecting and disconnecting the charging socket can be carried out without the operator having to exert any effort. We can also consider adding an automation without a support point capable of supporting the connection reaction forces.

Depending on different aspects, it is possible to provide one and/or the other of the characteristics below taken alone or in combination.

According to one embodiment, the locking member is a locking notch provided in the base body adapted to cooperate with a locking member of the electric vehicle.

According to one embodiment, the charging socket comprises an assembly part secured to the base body, and the locking member is part of the assembly part.

According to one embodiment, the force system comprises an electric motor integral with the base body, said electric motor being designed to actuate an actuator in translation to slide the charging connector inside the base body, either from the front position fitting to the position after fitting, or from the position after fitting to the position before fitting…

According to one embodiment, the charging connector is mounted with clearance relative to the base body, allowing relative rotation in a plane containing said directions.

According to one embodiment, the charging socket comprises a communication system adapted to trigger the actuation of a locking member of the electric vehicle at the electrical charging socket.

According to one aspect, the invention relates to a system comprising such an electrical charging socket, the assemblable part being a first assemblable part, the system further comprising a second assemblable part intended to be mounted removably on the charging connector electric...

According to one embodiment, the locking member comprises at least one pair of hooks of the first assemblable part, said hooks being diametrically opposed and adapted to assemble by rotation the first assemblable part and the second assemblable part by interacting with two bollards of the second Assemblable piece.

According to one embodiment, each hook comprises an arm of a fixed length at the end of which is fixed a C-shaped fixing element designed to be threaded through a rotational movement onto the bollards in the form of a projection complementary to the shape of the fixing elements.

According to one embodiment, the second assembled part is configured to allow the closing of a protective cover of the electrical charging connector.

According to one embodiment, the system further comprises a locking sub-assembly intended to be secured to the electrical charging connector, the locking sub-assembly comprising a locking finger movable between two positions: a locked position and an unlocked position, said locking finger being configured to pass through said locking notch between the two locked and unlocked positions in order to secure the charging socket to the vehicle.

According to one embodiment, the system further comprises an electric charging connector for an electric vehicle complementary to the charging connector.

Embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, briefly described below:

represents the charging socket and the electrical charging connector seen from the side in partial section in the position before fitting, for a first embodiment.

is a side view in partial section from the same point of view as the , in position after fitting.

represents a three-dimensional view of a female assembly part, ready to be placed on the connectable electrical charging connector for a second embodiment.

represents a three-dimensional view of a female assembly part, placed on the connectable electrical charging connector.

represents a three-dimensional view of the vehicle-side connectable electric charging system for the first embodiment.

represents a three-dimensional view of the locking subassembly alone in the locking position.

represents a three-dimensional view of the locking subassembly alone in the unlocked position.

represents a three-dimensional view of a lateral side according to the second embodiment, the female assembly part and the male assembly part being assembled, the charging connector being in the position before fitting.

represents a three-dimensional view from a side side, the female assembly part and the male assembly part being assembled, the charging connector is in position after fitting.

represents a three-dimensional view of the charging socket without the base body.

represents a longitudinal sectional view of the load socket in the position before fitting.

represents a longitudinal sectional view of the load socket in the position after fitting.

represents a longitudinal sectional view of a charging socket according to an alternative embodiment.

In the drawings, identical references designate identical or similar objects.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An electric vehicle 40 typically comprises an electric charging connector 30. An electric power supply system of the electric vehicle typically comprises a charging socket 10 comprising an electric charging connector 20 complementary to the electric charging connector 30 of the vehicle.

As shown , according to a first embodiment, the charging socket 10 comprises a base body 100 and an electrical charging connector 20 connected by a flexible electrical cable 25 a few meters long to an electrical power system not shown. The base body 100 is called "external", because it surrounds the electrical charge connector 20. The electrical charge connector 20 is mounted movable, for example sliding, relative to the base body 100 along a longitudinal axis of sliding, between a position before fitting shown on the , and a position after fitting shown on the .

The base body 100 of the charging socket 10 comprises a locking notch or an orifice 35 forming a locking member.

According to this embodiment, the attachment of the charging socket 10 to the electric vehicle 40 is carried out using a locking finger 70.

The locking finger 70 belongs to a locking subassembly 52 of the electric vehicle 40 shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7.

