Energy supply arrangement for supplying a motor vehicle with electrical energy via a conductive plug connection and method for operating an energy supply arrangement

Abstract

A power supply arrangement (1) for supplying a motor vehicle (2) with electrical energy via a conductive plug connection, comprising a stationary charging station (3) and a charging socket (4) arranged on board the motor vehicle (2), wherein the charging station (3) has a charging plug (5) with a cylindrical base body (6), on the outer surface (7) of which a plurality of electrical contacts (8) are arranged, wherein the base body (6) is encompassed by a protective ring (9) which covers the contacts (8) in a first position and releases them in a second position for contacting mating contacts (26) of the charging socket (4), characterized in that the charging plug (5) is extendable in the direction of the motor vehicle (2), wherein the charging plug (5) is translationally displaceable only in the vertical direction by means of a lifting device and is connected via a flexible element (10) to a base element (11) which is displaceable by means of the lifting device,wherein the flexible element (10) allows flexible tilting of the charging plug (5) relative to the base element (11) at least temporarily, wherein an end face (13) of the base body (6) and an end face (14) of the protective ring (9) are flush with a base plate (15) of the charging station (3) in a retracted position of the base element (11), wherein the protective ring (9) is displaced from the first position to the second position when the charging plug (5) reaches the charging socket (4) by the protective ring (9) coming into contact with a contact ring (20) surrounding a plug receptacle (18) in the circumferential direction, and the charging plug (5) is extended further in the direction of the charging socket (4).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a power supply arrangement for supplying a motor vehicle with electrical energy via a conductive plug connection, comprising a stationary charging station and a charging socket arranged on board the motor vehicle. The charging station comprises a charging plug with a cylindrical base body, on the outer surface of which a plurality of electrical contacts are arranged. The base body is encompassed by a protective ring that covers the contacts in a first position and exposes them in a second position for contacting mating contacts of the charging socket. The invention further relates to a method for operating a power supply arrangement.

[0002] For example, the prior art document DE 10 2014 200 290 A1 is known. This document describes a charging device, a charging system, and a method for charging a vehicle battery, as well as an electrical connection device for charging a vehicle battery.The electrical charging device comprises: a lifting device to which a charging head is coupled; wherein the charging head has a first plurality of first electrical contacts on or on a first surface of the charging head, which are at least partially connectable to an energy source for charging the battery; and an actuator by means of which the lifting device can be actuated such that the charging head can be moved at least partially in a first direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first surface; wherein the lifting device is further oriented such that, upon impact in the first direction against a stop surface, the charging head can be moved in a second direction along the stop surface by continued actuation of the lifting device by the actuator.

[0003] Furthermore, the document DE 10 2011 082 092 A1 describes a charging device for the automated establishment and separation of a charging connection in a plug-in vehicle, wherein the charging device comprises the plug-in vehicle, a charging electrical system, a charging station and a charging cable for charging an energy storage device of the vehicle via a wired charging connection, the charging electrical system comprises a socket and the charging cable comprises a plug, and the charging device is designed such that the socket has one or more insertion funnels, the plug has one or more insertion pins, each insertion pin is assigned to a specific insertion funnel, information is exchangeable between the charging station and the charging electrical system when the charging connection is established, information is exchangeable between the charging station and the vehicle when the charging connection is not established,that the plug and a reinforcing section of the charging cable adjoining the plug are movable in a predetermined spatial direction in the form of a coupling movement over a maximum predetermined coupling length by a guide mechanism encompassed by the charging station, and that the plug and a reinforcing section of the charging cable adjoining the plug are movable over the coupling length in the form of a decoupling movement against the predetermined spatial direction by a guide mechanism encompassed by the charging station.

[0004] The document DE 10 2017 115 224 A1 relates to a charging plug for transmitting a charging current to an electrically operated vehicle, comprising a plurality of contact elements for electrically contacting the charging plug with contact elements of a charging socket. The charging plug has a conical or cylindrical plug body, on the outer surface of which a plurality of contact tracks extending concentrically around the plug body are formed, distributed in the axial direction.

[0005] The prior art also includes the documents DE 10 2017 218 226 A1, DE 10 2018 116 718 A1 and EP 3 043 421 B1.

