Charging connection device for a motor vehicle

Abstract

A charging connection device of this type has a charging cavity which is fixed to the vehicle in the ready state and which has at least two different charging connections and which can be closed or released by a movable cavity cover, at least one of which can be closed by a cover, the cover is pivotally and movably supported relative to the charging coupling about a pivot axis between a closed position closing the charging coupling and a charging position releasing the charging coupling. According to the invention, the cover is associated with a linear actuator, which is supported on the cover at the end side and at a radial distance from the pivot axis of the cover and is mounted in a linearly movable manner such that a linear displacement of the linear actuator inevitably causes a pivoting movement of the cover from the closed position into the charging position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a charging connection device for a motor vehicle, comprising a charging cavity which is fixed to the vehicle in a ready-to-use state, the charging cavity having at least two different charging connections and which can be closed or released by a movable cavity cover, wherein at least one charging connection can be closed by a lid which is pivotally supported relative to the charging connection about a pivot axis between a closed position in which the charging connection is closed and a released position in which the charging connection is released. Background Art

[0002] Such a charging connection is known from DE 10 2021 109 283 A1. An electric vehicle has a charging cavity in the area of ​​the vehicle body shell, in which a plurality of charging connections are provided for supplying the vehicle's drive system with power. A cover is associated with one of the two charging connections, which is pivotally mounted about a pivot axis arranged at a distance from the charging connection between a closed position, in which the charging connection is closed, and an open position, in which the charging connection is released. The pivot mounting of the cover is provided with a mechanical control, which causes the cover to be locked in the open position after the opening process and to be unlocked again upon further pivoting in the opening direction. The mechanical control has a slide guide according to the ballpoint pen principle.

[0003] CN 114865382 A discloses another charging coupling device in which two charging couplings can be closed or released synchronously with one another by means of a pivotally mounted double cover. The double cover is pivotally mounted and has a mechanical cam control that forms a stop for the open position of the double cover and a stop for the closed position of the double cover. A return spring assembly is associated with the pivot mounting of the double cover, which permanently loads the double cover with a torque in the direction of rotation. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to create a charging connection of the type mentioned at the outset which allows comfortable and safe access to the charging connection for an operator.

[0005] This object is achieved by associating a linear actuator with the lid. The linear actuator is supported on the lid at an end face, radially spaced from the lid's pivot axis, and is linearly movable so that linear displacement of the linear actuator necessarily causes the lid to pivot from the closed position to the charging position. The end-face support of the linear actuator on the lid ensures a particularly compact and easily releasable connection between the linear actuator and the lid, allowing the corresponding lid to be replaced with minimal effort in the event of damage without having to disassemble the linear actuator. The linear actuator is preferably provided with a mechanical, pneumatic, or electric drive. Because the linear actuator acts at a radial distance from the lid's pivot axis, the force applied by the linear actuator generates a torque on the lid about its pivot axis, which causes the desired opening process. The solution according to the present invention can be particularly advantageously used in a charging connection in a passenger vehicle equipped with an electric drive system. Advantageously, two charging connections are provided, one of which is configured for charging with alternating current and the other for charging with direct current. Advantageously, the lid is associated with at least the charging connection that enables charging with direct current. In its closed position, the cover serves as protection against weather conditions and also as a safety device to protect the operator from electric shock if the operator's limbs come into contact with the charging connection. The linear actuator can either simply rest against the cover at its end or be mechanically coupled to it.

[0006] In the design of the present invention, an electrically driven control device is provided, which is associated with a linear actuator to drive the linear actuator in at least one direction of movement. The electrically driven control device enables extremely comfortable and automated opening of the lid, preferably depending on corresponding presets associated with the control device. In this way, when charging is to be carried out using a type of current that requires connecting a charging plug of a fixed charging station to a charging connection portion closed by the lid, the linear actuator can be operated to open the lid even when the cavity cover is open. The electrically driven control device is used at least in the direction of movement that causes the lid to be transferred from the closed position to the charging position. The electrically driven control device can also cause the lid to be reset from the charging position to the closed position. Alternatively, the lid can be reset from the charging position to the closed position by a return spring assembly, which will be described in more detail later, so that the electrically driven control device only needs to move the linear actuator in the direction of the open position against the return force of the return spring assembly.