The locking subassembly 52 allows an operator to actuate the locking finger 70 between an illustrated locking position in which the locking finger 70 projects and an unlocking position illustrated in which the locking finger 70 is at least partly retracted inside the body of the locking subassembly 52. The translation movement of the locking finger 70 between the two locking and unlocking positions and the blocking of this finger in each of these positions is produced using known conventional means integrated into the locking subassembly 52. For example, the base body 100 of the charging socket 10 is fitted so as to surround the charging connector 30 The base body 100 and the locking finger 70 have complementary shapes which cooperate during this fitting to move the locking finger from its locking position to its unlocking position against a return force exerted. on the locking finger, until the locking finger is opposite the notch 35, at which point the return force is exerted on the locking finger to push it back towards its locking position in which it enters the notch 35 and locks the base body 100 of the charging socket 10 on the electric vehicle 40.

In the embodiment presented, the locking subassembly 52 is fixed using conventional fixing means to the chassis of the electric vehicle 40.

The locking finger 70 is configured so that, in the locking position, it interacts with the orifice 35 of the load socket 10, and can resist a lateral force applied to its base once deployed in the locking position of 30 kgs .

The charging socket 10 comprises a communication system (not shown) complementary to a vehicle communication system, and adapted to trigger the actuation of the locking finger. These include, for example, radio wave communication systems. On the vehicle side, the communication system is for example integrated into the vehicle communication system, or present in the locking sub-assembly 52.

Figures 3 and 4 now represent a second embodiment of the invention. This second embodiment implements a female assemblable part 50 fixed to the electric charging connector 30 of the electric vehicle 40 and a male assemblable part 60 fixed to the charging socket 10. The male assemblable part 60 is for example a fixed insert. on the basic body 100 of the charging socket 10. Fixing can be done by any appropriate means, for example by screwing or tightening, and is done once and for all. Alternatively, it is possible for the electrical power system to natively include a charging socket 10 and a male assembly part 60 secured to the base body 100 thereof, for example integrally molded with a component thereof. Thus, the locking and fixing of the male assembly part 60 on the charging socket 10 are permanent: once installed on the charging socket 10, it does not need to be removed between each connection, after each recharge.

On the other hand, the female assemblable part 50 and the charging connector 30 of the motor vehicle 40 are configured to be assembled at each recharge during the recharge time thanks to assembly means, then disassembled from one another.

These assembly means are configured to be quick, simple and requiring as little effort as possible.

Thus, the assembly and disassembly operations of the male assembly part 60 and the charging connector 30 can be carried out by an operator with minimum effort.

According to this example, the means of assembling the male assembly part 50 and the female assembly part 60 may comprise two arms 72.73 opposed symmetrically with respect to a central axis of the assistance device and parallel to said central axis, projecting and of sufficient length to assemble the female and male assemblable parts 50, 60 when the electrical charging connector 20 is in a position before fitting. Said arms 72, 73 comprise at their end at least one C-shaped hook 74, 75 forming a locking member making it possible to transfer a traction force or a thrust to a fixed element placed inside the hook. The fixed element comprises in this embodiment two posts 51a, 51b of the female assembly part 50. The posts 51a, 51b must not go around the entire circumference of the female assembly part. The bollards 51a, 51b are configured to allow the two opposite arms 72,73 to pass from one side to the other of the bollards 51a, 51b. Thus, the operator can position the female, male assemblable parts 50, 60 in a position where the bollards 51a, 51b can penetrate inside the C-shaped hooks 74, 75 by simple rotation carried out by the operator of the male assemblable part 60 around the longitudinal axis of the charging connector 20. The part of the bollards 51a, 51b intended to be positioned inside the C-shaped hooks 74, 75 when the assemblable parts 50,60 are assembled has ideally a flared shape in order to limit the distance between the edge of the bollards 51a, 51b and the edge of the hooks 74, 75.

Another essential function provided by the bollards 51a, 51b and the hooks 74, 75 is the alignment of the charging and recharging connectors.

The two embodiments presented above include a force system capable of exerting sufficient force to connect or disconnect the electrical charging connector 20 and the electrical charging connector 30. The force system can for example comprise an electric motor 80 integral with the base body 100, making it possible to exert the force necessary to move from the fitting position ( ) to the disengagement position ( ) without the operator exerting the slightest effort. For a type 2, Combo 2 or CCS (Combined Charging System) connector, the push or pull that the electric motor 80 must be capable of providing is at least 5 kg.