[0006] It is an object of the invention to describe a power supply arrangement for supplying a motor vehicle with electrical energy via a conductive plug connection, which has advantages over known power supply arrangements, in particular enables the conductive plug connection to be produced in a permanently reliable manner.

[0007] This is achieved according to the invention with a power supply arrangement having the features of claim 1.It is provided that the charging plug is extendable in the direction of the motor vehicle, wherein the charging plug is translationally displaceable only in the vertical direction by means of a lifting device and is connected via a flexible element to a base element displaceable by means of the lifting device, wherein the flexible element allows a flexible tilting of the charging plug with respect to the base element at least temporarily, wherein an end face of the base body and an end face of the protective ring are flush with a base plate of the charging station in a retracted position of the base element, wherein the protective ring is displaced from the first position into the second position when the charging plug reaches the charging socket, in that the protective ring comes into contact with a contact ring which encompasses a plug receptacle in the circumferential direction and the charging plug is extended further in the direction of the charging socket.

[0008] The energy supply arrangement serves to supply the motor vehicle with electrical energy. The electrical energy is used, for example, to operate an energy consumer of the motor vehicle. The energy consumer can, for example, be an energy storage device of the motor vehicle, which serves to temporarily store electrical energy. In this case, the electrical energy is preferably used to charge the energy storage device. The energy storage device is preferably a traction battery, i.e., an energy storage device for a traction drive of the motor vehicle, by means of which a drive torque directed towards driving the motor vehicle can be provided, or is provided at least temporarily.

[0009] The energy supply arrangement comprises, as essential components, the stationary charging station located away from the motor vehicle and the charging socket on board the motor vehicle. The charging station is connected to an energy source or power source, preferably permanently. At least temporarily, the electrical energy provided by the energy source is transferred via the charging station to the charging socket and thus supplied to the motor vehicle via the charging socket, for example, to operate the energy consumer or to charge the energy storage device.

[0010] The charging station is preferably essentially stationary, for example, it is at least partially and / or at least temporarily embedded in a substrate on which the motor vehicle is located. The charging station and the charging socket serve to establish the conductive plug connection. Within the framework of the conductive plug connection, the electrical energy is transferred from the charging station to the motor vehicle or the charging socket in a completely conductive manner. For this purpose, the charging station has a charging plug, which can be inserted into the charging socket to establish the conductive plug connection.

[0011] The charging plug can be extended towards the motor vehicle. This means that the charging plug can be arranged in at least two different positions. For example, in a first position it is arranged away from the charging socket, whereas in a second position it rests against it or engages with it to establish the conductive plug connection. Particularly preferably, the charging plug is completely received in the base in the first position. For example, in the first position, an upper side of the charging plug facing the motor vehicle is arranged flush with the base and / or a cover of the charging station. This means that in its first position the charging plug does not protrude beyond the base or the cover, but is flush with the base or the cover. In this way, the charging plug is reliably protected.

[0012] The charging plug comprises a cylindrical base body, which has an end face facing the motor vehicle—corresponding to the top face facing the motor vehicle—as well as the lateral surfaces. The end face is completely encompassed by the lateral surface in the circumferential direction relative to a longitudinal center axis of the cylindrical base body. The base body can, in principle, be of any desired cylindrical shape. However, it is particularly preferably circular-cylindrical, i.e., has a round end face from which the lateral surface, also with a round cross-section, extends.

[0013] The charging plug has several electrical contacts for establishing the conductive connection. In at least one position of the charging plug and, depending on the appropriate arrangement of the motor vehicle or charging socket, the electrical contacts are in conductive electrical connection with mating contacts of the charging socket. In this position, the conductive connection is established between the charging plug and the charging socket, and between the energy source and the energy consumer, preferably the energy storage device, via the electrical contacts and the electrical mating contacts that are in conductive connection with the electrical contacts.

[0014] Particularly preferably, the charging plug is lockable in the charging socket. This means that the charging plug is locked after being inserted into the charging socket and can only be removed from the charging socket after the locking mechanism is released. In this case, it can be provided that the charging plug is pre-tensioned in the direction away from the charging socket after being inserted into the charging socket and locked therein. In this case, the charging plug is automatically pulled out of the charging socket as soon as the locking mechanism is released or becomes loose.

