Charging connection unit for electric vehicle and method for establishing electrical plug connection using charging connection unit for electric vehicle

Abstract

A charging connection unit (10) for an electric vehicle, comprising: a set of electrical contact elements (13, 13a) for establishing an electrical plug connection with complementary electrical contact elements (14, 14a, 15) of a charging plug (11, 12) to be connected to the charging connection unit (10); a charging flap unit (16) which can be moved between a closed state and an open state for covering electrical contact elements (13, 13a) of the charging connection unit (10) and exposing the electrical contact elements for a charging process. According to the invention, an extendable guide groove (18) is provided for receiving the charging plug (11, 12) in the extended state and then moving back into the charging connection unit (10) together with the received charging plug (11, 12) in order to establish the electrical plug connection. The guide groove (18) is designed in such a way that the guide groove automatically protrudes as the charging valve unit (16) opens.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a charging connection unit for an electrically operated vehicle. Furthermore, the present application also relates to a method for establishing an electrical plug-in connection with an electrically operated vehicle. BACKGROUND

[0002] The charging connection unit, in particular a charging socket or a charging receptacle, is configured for connecting an external charging plug in order to charge an energy storage device of an electrically operated vehicle. The energy storage device is configured for driving the electrically operated vehicle.

[0003] Electrically driven motor vehicles, in particular purely electrically operated vehicles or electrically operated vehicles with a hybrid drive or hybrid vehicles, require regular charging of the battery for driving the vehicle at public or private charging stations. For this purpose, a charging plug, which is connected to an external power source by means of a charging cable, is inserted into a charging connection unit or charging socket provided on the electrically operated vehicle, which is connected to the drive battery or the energy storage battery of the electrically operated vehicle.

[0004] So far, in the private sector, the charging plug is usually inserted into the charging socket of the vehicle manually by the vehicle user. However, there are also developments which aim at automating the charging process to a large extent or completely.

[0005] However, the operation of inserting the charging plug is complex in terms of haptics and sensing. The charging plug has to be positioned exactly at the charging socket, while its spatial orientation has to be precisely aligned with the plug-in face of the charging socket. Here, the weight of the charging plug also increases the difficulty of the operation.

[0006] The patent document DE 10 2014 107153 A1 describes a vehicle charging station with a charging device which is movable between a plurality of vehicle parking spaces, the charging device comprising an end effector for electrically coupling with an electrically operated vehicle. The end effector comprises a retractable guide for assisting the end effector in aligning and orienting with the socket of the electrically operated vehicle.

[0007] The patent document DE 10 2020 207394 discloses a charging device for an electrically driven motor vehicle, comprising a charging arm with an electrically conductive plug-in connection, the charging arm comprising a spring for a neutral position of the charging arm and a coupling spring, and a funnel-like guide for the charging arm is provided on the electrically driven motor vehicle, the funnel-like guide comprising two flaps, a fixed funnel and a guide slot guide.

[0008] The document US 5478249 A describes an electrical plug-in connector with a coupling socket which is connectable to a power source and a socket which is provided within a vehicle and is connected to an energy storage battery. The coupling socket has lugs for positioning in a corresponding housing. SUMMARY

[0009] The object of the present application is to simplify the plug-in process when inserting a charging plug into a charging connection unit of an electric vehicle.

[0010] According to a first aspect of the present application, a charging connection unit of an electric vehicle is provided, comprising a set of electrical contact elements for establishing an electrical plug-in connection with complementary electrical contact elements of a charging plug to be connected to the charging connection unit, a charging shutter unit movable between a closed state and an open state for covering the electrical contact elements of the charging connection unit and for exposing the electrical contact elements for a charging process, and an extendable guide slot for accommodating the charging plug in an extended state and subsequently moving back into the charging connection unit together with the accommodated charging plug to establish the electrical plug-in connection, wherein the guide slot is configured such that it automatically extends with the opening of the charging shutter unit.

