Cable reel for a vehicle charging cable

Abstract

cable reel (1) for a vehicle charging cable (14), comprising - a cable drum (10) on which the vehicle charging cable (14) is wound in the intended transport state, - with a shaft (22) to which the cable drum (10) is connected concentrically to its axis of rotation (12), - with a support assembly (2) on which the cable drum (10) is rotatably mounted on both sides by means of the shaft (22), - with a coil spring (26) which is coupled to the support assembly (2) and the cable drum (10) in such a way that the coil spring (26) is tensioned when the cable drum (10) is rotated in a rolling direction (18), and - with a freewheel (16) connected between the cable drum (10) and the support assembly (2), which inhibits the rotation of the cable drum (10) in the winding direction (20) opposite to the unwinding direction (18), wherein the support assembly (2) has a handle element (8) at least on one side to the shaft (22) in the area of ​​the axis of rotation (12), wherein the freewheel (16) is designed such that when a force is applied to the handle element (8) in an opening direction (39) directed towards an end plate (34) of the cable drum (10), the inhibiting effect of the freewheel (16) is released.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a cable reel for a vehicle charging cable.

[0002] For charging electric vehicles independently of charging stations with permanently installed charging cables, for example at a household outlet, separate cables are used. Since the charging connections on the vehicle side, and usually also on the electrical installation side, are typically specific, the use of conventional extension cords is generally not an option. Therefore, many (electric) vehicles carry a dedicated charging cable for such situations. A disadvantage is that this charging cable often lies on the ground and thus gets dirty, especially in bad weather. Storing the charging cable, for example in a bag and / or a designated storage compartment, usually results in dirty hands, which is inconvenient, for example, when traveling to an appointment (especially without access to washing facilities).

[0003] From DE 197 08 654 A1 a portable hose or cable drum is known, which has a stand frame as well as a drum body rotatably mounted on it and a winding device for automatically winding the hose or cable.

[0004] A cable drum is also known from DE 10 2018 201 712 A1. This drum has a drum body rotatably mounted on an axis and a locking device for securing the drum body relative to a stationary support body. At least one locking element is arranged on the support body, which can be positioned between a releasably fixed locking position and a releasably fixed release position by means of a switching movement. In the locking position, the locking element engages in a locking structure on the drum body to prevent rotation of the drum body and is designed as a locking slide that can be moved between the locking position and the release position by means of a linear switching movement.

[0005] The invention is based on the objective of improving the handling of a vehicle charging cable.

[0006] According to the invention, this problem is solved by a cable reel with the features of claim 1. Further advantageous and partly inventive embodiments and developments of the invention are set out in the dependent claims and the following description.

[0007] The cable reel according to the invention (also referred to as a "cable winder") serves for winding up, and in particular for storing, a vehicle charging cable. Preferably, this vehicle charging cable is permanently connected to the cable reel at one fixed end. In this case, the cable reel expediently has connecting means for electrically connecting the vehicle charging cable to a power source (in particular a grid access point), e.g., a female connector or the like. According to the invention, however, the cable reel has at least one cable drum on which the vehicle charging cable is wound in the intended transport state. Furthermore, the cable reel has a shaft, preferably a hollow shaft, to which the cable drum is connected concentrically to its axis of rotation.Furthermore, the cable reel has a support assembly to which the cable drum is rotatably mounted on both sides by means of the shaft, at least in the intended assembly state. The support assembly optionally forms at least a partial housing for the cable drum. The cable reel also has a winding spring that is coupled to the support assembly and the cable drum in such a way that the winding spring is tensioned when the cable drum rotates in one unwinding direction (i.e., when the wound-up vehicle charging cable is unwound). The cable reel also has a freewheel located between the cable drum and the support assembly, which prevents the cable drum from rotating in the winding direction opposite to the unwinding direction. The support assembly, in turn, has a grip element on at least one side of the shaft in the area of ​​the cable drum's axis of rotation—i.e., in the area where the axis of rotation is mounted on the support assembly.The freewheel is designed in such a way that, when a force is applied to the handle element in the direction of the cable drum, the inhibiting effect of the freewheel is preferably lifted purely mechanically - i.e. without electrical measures - and thus, in particular, the rotation of the cable drum driven by the tensioned coil spring in the winding direction is released.

[0008] In other words, the invention provides a cable reel with automatic cable winding, which advantageously allows for tidy storage of the vehicle charging cable with a low risk of soiling the hands.

[0009] Preferably, the coil spring is arranged inside the hollow shaft.

[0010] Preferably, the cable drum is coupled to the support assembly via shaft journals that engage in the hollow shaft to guide and support the cable drum.

