Cable management system for a vehicle charging station

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a cable management system for storing and dispensing a charging cable, the system comprising: a housing for encapsulating at least a portion of the charging cable, the housing having a dispensing opening for dispensing the charging cable therethrough; a cable guide configured to receive the charging cable passing through the cable guide to support a portion of the weight of the charging cable, the cable guide configured to facilitate movement of the charging cable through the cable guide; and a movement mechanism for coupling the cable guide to the housing, the movement mechanism configured to allow the cable guide to move along a fixed path within the housing between a first position away from the dispensing opening and a second position toward the dispensing opening, a pulling action of the charging cable causes the cable guide to move from the first position to the second position, thereby causing the charging cable to extend out of the dispensing opening, and a pushing action of the charging cable causes the cable guide to return to the first position, thereby retracting the charging cable into the housing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present technology generally relates to a cable management system for an electric vehicle charging station. In this context, an electric vehicle can include any vehicle that is propelled using one or more electric motors powered by rechargeable batteries, including road vehicles (e.g., cars, trucks, motorcycles), trains, airplanes, and watercraft. Background Art

[0002] Advances in the electric vehicle sector have increased the demand for more and better charging solutions. A typical charging solution is a charging station that includes a charging cable with a charging connector at one end. The charging connector is configured to connect to a corresponding charging port on the electric vehicle. An operator connects the charging connector to the charging port, and the charging station is arranged to deliver power along the charging cable to the charging connector, and then to the vehicle's battery via the charging port.

[0003] One factor that limits the charging speed of electric vehicles is the heat generated by the high currents flowing through the charging cables and charging connectors for high-power charging. For lower powers, passive solutions can be used to manage the amount of heat generated. However, for higher powers (e.g., in the megawatt range), this approach becomes impractical and insufficient. More specifically, higher charging currents require larger diameter conductors to avoid generating excessive heat. However, continuing to increase the size of the conductors required to accommodate higher and higher currents will eventually become impractical for manual handling due to excessive weight.

[0004] An alternative solution to the overheating problem is to use a circulating coolant to maintain the temperature of the cable and connectors at an acceptable level. In such liquid-cooled cables, liquid passages are typically arranged in a position that allows a coolant (e.g., water) to circulate around or through one or more electrical conductor cores, thereby carrying heat away from the electrical conductor cores. The addition of liquid passages (cooling lines) within the charging cable, as well as the liquid coolant itself, increases the weight, size, and rigidity of the cable. As such, liquid-cooled cables are typically large, heavy, and stiff. Therefore, in high current situations, liquid cooling may be justified if the combined weight and size of the one or more liquid cores and the one or more conductor cores are lighter than the (larger) one or more conductor cores of a non-liquid-cooled cable rated to carry the same (high) current.

[0005] However, even when the liquid-cooled cable is relatively light, it can still be a relatively heavy charging cable because high current applications still require a relatively large conductor core or cores. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a cable management system that enhances an operator's ability to safely lift, carry, and connect the cable and connector to a corresponding charging port on an electric vehicle.

[0006] However, due to the complexity associated with terminating the cooling lines and electrical conductor cores, and the size and rigidity of the liquid-cooled cables, conventional cable storage solutions such as cable reels or cable drums are not suitable.

[0007] Therefore, there is room for providing improved cable management systems. Summary of the Invention

[0008] In view of the foregoing, one aspect of the present technology provides a cable management system for storing and dispensing charging cables, the system comprising: a housing for enclosing at least a portion of a charging cable, the housing having a dispensing opening for dispensing the charging cable through the dispensing opening; a cable guide configured to receive a portion of the charging cable passing through the cable guide to partially support the weight of the charging cable, the cable guide configured to facilitate movement of the charging cable through the cable guide; and a movement mechanism for coupling the cable guide to the housing, the movement mechanism configured to allow the cable guide to move along a fixed path within the housing between a first position away from the dispensing opening and a second position toward the dispensing opening, wherein a pulling action on the charging cable causes the cable guide to move from the first position to the second position, thereby extending the charging cable out of the dispensing opening, and a pushing action on the charging cable causes the cable guide to return to the first position, thereby retracting the charging cable into the housing.

[0009] According to an embodiment of the present technology, the cable guide of a cable management system is coupled to a movement mechanism that allows the cable guide to change its position along a fixed path within the housing. This allows the cable guide to change position as the charging cable is guided through the cable guide. Specifically, when the cable is stowed, the cable guide is in a first position, away from the dispensing opening. For example, the first position can be near the top of the housing, allowing the charging cable to be stored using nearly the entire height of the housing. When the charging cable is dispensed, the cable guide moves to a second position, closer to the dispensing opening. For example, the second position can be lower than the first position or further forward. The cable guide is closer to the dispensing opening, thereby supporting the portion of the charging cable closer to the operator. Because the cable guide partially supports the weight of the charging cable, positioning the cable guide closer to the operator reduces the length of the charging cable the operator must carry. Thus, the cable guide's first position optimizes the housing's storage capacity, while the cable guide's second position optimizes the length of the charging cable that can extend out of the dispensing opening and reduces the weight the operator must support. Because the movement mechanism only allows the cable guide to move between the first and second positions, the position of the cable within the support structure changes in a controlled and predictable manner. This device not only facilitates the operator's ability to stow and dispense the cable, but also ensures that the cable is properly stowed and dispensed, minimizing the risk of the cable becoming stuck or tangled within the support structure. This device is particularly useful when the cable is a liquid-cooled charging cable used in vehicle charging stations, as liquid-cooled charging cables are typically heavy, bulky, and inflexible. The cable position change enabled by the cable guide and mechanism maximizes the support structure's storage capacity while improving the ease of dispensing the cable.

[0010] In some embodiments, the second position can be vertically adjacent to the dispensing opening, and the first position can be vertically higher than the second position, such that the cable guide lowers a portion of the charging cable toward the dispensing opening when moving from the first position to the second position. Raising the charging cable to the higher first position for storage optimizes the storage capacity of the housing by converting some cable length into height. Thus, when dispensing the charging cable, lowering the charging cable to the lower second position, closer to the dispensing opening, facilitates extending the charging cable out of the dispensing opening. In particular, when the charging cable is stored as a loop within the housing, moving the cable guide to the second, lower position reduces the loop's bend radius, converting cable height into cable length, thereby allowing more of the charging cable to be pulled out.

