WO2019220385A1

WO2019220385A1 - Conductive recharging system for an electric vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2019220385A1
Application number: PCT/IB2019/054061
Authority: WO
Inventors: Luigi Gozzi; Mauro DE LAURI
Original assignee: Alfazero S.P.A.
Priority date: 2018-05-16
Filing date: 2019-05-16
Publication date: 2019-11-21
Also published as: IT201800005432A1

Abstract

A system (1) for recharging an electric vehicle (100) inside a recharging area comprising a self-propelled body (2) connected to an electrical power source (10) and configured for positioning beneath the electric vehicle (100), the self-propelled body (2) comprising an electricity transmission device (5), the transmission device (5) comprising lifting means (14) for moving at least one conductive element (8, 9) from a first lowered position to a second raised position, the second position being configured for entering into contact with at least a respective conductive element (108,109) positioned in the lower platform of the vehicle (100) and connected with the energy storage system of the vehicle (100).

Description

CONDUCTIVE RECHARGING SYSTEM FOR AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE

Technical field

This invention relates to a system for conductive recharging of an electric vehicle.

Background art

In particular, the invention is used for the recharging of electricity storage systems of electric vehicles, for example batteries, for uses in home/residential contexts, or in the urban context, both private and public. Currently, the recharging systems for electric vehicles, as the latter require the transfer of significant quantities of electricity, are usually of a conductive type, that is to say, in which the connection between the charger and the vehicle is carried out by conduction by means of a physical contact between conducting materials.

In fact, the inductive technology is not currently applicable to the sector of systems for recharging electric vehicles, that is to say, where the presence of a physical contact between the charger and the vehicle to be recharged is not necessary.

The prior art systems for recharging electric vehicles therefore consist of plug-in connections.

In short, therefore, the electric vehicle is connected by a user to the respective recharging system using a special wiring.

The system allows a suitable recharging of an electric vehicle but has major drawbacks.

A first major drawback is due to the presence of the wiring, whether it is placed close to the recharging system or forms an integral part of the accessories of the vehicle (in the latter case, the dimensions of the wiring will occupy useful space for loading the vehicle). Another major drawback is due to the fact that, since the connection by wiring is a manual operation to be performed by the user, once the vehicle has been positioned in the specific recharging area (for example, the relative garage), if the user forgets to connect the electric vehicle to the respective recharging system the vehicle will not be ready at the subsequent use to perform its functions since the batteries will not have been adequately recharged.

Disclosure of the invention

In this context, the technical purpose which forms the basis of the invention is to provide a system for recharging an electric vehicle which overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.

In particular, the aim of this invention is to provide a recharging system for an electric vehicle which is fully automatic and which does not require any intervention by a user to start the recharging step.

A further aim of the invention is to provide a recharging system for an electric vehicle which does not occupy any useful space for loading the vehicle.

The technical purpose indicated and the aims specified are substantially achieved by a recharging system for an electric vehicle according to the invention.

Brief description of drawings

Further features and advantages of this invention are more apparent in the non-limiting description of a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment of a recharging system an electric vehicle, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 schematically illustrates a recharging system for electric vehicles according to the invention and

Figure 2 shows a schematic view of a device for transmitting electrical energy included in a recharging system according to the invention. Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

With reference to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 denotes a recharging system for an electric vehicle 100, in particular for home/residential use, or in an urban context, both public and private, according to the invention.

The recharging system 1 for an electric vehicle 100 comprises in its basic embodiment a self-propelled body 2.

The self-propelled body 2 is able to move inside the recharging area controlled by a respective control unit 6 and, advantageously, by means of at least one drive unit (for example, an electric motor) connected to one or more wheels.

Advantageously, the drive unit is powered by a fixed source of electrical power (for example, the domestic or industrial network) or by means of special batteries.

The self-propelled body 2 is configured in such a way as to have an overall size which allows the body 2 to position itself below the electric vehicle 100 where the special electrical energy receiving device 105 is positioned for recharging the batteries of the vehicle 100.

The expression “area suitable for recharging the electric vehicle 100” means, for example, a private or public garage or automobile spaces suitable for the purpose.

The self-propelled body 2 is configured to be connected to an electrical power source 10, for example by means of a special wiring 3.

Advantageously, the wiring 3 is of the spiral type.

The source of electric power 10 may either be direct current or alternating current.

The self-propelled body 2 comprises an electricity transmission device 5 designed to transfer electricity from the above-mentioned source 10 and the energy storage system installed on the electric vehicle 100 being recharged. As shown in Figure 2, the transmission device 5 comprises lifting means 14 for moving at least one conductive element 8, 9 (preferably a pair: positive and negative in the case of direct current supply or phase and neutral in the case of alternating current supply) from a first lowered position (schematically shown in Figure 1 ) to a second raised position (schematically shown in Figure 2).