[0007] In another embodiment of the present invention, the linear actuator is designed as a thrust piston, which is mounted in the housing of the charging chamber and permanently rests at its end against the inner side of the cover. The thrust piston advantageously projects from the inner side of the charging chamber to the outer side through a through-hole in the housing of the charging chamber in order to actuate the cover arranged on the outer side. Therefore, a corresponding linear guide for the thrust piston is provided in a fixed position on the housing of the charging chamber.

[0008] In another embodiment of the present invention, the control device includes a rotary drive coupled to the thrust piston via a transmission. The transmission preferably includes a linearly movable transmission element that mechanically interacts with the thrust piston. Thus, the drive rotation of the rotary drive is converted into a linear movement of the thrust piston either by the direct action of the transmission on the thrust piston or by the action of the transmission on the linearly movable transmission element (which itself mechanically interacts with the thrust piston).

[0009] In another embodiment of the present invention, a threaded spindle or a toothed rack is provided as the transmission element. In a threaded spindle, the linear motion in the form of feed is generated by rotating the threaded spindle, i.e., either the threaded spindle itself or, if the threaded spindle is fixed in rotation, by linearly displacing a worm arranged on the threaded spindle (which is coupled to the thrust piston). In a toothed rack, the action of the pinion of the transmission on the toothed rack is performed, which in turn is guided linearly and displaceably.

[0010] In another embodiment of the present invention, the transmission link is movably supported orthogonally to the direction of motion of the thrust piston and is provided with a mechanical deflection assembly that deflects the linear motion force of the transmission link onto the thrust piston. Advantageously, the mechanical deflection assembly has complementary contact surfaces on the transmission link, on the one hand, and on the other hand, on the thrust piston, oriented obliquely to the direction of motion of the transmission link and the thrust piston, and the contact surfaces are in sliding contact with each other. This embodiment utilizes the principle of skewed planes to achieve a corresponding motion transmission of the linear motion of the transmission link to the orthogonal linear motion of the thrust piston. The contact surfaces are also called guide surfaces.

[0011] In another embodiment of the present invention, a return spring assembly is provided, which acts on the lid to exert a permanent torque on the lid toward the closed position. Preferably, the return spring assembly comprises at least one torsion spring, which is arranged coaxially with the lid's pivot axis. In this embodiment, the electrically driven control device is advantageously used only to actuate the linear actuator from the closed position toward the charging position. In the opposite direction, the control device is designed so that the linear actuator is pressed back into its initial position by the lid solely by the return force of the return spring assembly. In this embodiment, the electrically driven control device can be in an idle position when moving from the charging position toward the closed position. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Further advantages and features of the invention emerge from the claims and from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention presented with the aid of the drawings.

[0013] Figure 1 An embodiment of the charging coupling device according to the invention is shown in a perspective view, wherein the cavity cover is in the released position and the cover for the charging coupling is in the closed position,

[0014] Figure 2 Shown according to Figure 1 A charging coupling device, wherein the cover of the charging coupling is pivoted into the charging position,

[0015] Figure 3 Schematic diagram showing the case of a closed lid, viewed from the inside and omitting the charging cavity. Figure 1 and Figure 2 Part of the charging connection device, and

[0016] Figure 4 Shown from different perspectives Figure 3 functional components, and wherein the cover is pivoted into a charging position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] according to Figures 1 to 4 The charging connection device 1 has a charging cavity 2 which is mounted in the region of the body shell of the motor vehicle in a manner not shown, in a ready-to-use state, fixed to the vehicle. The charging cavity 2 forms a dimensionally stable housing, advantageously made of plastic, which is connected to the corresponding vehicle body part of the vehicle body. The charging cavity 2 can be covered on the outside by a cavity cover 3, which is shown only schematically, wherein the cavity cover 3 completely covers the charging cavity 2 on the outside in the closed position and is aligned flush with the body shell of the adjacent vehicle body section. The cavity cover 3 is movably mounted on the vehicle side. Figure 1Between the open position presented in and the closed position covering the charging cavity 2. Figure 2 The charging cavity 2 is equipped with two charging connections 4 and 5 . The first charging connection 4 serves as a socket for AC power, while the charging connection 5 located vertically below it in the vehicle's vertical direction provides a DC power socket. Both charging connections 4 and 5 are electrically connected to the battery system of the vehicle's electric drive system. To charge the respective battery system, a charging plug from a stationary charging station is inserted into the respective charging connection 4 and 5 , thereby electrically contacting the battery system for charging. Depending on whether the charging plug is for AC or DC charging, the respective charging plug is inserted into one charging connection 4 or the other charging connection 5 .