The force system may also include a position detection system configured to stop the electric motor 80 when the engagement position or the disengagement position is reached. The position detection system is a classic system. Alternatively, the electric motor 80 can be activated to produce a predetermined movement.

A margin between these two positions is preferable in order to completely separate the bodies of the electrical charging connector 20 and the electrical charging connector 30.

The electric motor 80 is integral with the base body 100 so that its axis of rotation is aligned longitudinally with the longitudinal axis of an interior body 90 of the electrical charging connector 20 and passes through a point close to the center of gravity of the interior body 90 with a generally rounded section. Said inner body 90 is slidably placed inside a hollow base body 100.

The interior body 90 and base 100 generally have a circular section which has either a flat part or a concave part or a convex part. Thus the range of rotation between the base body 100 and the interior body 90 is limited. In the example illustrated, the section of the interior body 90 and base 100 has a flat part.

This feature facilitates proper alignment of the charging and charging connectors.

A mark, for example in the form of a perpendicular line not shown on the exterior surface of the male assembly part 60 and the female assembly part 50, allows the operator to check the correct alignment of the charging connectors 20 and recharge 30.

Thus the charging connector 20 and the charging connector 30 can be plugged and unplugged without risk of damaging them thanks to good alignment.

The electrical charging connector 20 is fixed on the face 91 of the interior body 90 oriented opposite the face 92 of the interior body 90 oriented toward the electric motor 80. A charging cable 105, a strand of several wires, can pass through inside the interior body 90 and connects the electrical charging connector 20 to a source of electrical current. The cable passes through a longitudinal groove in the base body 100, which allows the cable to move relative to the base body when the interior body 90 moves.

The rotation of the electric motor 80 drives a known actuator, that is to say a system transforming the rotational movement into a translational movement and comprising a shaft 110 which, under the effect of the rotation of the electric motor 80, moves in translation without rotation. When the electric motor 80 rotates in one direction, the shaft 110 extends. When the electric motor 80 turns in the other direction, the shaft 110 retracts.

The electric motor 80 is therefore capable, in the example illustrated, of developing a torque of approximately 1.2 Newton meters. The electric motor 80 can rotate in both directions of rotation: a screwing direction which allows the shaft 110 to be deployed and an unscrewing direction which allows the shaft 110 to be retracted. The control of the electric motor 80 is located on the body of said electric motor 80. Said control not shown is a button with two positions: connection or disconnection. Outside of the charging phases, the button is in the unplugged position.

The shaft 110 moves in translation and makes it possible to slide the interior body 90 inside a base body 100 on which the electrical charging connector 20 is fixed from a position before fitting ( ) to a position after fitting ( ), which corresponds to connecting the electric vehicle to the charging station.

The base body 100 makes it possible to define the position before fitting ( ) to the position after fitting ( ). For example, two stops can prevent the inner body from sliding beyond a certain position in both sliding directions.

Once it reaches the stop, the resistance force encountered by the motor exceeds the force normally necessary for connecting or disconnecting the charging 20 and charging 30 connectors. Beyond a certain resistance force threshold, the system force stops the motor 80.

Without the invention, the operator must have good control of his physical means (strength in the arms, balance, absence of disability, etc.) and good grip on the ground to counter the reaction force. Thanks to the invention, this operator exercise, which can be delicate and restrictive, is replaced by a thrust carried out by the electric motor 80 and the reaction force is transmitted from the male assembly part 60 to the female assembly part 50.

According to an alternative embodiment, as shown in the , the inner body 90 is mounted with play in the base body 100. This play allows in particular the rotation of the inner body in the direction of clockwise or in the opposite direction on the , that is to say in a plane containing the assembly/disassembly direction. For example, the base body 100 defines a groove 150, and the interior body 90 includes a peripheral rib 160 taken in the groove 150 with the possibility of relative movement in the axial direction. The interior body 90 is held in relative position relative to the base body 100 by an elastic system. For example, the elasticity of the electrical cables of the charging socket 10 is sufficient to maintain the interior body 90 and the base body 100 in relative position while allowing rotational play. This game facilitates the electrical connection of the socket 10 and the electric charging connector 30 of the electric vehicle, without extremely precise alignment of these two parts being necessary.