[0011] Preferably, the guide slot comprises a funnel-like centering surface configured for centering the charging plug when it is gradually inserted into the guide slot.

[0012] Preferably, the guide slot comprises at least one further centering surface arranged behind the funnel-like centering surface in the plug-in direction of the charging plug to be inserted and oriented parallel to the plug-in direction.

[0013] Preferably, the further centering surface forms a second centering surface configured such that it at least partially surrounds and comes into contact with a front plug-in area of the charging plug for guiding when it is gradually inserted.

[0014] Advantageously, the further centering surface forms a third centering surface configured on both sides of a recess provided in the guide slot and extending in the plug-in direction when the charging plug is inserted and coming into contact with both sides of the charging plug when it is gradually inserted.

[0015] The guide slot can comprise a second centering surface and / or a third centering surface. In particular, a combination of both is advantageous.

[0016] Preferably, the guide slot is lockable in the charging connection unit in its retracted position.

[0017] Preferably, the guide slot is configured such that it remains in its retracted position when the charging plug is unplugged.

[0018] Preferably, the charging connection unit comprises a locking element which automatically secures the guide slot in its extended position and is unlocked by the charging plug when the charging plug is inserted into the guide slot to reach its end position.

[0019] Advantageously, the locking element is movably fixed in the guide slot.

[0020] Preferably, the locking element is configured such that it can be unlocked or can be unlocked by the closed charge shutter unit when the guide slot is extended.

[0021] Advantageously, the locking element is configured such that it can be manually unlocked when the guide slot is extended.

[0022] Preferably, the guide slot comprises a plurality of wedge-shaped segments which are arranged such that they enclose the accommodated charge plug and are shaped such that the wedge-shaped segments close towards the charge plug when they are moved into the charge connection unit in order to align and clamp the charge plug.

[0023] According to a second aspect of the application, a method for automatically establishing an electrical plug connection with a charge connection unit of an electric vehicle is provided, comprising the following steps: opening the closable charge connection unit; extending a guide slot from the charge connection unit and locking the guide slot in its extended position; inserting an external charge plug into the extended guide slot; unlocking the extended guide slot and moving it together with the charge plug into the charge connection unit such that it reaches a retracted position in which the electrical plug connection is established, wherein the guide slot is automatically extended with the opening of the charge connection unit.

[0024] Preferably, the guide slot remains in its retracted position when the charge plug is pulled out of the charge connection unit.

[0025] Preferably, the extended guide slot is unlocked by the closed charge shutter of the charge connection unit after the charge plug is pulled out to reach its retracted position.

[0026] The advantages, details and features described in connection with the charge connection unit apply equally to the method.

[0027] The term "electric vehicle" is to be understood broadly and refers to a vehicle which is equipped with a chargeable electrical storage device to drive the electric vehicle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0028] Embodiments of the application will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. In which:

[0029] Figure 1 A front perspective view of a charge connection unit according to a first preferred embodiment of the application is shown, as well as two different external charge plugs;

[0030] Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of the charge connection unit with extended and locked guide slot is shown, as well as a different charge plug; Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the charge connection unit with extended and locked guide slot is shown, as well as a different charge plug;

[0031] Figure 3 Similar view of the charging connection unit with the guide slot extended and locked and exemplary charging plug at the beginning of the plug-in process;

[0032] Figure 4 Similar view of the charging connection unit with the guide slot extended and locked and exemplary charging plug at the beginning of the plug-in process;

[0033] Figure 5 Similar view of the charging connection unit with the charging plug, but the guide slot has been pushed in;

[0034] Figure 6 Similar view of the charging connection unit according to a variant, wherein the guide slot is extended; and

[0035] Figure 7 Perspective view of the charging connection unit with the guide slot extended and the charging plug to be connected according to another preferred embodiment of the application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] In the drawings, identical or corresponding elements are denoted by the same reference signs, respectively, and are not described again unless necessary. The disclosure contained in the entire description can be transferred accordingly to the same parts with the same reference signs or the same part names. Furthermore, the orientation descriptions selected in the description, such as upper, lower, side, etc., relate to the directly described and shown drawings and should be transferred accordingly to the new orientation when the orientation changes.