[0018] A charging connection portion 5 is provided with a DC socket (which is Figure 2 The charging connection portion below is formed in the figure) is additionally associated with a cover 6, which is Figure 1 The charging connection 5 is closed when not in use. The cover 6 is supported so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis S in an area of ​​the outer side of the charging cavity 2 that is visible from the outside when the cavity cover 3 is open. The pivot axis S is positioned below the charging connection 5 in the vertical direction of the vehicle and is oriented at least largely in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle when the charging cavity 2 is oriented in a plane that is essentially defined by the vertical direction of the vehicle and the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. In order to support the cover 6 about the pivot axis S, a device according to Figure 3 and Figure 4 The pivot bearing is easily recognizable. The lid 6 is permanently loaded with a torque in the direction of its closed position by a return spring assembly 8 consisting of two torsion springs.

[0019] In order to remove the cover 6 from the Figure 1 The closed position is transferred to the Figure 2 In its charging position (i.e. its open position), a linear actuator member 7 in the form of a thrust piston is provided, which acts on the inner side of the cover 6 facing the charging coupling 5 at a distance above the pivot axis S and is supported linearly movably orthogonal to the pivot axis S in the housing formed by the charging cavity 2. For this purpose, the housing of the charging cavity 2 has a linear guide for the linear actuator member 7, which is not shown in greater detail and is fixed to the housing. The linear guide leads outwards in the transverse direction of the vehicle into a through-hole 9, which is coordinated with the cross section of the linear actuator member 7 in its edge contour. The linear actuator member 7 is thus arranged in a stationary position ( Figure 3 ) and the functional position traveling outward in the transverse direction of the vehicle ( Figure 4 ) are linearly movably guided between.

[0020] The inner side of the cover 6 has a preferably integrally molded stop cam 16 which is in permanent contact with the end side of the linear actuator 7. The stop cam 16 forms a support for the cover 6 relative to the linear actuator 7. During the travel movement of the linear actuator 7 from the rest position to the functional position, the stop cam 16 gradually slides downwards at the end side of the linear actuator 7. For this purpose, the end side of the linear actuator 7, which is designed as a thrust piston, is provided with a starting bevel, such as from Figure 4 In the outward-traveled functional position, the stop cam 16 is positioned below the lower side of the linear actuator 7, so that the linear actuator 7 slightly exceeds the stop cam 16 and thus forms a reliable support portion for the stop cam 16 at the lower side of the linear actuator 7. Figure 4 When the cover 6 is returned to its functional position inwardly in the transverse direction of the vehicle, the stop cam 16 slides upward again on the start ramp on the end side of the linear actuator 7 because the return spring assembly 8 exerts the already described permanent torque on the cover 6 in the closing direction. In the closed position in which the cover 6 is pivoted back in the vertical direction of the vehicle, the inner side of the cover 6 rests on the edge of the charging connection 5 and / or, via the stop cam 16, on the end face of the linear actuator 7, which is located above the start ramp in the vertical direction of the vehicle.

[0021] In order to be able to displace the linear actuator element 7 between the rest position and the functional position, an electrically driven control device is provided, which will be described in more detail below.

