Charging socket, charging plug, plug connection and method for charging an electrically powered motor vehicle

Abstract

Charging socket (16) for an electrically driven motor vehicle, into which a charging plug (12) can be inserted to form a plug connection (10) for charging an energy storage device of the motor vehicle, wherein in a receiving area of ​​the charging socket (16) for receiving the charging plug (12), at least one roller (34) for the charging plug (12) is arranged, which roller can be rotated about an axis (A) and has an adjustable direction of rotation, and wherein the at least one roller (34) is at least partially automatically controllable by means of a drive device (36), characterized in that at least one stop element (18) is arranged, which can be moved between a stowed position, in which the stop element (18) is stowed within a housing (26) of the charging socket (16), and a stop position,in which the stop element (18) provides the charging plug (12) with a stop surface (28) and by means of which the charging plug (12) can be at least partially safely guided and displaced when plugged into the charging socket (16).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a charging socket, a charging plug and a plug connection of an electrically driven motor vehicle according to the preamble of patent claims 1, 7 and 8. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for charging an electrically driven motor vehicle according to the preamble of patent claim 9.

[0002] Conductive and inductive charging are two methods used for wireless energy transfer. In the context of highly automated charging robots that operate similarly to industrial robots, both conductive and inductive charging systems could be used in the underfloor or underbody area of an at least partially autonomous vehicle.

[0003] With conductive underbody charging, the charging robots plug a charging plug directly into a socket embedded in the underbody to enable energy transfer. This method is particularly efficient because the power is transferred directly, but it requires precise alignment of the charging plug.

[0004] DE 10 2011 013 913 B3 discloses an electrical connector combination comprising a connector receptacle, which in turn has motors for respective rollers / friction wheels to assist the plugging process. Furthermore, the friction wheels are arranged in an inner peripheral housing area, allowing the housing of the connector receptacle body to be used as a guide element with a stop function.

[0005] DE 10 2016 222 853 B4 discloses a coupling device for establishing and separating an energy-transmitting plug connection, comprising a plug which can be displaced along a plug-in direction for insertion into a corresponding plug receptacle, and comprising a drive device which is operatively connected to the plug for its displacement, wherein the plug can be arranged tilted in a rest position relative to the plug-in direction in a decoupled state of the coupling device.

[0006] In addition, the coupling device has a deflection device configured to deflect the plug from its rest position into a plug-in position aligned in the plug-in direction. The deflection device has a deflection ramp along which the plug runs when it is moved from the rest position into the plug-in position, wherein the plug can be deflected from its rest position in the plug-in direction. The coupling device also has a guide device configured to guide the plug during its movement in the plug-in direction.

[0007] It is an object of the invention to provide a charging socket, a charging plug, a plug connection and a method of the type mentioned at the outset, by means of which contacting of a charging interface for the electrically driven motor vehicle can be carried out particularly quickly and efficiently.

[0008] This object is achieved according to the invention by a charging socket, a charging plug, and a plug connection having the features of patent claims 1, 7, and 8. Furthermore, this object is achieved by a method having the features of patent claim 9. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent patent claims and the description.

[0009] A first aspect of the invention relates to a charging socket for an electrically powered motor vehicle, into which a charging plug can be inserted to form a plug connection for charging an energy storage device of the motor vehicle. Thus, the plug connection makes it possible to charge the energy storage device, whereby the charging socket can be arranged either on a side area or in an underbody area of the motor vehicle.

[0010] Furthermore, the plugging process into the socket can be performed either manually by an operator or automatically by a robot. In particular, a robotic arm is intended to perform the connection by guiding the charging plug into the charging socket and plugging it in. A robotic arm for charging a motor vehicle is already known, but there are various types of robotic arms that can be used to charge motor vehicles. In general, such a robotic arm would connect a power cable with the charging plug to the charging socket and automatically charge the energy storage device. With a charging socket in the underbody area, the robotic arm is designed to be automatically activated when the motor vehicle is parked, for example, on a special loading area, thus making the charging process completely automatic.Another possibility is for the robotic arm to guide the charging plug from the charging station to the vehicle's charging socket and plug it in. In both cases, the robotic arm can, for example, monitor the charging process and remove the charging plug when charging is complete.

