Device for opening and closing a charging socket

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device (100) for opening and closing a charging socket, comprising: a flip-top element (101) movably arranged on the housing of the charging socket via a shaft (103), the shaft (103) including a first notch (109a) and a second notch (109b); a retaining element (102) mechanically fixed to the flip-top element (101) and including a bolt (107), wherein by operating the flip-top element (101), the flip-top element (101) can be switched from a closed position to an open position by means of the shaft (103), and wherein the bolt (107) of the retaining element (102) is locked in the first notch (109a) of the shaft (103) in the closed position of the flip-top element (101) and locked in the second notch (109b) of the shaft (103) in the open position of the flip-top element (101).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a device for opening and closing a charging socket. Background Technology

[0002] Pure electric vehicles or plug-in hybrid vehicles typically have a charging socket to which a charging plug for charging the vehicle's battery can be connected. This charging socket is usually concealed behind a pivoting flip cover to protect the current-carrying components within the socket from dust or liquids. The flip cover must be opened to insert the charging plug into the charging socket. The flip cover is usually opened manually via a button. It is also manually closed. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Therefore, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a simple operation for opening and closing a flip cover for a charging socket that is as simple as possible in structure.

[0004] One aspect of the invention relates to a device for opening and closing a charging socket, the device comprising: a flip-top element movably disposed on a housing of the charging socket via a shaft, the shaft including a first notch and a second notch; and a retaining element mechanically fixed to the flip-top element and including a bolt, the flip-top element being operable from a closed position to an open position via the shaft, and the bolt of the retaining element being locked in the first notch of the shaft in the closed position of the flip-top element and in the second notch of the shaft in the open position of the flip-top element.

[0005] A charging socket can be installed on an electrically powered vehicle. The flip-top element serves as a cover for the charging socket. The charging socket acts as a charging interface for charging the high-voltage battery of an electric vehicle. When the charging socket is closed, the flip-top element covers the electrical components, such as contact pins, housed within the charging socket housing, protecting them from splashes of water and dust. To charge the electric vehicle's battery, a charging plug is inserted into the charging socket and electrically connected. For this purpose, the flip-top element must be opened.

[0006] The flip element is movably arranged on the housing of the charging socket via a shaft. The shaft is a rotating hinge. The flip element is fixed to the shaft by a spring element. For example, a torsion spring can be mounted on the shaft as a spring element and fixed to both the flip element and the housing. The flip element may include, for example, a U-shaped bracket. The shaft can be inserted into the U-shaped bracket and form-fitted to the flip element. The flip element may include a handle that allows it to be switched to the open position. By operating the handle, the flip is manually opened, and the bolt is switched from a first notch to a second notch.

[0007] The shaft has a circular cross-section. The shaft may include a flange. The flange may be annular and is inserted into the shaft, and includes a first notch and a second notch.

[0008] The retaining element includes a bolt. The retaining element also includes a pin protruding into a recess in the flip-top element. The bolt is locked in a first notch in the shaft when the flip-top element is in the closed position, and in a second notch in the shaft when the flip-top element is in the open position. The flip-top element is manually opened by the operator operating the handle of the flip-top element, and the bolt is moved from the first notch to the second notch.

[0009] As the bolt moves from the first notch to the second notch, the flip element moves accordingly from the closed position to the open position with the aid of a pin.

[0010] The circular cross-section of the shaft allows the bolt to be easily switched from the first notch to the second notch.

[0011] In one embodiment, the shaft includes a reset element that applies a reset force to the flip element in the open position, wherein the flip element can be moved from the open position to the closed position by the reset force. For example, the reset element may be a spring and can additionally serve as a retaining element for the flip element on the shaft. The shaft may also include multiple reset elements.

[0012] In one embodiment, the flip element includes a reset element that applies a reset force to the flip element in the open position, wherein the flip element is capable of moving from the open position to the closed position by the reset force.

[0013] In one embodiment, the retaining element is mechanically secured to the flip element by at least one spring element. The spring element can be used to secure the retaining element to the flip element. Furthermore, it can also serve as a reset element.

[0014] The retaining element may include a protrusion. This protrusion is arranged on the retaining element such that when the charging plug is inserted into the charging socket, the protrusion is contacted by the charging plug and held in place by the inserted charging plug. Once the charging plug is removed from the charging socket, the position of the protrusion is released, and the bolt of the retaining element changes from the second notch to the first notch by the restoring force of the reset element of the flip element.

[0015] The flip element can automatically close again via a reset element that also mechanically connects the shaft and the flip element. Due to the raised design, manual closing of the flip element is unnecessary, as it closes automatically once the charging plug is unplugged from the charging socket. Alternatively, the flip element can also be manually closed using a handle.

[0016] In one embodiment, a damping element is arranged on the flip element to dampen the movement of the flip element during the transition from the open position to the closed position. The damping element enables the flip element to close with low noise.

[0017] In one embodiment, the flip-top element includes an actuator that can be controlled by a control unit. The flip-top element can be opened automatically by the actuator. The actuator can be controlled by the control unit.

[0018] In one embodiment, the shaft includes several additional notches distributed around the shaft, and bolts can be locked into these additional notches. These additional notches allow for other different positions between the open and closed positions.

[0019] In another embodiment, the shaft is constructed as a single piece. For example, the shaft can be manufactured by injection molding. The shaft may have a cross-section in the notched region that differs from its cross-section outside the notched region.

[0020] Alternatively, the shaft can also be designed as a multi-piece assembly. For example, a flange including a first notch and a second notch can be inserted into the shaft. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Advantageous embodiments of the present invention will now be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0022] Figure 1 This is an exploded view of the device of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the device of the present invention in the closed position of the flip cover element;

[0024] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of the device of the present invention in the open position of the flip element.