[0011] In some embodiments, the second position can be horizontally adjacent to the dispensing opening, and the first position can be horizontally further from the dispensing opening relative to the second position, such that the cable guide supports the charging cable at a position adjacent to the dispensing opening when moved from the first position to the second position. Moving the cable guide to the first position, away from the dispensing opening, for storage causes the charging cable to be drawn rearward toward the rear of the housing, allowing more of the charging cable to rest against the rear of the housing to partially support the weight of the charging cable. Thus, moving the cable guide forward toward the second position causes the charging cable to be drawn toward the dispensing opening, and by bringing the cable guide closer to the operator, more of the weight of the charging cable is supported by the cable guide, thereby reducing the load borne by the operator.

[0012] In some embodiments, the cable guide can include a cable clamp, rollers, a static support structure, a hook, or a combination of these components. The cable guide can allow the cable to pass through or slide over the cable guide (e.g., a single roller), or the cable guide can be a simple cable clamp that cooperates with a mechanism to bring the cable to the first position or the second position.

[0013] In some embodiments, the cable guide may include a central opening and include at least one friction reducing element disposed within the central opening to assist in moving the charging cable through the central opening.

[0014] The at least one friction reducing element can be any suitable desired friction reducing element that reduces friction experienced by the cable to enable the cable to slide more easily through or over the cable guide. In some embodiments, the at least one friction reducing element is a rotatable element. For example, the at least one rotatable element can be one or more rollers, one or more ball bearings disposed along the track, one or more sheaves, or a combination of these components.

[0015] The cable guide can have any suitable shape and size desired. In some embodiments, the cable guide can be substantially polygonal and include multiple inner edges, and the at least one friction reducing element can include multiple rotatable elements arranged along the multiple inner edges of the polygonal cable guide. For example, the cable guide can be triangular, wherein rotatable elements, such as rollers, are disposed along three inner edges of the triangle, or the cable guide can be rectangular, wherein rotatable elements, such as rollers, are disposed along two opposing inner edges of the rectangle or along all four inner edges of the rectangle.

[0016] In some embodiments, the movement mechanism may include a substantially vertically arranged slide rail, the first position being a higher position on the slide rail, and the second position being a lower position on the slide rail. The slide rail provides a predetermined and fixed path along which the cable guide can travel between a first (e.g., top) position and a second (e.g., bottom) position to facilitate stowing or dispensing the charging cable. In addition, the slide rail allows the cable guide to move downwardly in a manner closer to the level of the dispensing opening, thereby entraining the charging cable downwardly. Entraining the charging cable downwardly allows more cable length to be pulled through the cable guide to facilitate dispensing the charging cable. When stowing the charging cable, the pushing action of the charging cable causes the cable guide to move upwardly on the slide rail so that a portion of the cable length can be stored at a height.

[0017] In some embodiments, the movement mechanism may include a slide rail arranged at an angle relative to a horizontal plane, with the first position being a higher position on the slide rail and horizontally farther from the dispensing opening, and the second position being a lower position on the slide rail and horizontally closer to the dispensing opening. The inclination of the slide rail allows for more controlled and smoother movement of the cable guide as it travels between the first and second positions. Furthermore, the inclination of the slide rail allows the cable guide to move both downward and forward toward the dispensing opening, thereby drawing the charging cable downward and forward. Drawing the charging cable downward allows more cable length to be pulled through the cable guide, while drawing the charging cable forward reduces the unsupported length of cable between the operator and the cable guide, thereby reducing the weight of the charging cable that the operator must carry.

[0018] In some embodiments, the movement mechanism may include a linkage assembly comprising at least one linkage pivotally coupled to the cable guide at a first end and pivotally coupled to the housing at a second end. The linkage assembly can be configured to pivot the cable guide between a first position that is higher and horizontally farther from the dispensing opening and a second position that is lower and horizontally closer to the dispensing opening. In particular, the linkage assembly is preferably arranged and configured to enable the cable guide to move between the first and second positions while maintaining its vertical orientation. While one linkage or linkage arm is sufficient to achieve pivotal movement of the cable guide, in preferred embodiments, two, three, four, or more linkages are provided to provide a stronger structure for the linkage assembly. Preferably, the linkage assembly includes at least one linkage coupled to the top of the cable guide and at least one linkage coupled to the bottom of the cable guide. Preferably, the upper and lower linkages are of the same length. Preferably, the upper link and the lower link are arranged so that the distance between the upper pivot portion and the lower pivot portion coupled to the support structure is equal to the distance between the upper pivot portion and the lower pivot portion coupled to the cable guide. Preferably, the upper pivot portion and the lower pivot portion at both ends of the upper link and the lower link are aligned in the vertical direction.

[0019] Since the weight of the cable may be significant, returning the cable to the interior of the support structure may involve pushing the cable in an upward direction against gravity, which may be difficult. Therefore, in some embodiments, the movement mechanism may include an auxiliary element configured to assist in the movement of the cable guide from the second position back to the first position.

[0020] The assist element can be any element or mechanism that reduces the effort required to return the cable guide from the second position to the first position. In some embodiments, the assist element can include a gas strut coupled to the cable guide, the gas strut being arranged such that moving the cable guide from the first position to the second position compresses the gas strut. Thus, when the operator retracts the cable, some of the weight of the cable is borne by the loaded gas strut to assist the operator in returning the cable guide (and the cable) to the first position.

[0021] In some embodiments, the auxiliary element may include a counterweight coupled to the cable guide by a pulley and wire system, the pulley and wire system being arranged such that moving the cable guide from the first position to the second position raises the counterweight. Thus, when the operator retracts the cable, some of the weight of the cable is balanced by the raised counterweight to assist the operator in returning the cable guide (and the cable) to the first position.

[0022] Sometimes it may be desirable to limit how much cable can be pulled out of the cable management system support structure, for example, so that the cable does not overextend and damage its connection to the junction box or damage itself by exceeding the cable's bend radius limit. In some embodiments, the system may further include a rear cable clamp configured to fixedly couple to the charging cable at a position rearward of the cable guide relative to the dispensing opening, wherein the rear cable clamp may be configured to act on the cable guide to limit the length by which the charging cable can extend out of the cable management system.

[0023] Sometimes it may be desirable to limit how much of the cable can be retracted into the cable management system support structure, for example, so that the cable does not retract so far into the support structure that it cannot be retrieved by an operator. In some embodiments, the system may further include a front cable clamp configured to be fixedly coupled to the charging cable at a position forward of the cable guide relative to the dispensing opening. The front cable clamp may be configured to act on the cable guide to limit the length of the charging cable that can be retracted into the cable management system. Furthermore, the front cable clamp and / or the rear cable clamp may assist in the movement of the cable guide between the first position and the second position. In particular, when the front / rear cable clamp collides with the cable guide, the collision prevents the cable from being pushed / pulled through the cable guide. As the operator continues to push / pull, the pushing / pulling force exerted by the front / rear cable clamp assists the cable guide in moving toward the first position / second position.