[0011] Furthermore, it is provided that in a receiving area of the charging socket for receiving the charging plug, at least one roller for the charging plug is arranged, which roller can rotate about an axis and has an adjustable direction of rotation. In this case, it is therefore provided that in the receiving area, namely an area in which the charging plug is to be received for charging, at least one roller is arranged. This roller can be rotated about an axis. This roller is designed in particular so that it can be rotated in different directions in order to receive the charging plug and thus plug it in or release it and thus unplug it. The roller, which can be rotated in two directions, can thus be rotated clockwise and counterclockwise and used to move the charging plug in both directions, namely back and forth, in particular towards the charging socket, or to facilitate handling and operation for a user or the charging robot.

[0012] It is also provided that the at least one roller is at least partially automatically controllable by means of a drive device. The drive device provides an at least partially automatic rotation of the roller, which generates a moving force of the charging plug in the direction of the charging socket and thereby provides not only the alignment and positioning, but also plug-in assistance with regard to a required plug-in force. The respective rollers are thus partially automatically controllable by means of a drive device or by means of respective drive devices. This drive device provides a partially automatic rotation of the roller, which generates a moving force of the charging plug in the direction of the charging socket. This not only facilitates the alignment and positioning of the charging plug, but also provides plug-in assistance with regard to the required plug-in force.This means that the drive unit helps to pick up the charging plug by rotating the roller into a position where the plug is correctly aligned and positioned. The moving force of the roller then assists the insertion process by giving the charging plug some forward motion and reducing the required insertion force. This can be particularly useful when the charging plug is heavy or bulky, or when the robot arm has difficulty positioning the plug correctly. The drive unit can be operated by various mechanisms, such as electric motors or pneumatic or hydraulic systems. These can be controlled either manually or automatically, depending on the application and the manufacturer's requirements.Overall, the use of a drive device in conjunction with the rollers provides an improved plug-in connection and an easier and more convenient loading experience for the user.

[0013] In order to achieve the objects of the invention, it is provided according to the invention that at least one stop element is arranged which can be displaced between a stowed position in which the stop element is stowed within a housing of the charging socket, and a stop position in which the stop element provides a stop surface for the charging plug and by means of which the charging plug can be at least partially safely guided when plugged into the charging socket.

[0014] The arrangement of the at least one roller on a charging socket can vary depending on the design and application. In general, the at least one roller can be arranged so that it is located in a recess or opening, namely the receiving area, within the charging socket. The at least one roller is then designed to rotate about an axis and thereby plug in or unplug the charging plug. The at least one roller can be moved by various mechanisms, such as spring mechanisms, magnetism, or manual movement. In some cases, the roller can also be motorized and driven by an electric motor. The arrangement of the at least one roller can also be adjustable to accommodate different types of plugs or to change the angle of the receptacle.For example, the roller can be adjustable in height or depth to accommodate different sizes of charging plugs or to change the angle of the holder to make it easier to insert and remove the charging plug.

[0015] With regard to the charging socket, the bidirectional rotating roller is used to engage or release the plug depending on the direction of rotation, instead of only rotating it in one direction. This can be useful when the charging plug needs to be inserted at a specific angle or from a specific position. By allowing the roller to rotate in both directions, the charging plug can be inserted and unplugged more easily, thereby assisting the robot arm in plugging and unplugging or pulling out the charging plug and at the same time ensuring a secure connection during the charging process. In particular, the aim is to provide the robot arm with additional assistance to make the plug connection faster and more efficient, for example to apply the plug connection gently and to enable a faster electrical connection for faster charging.

