Front luggage compartment for electric vehicles

Abstract

The present invention relates to a front luggage compartment for an electric vehicle. In particular, it relates to a luggage compartment under the front hood of an electric vehicle and a method for cleaning and storing charging cables in the front compartment. The luggage compartment includes a cleaning device for a charging cable having charging plugs at both ends, a fixing member for the charging cable having charging plugs at both ends, and a drain for dirty water.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a trunk under the front hood of an electric vehicle ("Funk" is short for "front trunk") and a method for cleaning and storing a charging cable in the trunk. Background Art

[0002] The energy storage device of an electric vehicle is typically charged using a charging cable, which is connected to an external charging device, such as a charging column. In some electric vehicles, one end of the charging cable is fixedly connected to the vehicle's energy storage device. Other electric vehicles use charging cables with plugs at both ends for connecting to the charging sockets of the vehicle and the charging device, respectively. If charging is not in progress, the charging cable is stored in the vehicle. Consequently, the charging cable, with plugs at both ends, lies loose and unprotected in the vehicle and may become untied. When the charging cable is used in inclement weather, it may become dirty. If the charging cable is placed back in the vehicle after the charging process is complete, water and dirt may also enter the vehicle interior along with the charging cable and spread throughout the vehicle due to the untied cable.

[0003] Charging cable cleaning devices that can be used outside a vehicle are already known. For example, CN 2 05253 602 U discloses a vehicle charging cable cleaning device and a vehicle equipped with the cleaning device. The cleaning device is adapted to be fixed to the charging cable and includes a housing and an internal cleaning core. The internal cleaning core is disposed within the housing and contacts the charging cable. The cleaning core comprises a brush or sponge for cleaning the charging cable.

[0004] Electric vehicles are also known in which a charging cable connected to an energy storage device of the vehicle is wound on a drum located in the vehicle and in which one end of the charging cable is pulled out and connected to a charging station to charge the energy storage device.

[0005] DE 10 2014 215 668 A1 discloses a vehicle having a body with at least one body opening that can be closed by a body flap. A charging cable, electrically conductively connected to an energy storage device of the vehicle, is accommodated in a cable receptacle located within the interior of the body in the idle state and can be pulled out of the body opening for use. The charging cable is designed as a flexible flat-belt cable, at least in the area receivable by the cable receptacle, and can be guided between the edge of the body opening and the body flap. A cable cleaning device for the flat-belt cable is provided within the body. The cable cleaning device comprises a first scraper strip disposed on the upper side of the flat-belt cable and a second scraper strip disposed on the lower side of the flat-belt cable. Brushes are provided on the upper and lower sides of the flat-belt cable, respectively, downstream of the scraper strips in the direction of retraction, to clean any finer impurities still adhering to the flat-belt cable. The flat belt cable is guided vertically through the cable cleaning device so that dirt particles can fall by gravity onto a dirt collecting tray of the cable cleaning device.

[0006] DE 10 2011 121 303 A1 relates to a motor vehicle having an energy storage device, which is charged via a charging cable having a connector plug fixedly mounted on the vehicle side. The connector plug can be pulled out of its storage position from the vehicle for connection to an external power source. The charging cable is then deflected at least once through an angle of between 90° and 180° from a cable storage device (in which the charging cable is guided along a substantially straight path from a fixed mounting point to a deflection point), guided along another substantially straight path to the connector plug, and pulled out of its storage position against a restoring force. Summary of the Invention

[0007] Against this background, the object of the present invention is to provide a device and a method for storing a charging cable having plugs at both ends in a manner that is free of dirt and water and protected.

[0008] According to the invention, this object is achieved by a device having the features of claim 1 and a method having the features of claim 10. Configurations and developments of the invention are apparent from the associated claims, the description and the drawings.

[0009] The present invention relates to a luggage compartment ("front compartment") arranged under the front hood of an electric vehicle. The front compartment includes a cleaning device for a charging cable having charging plugs at both ends, a fastening element for the charging cable having charging plugs at both ends, and a drain for dirty water. In one embodiment, the fastening element comprises two adjacent plastic bridges, between which the charging cable can be clipped and thereby secured.

