Battery chargers for electric or hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A battery charger (1) for an electric or hybrid motor vehicle, comprising: at least one container body (2), the container body (2) being mountable on the motor vehicle and defining at least one storage chamber; at least one electronic device stored in the storage chamber, the electronic device being connectable to at least one battery of the motor vehicle and configured to recharge the battery; at least one closure body (4) of the container body (2), the closure body (4) being detachably associated with the container body (2) to seal the storage chamber, the closure body (4) being suitable for protecting the electronic device stored in the storage chamber; wherein the closure body (4) comprises a reinforcing device, the shape and arrangement of the reinforcing device being such as to prevent deformation of the closure body itself.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery charger for an electric or hybrid motor vehicle. Background Art

[0002] Many known battery chargers for electric or hybrid vehicles are used to charge batteries that are typically installed on such vehicles in order to power various electronic devices (eg engines, control units, lamps, etc.).

[0003] In particular, battery chargers of this type are provided with housing means for the electronics used to recharge the battery and for the electronics themselves, which are intended to protect and facilitate the installation of the latter in the motor vehicle.

[0004] Typically, the receiving device defines a receiving chamber for the electronic device and is provided with a plurality of connectors connected to the receiving device so as to operably connect the electronic device to a battery and / or other electronic components, such as a control card, a sensor, and the like.

[0005] In particular, the known type of receiving device is usually provided with two half shells, which can be connected to each other and define two half chambers respectively, and when the two half shells are connected together, define a receiving chamber for the electronic device.

[0006] Advantageously, the two half-shells are usually made of metal, which must be processed by a die-casting process which allows the shape of the two half-shells to be defined and a particularly durable and long-lasting receiving device to be formed.

[0007] However, the die-casting process used to produce receiving devices of this type is generally expensive and produces half-shells that are extremely heavy and bulky, thereby adversely affecting the cost and performance of the motor vehicle.

[0008] In order to overcome the above problems, it is becoming increasingly common to produce battery chargers comprising a receiving device provided with a container body defining a receiving chamber for the electronic device and having a corresponding closing body which is detachably associated with the container body to close the receiving chamber and thereby protect the electronic device.

[0009] In particular, the closing body is substantially flat and does not require an expensive die-casting process to produce, so that the receiving device is significantly cheaper and lighter than the receiving devices described above.

[0010] However, even this type of containment devices involves relevant improvements in their strength and durability.

[0011] In practice, battery chargers are usually subject to continuous stresses, for example mechanical and / or thermal stresses caused primarily by the operation of the motor vehicle, and this affects the closure in particular since, on account of its plate-like shape, it often deforms particularly significantly over time.

[0012] This deformation actually compromises the construction of the enclosure, so that the housing chamber cannot be completely sealed, exposing the electronic equipment to serious dangers and possibly causing serious damage to the motor vehicle.

[0013] Furthermore, it is very common for liquid deposits to be present on the closure, for example due to condensation of air in contact with the closure or due to infiltration and / or leakage.

[0014] In particular, if not removed within a short period of time, such liquid deposits can affect the material of which the closure is made, thereby compromising the integrity of the closure and accelerating the above-mentioned deformation processes. Summary of the invention

[0015] The main object of the invention is to devise a battery charger for an electric or hybrid motor vehicle which allows better protection of the electronic equipment than known battery chargers.

[0016] Another object of the invention is to design a particularly light battery charger for an electric or hybrid vehicle.

[0017] Another object of the invention is to devise a battery charger for an electric or hybrid motor vehicle that allows the removal of any liquid that may have deposited thereon.

[0018] Another object of the invention is to devise a battery charger for an electric or hybrid motor vehicle which allows overcoming the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art in a simple, rational, easy, effective way of use and low-cost solution.

[0019] The battery charger according to the invention for an electric or hybrid motor vehicle achieves the above-mentioned object by virtue of the features of claim 1 . BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a battery charger for an electric or hybrid motor vehicle, illustrated by way of indicative but not limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0021] Figure 1 is an axonometric view of a battery charger according to the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 is a top view of a battery charger according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] With particular reference to the Figures, reference numeral 1 generally designates a battery charger for an electric or hybrid motor vehicle.

[0024] In particular, a battery charger 1 for an electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprises:

[0025] at least one container body 2 which can be mounted on a motor vehicle and defines at least one receiving chamber;

[0026] - at least one electronic device housed in the housing, which electronic device is connectable to at least one battery of the motor vehicle and is configured to recharge the battery;

[0027] - at least one closing body 4 of the container body 2, which closing body 4 is associated in a removable manner with the container body 2 to close the receiving chamber.