[0015] The electrical contacts are arranged on the outer surface of the charging plug or the base body. Particularly preferably, there are no electrical contacts on the front side of the charging plug, so that the electrical contacts are arranged exclusively on or at the outer surface. For example, the electrical contacts are distributed, in particular evenly distributed, around the circumference of the base body in the circumferential direction relative to the longitudinal center axis of the base body. Additionally or alternatively, it can be provided that the electrical contacts are aligned with one another in the axial direction relative to the longitudinal center axis, are overlapping with one another, are adjacent to one another, or are arranged at a distance from one another.

[0016] In principle, any distribution of the electrical contacts on the outer surface is permissible, as long as the electrical contacts are arranged such that, after the charging plug has been properly positioned in the charging socket, they are in conductive electrical connection with the electrical mating contacts. Particularly preferably, each of the electrical contacts is assigned at least one electrical mating contact of the charging socket, in particular precisely one electrical mating contact, and vice versa. After the charging plug has been inserted into the charging socket, each of the electrical contacts is in conductive connection with at least one of the electrical mating contacts, in particular precisely one of the electrical mating contacts.

[0017] To ensure a permanently reliable conductive plug connection, the base body is surrounded by a protective ring, which is arranged and / or mounted on the cylindrical base body in a displaceable manner. The protective ring can be arranged in different positions, namely at least in the first position and the second position. In the first position, the protective ring surrounds the base body in such a way that it completely covers the contacts, i.e., it overlaps them and completely engages over them. In the second position, however, the protective ring exposes the electrical contacts, allowing them to establish a conductive electrical connection with the mating contacts of the charging socket.

[0018] The protective ring is particularly preferably designed and / or arranged or mounted on the base body in such a way that an end face of the protective ring is aligned with the end face of the base body in the first position. This means that in the above-described first position of the charging plug, not only the end face of the base body or its upper side is aligned with the surface or the cover of the charging station, but also the end face of the protective ring. This ensures reliable protection of the electrical contacts from external influences. The cover is, for example, a base plate of the charging station.

[0019] Furthermore, the guard ring particularly preferably runs over the electrical contacts when it is moved between the first position and the second position, or vice versa, so that the guard ring cleans the electrical contacts. For this purpose, for example, the guard ring has a cleaning device facing the electrical contacts, in particular in the form of a cleaning brush or the like. This is arranged such that it runs over the electrical contacts to clean them when the guard ring is moved between the first position and the second position, or vice versa.

[0020] Before inserting the charging plug into the charging socket, the protective ring must be moved from its first position to the second position to enable the conductive plug connection to be established, i.e., the establishment of an electrical connection between the electrical contacts and the electrical mating contacts. It may be provided that the protective ring is moved from the first position to the second position while the charging plug is being extended, i.e., simultaneously. In this case, it may be provided that the protective ring is moved at the beginning of the charging plug's extension or at least before the charging plug reaches the charging socket.

[0021] According to the invention, however, the protective ring is only shifted from the first position to its second position when the charging plug reaches the charging socket, particularly while the protective ring is in contact with the charging socket. This particularly effectively prevents contamination of the electrical contacts because the contact of the protective ring with the charging socket reliably protects the electrical contacts from external influences.

[0022] According to the invention, the protective ring is displaced by the protective ring resting against the charging socket and the simultaneous extension of the charging plug. For this purpose, the charging socket has a contact ring for the protective ring, which circumferentially surrounds a plug receptacle of the charging socket. As the charging plug is extended, the protective ring comes into contact with the contact ring. As the charging plug is extended further towards the charging socket, the protective ring is forced from its first position to its second position, while simultaneously the contacts are retracted into the plug receptacle. Accordingly, the protective ring always encapsulates the electrical contacts from the outside environment.With such a design, a separate drive for moving the protective ring can also be dispensed with, although such a drive can of course be provided, for example in the form of an electric motor or an electromagnetic actuator.