The first lowered position is such that the self-propelled body 2 occupies the minimum height relative to the floor of the recharging area and allows it to be positioned below the vehicle 100 at the device 105 for receiving electricity for the vehicle 100.

The second, raised position is such that the at least one conductive element 8, 9 can enter into physical contact with at least one respective conductive element 108, 109 (also in this case it is generally a pair of contacts) located in the lower platform of the electric vehicle 100 being recharged and connected with the energy storage system of the vehicle (for example, a battery pack or the like).

The pair of elements 108 and 109 therefore constitute the device 105 for receiving electricity for the vehicle 100.

The transfer of energy is of the conductive type.

Advantageously, the transmission device 5, when the latter is in the lowered position (Figure 1 ), is located completely inside said self-propelled body 2 limiting the overall height above ground of the self-propelled body 2.

This configuration is convenient because it avoids the possibility of any obstacle when the self-propelled body 2 is positioned below the vehicle 100.

In order to optimise the mutual positioning step, the self-propelled body 2 advantageously comprises a control unit 6 connected to one or more sensors.

The sensors can be based on various types and must perform the main function of identifying the position of the vehicle 100 inside the recharging area.

For example, the self-propelled body 2 comprises transmission and/or receiving sensors of the Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Ultra-Wide-Band or GPS type, or, more generally, proximity sensors, and designed to identify the position of the vehicle 100 inside the recharging area.

It is clear that when this invention refers to mutual positioning between the recharging system 1 and the vehicle 100 it means mutual positioning between the conductive elements 8, 9 (of the self-propelled body 2) and the conductive elements 108, 109 (of the vehicle 100), or in any case between the transmission device 5 of the recharging system 1 and the receiving device 105 of the vehicle 100.

In order to optimise the mutual positioning between the self-propelled body 2 and the receiving device 105 of the vehicle 100 it is advantageous that the self-propelled body also comprises an optical system (for example, a laser type emitter or receiver) which is able to couple with a respective emitter or receiver installed on the vehicle 100.

The coupling of the above-mentioned optical system makes it possible to guarantee the perfect alignment between the transmission device 5 of the self-propelled body 2 and the corresponding receiving device 105 of the vehicle.

During operation, if the recharging system 1 receives a signal that the presence of the vehicle 100 has occurred inside the recharging area it is enabled and it remains in a stand-by condition until it receives a second signal corresponding to the stopping of the vehicle 100 inside the recharging area.

After receiving the above-mentioned first two signals the self-propelled body 2 is controlled by the relative control unit 6 to move along an ideal trajectory directed to an area close to the receiving device 105 installed on the vehicle 100.

As shown in Figure 2, the self-propelled body 2 advantageously comprises at least one protective cover 12 positioned externally and all around the conductive element 8, 9.

The cover 12 is, for example, of the concertina type and is configured for moving vertically together with the conductive element 8, 9.

In particular, the conductive element 8, 9 guides the movement of the protective cover 12, for example by a mechanical electrically insulating connection between the two.

Preferably, the cover 12 comprises an electrically conductive coil, for example made of metal material, and is configured for the connection to earth of the vehicle 100.

The cover 12 therefore performs the twofold function of:

- protection against contact with the components 5, 105 designed for the electrical connection and transfer, that is to say, where the voltage is dangerous and

- the earth contact, that is, the earthing of the vehicle 100.

Advantageously, the cover 12 comprises earth conductor means 13 designed to enter into contact with a respective earth positioned on the vehicle 100 when the cover 12 and the conductive elements 8, 9 are lifted. More in detail, Figure 2 shows a possible embodiment of a system 14 for lifting the conductive elements 8, 9.

The system may comprise lifting means 14 (for example, with electrical, pneumatic or hydraulic operation) connected to a plate made of conductive material 18 by means of a ball joint 19.

The ball joint 19 allows possible misalignment of the plate 18 made of conductive material with the respective lifting means 14.

The misalignment in turn allows optimisation of the contact with the conducting plate 18 and the respective contacts of the vehicle 100.

It is important to consider that the perfect parallelism between the contacts 8, 9 and 108, 109 is lost even if only one of the four tyres is more deflated than the others.

The ball joint 19 makes it possible to overcome this type of problem.

Preferably, the self-propelled body 2 comprises a protective hatch for protecting the at least one conductive element 8, 9, when the lifting means 14 are in the lowered position.

Advantageously, the at least one conductive element 8, 9 comprises at least one temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the conductive element 8, 9 when it is in contact with the respective conductive element 108, 109 of the vehicle.

If the temperature sensor detects a temperature above a threshold value during the recharging operation, the recharging system 1 prevents the supply of current since the electrical contact of the conductive type is not optimum.

Moreover, the self-propelled body 2 advantageously comprises one or more devices for determining and circumventing obstacles present in the recharging area between the source of electrical energy 10 and the vehicle 100, in such a way as to guarantee the access of the self-propelled body 2 in a position below the vehicle 100.