[0028] Suitably, the enclosure 4 is adapted to protect the electronic equipment housed in the housing chamber.

[0029] Preferably, the container body 2 has a plurality of side walls adjacent to each other and a bottom wall, and the bottom wall and the side walls define a receiving chamber together.

[0030] In the particular embodiment shown, the container body 2 includes four substantially flat side walls and a substantially flat bottom wall to define a generally rectangular container body 2 .

[0031] However, alternative embodiments of the battery charger 1 cannot be excluded, in which the container body 2 comprises a different number of side walls in order to form a container body 2 of a different shape, for example a square.

[0032] Advantageously, the battery charger 1 comprises means for removably associating the closing body 4 with the container body 2 .

[0033] Preferably, the associating means are of a known type, for example a screw and nut fixing system.

[0034] Specifically, the closing body 4 is substantially plate-shaped.

[0035] In this way, the enclosure 4 allows the housing chamber to be sealed and the equipment to be protected, thereby minimizing the size and weight of the battery charger 1 .

[0036] Advantageously, the closing body 4 comprises reinforcing means shaped and arranged so as to prevent deformation of the closing body itself.

[0037] In particular, the reinforcing means comprise at least one reinforcing element 5 made on at least a portion of the closing body 4 .

[0038] With reference to the embodiment shown in the figures, the reinforcing means comprise a plurality of reinforcing elements 5 made on at least a portion of the closing body 4 .

[0039] Furthermore, the reinforcing element 5 is linear.

[0040] However, alternative embodiments of the reinforcing device cannot be excluded, in which the reinforcing element 5 has a different shape, for example a curved shape.

[0041] Advantageously, at least one of the reinforcing elements 5 is arranged substantially parallel to the other reinforcing element 5 .

[0042] Furthermore, at least one of the reinforcement elements 5 is arranged substantially transversely to the other reinforcement element 5 .

[0043] In detail, according to the illustrated embodiment, the battery charger 1 includes eight reinforcing elements 5, such as Figure 2 As shown, three of them extend parallel to each other along a first extension direction, and the other five extend parallel to each other along a second extension direction substantially perpendicular to the first extension direction.

[0044] However, alternative embodiments of the battery charger 1 cannot be excluded, in which the reinforcing means comprise a different number of reinforcing elements 5 arranged according to different combinations of reinforcing elements 5 (parallel, transverse and orthogonal to each other) in order to adapt to the shape of the enclosure 4.

[0045] In this way, the reinforcing elements 5 form a reinforcing web extending substantially over the entire extension of the closing body 4 , reinforcing its structure at every point in a substantially uniform manner.

[0046] In particular, the reinforcement elements 5 distributed in this way give the enclosure 4 a particular resistance to deformation and a particular durability, thereby reducing the risk of compromising the protection of the electronic equipment.

[0047] Conveniently, the reinforcing means comprises at least one liquid discharge means.

[0048] In particular, the closing body 4 comprises a plurality of peripheral sides 6 which define an outer surface 7 of the receiving chamber, and the discharge device comprises at least one discharge channel 9 which is formed on the outer surface 7 and is provided with at least one discharge opening 8 at one of the peripheral sides 6 .

[0049] Advantageously, the drainage channel 9 is able to drain away the majority of liquid deposited on the outer surface 7 of the closing body 4 , in particular liquid such as is produced by condensation of air in contact with the closing body 4 or by leakage and / or infiltration.

[0050] Advantageously, the drainage channel 9 collects the liquid deposited on the outer surface 7 and conveys it to the outside of the enclosure 4 , ie it conveys the collected liquid to the drainage opening 8 through which the liquid itself leaves the enclosure 4 .

[0051] In more detail, the discharge device comprises a plurality of discharge channels 9 , wherein at each peripheral side 6 at least one discharge opening 8 is arranged.

[0052] Preferably, each outlet channel 9 passes through the outer surface 7 extending substantially between its two peripheral sides 6 , which are arranged substantially opposite each other.

[0053] In other words, each discharge channel 9 is provided with an end portion which is arranged in the vicinity of the peripheral side 6 which is substantially opposite to the peripheral side 6 where the discharge opening 8 is located.

[0054] Furthermore, at least one of the discharge channels 9 is fluidly connected to at least one other of the discharge channels 9 and is arranged substantially transversely to the at least one other of the discharge channels 9 .