[0023] The invention provides that the charging plug can be translated solely in the vertical direction by means of a lifting device. The lifting device is a component of the charging station and serves to move the charging plug in the vertical direction. The vertical direction is preferably understood to be an axial direction relative to the longitudinal center axis of the base body. The lifting device is designed such that it allows the charging plug to be moved into the charging socket so that, after being moved in, the electrical contacts are present in the plug receptacle of the charging socket and are in conductive connection with the electrical mating contacts. Moving the charging plug solely in the vertical direction enables a particularly simple and cost-effective design of the charging station.

[0024] A further development of the invention provides that the charging socket can be translationally displaced in at least one spatial direction parallel to an underbody of the motor vehicle by means of a displacement device. The displacement device serves to displace the charging socket parallel to the underbody of the motor vehicle, i.e. along a straight line running parallel to the underbody or in a plane arranged parallel to the underbody. Displacing the charging socket by means of the displacement device enables the position of the charging socket to be adjusted to the position of the charging plug while the motor vehicle is stationary. The displacement device thus enables the position of the charging socket to be adjusted to the position of the charging plug without displacing the motor vehicle.

[0025] The charging socket can preferably be displaced exclusively parallel to the underbody of the motor vehicle. The at least one spatial direction is understood to be a direction that runs along the aforementioned straight line or lies in the imaginary plane. For example, the spatial direction runs parallel to a longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle or perpendicular to this. Particularly preferably, the charging socket can be displaced in two mutually perpendicular spatial directions by means of the displacement device, so that a two-dimensional displacement of the charging socket is possible through appropriate design of the displacement device. For example, one of the spatial directions runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle and another of the spatial directions is perpendicular to this. This enables a particularly flexible and reliable production of the conductive plug connection.

[0026] A further development of the invention provides that the protective ring is spring-loaded towards the first position. The spring force is generated, for example, by means of a spring element, which preferably acts on the protective ring on the one hand and on the base body on the other. The spring force urges the protective ring towards the first position, in particular into the first position, provided the protective ring is not influenced by external forces, for example by it resting against the charging socket or the contact ring. This ensures that the protective ring re-engages the electrical contacts as quickly as possible after the charging plug is removed from the charging socket, thus protecting them from external influences. Accordingly, a long service life of the electrical contacts is achieved.

[0027] The invention provides that the charging plug is connected via a flexible element to a base element that can be displaced by means of the lifting device, wherein the flexible element allows flexible tilting of the charging plug relative to the base element, at least temporarily. The lifting device does not interact directly with the charging plug or the base body of the charging plug to displace it, but is connected to the charging plug via the base element and the flexible element. The lifting device directly causes a displacement of the base element, which in turn is connected to the charging plug via the flexible element.

[0028] The flexible element is preferably elastic and allows the flexible tilting of the charging plug relative to the base element, at least temporarily. Tilting means that a longitudinal center axis of the charging plug or the base body, which normally coincides with a longitudinal center axis of the base element, is angled relative to the longitudinal center axis of the base element during or after tilting, i.e., forms an angle with it that differs from 0° to 180°. The flexible tilting of the charging plug relative to the charging element achieves tolerance compensation, so that the charging plug can always be reliably inserted into the charging socket to establish the conductive plug connection.

[0029] A further development of the invention provides that the flexible element is fixed in a retracted position of the base element and released in an extended position. The flexible tilting of the charging plug relative to the base element is therefore only possible in the extended position of the base element, i.e., while the base element is displaced from its retracted position to move the charging plug towards the charging socket. For example, in the retracted position of the base element, the flexible element is encompassed by a tubular body, which prevents flexible tilting. In the extended position, however, the flexible element is arranged outside the tubular body, and flexible tilting is accordingly enabled.

[0030] Particularly preferably, the flexible element retracts into the tubular body when the base element is moved from the extended position to the retracted position, and is thereby forced from a possibly existing tilted position toward a non-tilted position, so that when the base element is retracted into the retracted position, the charging plug is aligned in a non-tilted manner with respect to the base element. This ensures reliable retraction of the charging plug.

[0031] The invention provides that the charging plug and the protective ring are flush with the base plate of the charging station when the base element is retracted. As already indicated above, the front sides or top sides of the charging plug and the protective ring are to be flush with the base plate so that the charging plug and the protective ring do not protrude beyond the base plate. This provides excellent protection for the charging plug and the protective ring.