[0025] These figures are merely illustrative and are intended to explain the invention only. Identical or similar elements are labeled with the same reference numerals throughout. Detailed Implementation

[0026] Figure 1A cross-sectional view of a device 100 for opening and closing a charging socket is shown. The device includes a charging socket cover 101 as a flip-top element. The charging socket cover 101 is rotatably supported on the charging socket by a shaft 103. The shaft 103 is arranged in a recess 105 of the charging socket cover 101. The charging socket cover 101 is connected to the housing of the charging socket by a torsion spring 104. The torsion spring 104 is inserted into the shaft 103. The torsion spring 104 serves to secure the charging socket cover 101 to the housing of the charging socket and acts as a reset element when the charging socket cover 101 is moved from the open position to the closed position.

[0027] In addition, the device includes a retaining element 102, which is secured to the charging socket cover 101 by a torsion spring 106. The torsion spring 106 is inserted into the retaining element 102. In another embodiment, the retaining element 102 can be secured to the charging socket cover 101 by other connection methods and fasteners. The retaining element includes a synchronizing pin 108 and a bolt 107. The shaft 103 includes an enlarged cross-section 109 within a defined area. In particular, the shaft 103 includes an enlarged cross-section 109 in which a notch is provided.

[0028] Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of the device 100 in the closed position of the charging socket cover 101, which serves as a flip-top element, is shown. In the closed position, the charging socket cover 101 covers the charging socket, protecting the electronic components of the charging socket from dust and splashes of water. The enlarged cross-section 109 of the shaft 103 includes a first notch 109a and a second notch 109b. A bolt 107 is locked in the first notch 109a.

[0029] Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of the device 100 in the open position of the charging operation cover 101, which is a flip-top element, is shown. In the open position of the charging socket cover 101, the charging plug can be inserted into the charging socket. The charging socket cover 101 includes a handle 101a, which can be used to manually open the charging socket cover.

[0030] During the manual opening of the charging socket cover 101, the retaining element 102 is also moved by the synchronizing pin 108, thereby dislodging the bolt 107 from the first notch 109a. Due to the circular cross-section of the shaft 103, the bolt slides from the first notch 109a into the second notch 109b and locks in it. Torsion springs 104 and 106 are tensioned by opening the charging socket cover 101. In the open position, the bolt 107 locks in the second notch 109b. This automatically puts the charging socket cover 101 in the open position. Due to the circular profile of the enlarged cross-section, the bolt can enter the second notch 109a particularly quickly and unimpeded.

[0031] In addition, the retaining element 102 includes a protrusion 110. When the charging plug ( Figure 3 (Not shown) When the charging socket is inserted, the protrusion 110 contacts the charging plug. The external shape and size of the protrusion 110 are such that the charging socket cover 101 automatically closes when the charging plug is removed.

[0032] To close the charging socket cover 101 again, the retaining element 102 can be manually or during the removal of the charging plug, causing the bolt 107 to slide out of the second notch 109b. To do this, a small resistance created by the shape and size of the second notch 109b must be overcome. For example, the protrusion 110 of the retaining element 102 may be curved in the area where the charging plug contacts the protrusion 110 to allow the resistance to be overcome.

[0033] Alternatively or additionally, to close the charging socket cover 101, the handle 101a can be manually operated by gently pushing it towards the charging socket. This overcomes resistance. The tensioned torsion springs 104 and 106 generate a restoring force by opening the charging socket cover 101. Through the restoring force and the circular cross-section of the shaft 103, after the retaining element 102 is actuated, the bolt 107 automatically slides out of the second notch 109b again and locks into the first notch 109a. Therefore, the charging socket cover 101 is once again in the closed position.

[0034] List of reference numerals

[0035] 100 devices

[0036] 101 Charging Socket Cover

[0037] 101a Handle

[0038] 102 Holding element

[0039] 103 axis

[0040] 104 Torsion Spring

[0041] 105 Concave

[0042] 106 Torsion Spring

[0043] 107 bolts

[0044] 108 Synchronous Sales

[0045] 109 Enlarged cross-section

[0046] 109A First Gap

[0047] 109b Second Gap

[0048] 110 protrusion

Claims

1. A device (100) for opening and closing a charging socket, comprising: A flip element (101) is movably arranged on the housing of the charging socket via a shaft (103), and the shaft (103) includes a first notch (109a) and a second notch (109b); A retaining element (102) is mechanically fixed to the flip element (101) and includes a bolt (107); By operating the flip-top element (101), the flip-top element (101) can be switched from a closed position to an open position by means of the shaft (103), and The bolt (107) of the retaining element (102) is locked in the first notch (109a) of the shaft (103) in the closed position of the flip element (101) and in the second notch (109b) of the shaft (103) in the open position of the flip element (101).

2. The apparatus (100) according to claim 1, wherein, The shaft (103) includes a reset element (104) that applies a reset force to the flip element (101) in the open position, wherein the flip element (101) is capable of moving from the open position to the closed position by means of the reset force.

3. The apparatus (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The flip element (101) includes a reset element (106) that applies a reset force to the flip element (101) in the open position, wherein the flip element (101) is capable of moving from the open position to the closed position by means of the reset force.

4. The apparatus (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The retaining element (102) is mechanically fixed to the flip element (101) by at least one spring element (106).

5. The apparatus (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, A damping element is arranged on the flip element (101) to dampen the movement of the flip element (101) during the transition from the open position to the closed position.

6. The apparatus (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The flip element (101) includes an actuator that can be controlled by a control unit.

7. The apparatus (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The shaft (103) includes a plurality of additional notches distributed around the shaft (103), and bolts (107) are capable of locking into the additional notches.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The shaft (103) is constructed as a single piece.

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