[0024] In some embodiments, the system may further include a friction-reducing element coupled to the support structure at the dispensing opening through which the charging cable is dispensed. The friction-reducing element may be arranged to reduce friction experienced by the charging cable as it is dispensed. The friction-reducing element facilitates smooth dispensing of the cable. For example, the friction-reducing element may be a pair of rollers.

[0025] In some embodiments, the housing can be sized to have a height substantially greater than the width and / or depth of the housing. Sizing the housing in this manner allows a length of charging cable to be stored within the height of the housing. The reduced depth and / or width of the housing, achieved by the increased height, results in a smaller footprint.

[0026] Sometimes it is desirable to monitor or signal when the cable guide moves from a first position to a second position, or if the cable is experiencing excessive tension or has been dispensed excessively. In some embodiments, the system may further include a fail-safe system configured to determine when the cable guide exceeds a position limit and / or when the charging cable exceeds a load limit.

[0027] To this end, the fail-safe system may include one or more sensing devices, such as, but not limited to, a position sensor or motion sensor configured to sense the position or movement of the cable guide and / or mechanism, or a strain sensor configured to sense whether the charging cable is subjected to excessive strain / tension. The sensing device may, for example, be configured to determine the precise position of the cable guide, or to sense whether the cable guide has exceeded a position limit, or to sense forces on a portion of the support structure. Thus, in some embodiments, the fail-safe system may include one or more of the following: a position sensing device configured to sense the position of the cable guide; a pressure sensing device arranged to receive the cable guide when the cable guide is in the second position to measure the pressure exerted on the pressure sensing device by the cable guide; or a strain gauge coupled to the charging cable, the strain gauge configured to measure the strain exerted on the charging cable.

[0028] The fail-safe system can be arranged to communicate with a control system that controls the supply of power to the charging cable. In some embodiments, the fail-safe system may also include an alarm generation module configured to generate an alarm when it is determined that the cable guide exceeds a position limit and / or when it is determined that the charging cable exceeds a load limit. The fail-safe system can be configured to send a signal to the control system in response to a specific behavior of the cable management system (e.g., excessive tension in the cable), or to remove a signal being monitored by the control system. The control system can be configured to stop supplying power to the cable based on a signal (or lack of a signal) received from the fail-safe system. The functionality provided by the fail-safe system ensures that a dangerous electrical scenario does not occur if the cable is overextended or there is a risk of damage to the cable, connector, or any other component of the cable management system and / or any other component of the charging station. For example, the fail-safe system may include a limit switch mounted inside the support structure, the limit switch configured to activate a signal if the cable guide collides with the support structure.

[0029] Another aspect of the present technology provides an electric vehicle charging station for charging an electric vehicle having a charging port, the charging station comprising: a charging connector configured to be connected to the charging port of the electric vehicle to deliver power; a charging cable comprising at least one electrical conductor core to conduct power, the charging cable being connected to the charging connector at a first end and to a power source at a second end; and a cable management system as above.

[0030] In some embodiments, the charging cable may be a liquid-cooled charging cable including at least one electrical conductor core to conduct electricity and at least one cooling line to allow a liquid coolant to flow through the at least one cooling line.

[0031] In some embodiments, the charging cable can be stored in a loop within the housing. For example, the charging cable can be stored in a loop such that decreasing the radius of the loop allows more of the charging cable to extend out of the housing, while increasing the radius of the loop allows more of the charging cable to remain within the housing. Storing the charging cable in a loop maximizes the available storage space within the housing while ensuring that the charging cable does not exceed the minimum bend radius of the charging cable. When stored in a loop, the charging cable can be arranged so that the majority of the charging cable rests against the rear of the housing, such that the weight of the charging cable is supported partially by the housing and partially by the cable guide. As the charging cable is pulled (by the operator) away from the rear of the housing (i.e., toward the dispensing opening), more weight is transferred to the cable guide, and this transfer of weight assists in moving the cable guide toward the second position (e.g., downward).

[0032] In some embodiments, the cable management system may further include a connector mount coupled to the housing to receive the charging connector when the charging cable is stored. The connector mount ensures that the charging connector is securely stowed and easily accessible.

[0033] The embodiments of the present technology each have at least one of the above-mentioned objects and / or aspects, but do not necessarily have all of the above-mentioned objects and / or aspects. It should be understood that some aspects of the present technology generated in an attempt to achieve the above-mentioned objects may not meet the objects and / or may meet other objects not specifically described herein.

[0034] Additional and / or alternative features, aspects, and advantages of embodiments of the present technology will become apparent from the following description, accompanying drawings, and appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] Embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0036] Figure 1 An exemplary electric vehicle charging station is shown;

[0037] Figure 2 An exemplary cable management system is shown;

[0038] Figure 3 schematically illustrates an interior view of an exemplary cable management system;

[0039] Figure 4 schematically illustrates an interior view of another exemplary cable management system;

[0040] Figure 5 shows a side view of an exemplary cable management system according to a first embodiment;

[0041] Figure 6Ashows a front view of an exemplary cable guide;

[0042] Figure 6B Shown Figure 6A a cross-sectional view of a cable guide;

[0043] Figure 7 shows a side view of an exemplary cable management system according to a second embodiment;

[0044] Figure 8 shows a side view of an exemplary cable management system according to a third embodiment;

[0045] Figure 9 shows a side view of an exemplary cable management system according to a fourth embodiment;

[0046] Figure 10 shows a side view of an exemplary cable management system according to a fifth embodiment;

[0047] Figure 11 shows a side view of an exemplary cable management system according to a sixth embodiment;

[0048] Figure 12 shows a side view of an exemplary cable management system according to a seventh embodiment;

[0049] Figure 13A and Figure 13B shows a top view of an exemplary cable management system according to an eighth embodiment; and

[0050] Figure 14 A perspective view of an exemplary cable management system according to another example is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] The present technology relates to a cable management system that serves as a coupling structure between the power and coolant supply portion of a liquid-cooled cable and a connector assembly. The cable management system can be used, for example, as an electric vehicle charging station for charging an electric vehicle. The cable management system also provides an ergonomic aid to an operator when manually manipulating connectors and cables to connect the connectors and cables to the electric vehicle power input port. The cable management system differs from existing heavy electric vehicle charger hardware in that the cable management system is configured to address the challenges posed by the use of heavy and inflexible liquid-cooled charging cables, which are necessary to provide high power (e.g., megawatt-level) charging capabilities.