[0011] In a suitable embodiment, the support assembly is elastically compliant in the direction towards the shaft, i.e., in the direction of the force required to release the freewheel. Specifically, in this embodiment, releasing the freewheel involves an elastic displacement of at least the "housing half" that supports part of the freewheel, i.e., a support element of the support assembly. This allows the cable reel to be constructed relatively simply, particularly without switching devices with comparatively long transmission distances or the like.

[0012] In an alternative embodiment, the handle element is reversibly slidable towards the shaft (i.e., the cable drum) on the support assembly. In this case, the support assembly is inherently rigid. The handle element is spring-loaded on the corresponding housing half (or of the support element) and is connected to the part of the freewheel that is moved to release the freewheel, so that this part is moved along with the handle element when it is moved.

[0013] In a further development of each of the two aforementioned alternatives, the support assembly incorporates a locking element on its inner side, adjacent to the handle element, as part of the freewheel. With a suitably elastically designed support assembly, this locking element is displaced or "lifted" from its locking engagement with a counter-locking element of the freewheel coupled to the cable drum when a sufficient force is applied to the handle element in the direction of the axis of rotation (and the support assembly is thus elastically deformed). In this case, the locking element is rigidly coupled to the support assembly, particularly to the support element. In the alternative, the locking element is slidably hinged to the support element and, in particular, rigidly coupled to the handle element, so that when the handle element is displaced, the locking element is removed from its locking engagement.

[0014] In a further advantageous embodiment, the locking element and the counter-locking element have corresponding conical toothed surfaces. At least one of the toothed surfaces has a plurality of teeth. Optionally, the other toothed surface has only one tooth, but preferably also several teeth. To implement a positive-locking slip clutch, in particular to simplify tooth skipping during unwinding of the vehicle cable, the teeth of the locking element and the counter-locking element each have at least one tooth flank angled obliquely to the radial direction, corresponding to each other. This obliquely angled tooth flank advantageously forms a ramp surface angled obliquely to the direction of rotation, which causes an axial displacement of the locking and counter-locking elements relative to each other.The locking element and the counter-locking element are positioned relative to each other in such a way that sufficient force is applied to the handle element to axially displace the locking element and the counter-locking element from their interlocking engagement.

[0015] In an alternative embodiment to the above description, the locking element or the counter-locking element has a pawl-like toothing, particularly on the inside. The counter-locking element or the locking element accordingly has a pawl. Optionally, the term "pawl" here and in the following also includes a detent hook. The locking element and the counter-locking element are positioned relative to each other such that a sufficient force applied to the handle element—resulting in a displacement of the support element carrying the handle element or merely of the slidably hinged handle element itself—disengages the pawl from the pawl-like toothing. For example, the entire locking element, and thus also the pawl, is axially disengaged from the pawl-like toothing. This is particularly the case when the force applied to the handle element displaces the entire support element.Alternatively, the force applied to the handle element merely disengages the pawl from its engagement with the pawl teeth, in particular by folding it away. This is especially the case when the handle element is slidably hinged to the otherwise rigid support element. In this case, for example, the handle element passes through the support element and, with a projection, "levers" the pawl out of the teeth.

[0016] In a suitable embodiment, the cable drum has an oval, and in particular elliptical, cross-section, at least in the area of ​​its end faces (which are preferably each formed by an end plate), but preferably over its entire axial length. Particularly if the support assembly does not exceed the dimensions, or only slightly exceeds, the dimensions of the end faces of the cable drum, the storage space required for the cable reel, especially in a vehicle, can thus be kept as small as possible.

[0017] In another advantageous embodiment, the support assembly has at least one carrying handle that encompasses the cable drum in a U-shape. This carrying handle serves both to carry the cable reel and to hold together the support elements arranged on the two end faces of the cable drum. In the variant where the support assembly deforms upon application of force to the handle element, the carrying handle preferably forms a kind of U- or horseshoe-shaped spring.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment, the support assembly has two cover plates arranged at the ends facing the cable drum, which thus form the support elements or housing halves (or: housing shells) described above. Preferably, these two cover plates are oval, and in particular elliptical, in shape, just like the end faces of the cable drum.

[0019] In a practical embodiment, the cable drum is coupled to the support assembly in such a way that, when the freewheel's locking effect is released, the cable drum only rotates to a fixed end winding position relative to the support assembly. This is particularly advantageous in the case of an oval cable drum and especially oval cover plates of the support assembly. In this case, the end winding position is predetermined such that the cable drum is concealed by the cover plates and therefore does not protrude from beneath them. For example, this end winding position is defined by a guide track formed in one of the end plates or the cover plates, into which a guide block coupled to the corresponding cover plate or end plate engages. Additionally or alternatively, the end winding position is defined by a corresponding preload or locking mechanism on the winding spring, so that the winding spring, for example,Due to sufficient relaxation, no movement beyond the final rolling position occurs.