[0037] Figure 1 and Figure 2 A charging connection unit 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the application is shown. The charging connection unit 10 is configured as a charging socket or charging receptacle for installation in an electric vehicle, which can be fixed in particular on an outer body element of the electric vehicle. The charging connection unit 10 is used for connecting a charging plug 11 or 12, which is connected or connectable to an external charging station, for example, by means of a charging cable. In the present example, the charging connection unit 10 is configured both for connecting a direct current charging plug (charging plug 11) and for connecting an alternating current charging plug (charging plug 12).

[0038] The charging connection unit 10 comprises a set of electrical contact elements 13, 13a for establishing an electrical plug-in connection with complementary electrical contact elements 14, 14a or 15 of a charging plug 11 or 12 to be connected to the charging connection unit 10.

[0039] Furthermore, the charging connection unit 10 comprises a movable charging shutter unit 16 which is movable back and forth between a closed state and an open state in order to externally close the charging connection unit 10 and thereby to cover its electrical contact elements 13, 13a here or in order to open the charging connection unit 10 and thereby to make its electrical contact elements 13, 13a accessible or exposed from the outside so that a charging process can be carried out on the electric vehicle.

[0040] The charging shutter unit 16 comprises a hinge arm 16a which is rotatably supported in the charging connection unit 10 and which is fixed at its outer end with a cover shutter or charging shutter 16b (see Figure 6 ).

[0041] Furthermore, the charging connection unit 10 comprises a movably supported guide slot 18 which can be extended from the charging connection unit 10 and which is configured for accommodating the charging plug 11 or 12 in its extended state before an electrical plug-in connection is established, and which is subsequently moved back together with the accommodated charging plug 11 or 12 into the charging connection unit 10 in order to establish an electrical plug-in connection between the charging plug 11 or 12 and the charging connection unit 10.

[0042] The guide slot 18 is configured in such a way that it is automatically extended with or upon opening of the charging shutter unit 16 or the charging shutter 16b. The automatic extension of the guide slot 18 can in particular take place during the opening of the charging shutter 16b. Upon extension, the guide slot is moved in a direction opposite to the plug-in direction S of the charging plug 11, 12 into the charging connection unit 10.

[0043] The guide slot 18 is driven, for example, by a spring mechanism, a stepper motor or the like, which is coupled, for example, by electronic or mechanical means, with the movement of the charging shutter unit 16, for example, by means of a control unit or a suitable mechanical structure.

[0044] The guide slot 18 has a first centering surface 20 in its inner space for receiving the charging plug 11, 12, which is configured funnel-like and is shaped in such a way that it surrounds the charging plug at least from three sides when the charging plug 11 or 12 is accommodated in the guide slot 18 and guides and centers it upon insertion into the guide slot 18.

[0045] In the embodiment shown here, the first centering surface 20 is configured for guiding and centering the charging plug 11 or 12 at its upper side 22 and side surfaces 24 when it is accommodated in the guide slot 10. The upper side 22 and the side surfaces 24 of the respective charging plug 11, 12 to be accommodated thus also form the centering surface.

[0046] As in the case of the charging connection unit 10, the charging plug 11 or 12 also comprises a charging shutter 26 which is rotatably supported in the charging plug 11 or 12 and which is fixed at its outer end with a cover shutter or charging shutter 26b (see Figure 2It can be seen that the first centering surface 20 forms an introduction funnel for the charging plug 11, 12. Due to the funnel-like shape of its centering surface 20, the guide slot 18 has a relatively large entry opening 21 at its front end, which allows the charging plug 11 or 12 to be initially roughly or only imprecisely positioned in the guide slot 18.