[0016] In other words, at least one roller that can rotate about an axis is arranged on the charging socket so that the charging plug can be plugged into the charging socket while forming contact with the rolling roller. The robot arm is intended to guide the charging plug into an area around the charging socket in order to then carry out the plugging process. In order to make this plugging process at least partially more efficient and thus provide the robot arm with assistance to better facilitate the plug-in connection, at least one roller is provided through which the charging plug is inserted in the direction of the charging socket. This assistance is provided by the rolling roller, which rotates about its own axis.The rotational movement in combination with contact with the charging plug leads to the generation of a kinetic force controlled by torque and friction, which is essentially directed towards the charging socket. For this purpose, the roller is also arranged, for example, on an outer area of a housing of the charging socket. In other words, the roller enables alignment of the charging plug during the plugging process, thereby at least partially preventing incorrect positioning. In particular, the aim is to provide the robot arm with additional assistance to make the plug connection faster and more efficient, for example to apply the plug connection gently and to enable a faster electrical connection for faster charging.

[0017] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the at least one roller comprises a spring element, which enables damping when the charging plug is plugged into an immediate area of the roller, particularly when the charging plug makes contact with the roller, in order to dampen the alignment of the charging plug and to at least partially protect the roller. The damping allows the roller to yield slightly, whereby during the plugging process, the spring element guides the roller back to its original intended position and thus also guides or positions the charging plug into the required alignment.

[0018] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that a plurality of rollers are arranged on the inner circumference around a housing of the charging socket. The plurality of rollers provides a more targeted alignment of the charging plug during the plugging process, whereby easy positioning through various rotation points around the housing provided by the plurality of rollers represent a plurality of starting points for the alignment. This means that several rollers are arranged around the inner circumference of the charging socket in order to be able to pick up and release the charging plug from different sides. This arrangement offers the advantage of improved handling and flexibility during picking up, since the charging plug can be plugged in from different angles and directions.The respective rollers of the plurality of rollers can be arranged such that they all rotate, in particular, in the same direction or in different directions to cause rotation of the charging plug. They can also be positioned such that they receive the charging plug from different sides. This at least partially increases the likelihood that the charging plug will be inserted safely and correctly and minimizes the possibility of connection problems or damage to the plug connection. Additionally, the rollers can be operated by various mechanisms, such as spring mechanisms or manual movements. Such an arrangement can be particularly advantageous for enabling fast and safe charging. Thus, the charging plug can be guided into the charging socket, plugged in, and / or unplugged more quickly.

[0019] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the drive device is designed as a controllable belt, thereby enabling a particularly efficient and cost-effective design for rotating the roller, in particular around a plurality of rollers. In particular, corresponding mechanisms such as pulleys and suspensions can be provided for this purpose in order to control the rotation of the respective rollers at least partially automatically. This means that instead of electric motors or pneumatic / hydraulic systems, a belt is used to rotate the at least one roller, in particular the plurality of rollers, and to support the movement of the charging plug. The belt can be operated by various mechanisms, such as a dedicated electric motor or actuator.By controlling the belt, the rotation of the rollers can be controlled and the movement of the charging connector can be assisted, providing semi-automatic control of the plugging and unplugging process and improved handling of the connector. Using the controllable belt as a drive device offers the advantage of simple and cost-effective implementation compared to other drive devices. Furthermore, the belt is easy to control and does not require complex electronics or mechanics.

[0020] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the drive device can be controlled at least partially automatically by means of an electronic computing device. In particular, the drive device can be controlled by means of a signal provided, generated and transmitted by the electronic computing device, which in particular provides for at least partially automatic use of the rollers. Thus, depending on presettings, the electronic computing device can rotate or stop the rollers as soon as use of the plug connection is intended and / or detected. As a result, a guidance aid can be automatically assigned to a robot arm holding the charging plug. The electronic computing device is thus designed, for example, to analyze the plugging and unplugging process and to control the movement of the rollers accordingly.Furthermore, the electronic computing device can be configured using various sensors or cameras to collect and analyze information about the plugging and unplugging process. Based on this information, the computing device can then control the rotation of the rollers at least partially automatically. The use of the electronic computing device thus makes the semi-automatic control of the drive device even more precise and effective. The electronic computing device can, for example, react quickly, autonomously, and efficiently to changes in the plugging and unplugging process and adjust the rotation of the rollers according to the detected situation. This not only improves the handling of the plug connection but also increases the safety of the charging socket by avoiding possible malfunctions and overloads.Overall, the use of an electronic computing device in conjunction with the drive system offers an advanced solution for charging electric vehicles. The partial automation of the plugging and unplugging process ensures simple and convenient handling of the charging plug while simultaneously increasing the safety and reliability of the charging socket.