[0020] The conjunction “and / or” is to be understood here and in the following in particular as meaning that the features linked by means of this conjunction can be formed both jointly and as alternatives to each other.

[0021] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in more detail below with reference to a drawing. The drawing shows: Fig. 1. A cable reel in a schematic side view, Fig. 2 in a schematic partial section view the cable reel in a designated unwinding position, Fig. 3 in view according to Fig. 2 the cable reel in a winding position, and Fig. 4-6 in a schematic partial section view IV-IV according to Fig. 2 each an embodiment of a freewheel of the cable reel.

[0022] Corresponding parts in all figures are always marked with the same reference symbols.

[0023] In Fig. Figure 1 schematically depicts a cable reel 1. The cable reel 1 comprises a support assembly 2, which includes two cover plates 4 (each forming a housing shell) as support elements (see Figure 1). Fig. 2), a carrying handle 6 and a side handle 8. The cable reel 1 also includes a cable drum 10, which is rotatably mounted on the support assembly 2, specifically between the two cover plates 4, about an axis of rotation 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the cable reel 1 also includes a vehicle charging cable 14, which is permanently connected to the cable drum 10 at one fixed end and can be unwound from and wound onto the cable drum 10.

[0024] As can be seen from (the roughly schematic representation in) Fig. As can be seen from section 2, the cable reel 1 includes a freewheel 16 which is connected between the support assembly 2 and the cable drum 10. The freewheel 16 is designed to allow rotation of the cable drum 10 in an unwinding direction 18 and rotation against the unwinding direction 18, i.e., in the winding direction 20 (see section 2). Fig. 3) to inhibit, i.e., to block, the cable drum 10. The freewheel 16 is specifically coupled to a hollow shaft 22, which supports the cable drum 10 concentrically to the axis of rotation 12, and to one of the cover plates 4. The hollow shaft 22 rests at both ends on a (shaft) journal 24 located on the inside of the respective cover plate 4 and is rotatably mounted about the axis of rotation 12 by means of these journals. Inside the hollow shaft 22, a coil spring 26 is arranged such that, when the cable drum 10 rotates in the unwinding direction 18, it is tensioned between the cable drum 10 and the support assembly 2, specifically one of the journals 24. Thus, the coil spring 26 exerts a restoring force on the cable drum 10 that opposes the rotation in the unwinding direction 18.

[0025] The freewheel 16 has a locking element 28 coupled to the cover plate 4 supporting the side handle 8, and a counter-locking element 30 coupled to one end of the corresponding hollow shaft 22. In the illustrated embodiment according to Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 The locking element 30 has an external toothing 32 on a toothed surface 36 that tapers conically towards an end plate 34 of the cable drum 10. The locking element 28 has a complementary internal toothing 38. This is shown in Fig. 4 is illustrated in more detail using a symmetrical embodiment of the gear teeth.

[0026] Due to the conical tooth surface 36 and the inclined tooth flanks 40 of the locking element 30, a force component towards the end plate 34 is exerted on the locking element 28 when the cable drum 10 rotates in the unwinding direction 18. Due to sufficient elasticity of the carrying handle 6, the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. The cover plate 4 shown on the left side of the image moves towards the cable drum 10 along a so-called "opening direction" 39. In this process, the interlocking engagement between the locking element 28 and the counter-locking element 30 is briefly released, and the corresponding teeth "slide" one tooth further. This creates a positive-locking sliding coupling. The in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 left pins 24 dip into the hollow shaft 22 against the force exerted by a compression spring 42.

[0027] To enable automatic rewinding of the vehicle charging cable 14, a force in the opening direction 39 is exerted on the left cover plate 4 by means of the side handle 8. This causes the left cover plate 4 to be displaced against the spring action of the carrying handle 6 and the compression spring 42 until the interlocking engagement of the locking element 28 and the counter-locking element 30 is released. In this state, schematically represented in Fig. 3, the inhibiting effect of the freewheel 16 is lifted and the cable drum 10 can be moved in the winding direction 20 under the action of the coil spring 26.

[0028] In Fig. Figure 5 shows a further embodiment of the internal teeth 38 and the external teeth 32 of the locking element 28 and the counter-locking element 30, respectively. The external teeth 32 have a comparatively shallow tooth flank 40 that leads in the rolling direction 18, and a comparatively steep, particularly radially oriented, trailing tooth flank 44. The internal teeth 38 are shaped complementarily to this. This design of the tooth flanks 40 and 44 reduces the force to be overcome in the rolling direction 18 and the inhibiting effect in the winding direction 20 (compared to the embodiment according to Figure 5). Fig. 4) increased.