[0047] When the charging plug 11 or 12 is inserted into the guide slot 18 in the plug-in direction S, the outer contour of the front region 26 of the respective used charging plug 11 or 12 is guided along the guide slot 18 and centered due to the continuous narrowing of the centering surface 20 inwardly or rearwardly relative to the contact elements 13 or 13a of the charging connection unit 10.

[0048] The outer contour in the front region 26 of the charging plug 11 or 12 is formed by its upper side 22 and its side surface 24 in the front region 26 of the charging plug, which is accommodated by the guide slot when inserted into the guide slot 18, thus forming an insertion section.

[0049] The guide slot 18 has a forwardly open recess 28 on its lower side, which forms a forwardly open cutout in the guide slot 18 and is delimited by two opposite second centering surfaces 30, which are formed by the side surfaces of the recess and extend in the plug-in direction S in the guide slot 18 (see also Figure 1 ). Each of the second centering surfaces 30 forms a side edge of the recess 28.

[0050] The second centering surfaces 30 serve to guide the two straight side surfaces 32 of the DC charging plug 11, which likewise extend in the plug-in direction S and are formed between its two contact element regions. In addition, the second centering surfaces 30 also serve to guide the outwardly curved lower side 34 of the front region 26 of the AC charging plug 12. The recess 28 is dimensioned such that both the straight side surfaces 32 of the DC charging plug 11 and the curved lower side 34 of the AC charging plug 12 can be guided between the second centering surfaces 30.

[0051] The recess 28 with its two centering surfaces 30 also forms an introduction funnel for the charging plug 11 or 12. At the front end of the guide slot 18, i.e. at the entry opening 21, the distance between the opposite second centering surfaces 30 is relatively large and narrows gradually rearwardly.

[0052] A third centering surface 36, which forms a further centering surface, is arranged behind the funnel-shaped first centering surface 20 in the insertion direction S within the guide slot 18 for the purpose of continuing the linear guidance of the charging plug 11 or 12 along the outer contour of its front region 26 after it has been centered by the first centering surface 20 and the second centering surface 30, so that the electrical contact elements 14, 14a or 15 of the charging plug 11 or 12 can be linearly and centrally inserted into the electrical contact elements 13, 13a of the charging connection unit 10.

[0053] A fourth centering surface 38, which forms a further centering surface, at the rear or inner end of the guide slot 18 forms a stop for the corresponding complementary centering surface 40 of the respective charging plug 11 or 12, which is formed by the front edge of the charging plug 11, 12.

[0054] When the charging plug 11 or 12 is accommodated in the guide slot 18, its front region 26 is preferably located completely within the guide slot 18.

[0055] The movable guide slot 18 is provided with a locking element 42 in the form of a pawl, which is configured to lock the guide slot 18 in its extended position. The locking element 42 comprises a protruding section 44 at one end, which in the extended state of the guide slot 18 is inserted into a corresponding recess of the charging connection unit 10 and is in a locking position there. The locking position of the locking element is shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 .

[0056] The guide slot 18 is thus fixed in the charging connection unit 10 in its extended position and forms a resistance or counterforce to the forces exerted on the guide slot 18 during the insertion process. The charging plug 11 or 12 can thus be pushed into the guide slot 18 and centered in the process without the guide slot 18 being pushed back or inwards, i.e. into the charging connection unit 10.

[0057] At the other end of the locking element 42, an unlocking surface 46 in the form of a protruding bend is formed, which is operated by a corresponding unlocking surface 48 at the front end of the charging plug 11 or 12 when the charging plug reaches its end position within the guide slot 18. At this point, the unlocking surface 48 of the charging plug 11 or 12 presses the unlocking surface 46 of the locking element 42, which is released from its locking position.