[0052] According to an embodiment of the present technology, a cable management system includes a cable guide that is coupled to a mechanism that allows the cable guide to change its position within a support structure for the cable management system. Thus, as the cable is guided through the cable guide, the path of the cable changes as the position of the cable guide changes. Specifically, when the cables are stowed, the cable guide is placed in a first position that optimizes the length of cable that can be stored within the support structure. For example, the first position may be near the top or highest point of the support structure to enable the full height of the support structure to be utilized for cable storage. When the cables are being dispensed, the cable guide is placed in a second position that optimizes the ability of the cables to extend outside the support structure. For example, the second position may be at or near a dispense opening in the support structure to reduce the angle of extension of the cables. Because the mechanism only allows the cable guide to move between the first and second positions, the position of the cables within the support structure changes in a controlled and predictable manner.

[0053] The present apparatus thus facilitates an operator in collecting and dispensing cables and also facilitates ensuring that cables are properly collected and dispensed with a reduced risk of cables becoming stuck or tangled within a support structure.

[0054] The present device is particularly useful when the cable is a liquid-cooled charging cable, which is typically heavy, bulky, and inflexible, and the cable position variation achieved by the cable guides and mechanism maximizes the storage capacity of the support structure while improving the ease of distributing the cable.

[0055] For example, embodiments of the cable management system can be used to store and distribute charging connectors and cable assemblies as part of a high-power DC (direct current) charging system (a megawatt charging system (MCS)) that can provide more than 3 MW of charging power via a single connector. The MCS can be used to charge heavy-duty vehicles such as agricultural and construction vehicles, heavy trucks, and electric boats.

[0056] Examples include Figure 1 As shown, in this example, an electric watercraft 100 is being charged by an operator using a charging station 110. In operation, the operator removes a liquid-cooled charging cable 120 from the charging station 110 and attaches the charging connector 121 of the charging cable 120 to a corresponding charging port 111 on the watercraft 100 for charging. The charging cable 120 is connected to a coolant supply 130 via the charging station 110, via supply and return hoses 131, and to a power supply 140 via a power supply cable 141.

[0057] Example cable management system 200 Figure 2 The cable management system 200 generally includes a support structure such as a housing 210 that supports and (at least partially) encloses a number of components, including various cable management hardware for mounting and distributing the liquid-cooled cable 220 through a dispensing opening 240, a mount 250 for receiving a charging connector 230 coupled to the cable 220 when the cable 220 is stowed, and a junction box (not shown) within the housing 210 for interfacing between a power and coolant source and the liquid-cooled cable 220. The housing 210 can be mounted on a base 260 that serves as a standard interface between the system 200 and a mounting surface, providing an anchor point to the ground and a flat surface on which to mount the system 200.

[0058] In some cases, it may be desirable to provide full enclosure for the retracted cable for safe storage. Figure 3 In the example shown, the cable management system 300 includes a housing 310 with an extended depth to accommodate the liquid cooling cable 320 when it is stowed. The cable 320 is also connected to the corresponding power and coolant sources through the terminal box 370. In use, an operator can lift the charging connector 330 from the base 350 and remove the cable 320 from the interior of the housing 310, bringing the cable 320' and connector 330' forward to the charging position.

[0059] exist Figure 4 In the illustrated alternative, cable management system 400 includes a housing 410 with increased height to accommodate a retracted cable 420. Cable 420 is similarly connected to respective power and coolant sources via a junction box 470. In use, an operator can lift charging connector 430 from base 450 and remove cable 420 from housing 410, lowering cable 420' and connector 430' to a charging position.

[0060] The extra height at which the cables are dispensed can create some difficulties for operators when manipulating the cables and connectors. For example, the downward movement of the cables as they are removed can be rapid and uncontrolled, potentially leading to accidents and / or operator injury, or the weight and stiffness of the cables can make returning the connectors to the base difficult. Therefore, in some embodiments, cable guides are provided for the cable management system.

[0061] Figure 5A first embodiment of a cable management system 500 is shown. Similar to cable management system 400, cable management system 500 includes a support structure (e.g., a housing) 510 for housing a liquid-cooled cable 520 coupled to a charging connector 530. Support structure 510 is provided with a receptacle 550 for receiving connector 530 when cable 520 is stowed. Cable management system 500 includes a terminal box 570 for connecting cable 520 to a power and coolant source (not shown). In this embodiment, cable management system 500 also includes a cable guide 560 in the form of a roller fairlead, coupled to a slide rail 580 arranged to allow cable guide 560 to move from a first (top) position 560 to a second (bottom) position 560′. When cable 520 is retracted, cable guide 560 is pushed upward along slide rail 580 to the first position, thereby optimizing or otherwise increasing the storage capacity of support structure 510 by utilizing the height of support structure 510. When the connector 530' is lifted out of the housing 550 and the cable 520' is dispensed, the cable guide 560' is allowed to move to a second lower position on the rail 580, such as near a dispensing opening of the cable management system 500, to facilitate easy removal of the cable.

[0062] In this embodiment, the cable 520 is stored in a loop within the housing 510. Storing the cable 520 in a loop maximizes the available storage space within the housing 510 while ensuring that the cable 520 does not exceed the minimum bend radius of the cable 520. When stored in a loop, the cable 520 is arranged so that the majority of the cable 520 rests against the rear of the housing 510. This allows the weight of the cable 520 to be supported partially by the housing 510 and partially by the cable guide 560. When the cable guide 560' is in the second, lower position, the cable 520 is brought to a height closer to the dispensing point. Thus, raising the cable 520 to the first, higher position for storage optimizes the storage capacity of the housing 510 by converting some cable length to height, while lowering the cable 520 to the second, lower position reduces the loop's bend radius, converting some cable height to length, thereby facilitating the extension of the cable 520 beyond the dispensing point. Furthermore, the configuration of the slide rail (movement mechanism) 580 such that the first and second positions are fixed ensures that the reduction in the cable bend radius is limited; in other words, the cable 520 cannot bend beyond the extent permitted by the second position. This is particularly important for liquid-cooled cables, as exceeding the minimum bend radius may result in blockage of the liquid passage. Generally, the cable bend radius is preferably maintained at at least 5 to 12 times the cable diameter.

