Motor vehicle with a body opening

Abstract

Motor vehicle with a body opening surrounded by body components (4), wherein a charging socket (1) with at least one electrical charging port (7) is arranged in the body opening, wherein the motor vehicle has a pivotable cover flap (2) which, in its closed position, covers the body opening so that the electrical charging socket (1) is not accessible from the outside, while in its open position the electrical charging socket (1) is accessible from the outside, characterized in that a sealing element (12) is attached to the inside (11) of the cover flap (2), which, in the closed position of the cover flap (2), bears flat and sealingly directly against the front face (8) of the electrical charging socket (1), so that the at least one electrical charging port (7) is protected from environmental influences.and that a recessed body (3) made of plastic extends between the charging socket (1) and the body components (4) surrounding the body opening, the recessed body having a cutout for the charging socket (1), and at least one seal (5) is attached around its circumference to seal the recessed body (3) to the surrounding body components (4).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a motor vehicle with a body opening according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] From DE 10 2010 023 784 A1, a motor vehicle with a body opening in which a charging socket with at least one electrical charging port is arranged is already known. The motor vehicle has a pivoting cover flap which, in its closed position, conceals the body opening so that the electrical charging socket is not accessible from the outside, while in its open position the electrical charging socket is accessible from the outside, wherein a sealing element is attached to the inside of the cover flap which, in the closed position of the cover flap, lies flat and seals against the front face of the electrical charging socket.

[0003] Furthermore, DE 10 2012 104 986 A1 discloses a motor vehicle with a body opening in which a charging socket with at least one electrical charging port is arranged. The motor vehicle has a pivoting cover flap which, in its closed position, conceals the body opening so that the electrical charging socket is not accessible from the outside, while in its open position the electrical charging socket is accessible.

[0004] Other state-of-the-art standards include US 2013 / 0 076 059 A1, US 3 491 326 A and DE 10 2009 039 810 A1.

[0005] The object of the invention is to further develop the known motor vehicle by adding a body opening.

[0006] This problem is solved with a motor vehicle having a body opening with the features of claim 1.

[0007] According to the invention, a sealing element is attached to the inside of the locking flap. In the closed position of the locking flap, this sealing element rests directly and tightly against the front face of the electrical charging socket, thus protecting the at least one electrical charging socket from contamination. This is a simple and very effective method of protecting the at least one charging socket from contamination, as it is completely covered by the sealing element when the locking flap is closed, preventing any dirt from reaching the at least one charging socket. The sealing element can, for example, be made of a soft plastic or a soft plastic foam. Ideally, this sealing element is slightly compressed between the locking flap and the charging socket when the locking flap is closed.This ensures that the sealing element is pressed firmly against the entire front face of the charging socket, thus providing effective protection. With the arrangement according to the invention, an additional seal between the locking flap and the body opening is not strictly necessary.

[0008] The charging socket functions like a wall socket: it serves as an electrical connector between cables. A cable runs from the charging socket to a charger for at least one of the vehicle's batteries. When a charging cable is plugged into the charging socket from outside the vehicle, the vehicle's battery can be charged. The charging socket has at least one charging port, into which, for example, the contact pin of a charging cable plug can be inserted. These charging ports are recessed into the charging socket and are open at one end, allowing a plug to be inserted from this side. To ensure a reliable electrical connection between the charging port and the contact pin, at least the charging port, and preferably the entire charging socket, must be protected from dirt, weather, and environmental influences.According to the invention, the sealing element is provided for this purpose.

[0009] A plastic recess extends between the charging socket and the body panels surrounding the opening. This recess has a cutout for the charging socket and is fitted with at least one seal around its circumference to seal it against the surrounding body panels. The recess can be pre-assembled into a module together with the cover flap and its hinge. This has the advantage that, during assembly on the vehicle, only the pre-assembled module needs to be attached to the body panels surrounding the opening. This reduces assembly time on the vehicle's assembly line.

[0010] Ideally, the sealing element can be moved vertically away from the inside of the cap via a mechanical guide. In this case, a spring can also be arranged between the sealing element and the inside of the cap, which pushes the sealing element away from the inside.