[0058] In the embodiment shown here, the locking element 42 is configured in the form of a rocker, the middle of which is pivotably supported about a pivot axis 52. Once the unlocking face 46 is pressed rearward or inward, the projection section 44 at the other end of the locking element 42 is moved in a pivoting movement about the pivot axis 52 from the locking position to the unlocking position. That is, once the charging plug 11, 12 is inserted into the guide slot 18 to its end position, the guide slot 18 is unlocked by the unlocking face 48 of the charging plug.

[0059] In a subsequent step of the plug-in process, the charging plug 11 or 12 is pushed into the charging connection unit 10 together with the unlocked guide slot 18, the electrical contact elements 13, 13a of the charging connection unit 10 being inserted into or mated with the complementary electrical contact elements 14, 14a or 15 of the charging plug 11 or 12 used.

[0060] Figure 3 to Figure 5 The steps of the plug-in process when inserting the charging plug 11, 12 into the charging connection unit 10 are shown. This step is illustrated here with the alternating current charging plug 12. But this applies equally or analogously to the direct current charging plug 11.

[0061] First, as shown in Figure 3 , the charging plug 12 is here roughly positioned at the entry opening 21 of the guide slot 18. The locking element 42 is in the locked state and thereby fixes the extendable guide slot 18 in its extended position. The lead-in funnel formed by the first centering face 20 allows the charging plug 12 to be inserted into the guide slot 18 without special skill.

[0062] On further insertion, the charging plug is centered in the guide slot 18 by the centering faces 20, 30, 36, 38 described above and Figure 1 and Figure 2 . Thereby, the charging plug 12 and its electrical contact elements 15 are aligned with the plug-in face of the charging connection unit 10, which is formed by its electrical contact elements 13. By the centering that takes place when inserting the charging plug 12 first at the centering faces 20 and 30, then at the centering face 36 and finally at the centering face 38 (see Figure 2 , an angular offset of the charging plug 12 relative to the charging connection unit 10, which usually exists in the previous rough positioning, can be compensated for in particular.

[0063] Figure 4 The end position reached by the charging plug 12 in the extended guide slot 18 is shown, in which the charging plug has been centered. Upon reaching the centered position, the charging plug 12 unlocks the locking element 42 by its front unlocking face 48, as described above in connection with Figure 2 .

[0064] As Figure 2As shown, at unlocking, the unlocking face 46 at one end of the locking element 42 is pressed back or inwards by the unlocking face 48 of the charging plug 12. Thereby, the protruding section 44 at the other end of the locking element 42 is moved downwards, thereby unlocking the locking element 42. At this time, the locking element is in the unlocked position, so that the guide slot 18 is unlocked and thus movable within the charging connection unit.

[0065] In a next step, the charging plug 12 is pushed back or inwards together with the now unlocked guide slot 18 into its charging position within the charging connection unit 10, which is shown in Figure 5 As shown, in the charging position, an electrical plug connection is established between the charging plug 12 and the charging connection unit 10, and the charging plug 12 is locked in its charging position. After the charging plug together with the retracted guide slot 18 is locked in the charging position, the charging process is started or executed.

[0066] The procedure described here applies equally to the DC charging plug 11.

[0067] When the charging process is finished and the charging plug 11 or 12 is pulled out of the charging connection unit 10, the locking state of the guide slot 18 remains unchanged. That is, the guide slot 18 remains retracted in and latched within the charging connection unit 10. Thereby, after pulling out the charging plug 12, the charging shutter unit 16 can be closed without additional steps.

[0068] As an alternative to the locking of the guide slot 18 in its retracted position, the guide slot is not locked in this position. Thereby, upon pulling out the charging plug 11, 12, the guide slot 18 can also be brought back with it into its extended position and the guide slot is locked in this position by the locking element 42 as described above.