[0021] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the drive device can be controlled at least partially automatically by means of a coupled sensor device. In this case, the sensor device should be designed to detect a movement in the vicinity of the charging socket and, depending on the movement, to control the rollers, in particular to start and / or stop the rotation in order to at least partially support the plugging process. The sensor device is thus designed to detect movements in the vicinity of the charging socket and, depending on these movements, to control the rollers. The sensor device can use various sensors to detect movements in the vicinity of the charging socket. For example, motion sensors can be used to detect movements of the charging plug by the robot arm in the vicinity of the charging socket.The sensor device can also use cameras to monitor the area surrounding the charging socket and detect movements. Based on the detected movements and the resulting signals, the sensor device can then transmit the information, for example, to the electronic computing device to control the rotation of the rollers to facilitate and assist the plugging and unplugging process. For example, if the charging plug is held near the charging socket, the sensor device or electronic computing device can start the rotation of the rollers to assist the plugging process. If the charging plug leaves the area surrounding the charging socket, the sensor device or electronic computing device can stop the rotation of the rollers.By using a sensor device coupled with the electronic computing device, the semi-automatic control of the drive system is provided even more intelligently and effectively. The sensor device can quickly respond to movements in the vicinity of the charging socket and adjust the movement of the rollers accordingly via the electronic computing device. This not only improves the handling of the charging plug but also increases the safety of the charging socket by preventing potential malfunctions and overloads.

[0022] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one guide element is arranged on the charging socket, which, by means of its alignment geometry, is designed to at least partially align the charging plug during insertion of the charging plug into the charging socket. The guide element can, for example, have a recess, a guide groove, or another suitable geometry that brings the charging plug into the correct position and prevents accidental tilting or bending of the charging plug. For example, the guide element can be elongated and designed to be inserted into a corresponding insertion opening for the guide element of the charging plug.The use of an elongated guide element that can be inserted into the insertion opening of the charging plug facilitates precise alignment of the charging plug, resulting in a smooth insertion process and preventing damage to the charging socket and the charging plug.

[0023] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the at least one guide element is designed as a triangle with one corner aligned with the charging plug. In order to enable the positioning and / or alignment of the charging plug alongside the rollers and to compensate for possible misalignments due to the rotation of the rollers, a static guide element is provided along which the charging plug is inserted into the charging socket.For this purpose, the guide element has a tip or a corner and is triangular in shape, wherein the tip of the guide element is aligned in the direction of the charging plug to be inserted and wherein the charging plug has a corresponding opening, namely the insertion opening, into which the tip of the guide element and subsequently the guide element can be inserted in particular completely, wherein the geometry of the guide element is designed such that it fits into the insertion opening, aligning the charging plug. In other words, in this proposed embodiment of the charging socket, the guide element is shaped as a triangle, with one corner of the triangle aligned with the charging plug. This corner is inserted into the insertion opening of the charging socket in order to bring the charging plug into the correct position during insertion.Using a triangle as a guide element facilitates precise alignment of the charging plug, as the corner of the triangle serves as a reference point. The triangular guide element can be attached to the inside of the charging socket's receiving area. One option is to screw or glue it to the charging socket. Another option is to integrate the guide element directly into the housing of the charging socket. The guide element should be positioned so that it aligns the charging plug as it is inserted into the charging socket without hindering the insertion process. It should also be robust enough to withstand repeated use. This design of the charging socket helps to facilitate the insertion process and prevents damage to the charging socket and the charging plug.

[0024] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one ball roller is arranged on the charging socket for an improved plugging process. Similar to the rollers, the ball rollers are provided for a directed insertion of the charging plug into the charging socket, whereby the ball rollers can also be dampened and can be arranged at various points on the charging socket, in particular around the housing. These should therefore be provided to support the alignment of the charging plug. The arrangement of the ball roller in the charging socket is intended to improve the plugging process by enabling low-friction movement of the charging plug in the charging socket. The ball roller can be made of hardened steel or plastic and should be mounted in a bearing to ensure a long service life and low wear.The ball roller can be positioned in the receiving area and / or near the guide element to enable smooth movement of the charging plug into the charging socket. During the plugging process, the ball roller can support the movement of the charging plug and provide directional stability, resulting in smooth and precise insertion of the charging plug.