[0010] In one embodiment, the front compartment includes a plastic bottom shell, and the cleaning device and the fixture are arranged on the inner wall of the plastic bottom shell, and the drain is located in the bottom of the plastic bottom shell. In another embodiment, the cleaning device and the fixture are arranged at the same height on the inner wall of the plastic bottom shell. In another embodiment, a downward-facing hook is arranged on the inner wall of the plastic bottom shell below the cleaning device and the fixture.

[0011] In one embodiment, a cleaning device for charging cables with plugs at both ends that are not permanently connected to the energy storage device of the electric vehicle ("loose charging cables") is integrated into the upper area of ​​the front compartment. A drain is provided in the lower area of ​​the front compartment, through which water removed during cleaning of the loose charging cables can flow out and be drained from the vehicle.

[0012] In one embodiment, the inner wall of the plastic bottom housing on which the cleaning device, the fixing means, and any downwardly facing hooks are arranged is the inner wall of the plastic bottom housing adjacent to the passenger compartment of the electric vehicle (the inner side of the rear wall of the plastic bottom housing). In another embodiment, the inner wall is the inner wall of the plastic bottom housing farthest from the passenger compartment of the electric vehicle (the inner side of the front wall of the plastic bottom housing). In another embodiment, the inner wall is the inner side of a side wall of the plastic bottom housing.

[0013] In one embodiment, the cleaning device comprises two plastic bridges arranged side by side, on the inner sides of the plastic bridges facing each other, cleaning elements are arranged. In another embodiment, the cleaning element is a brush, a sponge or a rubber scraper.

[0014] In one embodiment, the cleaning device is detachably / releasably connected to the wall of the plastic bottom shell. In one embodiment, the cleaning device is suspended in a recess at the upper edge of the wall of the plastic bottom shell. In another embodiment, the cleaning device snaps into an opening in the wall of the plastic bottom shell. Thus, the cleaning device can be removed from the front compartment and used for cleaning operations outside the vehicle. This embodiment also simplifies the replacement of the cleaning element, as the entire cleaning device can be simply replaced as needed.

[0015] The present invention also provides a method for cleaning and storing a charging cable with a charging plug at each end in a front compartment according to the invention. For the charging process, the charging cable is removed in its entirety and, after the charging process, cleaned with the aid of a cleaning device integrated in the front compartment and subsequently secured at a suitable mounting point integrated in the front compartment.

[0016] In this method, a charging cable with charging plugs at both ends is guided, held vertically below the charging plugs, between plastic bridges of the cleaning device and pulled up to the charging plug at the second end of the charging cable. The charging cable is then wound between the cleaning device and a fixing element, and the first end of the charging cable is fixed by the fixing element.

[0017] To clean it, guide the vertical end of the charging cable below the first charging plug between the plastic bridges of the cleaning device and pull it all the way to the second charging plug. This brushes dirt and water off the charging cable and allows them to flow out through the drain located below the cleaning device.

[0018] After cleaning, the end of the charging cable remains between the plastic bridges of the cleaning device and is thereby secured. The charging cable is then wound between the cleaning device and the fixing element (charging plug receptacle). The other end of the charging cable is then secured by the fixing element. If an embodiment is used in which the front compartment has downward-facing hooks arranged on the inner wall of the plastic bottom shell below the cleaning device and the fixing element, the charging cable can be guided by the hooks during winding and thus additionally secured.

[0019] The advantages of the front compartment according to the invention include that loose charging cables can be cleaned by an integrated cleaning device and stored securely and securely in the charging cable receptacle. Further advantages and configurations of the invention are apparent from the description and the drawings.

[0020] It goes without saying that the features mentioned above and those still to be explained below can be used not only in the respectively indicated combination but also in other combinations or alone without departing from the scope of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The invention is schematically illustrated with the aid of embodiments in the drawings and will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0022] in:

[0023] Figure 1 Schematically shows a top view of an embodiment of a front cabin according to the present invention;

[0024] Figure 2 Schematically shows a longitudinal section of an embodiment of a front cabin according to the invention;

[0025] Figure 3 Schematically shows a top view of an embodiment of a front compartment according to the invention with a fixed charging cable;

[0026] Figure 4A detail of a top view of another embodiment of a front cabin according to the present invention is schematically shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Figure 1 A top view of an embodiment of a front compartment 2 according to the present invention is schematically shown. The outer wall of the front compartment 2 is formed by a plastic bottom shell arranged under the front cover 1 of the electric vehicle. On the inner wall of the rear part of the plastic bottom shell (facing away from the front of the vehicle), a cleaning device 3 for the charging cable 9 is arranged in the front compartment 2. The cleaning device 3 comprises two plastic bridges 4, on the inner sides of which face each other, cleaning elements 5 are arranged, such as brushes, sponges or rubber scrapers. Below the cleaning device 3, there is a drain 6, through which dirty water can be drained from the front compartment 2. In one embodiment, the drain 6 has a screen. In addition, on the inner wall of the rear part of the plastic bottom shell, a bracket 7 for the charging cable 9 is arranged at the same height as the cleaning device 3.