[0069] This alternative is shown in Figure 6 Here, an actuating element 54 in the form of a protrusion is arranged on the charging shutter 16b of the charging shutter unit 16, so that upon closing the charging shutter 16b, the actuating element presses against the protruding section 44 of the locking element 42 in the charging connection unit 10, thereby moving the locking element 42 into its unlocked position. Thereby, the extended guide slot 18 is unlocked, as shown.

[0070] Upon unlocking the locking element 42, the inner side 56 of the closed charging shutter 16b presses the guide slot 18, so that it is pressed into the retracted position within the charging connection unit 10. By the closed charging shutter unit 16, the guide slot 18 is moved back into the charging connection unit 10.

[0071] The charging flap unit 16 and the protruding sections 44 of the locking element 42 are arranged such that the protruding sections 44 can also be actuated manually, for example with a finger, when the charging flap unit 16 is open. Thereby, for example in the event of a malfunction, the guide slot 18 can be moved back into the charging connection unit 10 and the charging flap 16b can be closed.

[0072] Figure 7 Another preferred embodiment of the application is shown. Here, the guide slot 18 is formed by a set of wedge-shaped sections 58, which can be moved into and out of the charging connection unit 10. The wedge-shaped sections 58 are configured as tapered jaws and are movably supported in the charging connection unit 10 and form a guide surface or centering surface 62 on their inner side for the front region 26 of the charging plug 11 or 12.

[0073] When the charging plug 11, 12 is arranged between the wedge-shaped sections 58, the wedge-shaped sections surround the charging plug, wherein the wedge-shaped sections are uniformly spaced apart from one another. Due to their wedge-shaped shape, the distance between the wedge-shaped sections 58 and the outer contour of the front region 26 of the charging plug 11, 12 is relatively large in the extended position. Thereby, the charging plug can initially be positioned relatively imprecisely in the region of the wedge-shaped sections 58 on the charging connection unit 10.

[0074] By their wedge-shaped shape, the wedge-shaped sections 58 center the charging plug 11, 12 by their centering surface 62 when the charging plug 11, 12 is inserted therebetween and are pushed into the charging connection unit 10 when the charging plug 11, 12 is inserted into the charging connection unit 10. With increasing insertion of the charging plug 11, 12, the wedge-shaped sections 58 close, since they move towards one another by the insertion into the charging connection unit 10.

[0075] Thereby, the charging plug 11, 12 accommodated between the wedge-shaped sections 58 is clamped and aligned. In this way, the wedge-shaped sections 58 center the charging plug 11, 12 with respect to the plug-in face or electrical contact elements 13, 13a of the charging connection unit 10.

[0076] In the example shown here, there are three wedge-shaped sections 58, which form the guide slot 18. In principle, for example, only two or more than three wedge-shaped sections 58 can also be provided as a guide slot 18.

[0077] By the charging connection unit 10 with the extendable guide slot 18, a simplification or automation of the tactile and sensorically complex plug-in operation when charging an electric vehicle is achieved.

[0078] List of reference signs:

[0079] 10 charging connection unit

[0080] 11 DC charging plug

[0081] 12 alternating current charging plug

[0082] 13, 13a electrical contact elements of the charging socket

[0083] 14, 14a electrical contact elements of the direct current charging plug

[0084] 15 electrical contact elements of the alternating current charging plug

[0085] 16 charging flap unit

[0086] 16a hinge arm

[0087] 16b covering flap or charging flap

[0088] 18 guide slot

[0089] 20 first centering surface

[0090] 21 entry opening

[0091] 22 upper side of the charging plug

[0092] 24 side surface of the charging plug

[0093] 26 front region of the charging plug

[0094] 28 recess

[0095] 30 second centering surface

[0096] 32 side surface of the direct current charging plug

[0097] 34 lower side of the charging plug

[0098] 36 third centering surface

[0099] 38 fourth centering surface

[0100] 40 complementary centering surface of the charging plug

[0101] 42 locking element

[0102] 44 protruding section

[0103] 46 unlocking surface of the locking element

[0104] 48 unlocking surface of the charging plug

[0105] 52 rotation axis

[0106] 54 actuating element

[0107] 56 inner side of the flap

[0108] 58 wedge-shaped section

[0109] 62 centering surface of the section

[0110] S plug-in direction.