[0032] A further development of the invention provides that the displacement device has a cleaning device for the charging plug. The displacement device, which enables the translational displacement of the charging socket, additionally has the cleaning device that serves to clean the charging plug. For example, the cleaning device is designed as a cleaning brush or the like. The displacement device is provided and designed not only for the displacement of the charging socket, but also for the displacement of the cleaning device, for example, the cleaning brush.

[0033] It can be provided that the relocation device initially positions the charging socket away from the charging plug, so that when the charging plug is extended toward the motor vehicle, the charging plug does not retract into the charging socket, but is positioned for cleaning by the cleaning device, for example, resting against the cleaning device. In the latter case, the cleaning device is preferably relocated to clean the charging plug, for example, moved back and forth at least once or even several times.

[0034] The charging socket is then aligned with the charging plug using the repositioning device, and the charging plug is further extended until it engages with the charging socket. Particularly preferably, the charging plug is retracted slightly after cleaning with the cleaning device, namely only partially, so that the alignment of the charging socket with the charging plug using the repositioning device takes place without any contact between the charging plug and the charging socket and / or the cleaning device. The charging plug is then extended again until it engages with the charging socket.

[0035] A further development of the invention provides that the contacts are present as energy transmission contacts, and that the charging plug has signal transmission contacts in addition to the energy transmission contacts. The energy transmission contacts and the signal transmission contacts are arranged alternately over a circumference of the base body of the charging plug, and the energy transmission contacts have larger dimensions in the circumferential direction than the signal transmission contacts. The energy transmission contacts serve to transmit electrical energy with higher power than the signal transmission contacts. For example, the electrical power that can be transmitted via the energy transmission contacts is greater by a factor of at least 10, at least 100, or at least 1000 than the electrical power that can be transmitted via the signal transmission contacts.

[0036] Preferably, the conductive plug connection for supplying the motor vehicle with electrical energy is established via the energy transmission contacts, thus ultimately the electrical connection between the charging station and / or the energy source on the one hand, and the energy consumer of the motor vehicle on the other. The signal transmission contacts, on the other hand, preferably serve only to detect a properly established conductive plug connection and / or to establish data transmission between the energy supply arrangement and the motor vehicle, for example, by means of pulse width modulation or power line communication. Preferably, the energy transmission contacts are completely electrically separated from the energy source until the signal transmission contacts indicate that the conductive plug connection has been properly established.Only then is the electrical connection established between the energy transfer contacts and the energy source, so that the motor vehicle or the energy consumer is supplied with electrical energy via the energy transfer contacts.

[0037] In any case, the power transmission contacts and the signal transmission contacts are spaced circumferentially in such a way that sufficient dielectric strength is ensured and creepage distances between the contacts are avoided. The power transmission contacts have larger dimensions in the circumferential direction than the signal transmission contacts. Additionally or alternatively, they also have larger dimensions in the axial direction than the signal transmission contacts. This design of the power transmission contacts and the signal transmission contacts ensures that reliable power transmission via the power transmission contacts is possible as soon as the signal transmission contacts indicate that the conductive connection has been properly established.

[0038] According to the above, the charging socket has mating contacts for the contacts of the charging plug. The mating contacts that interact with the energy transmission contacts are referred to as energy transmission mating contacts, and the mating contacts that interact with the signal transmission contacts are referred to as signal transmission mating contacts. Preferably, the energy transmission mating contacts have dimensions in the circumferential direction that differ from the dimensions of the energy transmission contacts in the same direction.

[0039] Preferably, the dimensions of the power transmission contacts in the circumferential direction are at least 50%, at least 75%, or at least 100% larger than the dimensions of the power transmission mating contacts, or vice versa. The dimensions of the signal transmission contacts in the circumferential direction are, for example, at least 100%, at least 150%, at least 200%, or at least 250% larger than the dimensions of the signal transmission mating contacts in the same direction, or vice versa. This achieves a good angular tolerance.

[0040] Additionally or alternatively, the ratio between the dimensions of the signal transmission mating contacts and the dimensions of the signal transmission contacts is greater than the ratio between the dimensions of the power transmission contacts and the dimensions of the power transmission mating contacts, in each case in the circumferential direction and / or in the axial direction. With such a design, the signal transmission contacts only detect the proper establishment of the conductive plug connection when it can be reliably assumed that the power transmission contacts and the power transmission mating contacts are reliably conductively connected to one another.