[0025] A second aspect of the invention relates to a charging plug for charging an electrically powered motor vehicle, wherein, in order to charge an energy storage device of the motor vehicle, the charging plug can be plugged into a charging socket of the motor vehicle according to the first aspect, forming a plug connection. The charging plug comprises a housing with an outer peripheral housing region, the geometry of the housing region being configured to correspond to a receiving region of the charging socket, which has at least one rotatable roller in the receiving region. The combination of controlling the roller and inserting the charging plug ensures optimal alignment of the charging plug, which in turn enables efficient and reliable power transmission during the charging process.Finally, it is provided that the charging plug can be guided along at least one stop element of the charging socket, which is displaced in a stop position.

[0026] A third aspect of the invention relates to a plug connection for an electrically powered motor vehicle, comprising a charging socket according to the first aspect and a charging plug according to the second aspect, wherein the charging plug can be plugged into or unplugged from the charging socket by contacting at least one roller rotatable about an axis and depending on an adjustable direction of rotation of the at least one rotatable roller. The plug connection serves to ensure safety during the charging process, with the charging process being carried out safely and efficiently.Finally, it is provided that at least one stop element is arranged on the charging socket, which can be displaced between a stowed position in which the stop element is stowed within a housing of the charging socket, and a stop position in which it provides the charging plug with a stop surface and by means of which the charging plug can be at least partially safely guided when plugged into the charging socket.

[0027] A fourth aspect of the invention relates to a method for charging an electrically powered motor vehicle, in which a charging plug is inserted into a charging socket according to the first aspect, wherein a direction of rotation of at least one roller rotatable about an axis and provided in a receiving area of the charging socket is adjusted depending on the insertion or removal of the charging plug. The aim is to provide the simplest and most efficient procedure possible for positioning the charging plug when plugging it into the charging socket.Finally, it is provided that at least one stop element is displaced from a stowed position, in which the stop element is stowed within a housing of the charging socket, into a stop position in which the stop element provides a stop surface for the charging plug and by means of which the charging plug is at least partially safely guided when plugged into the charging socket.

[0028] Further features of the invention emerge from the claims, the figures, and the description of the figures. The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description, as well as the features and combinations of features mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or shown alone in the figures, can be used not only in the respective combinations specified, but also in other combinations or on their own.

[0029] The invention will now be explained in more detail using a preferred embodiment and with reference to the drawings. They show: Fig. 1 a schematic plan view of an embodiment of a plug connection for charging an electrically driven motor vehicle with a charging socket according to the invention with at least one rotatable roller and with a ball roller; and Fig. 2 a further schematic plan view of a further embodiment of the plug connection with a charging socket according to the invention with a guide element.

[0030] In the figures, identical and functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference symbols.

[0031] Fig. 1 shows a plan view of an embodiment of a plug connection 10 for charging an electrically powered motor vehicle, in which a charging plug 12 can be inserted at least partially automatically into a charging socket 16 arranged in an underbody area 14 of the motor vehicle to create a charging interface between the motor vehicle and an energy source. In particular, a robot arm of a charging robot is intended to carry out the plug connection 10 by guiding the charging plug 12 to the charging socket 16. Another possibility is that the robot arm guides the charging plug 12 from the charging station to the charging socket 16 at a Fig. 1 not shown, leads and connects the charging connector 12 to the side area 15 of the motor vehicle. In both cases, the robot arm can, for example, monitor the charging process and remove the charging connector 12 when the charging process is complete.

[0032] To simplify the plugging process, at least one roller 34 rotatable about an axis A is arranged on the charging socket 16, so that the charging plug 12 can be plugged into the charging socket 16 while forming contact with the rolling roller 34. Furthermore, a plurality of rollers 34a, 34b are arranged on the inner circumference around a housing 26 of the charging socket 16. Furthermore, the roller 34 can be controlled at least partially automatically by means of a drive device 36, wherein the drive device 36 is designed as a controllable belt. The drive device 36 can be controlled at least partially automatically by means of a coupled sensor device 38. Likewise, the drive device 36 can be controlled at least partially automatically by means of an electronic computing device 30. In particular, at least partially automatic control of the components of the plug connection 10 should be feasible.