[0063] Figure 6AA front view of a cable guide 560 is shown. The cable guide 560 is rectangular in shape and has a central opening for receiving a cable therethrough. A plurality of rotatable elements are disposed around the central opening in the form of two pairs of opposing rollers 561, 562, 563, and 564. The rollers 561, 562, 563, and 564 are disposed around the opening to reduce friction between the cable and the cable guide 560 as the cable slides through the opening. Figure 6B A cross-section of a cable guide 560 is shown. Cable guide 560 can be made of, for example, a suitable metal. Here, cable guide 560 is shown as rectangular; however, the cable guide can be made into any suitable shape and size, such as triangular, circular, etc. While the rotatable element is shown as a roller in this example, it should be understood that other forms of friction-reducing elements can be used in place of the rotatable element, such as static rollers, openings surrounding cable guide 560, ball bearings disposed in tracks, etc., as long as the friction-reducing element or rotatable element functions to reduce friction between the cable and the cable guide opening.

[0064] Figure 7 A second embodiment of a cable management system 700 is shown. Similar to the cable management system 500, the cable management system 700 includes a support structure (e.g., a housing) 710 for housing a liquid-cooled cable 720 coupled to a charging connector 730. The support structure 710 is provided with a seat 750 for receiving the connector 730 when the cable 720 is stowed. The cable management system 700 includes a terminal box 770 for connecting the cable 720 to a power supply and coolant source (not shown). The cable management system 700 similarly includes a cable guide 760 in the form of a roller fairlead and coupled to a slide rail 780 arranged to allow the cable guide 760 to move from a first (top) position (760) to a second (bottom) position 760'. However, in this embodiment, the slide rail 780 is arranged to be inclined at an angle α relative to the horizontal plane. Thus, when the cable 720 is being retracted, the inclination allows the cable guide 760 to be more easily pushed up the slide rail 780 to the first position, while when the cable 720' is being dispensed, the inclination allows for better control as the cable guide 760' moves to the second, lower position on the slide rail 780.

[0065] In addition, Figure 7In the embodiment of the present invention, the cable management system further includes a rear cable clamp 790a and a front cable clamp 790b. The rear cable clamp 790a is arranged such that when the cable is dispensed from the support structure (housing) 710, the cable clamp 790a ultimately acts on the rear portion of the cable guide 760 and is prevented from further extending out of the housing 710. The front cable clamp 790b is arranged such that when the cable is retracted into the support structure 710, the cable clamp 790b ultimately acts on the front portion of the cable guide 760 and is prevented from further retracting into the housing 710. The cable clamps 790a and 790b are configured to limit the extent to which the cable 720 can extend out of the cable management system 700 and be retracted into the cable management system 700, respectively, thereby ensuring that the cable 720 is properly positioned. In addition, the cable clamps 790a and 790b are positioned so that the action of the rear cable clamp 790a (front cable clamp 790b) acting on the cable guide transfers the force of the operator pulling (pushing) the cable 720 to the cable guide 760 to assist the cable guide 760 in moving from the first position to the second position (from the second position to the first position).

[0066] In this embodiment, the second position is at a lower height and horizontally closer to the dispensing opening, while the first position is at a higher height and horizontally farther from the dispensing opening. Therefore, when the cable guide 760 moves from the first position to the second position, it lowers the charging cable 720 while pulling it forward toward the dispensing opening. When the cable guide 760 returns to the first position, it lifts the charging cable 720 while pulling it backward away from the dispensing opening. Raising the charging cable to the higher first position for storage optimizes the storage capacity of the housing by converting some cable length into height. Thus, when dispensing the charging cable, lowering the charging cable to the lower second position, closer to the dispensing opening, facilitates extending the charging cable out of the dispensing opening. Specifically, since the charging cable 720 is stored as a loop within the housing 710, moving the cable guide 760 to the second, lower position reduces the loop's bend radius, converting cable height into cable length, thereby allowing more of the charging cable 720 to be pulled out. Furthermore, moving cable guide 760 to the first position, away from the dispensing opening, for storage, causes charging cable 720 to be drawn rearwardly toward the rear of housing 710, which allows more of charging cable 720 to rest against the rear of housing 710 to partially support the weight of charging cable 720. Thus, moving cable guide 760 forward toward the second position causes charging cable 720 to be drawn toward the dispensing opening, and by bringing cable guide 760 closer to the operator, more of the weight of the charging cable is supported by cable guide 760, thereby reducing the load borne by the operator.

[0067] Figure 8 A third embodiment of a cable management system 800 is shown. Similar to the cable management system 700, the cable management system 800 includes a support structure (e.g., a housing) 810 for housing a liquid-cooled cable 820 coupled to a charging connector 830. The support structure 810 is provided with a seat 850 for receiving the connector 830 when the cable 820 is stowed. The cable management system 800 includes a terminal box 870 for connecting the cable 820 to a power source and a coolant source (not shown). The cable management system 800 includes a cable guide 860, which may also be in the form of a roller fairlead. Rear and front cable clamps 890a, 890b are also provided to limit the extent to which the cable 820 can be extended out of and retracted into the cable management system 800 to ensure proper positioning of the cable 820. The rear cable clamp 890a is arranged so that when the cable is dispensed out of the support structure (housing) 810, the cable clamp 890a ultimately acts on the rear of the cable guide 860 and is prevented from extending further out of the housing 810. The front cable clamp 890b is arranged so that when the cable is retracted into the support structure 810, the cable clamp 890b ultimately acts on the front of the cable guide 860 and is prevented from retracting further into the housing 810.

[0068] This embodiment and Figure 5 and Figure 7 The embodiment of the present invention differs in that the cable guide 860 is coupled to a linkage assembly 880 that is configured to allow the cable guide 860 to move from a first (top) position 860 to a second (bottom) position 860'. Specifically, in this embodiment, the linkage assembly 880 is pivotally coupled to the cable guide 860 at a first end and pivotally coupled to the support structure 810 at a second end. Thus, when the cable 820 is retracted, the linkage assembly 880 pivots the cable guide 860 upward toward a first, higher position, and when the cable 820' is dispensed, the linkage assembly 880 pivots the cable guide 860' downward toward a second, lower position. In this embodiment, the linkage assembly 880 includes four links or linkage arms 881, 882, 883, 884, each pivotally coupled to the cable guide 860 at a first end and each pivotally coupled to the support structure 810 at a second end. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that a single link or linkage arm is sufficient to provide pivotal movement to the cable guide 860, and that two, three, or four or more links or linkage arms may be used as desired.