[0029] In Fig. Figure 6 shows a further embodiment of the freewheel 16. The internal toothing 38 of the locking element 28 is designed as a "pawl toothing". The counter-locking element 30 comprises a spring-loaded pawl 46. When the cable drum 10 is rotated in the unwinding direction 18, only the resistance of the return spring of the pawl 46 needs to be overcome. The toothed surface of the internal toothing 38 is optionally cylindrical. The release of the freewheel 16 in the winding direction 20 is analogous to the embodiments described above. In an alternative variant, however, the side handle 8 is movably arranged on the cover plate 4 and is movable against a spring (not shown) in the opening direction 39.When pressure is applied to the side handle 8, it is thus moved and pushes - for example with a coupled lever - the pawl 46 towards the hollow shaft 22 and thus "lifts" the pawl 86 out of the internal teeth 38.

[0030] In another embodiment, not shown in detail, a further side handle 8 is also arranged on the “right” cover plate 4.

[0031] As from Fig. As can be seen from Figure 1, the cover plates 4 and the end plates 34 of the cable drum 10 are oval, approximately elliptical. The same applies to a "winding area" (i.e., the area between the end plates 34) of the cable drum 10. This allows the cable reel 1 to be stored relatively flat in a suitable compartment of a vehicle, thus saving storage space.

[0032] The subject matter of the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. Rather, further embodiments of the invention can be derived by a person skilled in the art from the foregoing description. In particular, the individual features of the invention and their various configurations described with reference to the different embodiments can also be combined with one another in other ways. Reference symbol list 1 cable reel 2 Support assembly 4 Cover plate 6 Carrying handle 8 Side handle 10 cable drums 12 Rotation axis 14 vehicle charging cables 16 Freewheel 18 Rolling direction 20 Rolling direction 22 Hollow shaft 24 wave pins 26 coil spring 28 Locking element 30 Counter-locking element 32 External teeth 34 Front plate 36 Tooth surface 38 Internal teeth 39 Opening direction 40 Tooth flank 42 Compression spring 44 Tooth flank 46 Locking pawl

Claims

Cable reel (1) for a vehicle charging cable (14), comprising: - a cable drum (10) on which the vehicle charging cable (14) is wound in the intended transport state, - a shaft (22) to which the cable drum (10) is connected concentrically to its axis of rotation (12), - a support assembly (2) on which the cable drum (10) is rotatably mounted at both ends by means of the shaft (22), - a winding spring (26) which is coupled to the support assembly (2) and the cable drum (10) in such a way that the winding spring (26) is tensioned when the cable drum (10) rotates in an unwinding direction (18), and - a freewheel (16) connected between the cable drum (10) and the support assembly (2), which inhibits the rotation of the cable drum (10) in the winding direction (20) opposite to the unwinding direction (18), wherein the support assembly (2) in the area of ​​the axis of rotation (12) at least on one side to the shaft (22) has a handle element (8),wherein the freewheel (16) is designed such that when a force is applied to the handle element (8) in an opening direction (39) directed towards an end plate (34) of the cable drum (10), the braking effect of the freewheel (16) is released. Cable reel (1) according to claim 1, wherein the support assembly (2) is elastically flexible in the direction towards the shaft (22). Cable reel (1) according to claim 1, wherein the handle element (8) is reversibly slidably mounted on the support assembly (2) in the direction of the cable drum (10). Cable reel (1) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the support assembly (2) carries a locking element (28) of the freewheel (16) on the inside of the handle element (8), wherein the locking element (28) is displaced from its locking engagement with a counter-locking element (30) of the freewheel (16) coupled to the cable drum (10) when sufficient force is applied to the handle element (8) in the opening direction (39). Cable reel (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the locking element (28) and the counter-locking element (30) have corresponding conical toothed surfaces (36), wherein at least one of the toothed surfaces (36) has a plurality of teeth, wherein the teeth of the locking element (28) and the counter-locking element (30) each have at least one tooth flank (44) inclined to the radial in a corresponding manner, and wherein the locking element (28) and the counter-locking element (30) are positioned relative to each other such that by applying sufficient force to the handle element (8) the locking element (28) and the counter-locking element (30) are axially displaced from their meshing engagement. Cable reel (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the locking element (28) or the counter-locking element (30) has an internal pawl toothing, wherein the counter-locking element (30) or the locking element (28) has a pawl (46), and wherein the locking element (28) and the counter-locking element (30) are positioned relative to each other such that sufficient force is applied to the handle element (8) to release the pawl (46) from the pawl toothing. Cable reel (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the cable drum (10) has an oval cross-section. Cable reel (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the support assembly (2) has at least one carrying handle (6) which encompasses the cable drum (10) in a U-shape. Cable reel (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the support assembly (2) has two cover plates (4) arranged at the end face of the cable drum (10). Cable reel (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the cable drum (10) is coupled to the support assembly (2) in such a way that when the inhibiting effect of the freewheel (16) is lifted, the cable drum (10) rotates only to a final winding position defined relative to the support assembly (2).

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