[0033] A plurality of rollers 34, 34a, 34b are arranged here on the inner circumference around a housing 26 of the charging socket 16. The plurality of rollers 34, 34a, 34b provide a more targeted alignment of the charging plug 12 during the plugging process, whereby easy positioning through various rotation points around the housing 26 provided by the plurality of rollers 34, 34a, 34b represent a plurality of starting points for the alignment. The respective rollers of the plurality of rollers 34, 34a, 34b can be arranged such that they all rotate in particular in the same direction or in different directions to cause rotation of the charging plug 12. They can also be positioned such that they receive the charging plug 12 from different sides. This at least partially increases the likelihood that the charging plug 12 will be plugged in securely and correctly.

[0034] The rollers 34, 34a, 34b also have, for example, respective spring elements 40, which enable damping when the charging plug 12 is plugged into an immediate area of the rollers 34, 34a, 34b, in particular when the charging plug 12 makes contact with the rollers 34, 34a, 34b, in order to dampen the alignment of the charging plug 12 and to at least partially protect the rollers 34, 34a, 34b. The damping allows a slight yielding of the rollers 34a, 34b, wherein during the plugging process, the respective spring element 40 guides the respective rollers 34, 34a, 34b back to their originally intended position and thus also guides or positions the charging plug 12 in the required alignment.The damping thus allows a slight yielding of the rollers 34, 34a, 34b, wherein during the plugging process the respective spring element 40 guides the rollers 34, 34a, 34b back to the originally intended position and thus also guides or positions the charging plug 12 in the required orientation.

[0035] Thus, in a receiving area of the charging socket 16 for receiving the charging plug 12, at least one roller 34, in particular a plurality of rollers 34, 34a, 34b for the charging plug 12, which rollers each have an adjustable direction of rotation, is arranged about an axis. It is thus provided that the rollers 34, 34a, 34b are arranged in the receiving area, namely an area in which the charging plug 12 is received for charging. These rollers are each rotatable about an axis A. These rollers are designed in particular so that they can be rotated in different directions in order to receive the charging plug 12 and thus plug it in, or to release and thus unplug it. The bidirectionally rotatable rollers 34, 34a, 34b can thus be rotated clockwise and counterclockwise and used to move the charging plug 12 in both directions, namely forwards and backwards, in particular towards or away from the charging socket 16.

[0036] The arrangement of the rollers in the Fig. 1 on the charging socket 16 shows that these are arranged in the receiving area within the charging socket 16. The rollers 34, 34a, 34b can be moved by various mechanisms, such as spring mechanisms, magnetism, or manual movement. It is provided that the rollers 34, 34a, 34b can be controlled at least partially automatically by means of a drive device 36. The drive device 36 provides an at least partially automatic rotation of the rollers 34, 34a, 34b, which generates a moving force of the charging plug 12 in the direction of the charging socket 16 and thereby provides not only alignment and positioning, but also insertion support with regard to the required insertion force.

[0037] The respective rollers 34, 34a, 34b are thus semi-automatically controllable by means of a drive device 36 or by means of respective drive devices 36, wherein the drive device 36 is designed as a controllable belt, thereby enabling a particularly efficient and cost-effective design for rotating the rollers 34, 34a, 34b, in particular around a plurality of rollers. By controlling the belt, the rotation of the rollers 34, 34a, 34b can be controlled and the movement of the charging plug 12 can be assisted, thereby providing semi-automatic control of the plugging and unplugging processes and improved handling of the plug connection 10.

[0038] Finally, for an improved plugging process, at least one ball roller 32, in particular a plurality of ball rollers 32, is arranged on the charging socket 16. Similar to the rollers 34, 34a, 34b, the ball rollers 32 are provided for a directed insertion of the charging plug 12 into the charging socket 16, wherein the ball rollers 32 can also be damped and can be arranged at various locations on the charging socket 16, in particular around the housing 26. These are intended to support the alignment of the charging plug 12. The arrangement of the ball rollers 32 in the charging socket 16 is intended to improve the plugging process by enabling low-friction movement of the charging plug 12 in the charging socket 16. A ball roller 32 can be made of hardened steel or plastic and should be mounted in a bearing to ensure a long service life and low wear.