[0041] A further development of the invention provides that the charging plug and / or the charging socket can be rotated by means of a rotary drive. Using the rotary drive, angular deviations between the charging plug and the charging socket can be easily compensated. For example, the charging plug or the charging socket is rotated by the rotary drive until the signal transmission contacts detect the presence of a conductive plug connection. Only then are the power transmission contacts electrically connected to the power source.

[0042] The invention further relates to a method for operating an energy supply arrangement for supplying a motor vehicle with electrical energy via a conductive plug connection, in particular an energy supply arrangement according to the statements in the context of this description, wherein the energy supply arrangement has a stationary charging station and a charging socket arranged on board the motor vehicle, wherein the charging station has a charging plug with a cylindrical base body, on the outer surface of which a plurality of electrical contacts are arranged, wherein the base body is encompassed by a protective ring which covers the contacts in a first position and releases them in a second position for contacting mating contacts of the charging socket.It is provided that the charging plug is extendable in the direction of the motor vehicle, wherein the charging plug is translationally displaceable only in the vertical direction by means of a lifting device and is connected via a flexible element to a base element displaceable by means of the lifting device, wherein the flexible element allows a flexible tilting of the charging plug with respect to the base element at least temporarily, wherein an end face of the base body and an end face of the protective ring are flush with a base plate of the charging station in a retracted position of the base element, wherein the protective ring is displaced from the first position into the second position when the charging plug reaches the charging socket, in that the protective ring comes into contact with a contact ring which encompasses a plug receptacle in the circumferential direction and the charging plug is extended further in the direction of the charging socket.

[0043] The advantages of such a design of the power supply arrangement or such a procedure have already been pointed out. Both the power supply arrangement and the method for its operation can be further developed according to the explanations in this description, so reference is made to these in this regard.

[0044] The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, without limiting the invention. In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a power supply arrangement, wherein a charging plug is arranged in a first position, Fig. 2 a schematic sectional view of the power supply arrangement, wherein the charging plug is arranged in a second position, Fig. 3 a schematic representation of the power supply arrangement, wherein the charging plug is arranged in a third position, Fig. 4 a schematic sectional view of the power supply arrangement, wherein the charging plug is arranged in a fourth position, Fig. 5 a schematic representation of an area of ​​a motor vehicle with a charging socket of the energy supply arrangement, and Fig. 6 a schematic sectional view of the charging plug arranged in the charging socket.

[0045] The Fig. 1 shows a schematic sectional view of a power supply arrangement 1 for supplying a motor vehicle 2 with electrical energy via a conductive plug connection. The power supply arrangement 1 has a stationary charging station 3 and a charging socket 4 arranged on board the motor vehicle 2. The charging station 3 has a charging plug 5 that can be extended towards the motor vehicle 2 or the charging socket 4. The charging plug 5 has a cylindrical base body 6, on whose outer surface 7 a plurality of electrical contacts 8 are arranged. The base body 6 is at least temporarily encompassed by a protective ring 9 such that the contacts 8 are covered by the protective ring 9.

[0046] The charging plug 5 is connected via a flexible element 10 to a base element 11, which can be displaced in the vertical direction, i.e., in the direction of the motor vehicle 2, by means of a lifting device (not shown here). The flexible element 10 is arranged in a tubular body 12, at least in the first position of the charging plug 5 shown here, thereby preventing flexible tilting of the charging plug 5 relative to the base element 11. In the first position of the charging plug 5 shown here, an end face 13 of the base body 6 and an end face 14 of the protective ring 9 are flush with a base plate 15 of the charging station 3, namely in such a way that the charging plug 5 and the protective ring 9 do not protrude beyond it. In this respect, the charging plug 5 is excellently protected against external influences in its first position.

[0047] The charging socket 4 has a plurality of mating contacts 16 for establishing an electrical connection between the charging plug 5 and the charging socket 4. These are arranged in a cylindrical outer surface 17, which radially defines a plug receptacle 18. The plug receptacle 18 is encompassed, at least on its side having a mouth opening 19, by a support ring 20, which is provided and designed to displace the protective ring 9 relative to the base body 6.