[0028] Figure 2 A longitudinal section through an embodiment of a front compartment 2 according to the invention is schematically shown, with a cleaning device 3 arranged on the rear inner wall of a plastic bottom shell and a drain 6 in the bottom of the plastic bottom shell. In the embodiment shown, an additional downwardly pointing hook 8 is arranged on the rear inner wall of the plastic bottom shell below the cleaning device 3 and the holder 7, around which a charging cable 9 can be guided for additional securing.

[0029] Figure 3 Schematically shown is a top view of an embodiment of a front compartment 2 according to the invention with a fixed charging cable 9. The charging cable 9 is guided through the cleaning device 3 and the support 7 and is held and fixed there.

[0030] Figure 4 A schematic diagram shows a detail of a top view of another embodiment of a front compartment 2 according to the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, two plastic bridges 4 are detachably connected to the front compartment 2 via a cleaning device 3 including cleaning elements 5. These are, for example, suspended into recesses on the upper edge of the rear wall of the plastic bottom shell or snapped into openings in the rear wall of the plastic bottom shell. The cleaning device 3 can thus be removed from the front compartment 2 and used for cleaning operations outside the vehicle. Furthermore, this embodiment simplifies the replacement of the cleaning elements 5, as the entire cleaning device 3 can be simply replaced as needed.

[0031] Reference Signs List

[0032] 1 front cover

[0033] 2 Plastic bottom shell

[0034] 3. Cleaning Equipment

[0035] 4 Plastic bridge

[0036] 5. Cleaning components

[0037] 6. Discharge section

[0038] 7 Charging cable bracket

[0039] 8 Hook

[0040] 9 Charging cable

[0041] 10 Front cabin

Claims

1. A luggage compartment (10) arranged below the front cover (1) of an electric vehicle, the luggage compartment comprising a cleaning device (3) for a charging cable (9) having charging plugs at both ends, a fixing element (7) for the charging cable (9) having charging plugs at both ends, and a drain (6) for dirty water, the luggage compartment comprising a plastic bottom shell (2), wherein: The cleaning device (3) and the fixing member (7) are arranged on the inner wall of the plastic bottom shell (2), the discharge portion (6) is located at the bottom of the plastic bottom shell (2), and a hook portion (8) pointing downward is arranged on the inner wall of the plastic bottom shell (2) below the cleaning device (3) and the fixing member (7).

2. The luggage compartment (10) according to claim 1, wherein The cleaning device (3) and the fixing element (7) are arranged at the same height on the inner wall of the plastic bottom shell (2).

3. The luggage compartment (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The inner wall is the inner wall of the plastic bottom shell (2) closest to the passenger compartment of the electric vehicle.

4. The luggage compartment (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The inner wall is the inner wall of the plastic bottom shell (2) that is farthest from the passenger compartment of the electric vehicle.

5. The luggage compartment (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The cleaning device (3) comprises two plastic bridges (4) arranged side by side, on the inner sides of which the cleaning elements (5) are arranged facing each other.

6. The luggage compartment (10) according to claim 5, wherein: The cleaning element (5) is a brush, a sponge or a rubber scraper.

7. The luggage compartment (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The cleaning device (3) is detachably connected to the wall of the plastic bottom shell (2).

8. A method for cleaning and storing a charging cable (9) having a charging plug at each end in a luggage compartment (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, arranged under the front hood (1) of an electric vehicle, wherein: A first end of a charging cable (9) having charging plugs at both ends, which is held vertically below the charging plugs, is guided between the plastic bridges (4) of the cleaning device (3) and pulled all the way to the charging plug at the second end of the charging cable (9); the charging cable (9) is then wound between the cleaning device (3) and a fixing member (7), and the first end of the charging cable (9) is fixed by the fixing member (7).

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