[0022] The rear end face of the linear actuator 7, which is located opposite the end face facing the cover 6 on the inside in the vehicle transverse direction, is provided with a guide bevel 10, which forms an oblique plane, which is vertically oriented and is arranged according to Figure 3 In the accompanying drawings, the guide ramp 10 is raised toward the center of the linear actuator 7 from right to left and in the vehicle's longitudinal direction. The guide ramp 10 is part of a swivel assembly that transmits the rotational force of the control unit's electric drive motor 15 to the linear actuator 7 via a transmission. The transmission comprises a rack-and-pinion transmission with a rack 12 mounted linearly and movably parallel to the pivot axis S, forming the transmission element of the transmission. On its front side facing the guide ramp 10, the rack 12 has guide ramps 11 oriented complementary to parallel tilting planes. These guide ramps abut against the guide ramps 10 of the linear actuator 7 and slide along them during the longitudinal displacement of the rack 12. The rack 12 is linearly and movably supported parallel to the pivot axis S by means of a guide section (not shown in further detail). The rack 12 has laterally arranged teeth 13 that mesh with the spur teeth of a pinion 14 driven by the electric drive motor 15. The guide surfaces 10 and 11 form the contact surfaces within the meaning of the present invention. All of the functional components described are part of the control device mentioned above.

[0023] In one embodiment of the present invention (not shown), a lead screw is provided as a transmission element between the electric drive motor 15 and the linear actuator 7, instead of a rack gear. This lead screw is driven by a drive pinion designed as a worm pinion, which can be positioned similarly to the toothed pinion 14. Alternatively, the lead screw can also be driven via a transmission of a different design so that a feed is generated for the lead screw, which, via a suitable deflection assembly, exerts a thrust movement offset by 90° on the linear actuator 7. Furthermore, as an alternative, the lead screw can be fixedly rotatably supported, and a worm, helically movably supported on the lead screw, can be linearly displaced. The worm has an inclined guide surface similar to the above-described deflection assembly.

[0024] The control system of the electric drive and also the guide system for the linear actuator 7 are designed so that self-locking does not occur when the electric drive motor is switched off. Therefore, it is sufficient to activate the electric drive motor 15 when the linear actuator 7 is moved from the rest position to the functional position. The electric drive motor 15 remains activated as long as the corresponding charging plug is docked at the charging connection 5. Once the charging process is completed and the charging plug is removed from the charging connection 5, the electric drive motor 15 is deactivated, causing the transmission with the toothed pinion 14 and the rack 12 to idle, allowing the restoring force of the return spring assembly 8 to return the closure lid 6 to the closed position.

Claims

1. A charging connection device (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising a charging cavity (2) which is fixed to the vehicle in a ready-to-use state, the charging cavity having at least two different charging connections (4, 5) and being closable or releasable by a movable cavity cover, wherein: At least one charging connection part (5) can be closed by a cover (6), and the cover is supported movably by pivoting about a pivot axis (S) relative to the charging connection part (5) between a closed position for closing the charging connection part (5) and a charging position for releasing the charging connection part (5), characterized in that the cover (6) is associated with a linear actuator (7), which is supported on the cover (6) at an end side and at a radial distance from the pivot axis (S) of the cover (6) and is supported linearly movably in such a way that a linear displacement of the linear actuator (7) necessarily causes the cover (6) to pivot from the closed position to the charging position.

2. The charging connection device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that An electrically driven control device is provided, which is associated with the linear actuator (7) so as to drive the linear actuator (7) in at least one direction of movement.

3. The charging connection device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The linear actuator (7) is designed as a thrust piston, which is mounted in the housing of the charging cavity (2) and permanently bears against the inner side of the cover at the end face.

4. The charging connection device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that The control device has a rotary drive which is coupled to the thrust piston via a transmission.

5. The charging connection device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that The transmission device has a linearly movable transmission member, which mechanically interacts with the thrust piston.

6. The charging connection device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that As a transmission link, a screw rod or a rack (12) is provided.

7. The charging connection device (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that The transmission link is movably supported orthogonally to the movement direction of the thrust piston and is provided with a mechanical deflection assembly, which deflects the linear movement force of the transmission link to the thrust piston.

8. The charging connection device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that The mechanical deflection assembly has, on the one hand, complementary contact surfaces (10, 11) on the transmission member and on the other hand, on the thrust piston, which are oriented obliquely to the movement direction of the transmission member and the thrust piston and which are in sliding contact with each other.

9. Charging connection device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that A return spring assembly (8) is provided, which acts on the cover (6) to apply a permanent torque to the cover (6) in the direction of the closed position.

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