To recharge an electric vehicle 40 comprising an electric charging connector 30 parked near a charging station comprising an electric charging connector 20, a method comprises the following steps, for the second embodiment, once the electric vehicle 40 and the charging terminal equipped respectively with the female assembly part 50 and the male assembly part 60 according to the invention and the control in the disconnected position.

The vehicle is then recharged as follows:

– The operator opens a possible cover 140 of the electric vehicle 40 to access the electric charging connector 30;

– The operator positions the electrical charging connector 20 with a rotational movement of the male assembly part 60 relative to the female assembly part 50 so that the C-shaped hooks 74, 75 cover at least part of the bollards 51a, 51b.

– The operator positions the control in the connection position;

– After a few seconds, the electrical charging 20 and electrical charging 30 connectors are automatically in the fitting position thanks to the force system; the electrical contacts of the two connectors are in contact;

- the charging terminal detects a connection and then supplies electric current to the electric charging connector 20 and the battery of the electric vehicle 40 is recharged.

When the operator wishes to stop recharging his electric vehicle 40 either because the battery is full, or because the operator has decided that it is time to stop recharging his electric vehicle 40, stopping the recharging the vehicle is carried out as follows:

– The operator places the control in the unplugged position;

- After a few seconds, the charging and recharging connectors are automatically in position before fitting thanks to the force system;

– The operator rotates the male assembly part relative to the female assembly part so that the bollards 51a, 51b are no longer covered by the hooks and thus completely releases the male assembly part from the vehicle.

Claims (11)

Electrical charging socket characterized in that it comprises a base body (100), an electrical charging connector (20) sliding relative to the base body (100), a system for aligning the electrical charging connector (20 ) with an electrical charging connector complementary to an electric vehicle, a locking member (35; 74, 75) of the base body (100) to the electrical charging connector, a force system capable of exerting sufficient force to connect or disconnect the electrical charging connectors (20) and electrical charging connectors, the force system being able to slide the electrical charging connector (20) in translation relative to the base body (100) in two opposite directions between two positions : a position before fitting in which the electric charging connector (20) is not fitted to the electric charging connector and a position after fitting in which the electric charging connector (20) is fitted to the electric charging connector. Electric charging socket according to claim 1, in which the locking member is a locking notch (35) provided in the base body (100) adapted to cooperate with a locking member (70) of the electric vehicle. Electrical charging socket according to claim 1, comprising an assemblable part (60) secured to the base body, and in which the locking member (75) forms part of the assemblable part (60). Electric charging socket according to one of claims 1 to 3, in which the force system comprises an electric motor (80) integral with the base body (100), said electric motor (80) being designed to actuate an actuator in translation for sliding the charging connector (20) inside the base body (100), either from the position before fitting to the position after fitting, or from the position after fitting to the position before fitting. An electrical charging socket according to claim 4, wherein the charging connector (20) is mounted with clearance relative to the base body (100), allowing relative rotation in a plane containing said directions. Electric charging socket according to one of claims 1 to 5, comprising a communication system adapted to trigger the actuation of a locking member of the electric vehicle at the electrical charging socket. System comprising a charging socket according to claim 3 or a claim dependent thereon, wherein the assemblable part (60) is a first assemblable part, the system further comprising a second assemblable part (54) intended to be mounted from removable way on the electrical charging connector. System according to claim 7, in which the locking member comprises at least one pair of hooks (74, 75) of the first assemblable part (60), said hooks being diametrically opposed and adapted to assemble by rotation the first part (60). ) assembled and the second part (54) assembled by interacting with two bollards (51a, 51b) of the second assembly part (54). A system according to claim 8, wherein each hook (74, 75) comprises an arm (72, 73) of fixed length to the end of which is attached a C-shaped fastener designed to thread through a rotational movement on the bollards (51a, 51b) in the form of a projection complementary to the shape of the fixing elements. System according to one of claims 7 to 9, in which the second assemblable part (54) is configured to allow the closing of a protective cover of the electrical charging connector. System comprising a charging socket according to claim 2 or a claim dependent thereon, further comprising a locking sub-assembly (52) intended to be integral with the electrical charging connector, the locking sub-assembly (52) comprising a locking finger (70) movable between two positions: a locked position and an unlocked position, said locking finger (70) being configured to pass through said locking notch (35) between the two locked and unlocked positions in order to secure the charging socket to the vehicle.