During operation: an electric vehicle 100 enters inside the defined recharging area (for example, a garage or parking space) and stops inside it.

The condition of entering and then stopping of the vehicle 100 inside the recharging area corresponds to the sending by the vehicle of two respective signals received and processed by the recharging system 1. Once the vehicle 100 is stationary inside the recharging area the control unit 6 of the self-propelled body 2 commands the movement along a trajectory directed to the zone for coupling with the vehicle 100, that is, under the receiving device 105.

Preferably, once positioned at the receiving device 105, the self-propelled body 2 performs a precision coupling (using, for example, an optical guide system or a mechanical male-female coupling).

Once the correct coupling position between the transmission device 5 and the receiving device 105 has been determined the recharging step continues. The protective hatch 15 of the self-propelled body 2 opens and leaves adequate space for lifting the conductive elements 8, 9 and the cover 12 towards the lower surface of the vehicle 100.

The cover 12 is the first component to come into contact with the vehicle 100 (in particular with a respective earth contact 13).

The recharging system 1 performs a first check of the contact resistance of the earths.

If this check has a positive result then the recharging system 1 continues with completion of the lifting of the conductive elements 8, 9 to place it in contact with the respective conductive elements 108, 109 of the vehicle. The recharging system 1 checks the contact resistance of the conductive elements 8-108 and 9-109.

If this check also has a positive result, the recharging system 1 communicates to the vehicle 100 the values of the relative voltage or power available for picking up during recharging.

At this point, if there is a correspondence of the values provided by the recharging system 1 with respect to those of the vehicle 100 the recharging step starts.

Once the recharging cycle is finished, the recharging system lowers the cover 12 and the conductive elements 8, 9 and the self-propelled body 2 is guided by its control unit to return outside the area below the vehicle 100. The features of a system for recharging an electric vehicle according to the invention are clearly described above, as are the advantages with respect to the prior art.

In particular, an important advantage consists in the fact that a recharging system 1 according to the invention allows the operation for recharging an electric vehicle 100 to be performed without the need for the user to carry out operations of a manual type.

In particular, the positioning of the vehicle 100 inside the recharging area is sufficient to ensure that the recharging operation starts.

In this way, the possibility that the user forgets to connect the vehicle 100 to the respective recharging station once he/she has returned, for example, to their home is, for example, avoided.

Claims

1. A system (1 ) for recharging an electric vehicle (100) inside a recharging area comprising a self-propelled body (2) connected to an electrical power source (10) and configured for positioning beneath the electric vehicle (100), the self-propelled body (2) comprising an electricity transmission device (5), the transmission device (5) comprising lifting means (14) for moving at least one conductive element (8, 9) from a first lowered position to a second raised position, the second position being configured for entering into contact with at least a respective conductive element (108, 109) positioned in the lower platform of the vehicle (100) and connected with the energy storage system of the vehicle (100).

2. The recharging system (1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the self- propelled body (2) comprises at least one wheel (4) and a drive unit (6) for moving the wheel (4).

3. The recharging system (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the self-propelled body (2) comprises a control unit operatively connected to at least one sensor configured for receiving a signal relating to the position of the vehicle (100) inside the recharging area, the control unit being operatively connected to the drive unit (6) for moving the self-propelled body (2) in response to the signal received by the at least one sensor.

4. The recharging system (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the self-propelled body (2) comprises means for recognising and avoiding the obstacles inside the recharging area.

5. The recharging system (1 ) according to claim 3, wherein the at least one sensor of the self-propelled body comprises a GPS device.

6. The recharging system (1 ) according to claim 3, wherein the at least one sensor of the self-propelled body comprises a Bluetooth device.

7. The recharging system (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the self-propelled body (2) also comprises a first optical transmission or receiving device configured for coupling to a corresponding second optical transmission or receiving device positioned on the platform of the electric vehicle (100).

8. The recharging system (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the self-propelled body (2) also comprises at least one cover (12) positioned outside the at least one conductive element (8, 9) of the lifting means (14), the cover (12) being configured for moving vertically together with the conductive element (8, 9).

9. The recharging system (1 ) according to claim 8, wherein the cover (12) comprises an electrically conductive coil configured for connecting the vehicle (100) to earth.

10. The recharging system (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the self-propelled body (2) comprises a protective hatch for protecting from outside agents the at least one conductive element (8, 9), when the lifting means (14) are in the lowered position.

1 1. The recharging system (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one conductive element (8, 9) comprises at least one temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the conductive element (8, 9) when it is in contact with the respective conductive element (108, 109) of the vehicle.

12. The recharging system (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the electricity transmission device (5) comprises a ball joint (19) designed to allow the possible misalignment between the conductive element (8, 9) and the lifting means (14).

13. The recharging system (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the self-propelled body (2) is connected to the electrical power source (10) by cable (3).