[0039] Fig. 2 shows a further schematic plan view of a further embodiment of the plug connection 10 with a charging socket 16 according to the invention on a side area of an electrically driven motor vehicle with at least one stop element 18 which is arranged between a Fig. 2 not shown stowage positions and one in the Fig. 2. The displacement can be achieved either by rotation about an axis or by linear extension. This means that the stop element 18 is attached to the charging socket 16, which can at least partially guide the charging plug 12 securely when plugged into the charging socket 16.

[0040] In the stowed position (not shown), the stop element 18 is in a position in which it is stowed, for example, within a housing of the charging socket 16, preventing the latter from guiding the charging plug 12. This means that no stop is provided on the stop element 18 to simplify subsequent insertion into the charging socket 16.

[0041] In the Fig. In the stop position shown in Figure 2, the stop element 18 is shown in a further position, in which it provides the charging plug 12 with a stop surface 28, onto which the charging plug 12 can be placed by the robot arm of the charging robot. By placing the charging plug 12 on the stop element 18 or by stopping a movement of the charging plug 12 in the direction of the charging socket 16, a positioning aid is intended to be provided for the robot arm.

[0042] The stop element 18 has a bowl-shaped geometry, which is particularly suitable for depositing a cylindrical geometry of a housing area 24 of a housing 26 of the charging plug 12. The bowl-shaped geometry encloses the cylindrical geometry in certain areas and thus offers additional stability, whereby corresponding geometries of the stop element 18 to the enclosing housing area 24 of the housing 26 of the charging plug 12 are also possible. One possible bowl-shaped geometry is a hemispherical depression or cutout that is embedded in a larger storage area. The cylindrical geometry can then simply be placed in the depression and rests stably on the concave surface of the stop element 18, which is designed, for example, as a storage tray. One possible arrangement consists of the stop element 18, which is attached to a hinge or joint and can be folded out about an axis A.When the charging plug 12 is inserted into the charging socket 16, the stop element 18 folds out and guides the charging plug 12 safely into the charging socket 16. As soon as the charging plug 12 is fully inserted, the stop element 18 folds back into its original position, namely the stowed position, for example, or alternatively, the adjustment to the stowed position is only carried out after the charging process.

[0043] Furthermore, it is provided that the stop element 18, which can also be used as a guide element and / or alignment element, has a stop surface 28 corresponding to a housing area 24 of a housing 26 of the charging plug 12, along which the charging plug 12 can be inserted into the charging socket 16. Furthermore, an adjusting device 20 for folding out and / or extending the stop element 18 is arranged on the charging socket 16. The adjusting device 20 can be controlled at least partially automatically by means of an electronic computing device 30.

[0044] Finally, at least one guide element 22 is designed as a triangle, with the corner 23 aligned with the charging plug 12. In order to enable the positioning and / or alignment of the charging plug 12 next to the rollers 34, 34a, 34b and to compensate for possible displacements due to the rotation or rotation of the rollers 34a, 34b, it is provided to provide the statically designed guide element 22 along which the charging plug 12 is inserted into the charging socket 16.For this purpose, the guide element 22 has one tip or corner 23 and is triangular in shape, wherein the corner 23 of the guide element 22 is oriented in the direction of the charging plug 12 to be inserted, and wherein the charging plug 12 has a corresponding opening or insertion opening into which the corner 23 of the guide element 22 and subsequently the guide element 22 can be inserted, in particular completely. The geometry of the guide element 22 is designed such that it fits into the opening, aligning the charging plug 12. In addition, for an improved plugging process, at least one ball roller 32 is arranged on the charging socket 16.Similar to the rollers 34a, 34b, the ball rollers 32 are provided for a directed insertion of the charging plug 12 into the charging socket 16. The ball rollers 32 can also be damped and arranged at various locations on the charging socket 16, in particular around the housing 26. These are thus provided to support the alignment of the charging plug 12.