[0011] The distance between the inside of the cover flap and the charging socket can vary between different vehicles due to both component tolerances and the different types of charging sockets used. The sealing element mounted on the inside must be able to compensate for these varying distances. To achieve this, the sealing element is guided vertically and is movable relative to the inside of the cover flap. When the cover flap is closed, the spring presses the sealing element continuously against the charging socket, ensuring it is always well protected, regardless of the distance. The combination of a movable sealing element and the spring thus allows for the compensation of tolerances and, if necessary, different dimensions of varying charging sockets.

[0012] Ideally, the mechanical guide has a stop that limits the maximum displacement of the sealing element away from the inside of the cap. This prevents the sealing element from being displaced unnecessarily far from the inside of the cap, which could potentially impede the cap's closing. The stop also prevents the sealing element from leaving the mechanical guide, thus ensuring it cannot be lost.

[0013] A simple way to implement such a mechanical guide consists of telescopically nested hollow bodies. The central axis of the hollow bodies is arranged perpendicular to the inside of the closure flap.

[0014] Preferably, the guide and the spring are surrounded by a sealing sleeve that protects the guide and the spring from contamination.

[0015] Further advantageous embodiments are the subject of dependent claims.

[0016] The drawing shows an embodiment of the invention, which will be described in more detail below. The individual figures show, in schematic form: Fig. 1 a perspective view of an open closure of a body opening in which a charging socket is arranged, and Fig. 2 a cut through the in Fig. 1. Arrangement shown.

[0017] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a charging socket 1 of a motor vehicle, which is arranged behind a body opening that can be closed with a cover flap 2. The cover flap 2 is located between a - in Fig. The cover flap 2 can be pivoted between a closed and an open position, as shown in Figure 1. In the open position, the charging socket 1 is accessible from the outside of the vehicle, allowing, for example, the insertion of a charging cable to charge a vehicle battery. In the closed position, the charging socket 1 is not accessible from the outside of the vehicle. The body opening is then closed with the cover flap, the outer surface of which is flush with the body components 4 surrounding the body opening, as shown in the sectional view in Figure 1. Fig. 2 are recognizable. In this way, the body opening with the closing flap 2 is so well concealed in the closed position that it is hardly noticeable that the vehicle even has a body opening.

[0018] Between the body panels surrounding the body opening and the charging socket 1, a recess 3 made of plastic extends, which has a cutout for the charging socket 1. The recess 3 rests against the surrounding body panels 4 all around. A seal 5 is also attached around the recess 3, sealing it against the surrounding body panels 4. This prevents dirty water or dust from unintentionally reaching the inside of the surrounding body panels in the area of ​​the body opening. A seal 6 is also attached to the recess 3 towards the charging socket 1, sealing it all around.

[0019] The charging socket 1 itself has several charging ports 7. The two figures Fig. 1 and Fig.2 has five charging sockets 7. Each charging socket 7 serves to establish an electrical contact between a contact pin of a plug and an electrical conductor connected to the charging socket 7 in the charging box 1. The charging sockets 7 are recessed into the charging box and open towards the front face 8 of the charging box 1, so that a plug can be inserted from the front face 8.

[0020] The locking flap 2 is pivotally mounted on the recess body 3 via a hinge arm 9 about a hinge axis 10 extending essentially in the vehicle height direction z, allowing it to pivot from its closed position to the open position and vice versa. The locking flap 2 has an outer side, which is visible from the outside of the vehicle when the locking flap 2 is closed, and an inner side 11, which faces the charging socket 1 when the locking flap 2 is closed.

[0021] On the inner surface 11 of the closure flap 2, a substantially cylindrical sealing element 12 made of a soft, rubber-like material is arranged. In the closed position of the closure flap 2, this sealing element rests directly and tightly against the front face 8 of the electrical charging socket 1, thus protecting the electrical charging ports 7 from contamination. Additionally, the sealing element 12 has a circumferential collar 12a projecting towards the charging socket 1, which, when the closure flap 2 is closed, at least partially surrounds the charging socket 1 laterally. While the sealing element 12 exhibits a certain degree of flexibility, it cannot compensate for significant differences in the distance between the front face 8 of the charging socket 1 and the inner surface 11 of the closure flap 2 to such an extent that it still maintains a secure, flat seal against the charging socket 1 when the closure flap 2 is in the closed position.Such larger differences in distance can arise, for example, due to component tolerances as well as from the use of different charging sockets 1 for different countries.