[0069] Figure 9 A fourth embodiment of a cable management system 900 is shown. This device is similar to Figure 7The illustrated cable management system 700 is similar in that cable management system 900 includes a cable guide 960 in the form of a roller fairlead coupled to a slide rail 980 arranged at an angle relative to the horizontal, which allows cable guide 960 to move from a first (top) position to a second (bottom) position. Cable management system 900 also includes a support structure (e.g., a housing) 910 for housing a liquid cooling cable (not shown) coupled to a charging connector, a mount 950 for receiving the connector, and a junction box 970 for connecting the cable to a power and coolant source (not shown).

[0070] This embodiment and Figure 7 The embodiment differs in that the cable management system 900 further includes an auxiliary element 991 in the form of a gas strut, which is coupled to the cable guide 960 at a first end and to the support structure 910 (or the slide 980) at a second end. In operation, the gas strut 991 is compressed by the cable guide 960 as the cable guide 960 moves downwardly along the slide 980 from a first, higher position to a second, lower position. Thus, as the cable is lowered through the cable guide 960 to the second position, some of the gravitational potential energy lost is stored in the compressed gas in the gas strut 991. When the cable is retracted, the cable guide 960 is pushed upward along the slide 980 toward the first position, with the upward movement of the cable guide 960 being assisted by the gas strut 991 as the gas is decompressed.

[0071] Figure 10 A fifth embodiment of a cable management system 1000 is shown. This device is similar to Figure 8 The illustrated cable management system 800 is similar in that cable management system 1000 includes a cable guide 1060 in the form of a roller fairlead coupled to a linkage assembly 1080 configured to allow cable guide 1060 to move from a first (top) position to a second (bottom) position. Cable management system 1000 also includes a support structure (e.g., a housing) 1010 for housing a liquid-cooled cable (not shown) coupled to a charging connector, a base 1050 for receiving the connector, and a terminal block 1070 for connecting the cable to a power and coolant source (not shown). Also in this embodiment, linkage assembly 1080 is pivotally coupled to cable guide 1060 at a first end and pivotally coupled to support structure 1010 at a second end.

[0072] The operation of the connecting rod assembly 1080 in this embodiment is similar to Figure 8 However, this embodiment is different from the connecting rod assembly 880; Figure 8The embodiment of the present invention differs in that the cable management system 1000 further includes an auxiliary element 1091 in the form of a gas strut, which is coupled to the cable guide 1060 at a first end and to the support structure 1010 at a second end. In operation, when the cable guide 1060 is pivoted by the linkage assembly 1080 to move downward from a first, higher position to a second, lower position, the gas strut 1091 is compressed by the cable guide 1060. In this way, the downward movement of the cable guide 1060 compresses the gas within the gas strut 1091, so that when the cable is retracted, the cable guide 1060 is pushed upward toward the first position by being pivoted by the linkage assembly 1080, and the upward movement of the cable guide 1060 is assisted by the gas strut 1091 as the gas is decompressed.

[0073] Figure 11 A sixth embodiment of a cable management system 1100 is shown. This device is similar to Figure 7 The cable management system 700 shown is similar in that the cable management system 1100 includes a cable guide 1160 in the form of a roller fairlead coupled to a slide rail 1180 arranged at an angle relative to the horizontal, which allows the cable guide 1160 to move from a first (top) position to a second (bottom) position. The cable management system 1100 also includes a support structure (e.g., a housing) 1110 for housing a liquid-cooled cable (not shown) coupled to a charging connector, a base 1150 for receiving the connector, and a terminal box 1170 for connecting the cable to a power and coolant source (not shown).

[0074] This embodiment and Figure 7 The embodiment of the present invention differs in that the cable management system 1100 further includes an auxiliary element, the auxiliary element including a counterweight 1192, a pulley 1193 coupled to the support structure 1110 (preferably coupled to the top plate of the support structure 1110 or at the highest position near the support structure 1110), and a pulley cable 1194, the pulley cable 1194 being coupled to the counterweight 1192 at a first end and passing over the pulley 1193 to be coupled to the cable guide 1160 at a second end. In operation, when the cable guide 1160 moves downwardly from a first, higher position to a second, lower position along the slide rail 1180, the counterweight 1192 is raised to the higher position by the cable guide 1160 via the pulley cable 1194. In this way, when the liquid cooling cable is lowered to the second position through the cable guide 1160, part of the lost gravitational potential energy is stored as the gravitational potential energy of the counterweight 1192, and when the cable is retracted, the cable guide 1160 is pushed upward along the slide rail 1180 toward the first position, and the upward movement of the cable guide 1160 is assisted by the downward movement of the counterweight 1192 via the pulley cable 1194.

[0075] Figure 12 A seventh embodiment of a cable management system 2000 is shown. This device is similar to Figure 8 The illustrated cable management system 800 is similar in that cable management system 1200 includes a cable guide 1260 in the form of a roller fairlead coupled to a linkage assembly 1280 configured to allow cable guide 1260 to move from a first (top) position to a second (bottom) position. Cable management system 1200 also includes a support structure (e.g., housing) 1210 for housing a liquid-cooled cable (not shown) coupled to a charging connector, a base 1250 for receiving the connector, and a terminal block 1270 for connecting the cable to a power and coolant source (not shown). Also in this embodiment, linkage assembly 1280 is pivotally coupled to cable guide 1260 at a first end and pivotally coupled to support structure 1210 at a second end.

[0076] The operation of the connecting rod assembly 1280 in this embodiment is similar to Figure 8 However, this embodiment is different from the connecting rod assembly 880; Figure 8 The embodiment of the present invention differs in that the cable management system 1200 further includes an auxiliary element, which includes a counterweight 1292, a pulley 1293 coupled to the support structure 1210 (preferably coupled to the top plate of the support structure 1210 or at the highest position near the support structure 1210), and a pulley cable 1294, which is coupled to the counterweight 1292 at a first end and passes over the pulley 1293 to couple to the cable guide 1260 at a second end. In operation, when the cable guide 1160 is pivoted downward from the first, higher position to the second, lower position by the linkage assembly 1280, the counterweight 1292 is raised to the higher position by the cable guide 1260 via the pulley cable 1294. In this way, the downward movement of the cable guide 1260 is stored as gravitational potential energy of the counterweight 1292, and when the cable is retracted, the upward movement of the cable guide 1160 toward the first position is pivoted by the linkage assembly 1280 and assisted by the downward movement of the counterweight 1292 via the pulley cable 1294.