[0048] The Fig. Figure 2 shows the energy supply arrangement 1 in a schematic representation with the charging plug 5 in a second position. In this position, the charging plug 5 has been displaced in the direction of arrow 21 toward the motor vehicle 2 or the charging socket 4. It is clear that the protective ring 9 continues to surround the contacts 8 and that the tubular body 12 continues to accommodate the flexible element 10.

[0049] The Fig. Figure 3 again schematically shows the power supply assembly 1, with the charging plug 5 arranged in a third position. In this position, the protective ring 9 continues to surround the contacts 8, but rests against the contact ring 20. The flexible element 10 is arranged partially outside the tubular body 12.

[0050] In the Fig. Figure 4 shows a schematic representation of the energy supply arrangement 1 with the charging plug 5 arranged in a fourth position. Compared to the third position, the charging plug 5 has been displaced further in the direction of the motor vehicle 2, so that the protective ring 9 is pushed by the contact ring 20 into a second position, in which it is located away from the electrical contacts 8, thus exposing them. In the fourth position, the charging plug 5 is arranged completely in the charging socket 4 or the plug receptacle 18, namely in such a way that the contacts 8 are in electrically conductive connection to the mating contacts 16. The flexible element 10 is now arranged outside the tubular body 12, so that the flexible element 10 allows the charging plug 5 to tilt relative to the base element 11, thus achieving tolerance compensation.

[0051] The Fig. 5 shows a schematic representation of an area of ​​the motor vehicle 2, namely an underbody of the motor vehicle 2. Located thereon is the charging socket 4, which can be translated by means of a displacement device 22. Preferably, the displacement device 22 enables a displacement of the charging socket 4 in two mutually perpendicular spatial directions in an imaginary plane arranged parallel to the underbody of the motor vehicle 2. Preferably, the displacement device 22 also has a receptacle for the charging socket 4, in which the charging socket 4 is arranged when it is not required to establish the conductive plug connection with the charging plug 5. In the receptacle, it is protected from external influences from the outside environment.

[0052] The displacement device 22 has a cleaning device 23 for cleaning the charging plug 5. The cleaning device 23 is designed, for example, in the manner of a cleaning brush. Preferably, the displacement device 22 has a conveyor belt 24, by means of which the charging socket 4 can be displaced in at least one of the spatial directions, preferably parallel to a longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle 2. In the lateral direction, i.e., perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle 2, the charging socket 4 can be displaced preferably by means of a carriage of the displacement device 22 (not shown in detail).

[0053] The Fig.6 shows a sectional view of the charging plug 5 arranged in the charging socket 4. The contacts 8 of the charging plug 5 are energy transmission contacts. In addition, the charging plug 5 has signal transmission contacts 25. Each of the energy transmission contacts 8 is assigned a counter-energy transmission contact 26 of the charging socket 4. Analogously, each of the signal transmission contacts 25 is assigned a counter-signal transmission contact 27 of the charging socket 4. It can be seen that the energy transmission contacts 8 have larger dimensions in the circumferential direction than the signal transmission contacts 25. In addition, the energy transmission contacts 8 preferably have larger dimensions in the circumferential direction than the counter-energy transmission contacts 26. Additionally or alternatively, the dimensions of the signal transmission contacts 25 are larger in the circumferential direction than those of the counter-signal transmission contacts 27. This achieves an angular tolerance.

[0054] The signal transmission contacts 25 are used in conjunction with the signal transmission mating contacts 27 to detect the proper establishment of the conductive plug connection. As soon as the signal transmission contacts 25 and the signal transmission mating contacts 27 determine that such a connection is established, a transfer of electrical energy is initiated via the energy transmission contacts 8 and the energy transmission mating contacts 26. For example, the signal transmission contacts 8 are only connected to a power source via the charging station 3 from this point onward.