[0045] In other words, the invention describes a mechanism for automated charging plug retraction with at least one roller 34. List of reference symbols 10 plug connection 12 charging plugs 14 Underbody area 15 page area 16 charging socket 18 Stop element 20 Adjustment device 22 Guide element 23 Corner 24 Housing area 26 housings 28 Stop surface 30 electronic computing device 32 ball transfer unit 34 roller 34a roller 34b roller 36 Drive device 38 Sensor device 40 spring element A axis

Claims

[1] Charging socket (16) for an electrically driven motor vehicle, into which a charging plug (12) can be inserted to form a plug connection (10) for charging an energy storage device of the motor vehicle, wherein in a receiving area of the charging socket (16) for receiving the charging plug (12), at least one roller (34) for the charging plug (12) is arranged, which roller can be rotated about an axis (A) and has an adjustable direction of rotation, and wherein the at least one roller (34) can be controlled at least partially automatically by means of a drive device (36), characterized bythat at least one stop element (18) is arranged which can be displaced between a stowed position, in which the stop element (18) is stowed within a housing (26) of the charging socket (16), and a stop position, in which the stop element (18) provides the charging plug (12) with a stop surface (28) and by means of which the charging plug (12) can be at least partially safely guided when plugged into the charging socket (16). [2] Charging socket (16) according to claim 1, characterized by that a plurality of rollers (34, 34a, 34b) are arranged on the inner circumference around the housing (26) of the charging socket (16). [3] Charging socket (16) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the drive device (36) is designed as a controllable belt. [4] Charging socket (16) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the drive device (36) can be controlled at least partially automatically by means of an electronic computing device (30). [5] Charging socket (16) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that at least one guide element (22) is arranged on the charging socket (16), which is designed by means of its alignment geometry to at least partially align the charging plug (12) during insertion of the charging plug (12) into the charging socket (16). [6] Charging socket (16) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that for an improved plugging process at least one ball roller (32) is arranged on the charging socket (16). [7] Charging plug (12) for charging an electrically driven motor vehicle, wherein for charging an energy storage device of the motor vehicle, the charging plug (12) can be plugged into a charging socket (16) of the motor vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 6, forming a plug connection (10), wherein the charging plug (12) has a housing (26) with an outer peripheral housing region (24), wherein the geometry of the housing region (24) is designed to correspond to a receiving region of the charging socket (16), which has at least one rotatable roller (34) that can be controlled at least partially automatically by means of a drive device (36) in the receiving region, characterized by that the charging plug (12) can be guided along at least one stop element (18) of the charging socket (16), which is displaced in a stop position. [8] Plug connection (10) for an electrically driven motor vehicle with a charging socket (16) according to one of claims 1 to 6 and a charging plug (12), wherein the charging plug (12) can be plugged into or unplugged from the charging socket (16) by contacting at least one roller (34) rotatable about an axis (A) and depending on an adjustable direction of rotation of the at least one rotatable roller (34), and wherein the at least one roller (34) can be controlled at least partially automatically by means of a drive device (36), characterized bythat at least one stop element (18) is arranged on the charging socket (16), which stop element can be displaced between a stowed position in which the stop element (18) is stowed within a housing of the charging socket (16), and a stop position in which it provides the charging plug (12) with a stop surface (28) and by means of which the charging plug (12) can be at least partially safely guided when plugged into the charging socket (16). [9] Method for charging an electrically driven motor vehicle, in which a charging plug (12) is plugged into a charging socket (16) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 6, wherein a direction of rotation of at least one roller (34) rotatable about an axis (A) and provided in a receiving area of the charging socket (16) is adjusted as a function of the plugging or unplugging of the charging plug (12), and wherein the at least one roller (34) is controlled at least partially automatically by means of a drive device (36), characterized bythat at least one stop element (18) is displaced from a stowed position, in which the stop element (18) is stowed within a housing of the charging socket (16), into a stop position, in which a stop surface (28) is provided for the charging plug (12) by the stop element (18) and by means of which the charging plug (12) is at least partially safely guided when plugged into the charging socket (16).

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