[0077] By providing auxiliary elements 991, 1091, 1191, 1291 to cable guides 960, 1060, 1160, and 1260, the upward movement of the cable guides from the second, lower position back to the first, higher position when the cables are retracted is assisted by the auxiliary elements, so that part of the weight of the cables is balanced by the energy stored in the auxiliary elements. Furthermore, because auxiliary elements 991, 1091, 1191, 1291 are passive energy storage elements rather than powered auxiliary elements, they do not increase the power requirements of the cable management system and do not significantly increase maintenance requirements. However, powered auxiliary elements, such as actuators, motors, etc., may be used if desired.

[0078] Figure 13A A top view of an eighth embodiment of a cable management system 1300 is shown. For illustrative purposes only, cable management system 1300 is shown as including a support structure (e.g., a housing) 1210 for housing: a liquid-cooled cable 1320 coupled to a charging connector 1330; a cable guide 1360 arranged to receive the liquid-cooled cable 1320; a rear cable clamp 1390a for limiting extension of the cable 1320; and a terminal block 1370 for connecting the cable to a power and coolant source (not shown). It will be understood that cable guide 1360 is coupled to a suitable mechanism configured to allow cable guide 1360 to move between a first position and a second position during retraction of cable 1320 and during dispensing of cable 1320.

[0079] This embodiment further includes at least one friction-reducing element disposed at the dispensing opening A of the support structure 1210, through which the cable 1320 extends during dispensing. Specifically, the cable management system 1300 is provided with a pair of rollers 1395a and 1395b, which are vertically arranged on either side of the dispensing opening A, such that the cable 1320 extends between the rollers 1395a and 1395b. The friction-reducing rollers 1395a and 1395b reduce friction on the cable 1320 as it extends out of the support structure 1310 and is retracted into the support structure 1310 through the dispensing opening A. Thus, the friction-reducing element facilitates movement of the cable 1320 into and out of the support structure 1310. Other friction reducing elements may be implemented to improve the ease of moving the cable 1320 out of and into the support structure 1310, such as static "rollers" with low sliding friction surfaces or other moving or static low friction elements.

[0080] like Figure 13BAs shown, rollers 1395a and 1395b are arranged together with rear cable clamp 1390a to facilitate extension of cable 1320 at an angle out of support structure 1310. When an operator pulls connector 1330 to extend cable 1320, rear cable clamp 1390a acts on the rear portion of cable guide 1360, and as the operator continues to pull connector 1330, tension is generated in cable 1320. Rollers 1395a and 1395b located at dispensing opening A can be used to laterally abut cable 1320 to transfer the tension generated in cable 1320 around rollers 1395b, allowing cable 1320 to extend at an angle out of support structure 1310. Rollers 1395b, in turn, apply a force consistent with the movement of cable guide 1360 through rear cable clamp 1390a. This enables the cable guide 1360 to travel (along a suitable mechanism) towards the second (dispensing) position as if the cable 1320 were extending from the support structure 1310 in a straight line.

[0081] Figure 14 A perspective view of an exemplary cable management system 1400 according to another example is shown. Similar to the embodiments discussed above, cable management system 1400 includes a housing 1410 that encloses a liquid-cooled cable 1420 coupled to a connector 1430. A terminal block 1470 is provided to connect cable 1420 to a power and coolant source (not shown). In this example, the cable management system also includes a cable clamp 1460 that couples cable 1420 and connector 1430 to a support cable 1494. When an operator lifts connector 1430 from stand 1450 to extend cable 1420 to a charging position, support cable 1494 at least partially supports the weight of cable 1420. In this example, support cable 1494 is configured to be retractable from a spring reel 1493, such that when cable 1420 is pulled out of housing 1410, retractable support cable 1494 extends from spring reel 1493 to facilitate extension of cable 1420. The cable management system 1400 is also provided with a top beam 1496 for housing the spring reel 1493. The top beam 1496 extends the spring reel 1493 away from the housing 1410, thereby allowing an operator to more easily access the connector 1430 and the cable 1420.

[0082] Optionally, cable management system 1400 (and any of the other previously described cable management systems 200, 300, 400, 500, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300) can be provided with a control system 1499 for monitoring and controlling cable management system 1400 and communicating with a charging system (not shown), a charging port on the electric vehicle (not shown), and / or an associated emergency shutdown system (not shown). Control system 1499 can be provided, for example, within junction box 1470 or elsewhere on cable management system 1400. Furthermore, cable management system 1400 can be provided with indicator lights to signal the status of the charging system to the operator. Alternatively or additionally, a monitor or screen 1498 can be provided for displaying operational information.

[0083] Sometimes, it may be desirable to monitor or signal when the cable guide moves from a first position to a second position, or if the cable is under excessive tension or an excessive amount of cable is dispensed. In some embodiments, any of the previously described systems 200, 300, 400, 500, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300 may further include a failsafe system configured to determine when the cable guide exceeds a position limit and / or when the charging cable exceeds a load limit.

[0084] To this end, the fail-safe system may include one or more sensing devices, such as, but not limited to, a position sensor or motion sensor configured to sense the position or movement of the cable guide and / or mechanism, or a strain / tension sensor configured to sense whether the charging cable is subjected to excessive strain / tension. The sensing device may be configured to determine the precise position of the cable guide, or to sense whether the cable guide has exceeded a position limit, or to sense forces on a portion of the support structure. Thus, in some embodiments, the fail-safe system may include one or more of the following: a position sensing device configured to sense the position of the cable guide; a pressure sensing device arranged to receive the cable guide when the cable guide is moved to the second position, the pressure sensing device configured to measure the pressure on the pressure sensing device when the cable guide acts on the pressure sensing device; or a strain gauge coupled to the charging cable, the strain gauge configured to measure the strain applied to the charging cable.

[0085] The fail-safe system can be arranged to communicate with a control system that controls the supply of power to the liquid-cooled charging cable. In some embodiments, the fail-safe system may also include an alarm generation module configured to generate an alarm when it is determined that the cable guide exceeds a position limit and / or when it is determined that the charging cable exceeds a load limit. The fail-safe system can be configured to send a signal to the control system in response to a specific behavior of the cable management system (e.g., excessive tension in the cable), or to remove a signal that is being monitored by the control system. The control system can be configured to stop supplying power to the cable based on a signal (or lack of a signal) received from the fail-safe system. The functionality provided by the fail-safe system ensures that dangerous electrical scenarios do not occur if the cable is overextended or there is a risk of damage to the liquid-cooled cable, connector, or any other component of the cable management system and / or any other component of the charging station. For example, the fail-safe system may include a limit switch mounted inside the support structure, the limit switch configured to activate a signal if the cable guide collides with the support structure.