Claims

1. A charging connection unit for an electrically powered vehicle, comprising: - a set of electrical contact elements (13, 13a) for establishing an electrical plug connection with complementary electrical contact elements (14, 14a, 15) of a charging plug (11, 12) to be connected to the charging connection unit (10), - a charging shutter unit (16) movable between a closed state and an open state for covering the electrical contact elements (13, 13a) of the charging connection unit (10) and for exposing the electrical contact elements for a charging process, characterized in that the charging connection unit further comprises an extendable guide slot (18) for accommodating the charging plug (11, 12) in an extended state and for subsequently moving back into the charging connection unit (10) together with the accommodated charging plug (11, 12) to establish the electrical plug connection, wherein the guide slot (18) is configured such that it is automatically extended with the opening of the charging shutter unit (16).

2. The charging connection unit according to claim 1, characterized in that The guide slot (18) comprises a funnel-shaped centering face (20) configured for centering the charging plug (11, 12) when it is gradually inserted into the guide slot (18).

3. The charging connection unit according to claim 2, characterized in that The guide slot (18) comprises at least one further centering face (30, 36, 38) arranged behind the funnel-shaped centering face (20) in the plug-in direction (S) of the charging plug (11, 12) to be inserted and oriented parallel to the plug-in direction (S), wherein - the further centering face (36) at least partially surrounds and comes into contact with a front plug-in area of the charging plug (11, 12) for guiding when it is gradually inserted, and / or - the further centering face (30) is formed on both sides of a recess (28) provided in the guide slot (18), extends in the plug-in direction (S) and comes into contact with both side surfaces (24, 32) of the charging plug (11, 12) when it is gradually inserted.

4. The charging connection unit according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The guide slot (18) is lockable in the charging connection unit (10) in its retracted position and is configured such that it remains in its retracted position when the charging plug (11, 12) is pulled out.

5. The charging connection unit according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by, The charging connection unit comprises a locking element (42) which automatically secures the guide slot (18) in its extended position and which is unlocked by the charging plug (11, 12) when it reaches its end position with the charging plug (11, 12) inserted into the guide slot (18).

6. The charging connection unit according to claim 5, characterized in that The locking element is configured such that it can be unlocked by the closed charging shutter unit (16) when the guide slot (18) is extended and / or can be manually unlocked when the guide slot (18) is extended.

7. The charging connection unit according to any one of claims 1, 5 or 6, characterized by, The guide slot (18) comprises a plurality of wedge-shaped segments (58) which are arranged such that they enclose the accommodated charging plug (11, 12) and are shaped such that they close towards the charging plug (11, 12) when moved into the charging connection unit (10) in order to align and clamp the charging plug.

8. A method for establishing an electrical plug connection with a charging connection unit of an electric vehicle, the method comprising the following steps: - opening a closable charging connection unit (10); - extending a guide slot (18) out of the charging connection unit (10) and locking the guide slot (18) in its extended position; - inserting an external charging plug (11, 12) into the extended guide slot (18); - unlocking the extended guide slot (18) and moving it together with the charging plug (11, 12) into the charging connection unit (10) such that the guide slot reaches a retracted position in which the electrical plug connection is established, wherein the guide slot (18) is automatically extended with the opening of the charging connection unit (10).

9. The method of claim 8, wherein, Upon unplugging the charging plug (11, 12) from the charging connection unit (10), the guide slot (18) remains in its retracted position.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein, Upon unplugging the charging plug (11, 12), the extended guide slot (18) is unlocked by the closed charging shutter (16b) of the charging connection unit (10) in order to reach the retracted position of the guide slot.

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