[0055] The described design of the power supply device 1 has the advantage that a reliable production of the conductive plug connection is always possible and that contamination or damage to the contacts 8 due to external influences is reliably avoided. LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS: 1 Power supply arrangement 2 motor vehicles 3 charging stations 4 Charging socket 5 charging plugs 6 basic bodies 7 Shell surface 8 Contact 9 Protective ring 10 flexible element 11 Basic element 12 bodies 13 Front side 14 Front side 15 Base plate 16 counter contacts 17 Shell surface 18 Plug socket 19 Muzzle opening 20 investment ring 21 Arrow 22 Relocation facility 23 Cleaning device 24 treadmill 25 Signal transmission contact 26 Energy transfer counter contact 27 Signal transmission contact

Claims

[1] Energy supply arrangement (1) for supplying a motor vehicle (2) with electrical energy via a conductive plug connection, with a stationary charging station (3) and a charging socket (4) arranged on board the motor vehicle (2), wherein the charging station (3) has a charging plug (5) with a cylindrical base body (6), on the outer surface (7) of which a plurality of electrical contacts (8) are arranged, wherein the base body (6) is encompassed by a protective ring (9) which covers the contacts (8) in a first position and releases them in a second position for contacting mating contacts (26) of the charging socket (4), characterized bythat the charging plug (5) is extendable in the direction of the motor vehicle (2), wherein the charging plug (5) is translationally displaceable only in the vertical direction by means of a lifting device and is connected via a flexible element (10) to a base element (11) displaceable by means of the lifting device, wherein the flexible element (10) allows a flexible tilting of the charging plug (5) with respect to the base element (11) at least temporarily, wherein an end face (13) of the base body (6) and an end face (14) of the protective ring (9) are flush with a base plate (15) of the charging station (3) in a retracted position of the base element (11), wherein the protective ring (9) is displaced from the first position into the second position when the charging plug (5) reaches the charging socket (4),by the protective ring (9) coming into contact with a contact ring (20) surrounding a plug receptacle (18) in the circumferential direction and the charging plug (5) being extended further in the direction of the charging socket (4). [2] Power supply arrangement according to claim 1, characterized by that the charging socket (4) can be translationally displaced by means of a displacement device (22) in at least one spatial direction parallel to an underbody of the motor vehicle (2). [3] Power supply arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the protective ring (9) is spring-loaded in the direction of the first position. [4] Power supply arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the flexible element (10) is fixed in the retracted position of the base element (11) and released in an extended position. [5] Power supply arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the contacts (8) are present as energy transmission contacts and the charging plug (5) has signal transmission contacts (25) in addition to the energy transmission contacts (8), wherein the energy transmission contacts (8) and the signal transmission contacts (25) are arranged alternately over a circumference of the base body (6) of the charging plug (5), and wherein the energy transmission contacts (8) have larger dimensions in the circumferential direction than the signal transmission contacts (25). [6] Power supply arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the charging plug (5) and / or the charging socket (4) can be rotated by means of a rotary drive. [7] Method for operating a power supply arrangement (1) for supplying a motor vehicle (2) with electrical energy via a conductive plug connection, in particular a power supply device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the power supply arrangement (1) has a stationary charging station (3) and a charging socket (4) arranged on board the motor vehicle (2), wherein the charging station (3) has a charging plug (5) with a cylindrical base body (6), on the outer surface (7) of which a plurality of electrical contacts (8) are arranged, wherein the base body (6) is encompassed by a protective ring (9) which covers the contacts (8) in a first position and releases them in a second position for contacting mating contacts (26) of the charging socket (4), characterized bythat the charging plug (5) is extendable in the direction of the motor vehicle (2), wherein the charging plug (5) is translationally displaceable only in the vertical direction by means of a lifting device and is connected via a flexible element (10) to a base element (11) displaceable by means of the lifting device, wherein the flexible element (10) allows a flexible tilting of the charging plug (5) with respect to the base element (11) at least temporarily, wherein an end face (13) of the base body (6) and an end face (14) of the protective ring (9) are flush with a base plate (15) of the charging station (3) in a retracted position of the base element (11), wherein the protective ring (9) is displaced from the first position into the second position when the charging plug (5) reaches the charging socket (4),by the protective ring (9) coming into contact with a contact ring (20) surrounding a plug receptacle (18) in the circumferential direction and the charging plug (5) being extended further in the direction of the charging socket (4).

Images