[0086] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the various elements described with reference to the accompanying drawings, such as various embodiments of the cable guide, various embodiments of the mechanism allowing movement of the cable guide, various embodiments of the auxiliary element, various embodiments of the friction reducing element, various embodiments of one or more sensing devices, and / or various embodiments of the control system / monitoring system, can be implemented in different combinations, including combinations not explicitly described herein.

[0087] The examples and conditional language described herein are intended to help the reader understand the principles of the present technology and are not intended to limit the scope of the present technology to such specific examples and conditions. It should be understood that those skilled in the art can design various arrangements that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, still embody the principles of the present technology and are included within the scope of the present technology as defined in the appended claims.

[0088] In addition, in order to facilitate understanding, the above description may describe relatively simplified embodiments of the present technology. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various embodiments of the present technology may have greater complexity.

[0089] In some cases, examples of useful modifications to the present technology may also be described. This is done solely to aid understanding and is not intended to limit the scope or illustrate the limits of the present technology. These modifications are not an exhaustive list, and those skilled in the art may make other modifications while still remaining within the scope of the present technology. Furthermore, where no examples of modifications are described, it should not be understood that modifications are not possible and / or that what is described is the only way to implement that element of the present technology.

[0090] Moreover, all descriptions of principles, aspects, and implementations of the technology described herein, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof, whether currently known or developed in the future.

[0091] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many improvements and modifications can be made to the exemplary embodiments described above without departing from the scope of the present technology.

Claims

1. A cable management system for storing and distributing charging cables, the system comprising: a housing for enclosing at least a portion of the charging cable, the housing having a dispensing opening for dispensing the charging cable passing through the dispensing opening; a cable guide configured to receive a portion of the charging cable passing through the cable guide to partially support the weight of the charging cable, the cable guide configured to facilitate movement of the charging cable through the cable guide; as well as a movement mechanism for coupling the cable guide to the housing, the movement mechanism being configured to allow the cable guide to move along a fixed path within the housing between a first position away from the dispensing opening and a second position toward the dispensing opening, wherein a pulling action on the charging cable causes the cable guide to move from the first position to the second position, thereby extending the charging cable out of the dispensing opening, and a pushing action on the charging cable causes the cable guide to return to the first position, thereby retracting the charging cable into the housing.

2. The cable management system according to claim 1, wherein: The second position is adjacent in elevation to the dispensing opening, and the first position is higher in elevation than the second position, such that the cable guide lowers a portion of the charging cable toward the dispensing opening when moving from the first position to the second position.

3. The cable management system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The second position is horizontally adjacent to the dispensing opening, and the first position is horizontally farther from the dispensing opening than the second position, so that the cable guide supports the charging cable at a position adjacent to the dispensing opening when moving from the first position to the second position.

4. A cable management system according to any preceding claim, wherein: The cable guide includes a central opening and includes at least one friction reducing element disposed within the central opening to assist in moving the charging cable through the central opening.

5. The cable management system according to claim 4, wherein: The at least one friction reducing element is a rotatable element comprising one or more rollers, one or more ball bearings, one or more sheaves, or a combination of these components.

6. A cable management system according to any preceding claim, wherein: The movement mechanism includes a slide rail, the slide rail is arranged substantially vertically, the first position is a higher position on the slide rail, and the second position is a lower position on the slide rail.

7. The cable management system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: The movement mechanism includes a slide rail arranged obliquely relative to a horizontal plane, the first position is a position on the slide rail that is higher and horizontally farther from the dispensing opening, and the second position is a position on the slide rail that is lower and horizontally closer to the dispensing opening.

8. The cable management system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: The movement mechanism includes a linkage assembly including at least one link pivotally coupled to the cable guide at a first end and pivotally coupled to the housing at a second end, the linkage assembly being configured to pivot the cable guide between a first position that is higher and horizontally farther from the dispensing opening and a second position that is lower and horizontally closer to the dispensing opening.

9. A cable management system according to any preceding claim, wherein: The movement mechanism includes an auxiliary element configured to assist movement of the cable guide from the second position back to the first position.

10. The cable management system according to claim 9, wherein: The auxiliary element comprises a gas strut coupled to the cable guide, the gas strut being arranged such that moving the cable guide from the first position to the second position compresses the gas strut.

11. The cable management system according to claim 9 or 10, wherein: The auxiliary element comprises a counterweight coupled to the cable guide by a pulley and wire system arranged such that moving the cable guide from the first position to the second position raises the counterweight.

12. The cable management system of any preceding claim, further comprising a rear cable clamp configured to fixedly couple to the charging cable at a position rearward of the cable guide relative to the dispensing opening, wherein The rear cable clamp is configured to act on the cable guide to limit the length by which the charging cable can extend out of the cable management system.

13. The cable management system of any preceding claim, further comprising a front cable clamp configured to fixedly couple to the charging cable at a position forward of the cable guide relative to the dispensing opening, wherein The front cable clamp is configured to act on the cable guide to limit the length of the charging cable that can be retracted into the cable management system.

14. A cable management system according to any preceding claim, wherein: The housing is sized to have a height substantially greater than the width and depth of the housing.

15. The cable management system of any preceding claim, further comprising a fail-safe system configured to determine when the cable guide exceeds a position limit and / or when the charging cable exceeds a load limit.

16. The cable management system according to claim 15, wherein: The fail-safe system includes one or more of the following: a position sensing device configured to sense a position of the cable guide; a pressure sensing device arranged to receive the cable guide when the cable guide is in the second position to measure a pressure exerted by the cable guide on the pressure sensing device; or A strain gauge is coupled to the charging cable, the strain gauge being configured to measure strain exerted on the charging cable.

17. The cable management system according to claim 15 or 16, wherein: The fail-safe system further includes an alarm generation module configured to generate an alarm when it is determined that the cable guide exceeds a position limit and / or when it is determined that the charging cable exceeds a load limit.

18. An electric vehicle charging station for charging an electric vehicle having a charging port, the charging station comprising: a charging connector configured to couple to the charging port of the electric vehicle to deliver power; a charging cable including at least one electrical conductor core to conduct electrical power, the charging cable coupled to the charging connector at a first end and to a power source at a second end; as well as A cable management system as claimed in any preceding claim.

19. The charging station according to claim 18, wherein: The charging cable is a liquid-cooled charging cable including at least one electrical conductor core to conduct electricity and at least one cooling line to allow a liquid coolant to flow through the at least one cooling line.

20. The charging station according to claim 18 or 19, wherein: The charging cable is stored as a loop within the housing.

21. The charging station according to claim 18, 19 or 20, wherein: The cable management system also includes a connector mount coupled to the housing to receive the charging connector when the charging cable is stored.

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