[0022] To ensure that the sealing element 12 can reliably make full contact with the charging socket 1 even with such differences in distance, the sealing element 12 is guided vertically relative to the inner surface 11 of the closure flap 2 and is permanently pressed away from the inner surface 11 of the closure flap 2 by a pre-tensioned spring 13. In the closed position of the closure flap 2, the sealing element 12 is pressed flat against the front face 8 of the charging socket 1. Two telescopically nested hollow cylinders 14 guide the sealing element 12. Each cylinder has a stop 15 at its end face, thus limiting the maximum displacement of the sealing element 12. The spring 13 is arranged centrally within the hollow cylinders 14. To protect the hollow cylinders 14 and the spring 13, these components are surrounded by a sealing sleeve 15. This sealing sleeve 15 is integrally formed with the sealing element 12 and made of the same material.It lies completely against the inside 11 of the locking flap 2.

[0023] This arrangement allows the recess body 3, with seals 5 and 6, the hinged arm 9, and the closure flap 2 with the sealing element 12, to be pre-assembled as a module. This prefabricated module can be used in many different vehicles. Due to its design, it can compensate for varying distances between the inner surface 11 of the closure flap 2 and the front face 8 of the charging socket 1, resulting from tolerances in different vehicles and / or the use of different charging sockets 1. This ensures that the charging sockets 7 of the charging socket 1 are always reliably protected from contamination when the closure flap is closed, as the sealing element 12 is always pressed flat against the front face 8 of the charging socket.

[0024] Additionally, the closing flap 2 has a circumferential lip seal 16, which seals the closing flap 2 against the recess body 3 in the closed position. This lip seal 16 thus prevents any significant amount of dirt from entering the recess body 3 towards the charging socket 1 when the closing flap 2 is in the closed position.

Claims

[1] Motor vehicle with a body opening which is surrounded by body components (4), wherein a charging socket (1) with at least one electrical charging socket (7) is arranged in the body opening, wherein the motor vehicle has a pivotable closure flap (2) which, in its closed position, covers the body opening so that the electrical charging socket (1) is not accessible from the outside, while in its open position the electrical charging socket (1) is accessible from the outside, characterized bythat a sealing element (12) is attached to the inside (11) of the closure flap (2), which sealing element, in the closed position of the closure flap (2), lies flat and sealingly directly against the end face (8) of the electrical charging socket (1), so that the at least one electrical charging socket (7) is protected from environmental influences, and that a recessed body (3) made of plastic extends between the charging socket (1) and the body components (4) surrounding the body opening, said recessed body having a recess for the charging socket (1), and on which at least one seal (5) is attached all the way around, which seals the recessed body (3) from the surrounding body components (4). [2] Motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized by that the sealing element (12) can be displaced vertically away from the inside (11) of the closure cap (2) via a mechanical guide. [3] Motor vehicle according to claim 2, characterized bythat a spring (13) is arranged between the sealing element (12) and the inner side (11) of the closure flap (2), which spring presses the sealing element (12) away from the inner side (11). [4] Motor vehicle according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by that the mechanical guide has a stop which limits the maximum displacement path of the sealing element (12) away from the inside (11) of the closure cap (2). [5] Motor vehicle according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized by that the mechanical guide consists of hollow bodies (14) which are guided telescopically into one another. [6] Motor vehicle according to claim 3 or one of claims 4 or 5 in their reference back to claim 3, characterized by that the mechanical guide and the spring (13) are surrounded by a sealing sleeve (15). [7] Motor vehicle according to claim 6, characterized by that the sealing element (12) and the sealing sleeve (15) are made in one piece. [8] Motor vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a seal (16) is attached to the closure flap (2), which seals the closure flap (2) in its closed position against the trough body (3) all around. [9] Motor vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a further seal (6) is attached to the trough body (3), which seals the trough body (3) all around against the charging socket (1).

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