[0055] In other words, each discharge channel 9 communicates with at least another discharge channel 9 that crosses it, so that the collected liquid can be easily transferred from one discharge channel 9 to another discharge channel 9.

[0056] In particular, according to the illustrated embodiment, the discharge channels 9 intersect each other at a plurality of points.

[0057] In this way, the drainage channels 9 form an interconnected collecting network, which substantially covers the entire outer surface 7 and is provided with a plurality of drainage openings 8 that can communicate with any drainage channel 9 .

[0058] In fact, this collecting network enables liquid to be removed to reach the drain 8 even in the event of changes in the position of the battery charger 1 , for example caused by the operation of the motor vehicle, by a change in the inclination of the enclosure 4 and therefore of the outer surface 7 .

[0059] Advantageously, according to the embodiment shown, the reinforcing element 5 coincides with the discharge channel 9 .

[0060] In particular, the reinforcing element 5 comprises at least one concave cross section for defining the discharge channel 9 .

[0061] In more detail, at least one of the reinforcement element 5 and the drainage channel 9 is made on the outer surface 7 by a molding process of the closing body 4 .

[0062] Advantageously, the reinforcing element 5 and the drain channel 9 are produced by a single die-casting operation which allows the cross section of the reinforcing element to be manufactured.

[0063] Preferably, the process is carried out to produce a closing body 4 .

[0064] The described invention has in fact been determined to achieve the intended purposes.

[0065] In particular, the configuration and arrangement of the reinforcement element makes it possible to distribute the reinforcement mesh evenly over the entire closing element, making it particularly resistant to deformation and more durable over time.

[0066] Furthermore, the presence of the drain means allows for effective and efficient removal of liquids that may be deposited on the outer surface and which, if not removed, could over time compromise the integrity of the material from which the closure is made.

[0067] Furthermore, the use of a molding process to manufacture the reinforcement element makes it possible to strengthen the structure of the enclosure while at the same time not placing weight on the battery charger.

[0068] In detail, the specific configuration of the reinforcing element allows its manufacture by one-shot moulding of the closing body and the manufacture of the drainage channel.

[0069] In fact, this particular configuration allows the reinforcing element to substantially coincide with the discharge channel.

Claims

1. Battery charger for electric or hybrid motor vehicles (1), include: - at least one container body (2), which can be mounted on a motor vehicle and defines at least one receiving chamber; - at least one electronic device housed in the housing, the electronic device being connectable to at least one battery of the motor vehicle and configured to recharge the battery; - at least one closing body (4) of the container body (2), the closing body (4) being associated with the container body (2) in a detachable manner to close the receiving chamber, the closing body (4) being suitable for protecting the electronic device received in the receiving chamber; wherein the enclosure (4) comprises a reinforcing device, the shape and arrangement of the reinforcing device being capable of preventing deformation of the enclosure itself; It is characterized in that - the reinforcing element (5) is in a straight line; - said reinforcing means comprise a plurality of reinforcing elements (5) made on at least a portion of said enclosure (4); - at least one of the reinforcing elements (5) is arranged substantially parallel to another of the reinforcing elements (5); - At least one of the reinforcing elements (5) is arranged substantially transversely to another of the reinforcing elements (5).

2. The battery charger (1) according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The closing body (4) is substantially plate-shaped.

3. The battery charger (1) according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The reinforcing means include at least one liquid discharge device.

4. The battery charger (1) according to claim 3, It is characterized in that The enclosure (4) comprises a plurality of peripheral sides (6), wherein the peripheral sides (6) define an outer surface (7) of the accommodation chamber; the discharge device comprises at least one discharge channel (9) formed on the outer surface (7), and at least one exhaust port (8) is provided at one of the peripheral sides (6).

5. The battery charger (1) according to claim 4, It is characterized in that The discharge device comprises a plurality of discharge channels (9), each of which is provided with at least one discharge opening (8) on each of the peripheral sides (6).

6. The battery charger (1) according to claim 4, It is characterized in that At least one of the discharge channels (9) is fluidically connected to at least another of the discharge channels (9) and is substantially transverse to the latter.

7. The battery charger (1) according to claim 4, It is characterized in that The reinforcing element (5) coincides with the discharge channel (9).

8. The battery charger (1) according to claim 4, It is characterized in that The reinforcing element (5) comprises at least one concave cross-section for defining the discharge channel (9).

9. The battery charger (1) according to claim 4, It is characterized in that At least one of the reinforcement element (5) and the discharge channel (9) is produced on the outer surface (7) by a molding process of the closing body (4).

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